Ask Michelle Bridges: foods for all day energy

IF YOU are feeling sluggish, it might not be so much about what you’re eating as it is about when you’re eating it. Here’s Michelle Bridges’ tips on getting more energy into your life.

Michelle Bridges has the answers. Picture: Nigel Lough

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IF YOU are feeling sluggish, it might not be so much about what you’re eating as it is about when you’re eating it.

Here’s Michelle Bridges’ tips on getting more energy into your life.

QUESTION

Question from Stamatina, via email: “I’ve recently lost weight through reduction in kilojoules and light walking, but still feel tired. Are there any foods to help increase my energy levels throughout the day?”

ANSWER

It feels like a bit of a no-brainer to say that when you eat good, nutritious wholefoods, you feel great, your body works efficiently and your energy levels stay consistent. On the flip side, when you eat processed junk food, you tend to feel sluggish.

Obviously, I don’t have exactly what you’re eating in front of me but I’d guess you could be letting a little too much of the latter creep in.

Start a food diary so you can keep track of what you’re eating and when.

People often look to carbohydrates for an energy boost and they’d be right to do so. But you need to go for those with a low glycaemic index (GI) that keep you fuller for longer.

A great source of carbohydrates, which give our bodies and brains a boost.

Swap white bread for wholemeal and grainy varieties, switch white rice for brown or quinoa and make friends with wholemeal pasta and sweet potato.

Fruit and virtually all vegetables contain carbs too but they’re much lower in kilojoules so make for a smart snack if you’re trying to lose weight.

Finally, get your kilojoules in early. Most people don’t eat enough at breakfast and feel depleted in the back end of the day. So, it’s no coincidence that three of my six energy-boosting foods make a kickarse breakfast that will sustain you until lunch.

PREP THIS

Oats: They reduce the risk of heart disease and obesity and are low-GI.

Bananas: A great source of carbohydrates, which give our bodies and brains a boost.

Walnuts: Walnuts improve your alertness thanks to their omega-3s.

Broccoli: These vitamin-packed vegies help the body to repair cells, for energy.

Salmon: What I love about salmon is that it’s light but not so light that you don’t feel satisfied.

Sweet potato: These tasty taties deliver a steady flow of energy.

Salmon: It’s light, but not so light that you don’t feel satisfied.

MISH’S 3PM TREAT

Three dates and six macadamias: This is a high-joule snack, no question, but if you really need a sweet treat in the afternoon, this will do the trick.

Slice open each date and put two macadamia nuts inside.

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