To a very large extent, food does control mood as sadness and moodiness is common in those with unhealthy diets. But did you know that spinach increases mood-boosting hormones? Everyone should be eating spinach, especially runners. One reason spinach is so important is that it nourishes the thyroid gland. Spinach is very high in carotenoids, which are plant compounds that actually reverses age-related thyroid damage, thereby improving thyroid-related symptoms, such as tiredness and brain-fog. Runners need their thyroid’s healthy to stay energized!
If you are experiencing sluggishness and lack of mental clarity, chances are, you need to eat more spinach. I’ve got you covered with the following healthy spinach dishes.
Healthy Spinach Dishes for Runners
5-ingredient spinach Parmesan zucchini noodles via Two Peas & Their Pod
Skinny lasagna rolls via Table Party for Two
Baked spinach and eggs via Manila Spoon
Spinach quiona vegetarian gluten-free patty via Sweet As Honey
Spinach-stuffed chicken breast via Basil and Buddy
Sweet potato noodles with spinach via Diet Hood
Spinach Parmesan rice bake via The Girl Who Ate Everything
Spinach banana protein via Garnish with Lemon
Creamy vegan, dairy-free spinach dip via Sweet As Honey
Pesto, mozzarella, baby spinach avocado grilled cheese sandwich via Positive Med
Creamy avocado and spinach salad pasta via Jo Cooks
Garlic sautéed spinach via Skinny Kitchen
Sauteed spinach and caramelized onions via Paleo Leap
One pots spinach rice via Watch What U Eat
Baked turkey meat balls with spinach via Home Cooking Memories
Creamy spinach stuffed mushrooms via Slice of Kitchen Life
Berry spinach salad with berry balsamic vinaigrette via Chef Savvy
Spinach salad with avocado dressing via Marya Flaherty
Spinach protein waffles via Slim Sanity
Low-carb cauliflower creamed spinach via Living Chirpy
Easy pesto spinach artichoke chicken bake via The Pinning Mama
Greek spinach and feta meatloaf via Cinnamon Spice and Everything Nice
Spinach salad with honey-garlic dressing, feta and pine nuts via Lucky Peach
Spinach and mushroom smothered chicken via ABC Go
Artichoke and spinach pizza (vegan) via One Green Planet
Garlic Parmesan spinach chicken via Simply Healthy Home
Shrimp and sautéed spinach via Just a Pinch of Recipes
Sweet potato noodles with spinach via Diethood
One pot-chicken, quinoa, mushroom and spinach via Cookin’ Canuck
Super healthy spinach basil pesto (vegan/dairy free/gluten-free) via Baker by Nature
Spicy spinach quesadillas via The Weary Chef
Lemon sautéed spinach via Dinner with the Rollos
Creamed spinach and mushrooms via Produce for Kids
Butternut squash and spinach lasagna via Julia’s Album
Healthy spinach dip via Amuse Your Bouche
Cherry, banana, spinach smoothie via Cooktoria
Easy spinach pesto pasta via Yup It’s Vegan
Quinoa avocado spinach power salad via The Garden Grazer
Spinach balls via The WHOot
Skinny vegan spinach dip via No Recipes
Spinach-quinoa patties via Back to Her Roots
Baked chicken spinach artichoke via Everyday Dishes
Skinny chicken spinach bake via The Fit Housewife
Roasted spaghetti squash with Parmesan and mushrooms via Well Plated by Erin
More From Run Forefoot:
Bretta Riches
BSc Neurobiology; MSc Biomechanics candidate, ultra minimalist runner & founder of RunForefoot. I was a heel striker, always injured. I was inspired by the great Tirunesh Dibaba to try forefoot running. Now, I'm injury free. This is why I launched Run Forefoot, to advocate the health & performance benefits of forefoot running and to raise awareness on the dangers of heel striking, because the world needs to know.