If you're in search of another side dish, whole-grain rice is a good place to look. In fact, any whole-grain food -- whether it's rice, pasta or bread -- adds more complex carbs to your diet. Even more, whole grains are digested more slowly, which means you feel "fuller" longer.

How you prepare your food can make a difference in how your body handles stress as well. Try to avoid oils with high-fat contents and skip trans-fats altogether. Many stores carry spreads and butter substitutes that work nicely. If you are looking for a way to spice up your meals, try basil. It's an herb that most people recognize as a tasty addition to spaghetti and pizza sauces, but also works with chicken, turkey and salads. It's a good source of vitamin A and magnesium and can help strengthen the immune system.

Maybe you're looking to escape the kitchen for a night. In that case, head out for a sushi dinner. You already know that eating fish can aid in helping lower stress levels, but the seaweed in many sushi rolls does the same. Seaweed is full of magnesium and B2 vitamins, but it also contains pantothenic acid which helps regulate the function of the adrenal gland.

The adrenal gland resides just above your kidneys and produces several different hormones, including the release of epinephrine (more commonly known as adrenaline) which helps dictate how we handle stressful situations.