Does what I eat impact how energised I feel throughout the day?

Written by Grace Arrowsmith

YES! Our energy levels are impacted by what we eat throughout the day. Think of food/meals as building blocks of energy we seek throughout the day. Let’s break it down by mealtime … 

Breakfast 

First things first, breakfast – nom! To start the day we want to optimise our brekkie to provide us with energy for the day ahead whilst ensuring our blood sugar gradually falls after eating it. For this – think protein! High protein breakfasts include yoghurt with berries and granola, eggs on toast with spinach and tomato or halloumi, a big bowl of porridge with added protein sources, and a protein smoothie with lots of fruit. Plenty of protein will also ensure that we stay nice and full!

Lunch 

Lunch – we want to get a meal in here which is quick and easy and will prevent that oh-so-familiar post-lunch sleepy I-want-to-go-home-and-nap situation. 

How do we do this you ask? Firstly, meal prep is your friend here so on a Sunday and Wednesday get some tunes on and start prepping. A hearty salad is a great option here – get a grain like quinoa or pearly barely, lots of crunchy veggies like lettuce, fennel, tomatoes and some softer ones like tomatoes and courgette, opt for some protein such as shredded chicken or feta and mix it all together with some extra virgin olive oil and a hint of acid from lemon or lime! This will brighten your mood, and taste buds and keep that energy up all afternoon! 

Evening meal 

(Yes we went with the evening meal because we didn’t want to get into the whole tea vs dinner vs supper debate…). 

Anyhow, when considering this meal we first want to consider the timing. In order to get our body into sleep mode we don’t want to get the gut busy minutes before bed – this demands a lot of energy from the body and we want it to slow down. So, try and have your evening meal 2-3hrs before bed. 

The meal itself should contain plenty of complex carbohydrates including starch vegetables like sweet potato, butternut squash, wholegrain rice/ pasta, peas and beans. Then we need a source of protein to fuel our muscles and keep us full, add meats, fish and beans/pulses. And of course, some healthy fat such as oil fish, olive oil, avocados and nuts. 

Interested in finding out more?

Read more on tips and advice on snacks to eat to help with your energy levels over on our app. You can download it for free below!