Anxious with all you have to do? The holidays are upon us and that wonderful time of the year can lead to stress and holiday anxiety!  You run from one event to another, grabbing cookies, candies and treats. There is no time to cook, so you grab fast food on your way to shop. Then, maybe a pretzel at the mall. Before you know it, you have substantially increased your sugar and carbs and feel even more anxious.

Consider your diet as a way to help reduce your anxiety. It may not make anxiety completely go away but it sure could help. Here are a few ways to stress less.

1. During this season, try to eat a balanced healthy meal given all the treats and extra sugar that abounds. Watch your portions and eat lots of fruits and vegetables along with salmon. Also begin your day with some protein on the breakfast plate. It will help stabilize blood sugar and give you more energy.
2. Reduce your caffeine intake. Caffeine can interfere with sleep and make you more anxious. If you can avoid caffeine completely, it will help you feel better.
3. Reduce or avoid alcohol as it can make you jittery and irritable too. And it also can interfere with sleep which also impacts your mood.
4. Focus on complex carbohydrates. The exposure to simple carbohydrates is increased greatly given all the sugar and treats that tend to show up in our homes and workplaces. But complex carbohydrates can lead to a calming effect because they increase the amount of serotonin in your brain. So oatmeal and whole grains are good choices.
5. Drink lots of water and keep yourself hydrated through all the busyness. Hydration helps your mood as well.

While changing your diet may not make anxiety completely go away, it can improve your mood and feelings of anxiousness. Small changes can add up to feeling better. And these are things under your control! Be   intentional with holiday eating and reduce your holiday anxiety.