Today is my fourth day to complete my first happiness project, marking the end of week 1 on my journey. Highlights of my four servings of fresh produce today include some bright and delicious raspberries, a spinach salad with avocado and sweet potato, and some tasty Brussel sprouts from a local Austin restaurant, Grizzelda’s. Overall, I can definitely conclude that I have seen a pretty significant increase in energy this week as I’ve fueled my body with nutrients it was craving after a Spring Break of unhealthy eating. Because of this increase in my energy, I automatically find myself in a better mood and just overall much happier than I am when I feel sluggish and tired! Although I cannot see a dramatic increase in my eudemonic well-being yet, though research would suggest this is to come if I were to keep up this new habit, I do see a change in my positive affect, feeling happier in the moment to moment these past few days. I would most definitely recommend upping your intake of fresh produce every day because our body’s and eventually our mind’s will reap the benefits!

Day three of my journey to happiness is taking a turn for the better. At the end of completing three full days so far of adding in more fruits and vegetables to my diet, I do feel an increase in both my energy which is tied to my health, and my mood as affected by having more energy throughout the day! Today I had another fruit smoothie for breakfast and a mixed greens salad for lunch! I’ve noticed that eating more produce in my meals makes me fuller longer, also putting me in a better mood when I’m not hungry and angry, or “hangry” as they call it, an hour after I eat! I dipped some raw broccoli florets into hummus for a mid afternoon snack and finished the day with a banana on toast for dessert!

Today marks my second day of adding in more servings of fruits and veggies into my diet, and I am slowly starting to see a spark in energy. I usually hit a mid-afternoon slump around 3 or 4 o’clock, but today when that slump began to hit I grabbed an apple and kept going! Replacing my usual snack of chips or sweets for a nutritious apple, kept me mentally upbeat by keeping the guilt away and may have even kept my blood sugar from crashing soon after the snack! I also started the day with another fruit smoothie, this time with blackberries, strawberries, and raspberries. I had carrots dipped in ranch for another snack and added in two serving of veggies to my dinner of “spaghetti” squash with spinach and mushrooms! I am still seeking that increase in well-being from eating more fruits and veggies but plan to keep up this new habit in the days to come, hoping for that mood boost!

Today is the first day of my attempt at increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables in my diet, and I can proudly say I checked off all four servings for the day! I started off breakfast with a fruit smoothie, blending together a handful of strawberries and blueberries with almond milk and a scoop of protein, had a green apple mid-morning snack, and threw in a serving of broccoli with my salmon for lunch. My mid afternoon snack consisted of carrots and hummus, and dinner was two bell peppers stuffed with rice and beans! Finding fun and tasty ways to add in fruits and vegetables into my diet today was not as hard as I thought, and left me feeling guilt free and full after snacking in between meals. I definitely feel better physically today, and I know my internal health and digestive system is reaping the benefits of those additional servings of produce, and I am hopeful that my mental and emotional benefits are soon to follow with consistency the next few days. Day one, you were a success!

After coming back from a week of leisure and travel for spring break, my digestive system is hating me! Though fun to indulge in the moment and try new foods with friends in California last week, as Monday has arrived I am feeling very lethargic and tired. I think my body is not only physically suffering from the few pounds I put on last week but also mentally I am not feeling very good about myself and the lack of nutrients in my diet last week has me feeling drained and a bit sluggish today. We opted for sides of toast instead of fruit, started with queso instead of Brussel sprouts (even if the green option was cheaper), and never passed up a good pizza even when the salad bar was right behind us. I noticed a lack in my energy throughout the week, dragging along each day to the next meal of fats and carbs galore, but as I’ve returned to Austin and my regular routine, the lack of nutritional health in my diet the past week has really caught up to me. Therefore, for the first week of my journey to happiness, I am going to aim to add more fruits and vegetables into my diet, with 5 servings of fruits and or veggies for 4 days. The increased nutrients and fresh produce without preservatives and extra fats, will hopefully boost my health both mentally and physically! After coming home from a lack of worries and plenty of free time for the week, the fast pace and busy demands of reality are setting back in, and I am very much in need of a boost in health and happiness. Fun fact: According to Dan Buettner, author of The Blue Zones of Happiness, research has found that people who go from not eating any fruit or produce to eating 8 servings a day experienced an increase in their well-being equal to getting a new job! Hopefully a consistent diet of fruits and veggies will get me one step closer to that increased well-being this week as the end of the semester draws near!

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton