Hello Pomponnette,
Let's be honest, this very particular period is affecting our mood and spirits! But guess what, we have a simple solution to help us get back to smiling: choosing the right foods! That's right, in addition to pampering yourself, your food choices can also help you feel cheerful again :)
To avoid the blues, we asked Aurélie Canzoneri, a naturopath, to tell us which foods are best to keep us smiling :)
I eat, therefore I smile?
Yes, Pomponnette, meals are of paramount importance, especially right now. Firstly because they punctuate our days, but also because they can have an impact on our good mood! - Just as there are good luck charms, there are happy foods, oh yes! -
Aurélie Canzoneri, a naturopath, was kind enough to explain everything to us :)
In the morning, to start the day on the right foot, we need dopamine, also known as the "happiness hormone".
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that relays information between our neurons and it's what activates feelings of well-being and pleasure. - Can you see why we want to boost it? -
To produce this dopamine, we need an amino acid, which we naturally have in our bodies but can also be obtained through food: tyrosine. So, we'll need to prioritize foods rich in tyrosine to keep smiling.
Which foods make us smile?
The ingredients Aurélie Canzoneri recommended are the following, as they are very rich in tyrosine - which will boost the famous dopamine, are you still with us? - :
- Almonds
- Bananas - if you're not allergic, of course, like Agathe is... -
- Pumpkin seeds
- Sesame seeds
- Oats
- Dark chocolate - phew, it's on the list -
- Wheat germ
- Walnuts
- Turmeric
- Avocados
- Eggs
A Pomponne breakfast: Aurélie Canzoneri's Porridge Recipe
To start the day with a smile, there's a recipe we make - almost - every morning: porridge - just talking about it makes us look forward to tomorrow morning already… -
Aurélie shares the secrets of her recipe and tells you more about each ingredient
Ingredients:
😃 Whole oats: whole grains are preferred because the fibers they contain slow down the absorption of sugar into the blood, thus preventing a blood sugar spike. Gluten-free oats are available for those with allergies or intolerances.
😃 Plant-based milk: preferably unsweetened almond milk.
😃 Mashed banana (with a fork): mashing it will oxidize it, making it more digestible, bringing a smile to your gut flora and providing its antioxidants. And bananas are naturally rich in tyrosine and tryptophan, precursors of dopamine (the famous one) and serotonin respectively!
😃 Cinnamon: this spice helps regulate blood sugar. It is also anti-inflammatory and antioxidant and favorably affects the digestive system and immune system.
😃 Honey: honey is very sweet, so it's best to limit its use, but if it can help you start the day with a smile, you can add it to this recipe. Tip for choosing honey: opt for organic and French origin, as regulations vary in different countries, and outside of France, honey may be mixed with sugar...
😃 Topping options: ground flax and chia seeds, nuts, raisins (rehydrated beforehand to remove sugar), cut fruit, nut butter like almond to boost tyrosine.
Preparation steps:
1. Pour the oats into a saucepan, then cover them with almond milk (the quantity depends on the number of people and your hunger; for example, we use 30 grams of oats for 100 ml of almond milk)
2. Heat over low heat and stir. The key to obtaining a creamy porridge: stir gently and ensure there's always enough liquid. The flakes should no longer be "crunchy" but thoroughly rehydrated and "soft"
3. And for the "final touch," you can arrange it in a pretty bowl with the mashed banana, the contents of the saucepan, your choice of topping, and you can sprinkle with cinnamon if you like it ;)
There you go, Pomponnette, will you be adding almonds, oats, and bananas to your next shopping list?
Let us know if you enjoyed our Pomponne breakfast and, most importantly, if it put you in a good mood.
And after breakfast, don't forget that a touch of natural lipstick can also put you in a good mood ;) !