What Nutritionists Eat to Boost Their Mood

There may be a scientific reason we crave starchy foods when we're feeling low, Kristen Gradney, director of nutrition and metabolic services at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, points out. One hypothesis suggests carbohydrates can help your brain produce serotonin, which, as we noted earlier, regulates moods. Complex carbs, such as whole grains and starchy vegetables, take longer to digest, making them a sort of "time-release" happy pill.

How she eats it: Stick to whole grain pastas and breads, says Gradney; they'll stay with you longer. She also likes sweet potatoes as a picker-upper; there are so many healthy ways to eat them.