I’d thought I’d be writing a piece on how to soothe your stomach closer to New Year’s Day.
But since many are feeling the aftereffects of an all-night pizza marathon for an election where a winner has yet to be decided, I’ve been asked to give a few tips on what I eat when I’m feeling lethargic, stressed or overwhelmed.
Firstly, I don’t believe in using words like “clean” and “bad” when it comes to foods because that adds a whole new layer of unnecessary stress and guilt. But maybe cut down on the cheese if it’s upsetting your stomach because you’re lactose intolerant, or pace yourself on the edibles because there’s a chance a winner won’t be called until later in the week.
First, the prep. Before I eat anything I steep a big cup of green tea, open the window and take in a deep breath. Coffee gives me headaches and churns my stomach so I rarely drink it, but I love waking up with a hot beverage especially as it starts to get colder. Chai, green tea, hot water with lemon and ginger, bone broth (if you’re still on that trend) — whatever you can sip on for a few minutes before entering the point of no return that is Twitter for the latest updates.
A pediatrician once told me to not think of food as either healthy or unhealthy, but what would give me the most energy instead. When I’m stressed, I lose my appetite but I know I have to eat something. I’d skip the heavy meal and go for something smaller but still nutritionally substantial with a mix of protein, “good” fats and vegetables: eggs on toast with wilted greens; cooked rice or pasta and chopped vegetables thrown into a pot of simmering broth; or a salad with a tin of kippers tossed with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. These are the meals that give me the fuel to chug through the afternoon when I still have work and chores ahead of me.
There’s also the comfort foods that home cooks turn to when they want to be reminded of less stressful times. For myself, it’s the old standby of Hong Kong macaroni soup: elbow macaroni cooked in chicken broth flavoured with a splash of soy sauce then topped with a fried egg and seared Spam. This is also what my mom used to make when I was sick (though she’d substitute the egg with chopped broccoli), so this would also work well if I’m coming off a night of drinking and greasy takeout.
When it comes to mindless snacking, fruit and nuts would be the obvious go-to but heck, if you want chips, have some chips (just avoid the ones contaminated with glass). But I’m the kind of person that needs to pour it out into a bowl because if I’m eating it straight out of the bag, I’ll finish it entirely after five minutes and will be out of snacks for the rest of the day. Pace yourself!
Eating well is just one part of it. A big tip? Step away from the computer or phone. Go for a walk (without the phone). Put on music. Tackle an elaborate baking project to pass the time. Call a friend. Watch a terrible movie and make fun of it. If you can afford it, visit a local takeout spot to treat yourself to a nice meal.
You can’t decide the outcome of the election but you can decide what you’re going to eat next.
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November 04, 2020 at 09:59PM
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What to eat after a U.S. election night fuelled with pizza, beer -- and no clear results - Toronto Star
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