As the festive lights dim and the holiday season winds down, you might feel a lingering need for comfort and warmth in the chilly post-holiday air. And you’re not alone: most of us are experiencing a bit of post-holiday blues!
Alternatively, you might just be feeling straight-up exhausted and in need of a comforting and nourishing meal.
Well, this rosemary honey chicken with yummy mashed potatoes might just fit the bill. Not only that, but it might help provide a bit of comfort as you transition from the festive cheer into the new year.
And yes, it takes a little bit of time—but also minimal effort. So, you can kick back and relax while setting your timer in between steps to throw this delicious meal together. Below, we offer up the recipe and also how it might just nourish your body and mind.
The return to routine can feel like such a drag after all the excitement and get-togethers. However, it can be made a little more cheery with the right warm food to fill your belly and soul.
Plus, this one sounds long and immersive. But this is actually a pretty easy recipe, especially if you were planning a night in any way. You by no means need to be a Martha Stewart or Gordan Ramsay in the kitchen!
And as Martha Stewart says, “There is no single recipe for success. But there is one essential ingredient: Passion.”
So, if you’re passionate about looking after your mental wellness post-holiday time, this recipe is perfect for you!
This delicious combination can enhance our minds in various ways.
And it’s not just about the ingredients; it’s also about who you share it with. So, here are a few ways this recipe can help contribute to better mental health and wellness, despite the holidays being over.
Cooking can offer many therapeutic benefits. It can enhance mindfulness, just simply by allowing you to be ever present in the moment of now. It can also foster various positive emotions, which often arise when we get creative!
In fact, research from during (what we’d probably all love to forget) the COVID era indicates that cooking brought many people increased relaxation, joy, and happiness. Researchers even indicate that individuals who cooked or baked had various positive emotions due to the realization of their full potential.
Cooking is further thought to foster:
Researchers suggest that this may improve certain psychosocial outcomes.
However, the above may involve cooking for others and creating a social circle around your meals. Yet, the same may be true when cooking for you and your partner or family members. At the same time, we don’t think cooking for just one person should be bashed quite yet!
In many shapes and forms, cooking is a form of self-care, such as providing your body with the nutrients it needs via a homemade meal. Or by simply allowing yourself to let go of worries and focus on creating the meal at hand.
This meal is also packed with so much goodness!
Chicken offers a decent serving of protein—an essential macronutrient for creating neurotransmitters and hormones that help us achieve a stable and happy mood. In fact, higher protein consumption is linked to higher dopamine and norepinephrine levels.
Potatoes are also surprisingly beneficial food for mental wellness, owing to their rich nutrient profile. They are a good source of complex carbohydrates, which are crucial for maintaining steady blood sugar levels. Thus, they can help prevent mood swings and energy dips.
The high vitamin C content in potatoes plays a role in reducing stress and boosting the immune system—both of which are essential for overall mental well-being. Additionally, they contain B vitamins, particularly vitamin B6, which is vital for the creation of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine.
The fiber in potatoes, especially when eaten with the skin, aids in digestion and can promote a feeling of fullness, which helps in regulating appetite and can indirectly influence mood stability and overall mental health. Now, this is a comfort food we can definitely get behind!
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Keeping your body and mind nourished can 110% help. As always, consider doubling the recipe to get even more meals out of the above. This can mean lunch and dinner for a couple of days, making your efforts (and cooking therapy session) entirely worthwhile.
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July 6, 2025
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