9 Mood-Boosting Foods to Get You Ready for an Early Fishing Trip

After the long wait, the weekend has come and your fishing trip is finally happening. The night before the trip, you pack your fishing gear and all the other stuff you will need. You hit the sack early so you will get enough sleep as you plan on leaving at the earliest possible time the next day. You know everything will be perfect. Right? Wrong. As soon as you wake up, you feel like you've been hit by a brick on the head and you can't get up. You just can’t seem to shake off that feeling of sluggishness even with enough sleep and all the excitement of the highly anticipated trip. Not even the thought of catching a trophy bass or trout can lift your spirits. This is not how you would want to start your weekend fishing getaway, but the truth is, you’re just too darn tired after an exhausting week at work. 

Yes, we’ve all been there — waiting all week in excitement for a weekend trip only to wake up feeling worn out on the day of the trip itself. To save the weekend fishing trip, some people (or should we say most?) will probably turn to caffeine for a much-needed energy boost. Although, yes, a cup of coffee can help perk you up on a groggy morning, overdoing it might leave you jittery and anxious later in the day; don't forget the bathroom breaks you might need to take since coffee is a diuretic, and you know that frequent bathroom breaks are a no-no for fishing trips. So, keep your caffeine intake to a minimum. A cup is usually enough. 

But what if you still feel sluggish after drinking a cup of coffee? How can you shake off that tired, crabby feeling? What can you do to boost your energy as well as your mood for your fishing trip?

You have probably read that meditation helps with anything from fighting exhaustion to beating the blue mood. Well, this article will help you find zen in a different way. We're giving you the lowdown on foods that can help improve your mood and lift your energy almost immediately. Of course, there are other factors that alter one’s mood, such as stress, environment, sleep, genetics, and mental disorders, but a healthy and hearty breakfast has been proven to brighten up one's overall state of mind. 

Here are 9 Mood and Energy-Boosting Breakfast for Your Fishing Trip

1. Eggs

Eggs are known to be a super breakfast food for a reason. Not only are they easy to prepare, but a single egg also contains 75 calories, 6 grams of protein, and 5 grams of healthy fats that will give you enough energy to uplift your spirits. And because they are versatile - think omelet with vegetables, scrambled, hard or soft boiled, poached - the possibilities with eggs are endless.

2. Oily Fish

Fish such as salmon, anchovies, sardines, and mackerel are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, which are actually not only good for the body but the mind as well. Many studies have shown that a regular intake of Omega-3 fatty acids can help improve one’s mood and overall mental state.

3. Dark Chocolate

No, really, chocolates are actually a great mood booster as it helps your brain release some “happy chemicals” called endorphins.  A good amount of theobromine and N-acylethanolamine help release these and lift up the mood. Furthermore, chocolates are rich in flavonoids that help increase blood flow to the brain, thus helping with one’s overall brain health. Do we need to elaborate on how healthy sweets can uplift a sweet tooth’s mood? You may want to stick to the dark kind though as milk chocolates are high in sugar and fat. Dark chocolate is also a good addition to your morning cereal.

4. Oatmeal

It is another one of those super breakfast meals that aren’t only delicious but are high in carbs (the good kind) and fiber as well. These nutrients will make you feel full, help lead to a better mood and give you high energy levels. It is a great source of iron. Iron deficiency can lead to fatigue, sluggishness, and mood disorders. The best thing about oatmeal is that you can either eat it by itself or you can add some fruits and/or other yummy toppings like nuts and seeds to make your breakfast heartier. And yes, the dark chocolate we mentioned above.

5. Bread

Stick to whole wheat bread. Much like oatmeal, whole wheat bread is a great source of fiber and complex carbs that will give you that mood and energy boost you will need for a whole day of fishing. Make yourself a high-protein chicken sandwich and you’ll have enough energy to start your day right.

6. Greek Yogurt

Greek Yogurt is known to have a healthy amount of probiotics. You want your probiotics because they’re living microorganisms that help your gut stay healthy, thus promoting much healthier digestion. Some of you may ask: how can healthy digestion help in boosting one’s mood? The brain-gut connection has been getting attention in the health and wellness arena in the past many years. Experts believe that having a healthy digestive system helps with mental health. Top yogurts with pretty much any fruit and nut you can grab from your kitchen for a much tastier and healthier breakfast.

7. Fruits

As we all know, most fruits are an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber that make for a healthier mind and body. A lot of fruits contain a wide range of health-boosting antioxidants. Put them on top of cereals or yogurt and they’ll make for a much more delicious and healthier breakfast.

8. Vegetables

Spinach and other green and leafy ones are known to be high in vitamin B folate. You might not have heard of this before but in recent studies, low folate levels have been consistently associated with depression. So yes, spinach may not only be Popeye’s secret to a stronger body, but it may also be the reason why his laugh is so hearty.

9. Avocado

We mentioned fruits above, but if there is one fruit that has benefits backed by science and one that health experts rave about, it is this. Health experts would ask you to eat avocado because it's high in fat, fiber, and antioxidants; it's also loaded in potassium (more than bananas, actually),  and vitamin C. Incorporating avocados into your breakfast is easy. You can mix it with other fruits, put it on toast or eat it as it is. 

One more thing, don't forget your green tea. Like coffee, it is a good source of caffeine but not enough to give you the jitters. Sipping a cup of hot tea early in the morning can be soothing and can easily brighten up anyone’s mood in a jiffy. Lastly, green tea is also rich in mood-boosting nutrients such as L-theanine, which helps fight anxiety.