Comfort food that's actually healthy
There are two types of food that I know of that are actually healthy and make you happy. One is chocolate, the other is Chick Peas. I've added two herbal teas that will also fight the blues.
Let me know below what foods really make you happy while also not being unhealthy.
Comfort food is generally a name for food people eat when they are feeling unhappy. Usually this food isn't good for you - and will only make you feel better very temporarily. The food in this lens has actual biological reasons for making you feel better long term, and without unhealthy side effects.
Chocolate - healthy in moderation
Don't eat too much, but if you don't, chocolate is good for you!
They didn't test eating more chocolate a day - probably because there is absolutely no reason to think THAT is healthy. Still.
Eating that one small piece of chocolate a day does actually help your arteries and make you happier. Who doesn't love chocolate - I suspect most of the Western world is chocolate addicted. We put it on everything.
For your health the thing to remember is: it is only dark chocolate that is good for you and for women it is actually a sign of good health to be eating chocolate. I used to eat a whole bar of chocolate a day - that's chocolate addiction for you. Now I'm comfortably back to a bar a week - that's probably alright. And you guessed it: it makes me happy!
Seriously - that's not just my addiction talking. Studies suggest that women who eat chocolate regularly are on average in better mental health than those who don't.
Chocolate Indulgence Art Print
Ferri, Stefania
Buy at AllPosters.com
Chocolate Recipes - books
Chocolate Chip Bites
1/2 c Canola oil
1 c Light brown sugar
3/4 c Sugar
1 Egg
2 Egg whites
2 1/2 c All purpose flour
1 ts Baking soda
1 ts Salt
1 1/2 c Semisweet chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly spray or wipe two baking sheets with vegetable oil. In a large mixing bowl, cream the oil, sugar,egg and egg whites until smooth. Add flour, soda and salt. Mix well. Add the chocolate chips and mix gently. Place dough in 1/2 teaspoon mounds on sheet. Bake for 7 minutes or until brown.
Pieces of Chocolate in a Bowl Photographic Print
Rynio, Jörn
Buy at AllPosters.com
Chocolates make you happy :)
Some fancy chocolates
Leonidas Belgian Chocolates: 1.50 lb Signature Dark Chocolates Assortment
Amazon Price: $54.00 (as of 07/05/2009) 
2.2 Pounds of Chocolate Truffles - French Truffles - 4 Boxes - Great Mother's Day Gift!
Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2009)
Chick Peas - healthy and contains a type protein that makes you happy
Real powerfood.
Beans contain protein B vitamins (folic acid, niacin, pyridoxine and thiamine), vitamin K, and don't have as many calories per serving as lean meat does. The calories beans do have come in the shape of 'complex carbohydrates'. That means the body has to work to degrade them. This is good: getting your body to work is always good. In this case it's good because it means that your sugar level will not just go up and then down, but will go up slowly and stay up on a healthy level longer. Because beans take a long time to digest, they help you lose weight or maintain your figure. Beans contain natural fiber which is good for the digestive system. Human beings can survive off beans and be fine.
More on beans
Chick Peas and Spinach Tapas
* 10 ounces fresh spinach leaves, rinsed, or 1 (10-ounce) package frozen leaf spinach
* 19-ounce can (2 cups) chick-peas, drained and rinsed
* 1 red bell pepper, finely diced
* 1 tablespoon snipped fresh chives
* 1 to 2 lemons, juiced or to taste
* 1/4 to 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
* Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
If using fresh spinach: Cook the spinach in a saucepan with the water clinging to its leaves, stirring, until wilted. Drain, squeeze dry, and finely chop. If using frozen spinach, follow package directions, drain, squeeze dry, and finely chop.
In a bowl combine the spinach with the chick peas, pepper, chives, lemon juice, oil, salt, and pepper. Serve as is or chilled with toasted bread or as a filling for pi [sic?]
Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 10 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Chick Peas
Art Poster Print - Chick-Pea Butter Beans - Artist: Barbara Nicholson - Poster Size: 0 X 0 inches
Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2009)
Chick Pea Flour, 16oz (1lb)
Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2009)
Chick Peas - Garbanzos (Ziyad) 439g
Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2009)
Healthy Hummus
Humus, Hummous or however you want to spell it
# 3 garlic clove, minced, more if you like
# 1/4 cup plain low-fat yogurt
# 1 tablespoon lemon juice
# 1 teaspoon olive oil
# 1/4 teaspoon salt
# 1/4 teaspoon paprika
# 1/8 teaspoon pepper
# 1 (19 ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
# 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
Directions
- Combine everything in blender or food processor and process until smooth.
- The blender gives the best result.
- If you need more liquid to make a nice consistency, add a bit more yogurt.
- Chill.
- Serve with pitas, as a veggie dip, on bread or toast.
Source
Herbal teas that can help you get happier
Anti-depression herbal tea
St.-John's-wort
Old folk remedie that turns out to be effective.
More on these herbs for depression
Chocolate: your favorite recipes
It turns out that 'chocolate recipes' actually returns a decent amount of spam on the first page of google. So please submit only websites that have accessible actual recipes on them.
Make Your Perfect Hot Chocolate
Hot chocolate might be anything from melted, spice more...1 point
Chocolate Recipes
0 points
Chocolate :: The Gourmet Guide
From the moment the aroma rises to your nose, to t more...0 points
Delicious Sweet And Savory Crepes!
Easy Chocolate Banana Crepes, Whole Wheat Chocolat more...0 points
Chick Pea recipes
Cooking with chickpeas
Cooking With Chickpeas
Chickpea recipes from around the world1 point
Roasted Chick Peas
I was first introduced to chick peas way back when more...1 point
Chickpea and Garbanzo Recipes
There are many ways to prepare chickpeas and garba more...0 points
Did this make you happy?
What did you think about this lens? Did I forget anything? Please only mention foods that are actually healthy.
annetteghallowell wrote...
I absolutely love chickpeas, especially in hummus form! And chocolate? Well, I am SO glad it is good for me!
Posted June 02, 2009
alteredkat wrote...
I am addicted to both! I love chickpeas! I put them on my salads and have even eatten them out of the can! YuM!
Thankyou for your recent squid angel blessings on my depression glass lens! I sincerely appreciate it!
Posted May 30, 2009
Swisstoons wrote...
This, I will have to have. Spinach, chickpeas, lemon juice and olive oil. That's gotta be a winning combination. Taking this one to my food-related Laftovers lens.
Posted May 22, 2009
jembie wrote...
Anyone who tells me Chocolate is good for me is alright by me!
Thanks for a brilliant lens 5*
Posted May 20, 2009
RinchenChodron wrote...
Nicely done - can't wait to see when you update it. We all can use more happy foods.
Posted May 20, 2009
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