Take this quiz to assess whether your mood is linked to your food.
1. For breakfast do you eat starchy foods (cereal, muffin, bagel, pancakes, donuts, or toast)?
a. Yes b. No
2. Do you regularly (once a week or more) eat any foods containing caffeine (coffee, tea, colas, chocolate)?
a. Yes b. No
3. Do you drink alcoholic beverages more than once a month?
a. Yes b. No
4. Do you regularly (once a week or more) consume high carbohydrate snack foods (crackers, pretzels, baked chips, cookies, candy, soda, carrots)?
a. Yes b. No
5. Do you tend to have a mid-afternoon slump about one to three hours after lunch?
a. Yes b. No
6. After dinner, do you graze through your kitchen snacking on various foods?
a. Yes b. No
7. At mealtimes, do you eat…
a. out of habit b. because you’re hungry
8. Do you eat more when you’re stressed, anxious, lonely, angry tense, or tired?
a. Yes b. No
9. Do you have protein (meat, chicken, fish, cheese, eggs) as the main course for lunch?
a. Yes b. No
10. Do you have protein as the main course for dinner?
a. Yes b. No
11. Do you crave chocolate or sweets frequently?
a. Yes b. No
12. Do you drink fruit juice on a regular basis (more than once a week)?
a. Yes b. No
Count up the number of “a” answers and “b” answers. If you have four or more a’s you need to reassess your eating habits and follow the plan outlined in this chapter.