It’s no wonder many of us have been or are starting to experience the blues more regularly these days. We’re isolated in our homes without the regular routines and creature comforts of our community that we’re so used to. Some of you may even be completely quarantined from society.

This type of isolation naturally leads to an aggressive lack of motivation and even feelings of depression.

While these feelings are completely natural, that doesn’t mean you have to accept them!

First and foremost, it’s important to reach out when you’re feeling low. Whether it’s a simple email to a friend, a video chat to a family member, or a phone call to helpline, make sure to contact help when necessary. You can also visit the National Network of Depression Centers for a plethora of online, phone, and even texting resources for immediate help!

With that said, if you want to take action immediately to ameliorate those depressive feelings or boost your inner motivation to get off the couch, why not turn to food to give you a helping hand? Food can play an integral role in mental health.

This means avoiding certain foods — including saturated fat, refined sugars (and sugars in general!), heavily processed ingredients, and caffeine — and incorporating a slew of crucial, mood-boosting nutrients from vegetables, whole grains, and fruit.

Of course, there are certain plant-based ingredients that are more adept at battling those feelings of depression. These include serotonin-releasing complex carbs, — such as in vegetables, fruits, and high-fiber foods, omega-3 fatty acids, — such as in nuts, nut butter, dark leafy greens, and flaxseed oil — vitamin D, — found in small amounts mushrooms and fortified foods — and selenium, — found in brazil nuts, whole grains, and beans.

We also highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App  — with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help you get healthy! And, don’t forget to check out our Whole Foods Archives!

1. Millet Meatballs With Carrot and Onion Sauce

Millet Meatballs With Carrot and Onion Sauce/One Green Planet

This Millet Meatballs With Carrot and Onion Sauce recipe by Yana Christyakova is a great non-traditional, plant-based alternative for those meatballs! Plus, you’ll get a healthy dose of complex carb-millet, vitamin-rich carrots, and savory onions.

2. Raw Almond Joys

Raw Almond Joys/One Green Planet

Give into those baked goods cravings with this Raw Almond Joys recipe by Ashley Smyczek. A healthier dessert or snack option, yet filled with omega-3-filled almonds and complex carb-rich oats!

3. Shiitake Black Bean Burgers

Shiitake Black Bean Burgers/One Green Planet

Get a triple dose of blues-fighting nutrients from this Shiitake Black Bean Burgers recipe by Christin McKamey. Not only do you get some vitamin D from those shiitake mushrooms, but you’ll also get a dose of selenium from those black beans!

4. Deep-Dish Spinach Phyllo Pie

Deep-Dish Spinach Phyllo Pie/One Green Planet

It’s definitely a good time to give into some comfort foods, yet take them for a healthy and mood-boosting spin like this Deep-Dish Spinach Phyllo Pie recipe by Lisa Dawn Angerame. Not only do you get a healthy dose of selenium and omega-3-rich spinach, but you’ll also get those lovely warm feelings while baking this treat!

5. Easy Tahini Granola

Easy Tahini Granola/One Green Planet

This Easy Tahini Granola recipe by Robin Runner is healthy fat-rich with sesame-based tahini and sources selenium and complex carbs from rolled oats! A great, healthy snack to have on hand to fill your tummy and boost your mood.

6. Cashew Butter

Cashew Butter/One Green Planet

Not a fan of nuts? Maybe they’re just a bit too rough and tumble for your tongue. This Cashew Butter recipe by Dennis Abell promises a healthy dose of those omega-3 fatty acids to help boost your mood, fill your tummy, and make you salivate!

7. Brazil Nut Fudge

Brazil Nut Fudge/One Green Planet

Brazil nuts are one of the richest natural sources of selenium! Indulge yet another sweet-tooth recipe with this Brazil Nut Fudge by Raw and Radiant and get a loaded dose of selenium to kick those blues.

8. Mexican Rice Soup

Mexican Rice Soup/One Green Planet

This Mexican Rice Soup recipe by Wholesome LLC is rich in both complex carbs and selenium as it is loaded with brown rice and three types of beans — black beans, kidney beans, and pinto beans!

9. Smoky Chickpeas and Kale Over Baked Sweet Potatoes

Smoky Chickpeas and Kale Over Baked Sweet Potatoes/One Green Planet

This Smoky Chickpeas and Kale Over Baked Sweet Potatoes recipe by Crissy Cavanaugh has it all — complex carb-rich sweet potatoes, omega-3 rich kale, and selenium-rich chickpeas!

10. Cajun Quinoa Cakes & Lemon-Dill-Sriracha Rémoulade

Cajun Quinoa Cakes & Lemon-Dill-Sriracha Rémoulade/One Green Planet

You’ve got the time on your hands, why not put those hands to work and get fancy with this Cajun Quinoa Cakes & Lemon-Dill-Sriracha Rémoulade recipe by Julie West! This recipe offers a dose of omega-3-rich flax seeds.

11. Glow Buns Energy Balls

Glow Buns Energy Balls/One Green Planet

Get a dose of mood-boosting omega-3 fatty acids and selenium from these sunflower seed-filled energy balls! This Glow Buns Energy Balls recipe by Emma Blake not only uses sunflower seeds, but it also has pumpkin seeds, goji berries, chia seeds, and healthy fat-filled peanut butter.

12. Raw Taco Salad

Raw Taco Salad/One Green Planet

This Raw Taco Salad recipe by Nikki Stokes is no simple salad! Based around walnut and sun-dried tomato “taco” meat, this salad is topped off with cashew sour cream and avocado. Filled with omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins!

13. Slow Roasted Leeks With Toasted Grains and Pesto

Slow Roasted Leeks With Toasted Grains and Pesto/One Green Planet

This Slow Roasted Leeks With Toasted Grains and Pesto recipe by Jodi Kay is the perfect way to integrate grains into your diet! Savory flavored leeks mixed with potent pesto and a cup of complex carb kamut make this dish perfect fresh or as leftovers.

14. Massaged Kale Salad

Massaged Kale Salad/One Green Planet

This Massaged Kale Salad recipe by Christina Bedetta takes the toughness out of this nutrient-dense, omega-3-rich dark leafy green with a bit of olive oil massage. Super simple yet mood-boosting!

15. Portobello Wellington

Portobello Wellington/One Green Planet

This Portobello Wellington recipe by Jennifer Strohmeyer is a wonderful comfort food that’s also a natural source of vitamin D and rich in selenium to help boost your mood!

Learn How to Cook Plant-Based Meals at Home!

Raw Coconut and Brazil Nut Truffles/One Green Planet

Reducing your meat intake and eating more plant-based foods is known to help with chronic inflammation, heart health, mental wellbeing, fitness goals, nutritional needs, allergies, gut health and more! Dairy consumption also has been linked many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer, prostate cancer and has many side effects.

For those of you interested in eating more plant-based, we highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App — with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Here are some great resources to get you started:

• Weekly Vegan Meal Plans
• Plant-Based Health Resources
• Plant-Based Food & Recipes
• Plant-Based Nutrition Resources
• The Ultimate Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition
• Budget-Friendly Plant-Based Recipes
• High Protein Plant-Based Recipes
• Plant-Based Meal Prep

For more Animal, Earth, Life, Vegan Food, Health, and Recipe content published daily, subscribe to the One Green Planet Newsletter! Lastly, being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!