Like a car, your brain needs quality fuel to run efficiently. There is strong scientific evidence that eating healthy can really help stay focused, be productive, and achieve peak performance in every stage of your life. Eating healthy isn’t always easy, but committing to a healthy diet can be one of the smartest decisions you'll ever make. Below are some of my favorite brain-healthy recipes to get you started.
This Asian Stir Fry Noodle is a creamy stir-fried noodle dish with lots of different vegetables and herbs. It’s warm, spicy, and out-of-this-world good.
This recipe combines a neuroscientist’s eye with Ayurvedic principles with a good old-fashioned chicken soup. But what’s notable about this recipe from a brain health perspective is the combination of ingredients that boost the immune system with healthy proteins that protect the nervous system.
This recipe is very filling. The dressing is the star of the dish and is a re-adaptation of an incredible sauce I ate at Life Alive, an “urban oasis and organic café” located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. My husband used to work at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and whenever I spent a weekend there, we’d go to Life Alive and enjoy their signature dish, The Goddess, which inspired this Rainbow Buddha Bowl recipe.
This recipe is another household favorite. My husband says this super simple dish is one of the best I’ve ever prepared. And I cook often. What could be surprising is the simplicity of the recipe, as there is hardly any cooking involved. It’s mostly a matter of using fresh, high quality ingredients that combine well together, taste delicious, and are good for you.
My Dad’s Lemon Roasted Chicken is a discovery definitely worth trying out. In a tangy twist on a classic chicken recipe, a whole (organic, free range!) chicken is rubbed inside and out with aromatic herbs, then baked with freshly squeezed lemon juice and EVOO for a light and flavorful Italian dish. Paired with roast potatoes, it makes for a perfect meal.
