Skip to content

Top Navigation

MyRecipes MyRecipes
  • Course
  • Baking
  • Global
  • Healthy
  • Favorite Ingredients
  • Holidays and Occasions
  • Quick and Easy
  • Convenience Recipes
  • BBQ and Grilling
  • How To
  • Extra Crispy
  • News

Profile Menu

Pin FB

Explore MyRecipes

MyRecipes MyRecipes
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 55+ Easy Dinner Recipes for Busy Weeknights

      55+ Easy Dinner Recipes for Busy Weeknights

      Everybody understands the stuggle of getting dinner on the table after a long day. If you're looking for a simple recipe to simplify your weeknight, you've come to the right place--easy dinners are our specialty. For an easy supper that you can depend on, we picked out some of our tried-and-true favorites that have gotten us through even the busiest of days. Whether you're cooking for yourself or for a family, these easy dinners are sure to leave everyone satisfied and stress-free. Read More
    • The Brilliant Secret to Making Better Mashed Potatoes

      The Brilliant Secret to Making Better Mashed Potatoes

      Trust me, it’s so worth it. Read More
    • 65 Super Easy Finger Foods to Make for Any Party

      65 Super Easy Finger Foods to Make for Any Party

      From chips and dip to one-bite apps, finger foods are the perfect way to kick off a party. No forks or spoons required, just easy-to-pick-up party foods, so you can clean up in no time.  Read More
  • Course

    Course

    See All Course
    • Best Appetizer Recipes...Ever
    • Best Drink Recipes for Any Occasion
    • Salad Recipes
    • The Ultimate Guide to Sensational Sides
    • Soup and Stew Recipes
    • Easy Entertaining for Everyone
    • Breakfast and Brunch Recipes
    • Main Dishes and Entrées
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
  • Baking

    Baking

    See All Baking
    • Bread Recipes
    • Our Most-Loved Cake Recipes
    • Cookie Recipes
    • Pie Recipes
  • Global

    Global

    See All Global
    • Spanish Recipes
    • Thai Recipes
    • Vietnamese Recipes
    • Middle Eastern Recipes
    • Mexican Recipes
    • Malaysian Recipes
    • Korean Recipes
    • Japanese Recipes
    • Italian Recipes
    • Indian Recipes
    • Greek Recipes
    • French Recipes
    • Chinese Recipes
    • African Recipes
    • American Recipes
    • Cajun and Creole Recipes
    • Caribbean Recipes
    • South American Recipes
    • Southern Recipes
    • German Recipes
  • Healthy

    Healthy

    See All Healthy
    • Easy, Healthy Recipes
    • Healthy Breakfasts
    • Healthy Dinners
    • Healthy Desserts
    • Diabetic Recipes
    • Gluten-Free Diet and Recipes
    • Vegan Recipes
    • Low Carbohydrate Recipes
    • Low Cholesterol Recipes
    • Low Fat Recipes
    • Low Sodium Recipes
    • Low Calorie Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
  • Favorite Ingredients

    Favorite Ingredients

    See All Favorite Ingredients
    • The Ultimate Guide to Chicken
    • Vegetable Recipes
    • Beef Recipes
    • Cheese Recipes
    • Chocolate Recipes
    • Pasta Recipes
    • Pork Recipes
    • Seafood Recipes
    • Shrimp Recipes
  • Holidays and Occasions

    Holidays and Occasions

    See All Holidays and Occasions
    • A Foodie's Guide to Halloween Recipes
    • The Ultimate Thanksgiving Guide
    • Hanukkah Recipes
    • Your Ultimate Christmas Recipe Guide
    • Our Most Festive New Year's Recipes
    • Best-Ever Super Bowl Sunday Recipes
    • Best Valentine's Day Recipes
    • Mardi Gras Recipes
    • The Ultimate Guide to Easter Recipes
    • Cinco de Mayo Recipes
    • Labor Day Recipes
    • The Ultimate Fourth of July Guide
    • Memorial Day Recipes
    • Touchdown-Worthy Tailgate Recipes
    • Wedding and Shower Recipes
  • Quick and Easy

    Quick and Easy

    See All Quick and Easy
    • 15-Minute Recipes for Busy Home Cooks
    • 5 Ingredients or Less
    • Dinner Tonight
    • No-Cook Recipes
    • 45-Minute Recipes
  • Convenience Recipes

    Convenience Recipes

    See All Convenience Recipes
    • Budget-Friendly Recipes
    • Our Top Make-Ahead Recipes
    • Our Favorite Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Instant Pot Recipes
  • BBQ and Grilling

    BBQ and Grilling

    See All BBQ and Grilling
    • Grilled Beef Recipes
    • Grilled Fish Recipes
    • Grilled Shrimp Recipes
    • Grilled Chicken Recipes
    • Grilled Pork Recipes
    • Grilled Vegetable Recipes
  • How To

    How To

    See All How To
    • 7 Ways With...
    • Videos
    • Ingredients and Tools
    • Kitchen Cleaning
  • Extra Crispy
  • News

Profile Menu

Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. Our Best Recipes for Healthy Eating
  3. 9 Foods That Will Naturally Help You Feel Calmer

9 Foods That Will Naturally Help You Feel Calmer

By Stacey Ballis Updated May 04, 2020
Skip gallery slides
Pin
Gnocchi With Spinach and Pepper Sauce
Credit: Caitlin Bensel

There’s stress eating, and then there’s eating to help reduce your stress. While go-tos like mac and cheese and all the bread might feel like soothing bites during these difficult times (and it’s truly okay to eat both those things!), nature provides a beautiful array of foods that are associated with promoting a calming response in the body. Get some Zen with the following foods and recipes.

Start Slideshow

1 of 9

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Walnuts

Rainbow Chard with Chanterelles and Walnuts
Credit: Thomas J. Story; Styling: Janna Lufkin

Walnuts are a great source of alpha-linolenic acid, which has been shown in research to have a mood boosting effect. Add walnuts to your routine as a snack, sprinkled in your cereal or yogurt, or in your baking for an added boost. Or try this recipe for Rainbow Chard with Chanterelles and Walnuts.

1 of 9

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 9

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Peppermint

Peppermint Molasses Cookies
Credit: James Carrier

Peppermint contains menthol, which is a natural muscle relaxer that can lead to a calming effect. Brew some peppermint tea, toss whole leaves of fresh peppermint into your salads, or make a peppermint pesto. It is also easy to incorporate peppermint into your baking, and these Peppermint Molasses Cookies are sure to become a family favorite.

2 of 9

3 of 9

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Berries

Warmed Berries with Honey and Fresh Cheese
Credit: Erin Kunkel Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Berries by their nature are packed with antioxidants, which have been shown to protect your cells from stress and can help ease some depression. Any fresh or frozen berries can be easily incorporated into your diet, but we love this recipe for Warmed Berries with Honey and Fresh Cheese.

3 of 9

Advertisement

4 of 9

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Dark chocolate

Molten Dark Chocolate Cakes
Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Styling: Rishon Hanners

Dark chocolate, in addition to being most people’s comfort go-to, offers the added benefit of flavonoids, the antioxidant that can help lower blood pressure and anxiety levels. Note that we are talking about dark chocolate, at least 70% cacao content. A square or two before bed can be a nice calming way to end your evening, or try making these Molten Dark Chocolate Cakes. Just be careful not to eat too much dark chocolate, since the caffeine can have the opposite desired effect and make you more anxious.

4 of 9

5 of 9

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Oysters

Oysters
Credit: Neil Setchfield/Getty Images

One of the minerals that a lot of us don’t get enough of is zinc. But zinc is very helpful on the cellular level for helping manage stress, which is why so many over the counter immunity boosters and cold suppressors include it. Oysters, if you enjoy them, are a great way to get some delicious zinc into your diet, and companies like Island Creek will ship right to your door! Shuck and serve raw with lemon or a mignonette sauce.

5 of 9

6 of 9

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Oranges

Kale, Jicama, and Orange Salad
Credit: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Vitamin C is one of the vitamins that can help ease anxiety and promote a sense of calm, and there is no better source than oranges. Eat them as a snack, or try incorporating them into other recipes like this Kale, Jicama, and Orange Salad.

6 of 9

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 9

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Salmon

mr-Crispy Sheet Pan Salmon with Lemony Asparagus and Carrots Image
Credit: Jen Causey; Prop Styling: Kay Clark; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners

Omega-3 fatty acids are helpful in naturally regulating dopamine and serotonin, the feel-good neurotransmitters in our brains. So, a diet rich in them can really help balance your mood! Salmon is a great source, and this recipe for Crispy Sheet Pan Salmon with Lemony Asparagus and Carrots is a perfect way to get started on eating more of it.

7 of 9

8 of 9

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Turmeric

mr-Golden Turmeric Butter
Credit: Caroline Arcangeli; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Liz Mervosh

Turmeric, in addition to being the “it” spice of the moment, is full of curcumin, which is being studied for its use in promoting brain health and treating anxiety disorders. Golden milk, a hot drink with turmeric and spices, is a calming beverage that many folks are using to start or end their long days (Spicewalla makes an exceptional blend). Second to that sip, look for ways to incorporate turmeric into cooking. Seeing as we’re all making banana bread as part of our baking these days, try Turmeric Banana Bread as a soothing variation.

8 of 9

9 of 9

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Spinach

Gnocchi With Spinach and Pepper Sauce
Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Magnesium is one of those minerals that are thought to help with feeling calmer, and you can find it in abundance in dark leafy vegetables like spinach, kale, collards, or other greens. Try this Gnocchi with Spinach and Pepper Sauce for a satisfying comfort dinner. If you want to try your hand at homemade gnocchi, it is easier than you might think: Learn how here.

9 of 9

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Stacey Ballis

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 9 Walnuts
    2 of 9 Peppermint
    3 of 9 Berries
    4 of 9 Dark chocolate
    5 of 9 Oysters
    6 of 9 Oranges
    7 of 9 Salmon
    8 of 9 Turmeric
    9 of 9 Spinach

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email
    MyRecipes

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Advertise this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    MeredithMyRecipes.com is part of the Allrecipes Food Group. © Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. MyRecipes is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. MyRecipes may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab Do Not Sell My Personal Informationthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright MyRecipes. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.myrecipes.com

    Sign in

    View image

    9 Foods That Will Naturally Help You Feel Calmer
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.