18 Recipes to Boost Your Brainpower

Aim to eat salmon (or other fatty fish) twice a week to maximize your heart-protective and brain-boosting benefits. Salmon is particularly rich in the omega-3 fatty acid DHA, which can slow plaque buildup in your arteries.

If using a crown of broccoli, trim into florets and place in a steamer basket over a saucepan filled about halfway with boiling water. Cover and steam 4 minutes or until the florets are crisp-tender. Add a little crushed red pepper to the sauce if you’d like a little heat. Serve alongside Tofu and Vegetable Lo Mein .

Heart-hero salmon teams up with protein- and fiber-forward quinoa to fill you up; spinach delivers a hit of iron, while green beans and cucumber up the veggie count. Great warm or at room temperature, this also makes a standout packed lunch.

Massaging the kale first helps tenderize it slightly; this technique is also handy when using this fibrous green in raw preparations like salads and slaws. Serve with steak or top with sunny-side up eggs.

Smoothies are a quick way to kick-start your day with extra fruits, vegetables, and fiber. Avoid juices and powders with added sugars; instead choose whole ripe fruit to add a sweet touch naturally. Dairy-free option: Use a (5.3-ounce) container dairy-free soy yogurt alternative.

The crunch from the sunflower seeds, apple, and onion is magical with the creaminess of the avocado and the saltiness of the feta cheese and the smoked salmon.

Combine your two needs to start the day, breakfast and caffeine, in this easy recipe. Get yourself in a zen moment and focus on the the most important part of your morning: coffee. Treat yourself to a Chocolate Oatmeal Latte - which you can sip or spoon.

Best enjoyed at the height of summer, this blueberry, strawberry, and walnut salad is a delicious way to use up fresh produce in your fridge. The use of honey and buttermilk makes for a creamy dressing you won't soon forget.

"Healthy" bakery muffins can hide plenty of refined flour and sugar. Our Figgy Walnut Muffins with dried figs, walnuts, and cinnamon save about 300 calories and 22g sugar per serving, are 100% whole grain, and are still tender and moist.

This weeknight recipes comes together quickly, but you can shave off a few additional minutes by premixing the seasonings and storing in an airtight container. Brushing the fillets with maple syrup adds a touch of sweetness.

The banana and pineapple provide the sweetness necessary to balance the bitter bite of the kale while the light coconut milk adds lots of richness. Feel free to add ice to the blender if you like a slushier texture. If you like, purchase pre-cut fresh pineapple in the produce section.

Curry powder adds warmth and earthiness to this speedy version of creamed spinach. Whole milk yogurt gives the side a luscious mouth feel and plenty of body. Serve with steak or with seared planks of spice-rubbed tofu.

Refreshing ginger and mint steep in antioxidant abundant green tea, for a supremely soothing tonic. If enjoying before bedtime, opt for decaffeinated green tea bags for an easier sleep.

Classic salmon dip boasts one of our favorite sources of Omega-3 fats —but globs of mayo don’t make this easy appetizer the healthiest option. Our mayo-free version is just as satisfying and indulgent, thanks to Greek yogurt and Neufchâtel cream cheese, which contains 1/3 less fat than regular cream cheese.

A fruit-forward cocktail with a probiotic boost is something we all can stand behind. Blueberries are rich in disease-fighting antioxidants—namely anthocyanin—that have been linked to a range of cognitive-function benefits. We recommend using either original (unflavored) kombucha, which has a more tea-centric flavor, or a fruity summer flavor, such as Kevita Master Brew Blueberry Basil . Adding the kombucha last helps preserve the carbonation, making this summer cocktail extra crisp and refreshing.

If you like crisp salmon skin, this cooking method is for you. Just be sure when you place the salmon, skin side down in the pan that you don’t touch it for the full 6 minutes while it cooks—that’s the key for the crispiest browned skin around. After turning the fish, cook it to your preferred degree of doneness. The barely warmed vegetables are still crunchy and flavorful. Serve with lemon wedges, if you like.

This easy banana bread recipe is healthy, nourishing, and incredibly indulgent. Quick-cooking oats, tangy buttermilk, brown sugar, a double nutty dose of chopped walnuts and walnut oil, and of course—bananas—take this moist banana bread to a whole new level .

Boost your brain and treat your taste buds with this quick and easy salad. The vinaigrette features turmeric, Dijon mustard, honey, and red wine vinegar for a beautiful balance of peppery, savory, sweet, and tangy flavors.