10 lunches to boost your brain health

While eating a nutritious lunch is certainly smart for your overall health, did you know that certain foods might directly impact the health of your brain? Salmon, nuts and seeds, avocado, grapes, beans and eggs are just some of the foods with brain-boosting nutrients and antioxidants. To help you get the most brainpower from your mid-day meal, check out these ten tasty lunch recipes from some of the nations top registered dietitian nutritionists. 1) Almond Lover’s Asian-Style Noodle Salad An almond-inspired take on cold peanut noodles, this recipe has almonds in two ways; almond butter is whisked into the sauce for creaminess and toasted sliced almonds are sprinkled on top for bonus crunch. “Combined, the nutty addition gives this bowl a punch of protein, vitamin E and deliciousness. It also has lots of veggies to make it extra nutritious,” says Jackie Newgent, RDN, culinary nutritionist, author of “The All-Natural Diabetes Cookbook.” Almonds, including almond butter, are a top food source of vitamin E, which Newgent says is good news for the brain, since research finds the vitamin may play a role in boosting alertness and memory as well as slowing cognitive decline. “Since the brain is fueled by carbohydrates, pairing almonds in a meal with ‘good’ carbs, like you’ll find in this noodle salad, is food for thought—literally and figuratively,” she says. This easy, make-ahead lunch recipe is packed with two powerful ingredients for your brain: grapes and salmon. Grapes are a natural source of beneficial plant compounds called polyphenols, associated with numerous health benefits, including heart and brain health. Polyphenols are found in every part of the grape—the skin, flesh, and seeds—and in grapes of all colors. Naturally sweet, three-quarters of a cup of fresh grapes contains just 90 calories and is an excellent source of vitamin K. […]

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