If you feel more down and blue in the winter, you’re not alone.
It’s called (SAD) seasonal affective disorder.

Why does it happen?
Shorter days, less sunlight, (which also means less vitamin D),
abandoning “good diets” and exercise programs and watching
more television and phone screens.

And what can be done to alleviate or avoid SAD?
Well, you can limit the sweets, sugary beverages and heavy carbs, (lasagna
and baked ziti) to once or twice a week, socialize more, by heading to
church, mosque or synagogue, or the local senior center, or get on zoom
and talk to friends or relatives who live miles away, engage in a hobby-
scrapbooking or learning a language on youtube,
volunteer at a homeless or animal shelter, and exercise for 20 to 30
minutes- 3 to 5 times a week, (look to youtube.com) and type stretching programs,
a walking indoor programs or beginner’s weightlifting programs in the search bar.
And the last Rx: Eat foods that contain items that’ll boost your mental health.
That’s right, as you avoid a number of foods and beverages that may make mental
health worst, you must also eat foods that’ll boost your mental health and the food
that’ll certainly do that, is lentils.

Yes, the hearty meat substitute that’s a favorite when temperatures start to
fall can also help your mental health. They (lentils) add an extra oomph
of protein and fiber, both of which trigger the release of feel-good hormones
in the brain.
But wait, there’s more exciting news: the lentils will not be served in
a bowl (with a few crackers) or added to a stir-fry, no-they’ll be served
inside one of America’s favorite comfort foods.

The comfort food:
Meat loaf.
But not the old-standby meatloaf made with beef, this is a
lower calorie version made with chicken.
Chicken Meatloaf?
Yes, Spanish Style-Chicken Meatloaf to be exact.
This meatloaf is an Argentinian favorite that’s drizzled with a tangy
herb sauce.

Ingredients:
2 cups of fresh cilantro leaves, (chopped)
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
2 Tbs. of Olive oil
1 Tbs. of fresh lime juice
2 Tbs. of chia seeds
1 cup of cooked lentils, made from dried lentils or from
a can (rinsed and drained)
1 lb. of ground chicken
2 cups of mushrooms, (white button or baby bella)
1 1/2 cups of fresh whole-wheat breadcrumbs,
(from 2 slices of bread or store-bought breadcrumbs)
Cherry Tomatoes (optional)
To make:
Heat the oven to 350*F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with
foil; spray on some cooking spray. In a bowl, combine cilantro,
lime juice, half of the garlic, oil, 1 Tbs. of water, 1/4 tsp. of salt
and 1/4 tsp. of black pepper; cover and put off to the side.
Make the chicken loaf-
In a bowl, combine chia seeds with 1/4 cup of water; let stand until it
thickens. In another (larger) bowl, mash the lentils slightly. Add the chicken,
chopped mushrooms, bread crumbs, thickened chia seeds, garlic, 1/4 tsp. of
salt and pepper. Gently mix until combined and form into a loaf; transfer it
to the baking sheet.
Bake until the meat thermometer inserted into the center reads 165%F,
about 40 to 45 minutes. Serve meatloaf with reserved sauce and garnish
it with some cherry tomatoes and garlic. Roast both foods in the oven
for a few minutes. Turn on the broiler and let them brown just a bit.
Calories for 2 thick slices-250, Prot-20g. Carbs-17g.
That’s it- and if you’re not that daring and are used to “regular” meatloaf,
use ground beef.

Sources:
* A Taste of Home Magazine
* Food Network Magazine

Please make sure to pass this information (and recipe) on to
family and friends who are meatloaf lovers and need an
extra boost of winter happiness.
Share it over at Facebook, Tik-Tok, Snapchat, Reddit, LinkedIn,
Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter.