• Dining With Donnie  

  • Hi, I'm Donnie a Senior at North Forsyth High School.  The inspiration for “Dining with Donnie” came from my love of cooking and connecting people through  food.  I believe that  food is a window into a person's culture, family, memories, traditions, and way of life.  My appreciation for food began at an early age.  All my fondest memories include being in the kitchen.  The kitchen is where loved ones and I reminisce about the past, laugh in the present, and through food, keep our Jamaican heritage alive for the future.  “Dining with Donnie” is designed to recreate these sacred moments within our school community by highlighting the role food plays in our daily health, wellness, and relationships.  When we gather around the table as a Raider family, all are called, all are welcome, and we are all  one.  I hope you enjoy “Dining With Donnie” as we bring recipes from our table to yours!  

  • Foods To Help Reduce Anxiety:

     

    Pumpkin Seeds- Pumpkin Seeds are excellent of potassium, which helps regulate electrolyte balance and manage blood pressure. 

    Eating potassium-rich foods such as pumpkin seeds or bananas, may help reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety.   

    Pumpkin seeds are also a good source of the mineral zinc.

     

    Brazil Nuts- Brazil Nuts are high selenium  may improve mood by reducing inflammation, which is often at heightened levels when someone has  disorders such as anxiety.

    Selenium is also an antioxidant, which helps prevent cell damage. It is also-carcinogenic, which helps to prevent cancer from developing.

    Other nuts, animal products and vegetables such as mushrooms and soybeans, are an excellent source  of selenium.  

     

    Grapes- grapes have an anti-depressive compound called dihydrocaffeic acid(DHCA) and malvidin-3’-0 glucoside(Mal-gluc).

     

    Carrots- Carotene-rich foods such as carrots are also effective in fighting depressive symptoms.

     

    Sweet Potatoes-Sweet Potatoes are rich in the antioxidant beta-carotene.It can also be helpful in reducing the oxidative stress on DNA ,which has been linked with depression,anxiety and schizophrenia.

     

    Spinach- Spinach contains B vitamins, vitamin E, vitamin K, folate, and L-tyrosine. These nutrients can help improve your memory and mental focus. One-half cup of cooked spinach contains one-third of the amount of folate and five time the amount of vitamin K you need in a day.

     

    Cucumbers- The aroma of cucumber can promote feelings of calmness  and relieve anxiety. Even better add a few drops of lavender essential oil. Cucumbers are high in water and low in fat. One Medium cucumber has 194 grams or (seven ounces) of water. A person needs to drink 8 ounces of water daily to function properly.That’s two litres or half a gallon.

     

    Pumpkins- Pumpkins seeds contain a ton of magnesium  which many studies have shown is great for helping relieving anxiety, stress, and  making you calmer.