Are you finding yourself not fully present when you’re writing? Just like athletes need to eat certain foods for training, there are foods for writers to eat to strengthen their writing craft. Foods containing antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals stimulate the brain and play an essential role in brain functions as well as protect the brain from deterioration. Find what problem you’re having with your writing and see which foods you should be eating.
Mental Fatigue
Do you have no endurance to keep at your writing? Mentally challenging tasks can wear your brain out throughout the day and cause mental fatigue. Foods rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, and magnesium are foods for writers because vitamins A and C strengthen your immune system while magnesium strengthens your nerve and muscle function. Snack on these foods and herbs when you want to crash:
- Apricots
- Carrots
- Dates
- Basil
- Mint
Mood
Sugar crashes cause mood crashes. Combat these crashes with foods high in fiber and protein that absorb the sugar. Chow on these foods to stay positive:
- Beans
- Lentils
- Quinoa
- Oats
Omega 3 foods can lift your mood. Crunch on these foods for a smile:
- Flaxseeds
- Walnuts
- Cauliflower
- Cabbage
- Brussels Sprouts
Creativity
Processing creativity requires carbohydrate-rich foods for fuel like these foods:
- Berries
- Beans
- Brown rice
- Oats
- Tomato sauce
- Potatoes
- Peas
- Peanuts
Omega 3 foods are also helpful in building new pathways in the brain for new information. Here’s the list again of the foods for writers that are rich in omega 3:
- Flaxseeds
- Walnuts
- Cauliflower
- Cabbage
- Brussels Sprouts
The ability to be creative declines as free radicals harm the brain. Food for writers that counter this decline are rich in vitamin C & vitamin E like these foods:
- Sunflower seeds
- Broccoli
- Spinach
Focus
Can’t keep your attention on your writing? Foods for writers are those that help remove distraction, maintain cognitive health, and keep mental energy up. Good sources of vitamin C, vitamin E, and magnesium also boost focus. These foods are your vitamin C & vitamin E foods:
- Bell peppers
- Kale
- Mustard greens
- Broccoli
- Kiwi
- Papaya
While these foods are high in magnesium:
- Kidney beans
- Artichokes
- Spinach
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Bananas
- Figs
- Raisins
- Potatoes
- Nuts (almonds, cashews, peanuts)
- Brown rice
- Oats
- Barley
Memory
Can’t remember what you were going to write next? Foods for writers are those with quercetin that help prevent memory loss. Chomp on these foods to jog your memory:
- Blueberries (best choice)
- Plums
- Apples
- Apricots
- Cherries
- Beets
- Onions
- Cherry tomatoes
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Spinach
- Eggplant
Test new recipes that incorporate a variety of these foods (as you may have noticed, some foods on this list are repeated). Just as it is important for writers to eat these foods, avoid writing on an empty stomach (because that’s never fun to do).