Power up: The best energy boosting power foods
It’s 3pm. You have been powering through the day and suddenly out nowhere, you hit a wall. Sound familiar? It’s no myth – it may not be every day but the mid-afternoon lull is a very real thing. Unlike Google, Uber and Ben & Jerry’s, not every office is lucky enough to have designated nap rooms where you can catch 30 mins of shut eye and re-power. Also, it isn’t always convenient to whip out for a swift stroll around the block to blow the cobwebs away. So what is a quick, easy and convenient way to give those energy levels a much needed boost… with power foods of course!
Spoon Guru’s in-house nutritionist Isabel Butler (MSc, ANutr) has provided Cherish HQ with her top-tips on power-up foods. When fatigue hits, make sure you go and grab one of these easy snacks!
- Eggs
Boiled, scrambled or poached – or maybe even raw for a hangover cure – along with being really versatile, eggs are also full of protein (an average of 7 grams per egg), low in calories and brimming with vitamins and minerals.
- Bananas
A firm office favourite here, bananas are a brilliant fuel food. Packed with electrolytes like potassium and good carbohydrates they are one the easiest boosting snacks you can reach for. They are also sweet, so feel more like treat!
- Nuts
They come in many shapes, sizes and varieties – from the humble peanut to the big brazil, nuts are rich in mono-unsaturated fats, full of fibre and really energy dense. Just a small handful will keep hunger a bay, plus they are very handy to keep stashed away in your desk drawer.
- Spinach and Kale
Iron levels have a huge influence over levels of fatigue – anaemia can make you feel tired all the time. Both spinach and kale are iron rich foods, and can both be eaten raw or cooked. Throw these leaves into your salad at lunch time or whip up a mid-afternoon smoothie to make sure your iron levels stay high.
- Sweet Potato
10 minutes in the microwave is all it takes to have this tasty snack ready to eat. Sweet potatoes are loaded with soluble fibres which help you to stay full and slowly releases energy to keep you going. They are also vitamin rich, making sure you get your daily dose of Vit A and Vit C.
Isabel’s final top-tip is to drink plenty of water, something many of us forget to do while sitting at our desks. There is lots of evidence to suggest that dehydration makes you tired, especially in warmer weather. So make sure to keep that glass full!
By swapping that tea and biscuit for one of these tasty, energy boosting power foods your mid-afternoon lull can be powered-up in no time.
Written by Sara French, Cherish PR