With everything going on around us, it’s easy to feel constantly tired these days. Sleepless nights have become all too common and if you haven’t had a good night’s sleep, it’s totally normal to feel more hungry than usual when you wake up and to give in to cravings. Rather than eating whatever is available and having a sugar high not long after, here’s what you should eat to help you stay energized.
Make sure you eat every three to four hours to maintain stable energy. You should aim for a combination of protein, complex carbs, and healthy fat. Foods like oats with berries and nuts, whole-grain toast with avocado and egg, veggie omelets with whole-wheat toast, salads with chicken, and baked fish with greens and sweet potatoes are great options. In regards to snacks, opt for hard-boiled eggs, fruit, veggies and hummus or guacamole, fruit with nut butter, nuts, or Greek yogurt with berries.
In regards to foods to avoid, stay away from processed and sugary foods and drinks as they’ll make you get a short energy buzz before a quick crash. Also, go easy on the caffeine. Stick to a small cup of coffee in the morning and then another in the mid-morning or around lunchtime. Make sure you avoiding drinking coffee after 2 p.m. because you don’t want to get all wired and have a hard time getting to sleep. And most importantly, stay hydrated throughout the day with water and water-rich fruits and veggies like watermelon, cucumber, celery, and lettuce.
