Eating For Energy

It only took me 35 years to look at my diet in a different light. I no longer want to eat in order to look good but to feel good. I have lost the desire to be a certain weight or to fit into a certain size, the only thing I care about is having enough energy to last throughout the day – and keep up with my kids – which allows me to feel good.

It was eye-opening to me when I started tracking my meals: days I don’t eat enough usually correlate with days I have the highest anxiety or the weeks I feel the most blue. In talking to my doctor about this, she continuously asks me “Are you eating enough fats?” Recently, there have been a ton of movies and articles that squash everything we thought we knew before and now tell us that fats are becoming all the rage!

I watched two documentaries and read numerous articles to educate myself on a diet to help my energy and anxiety and these are the foods I hear about over and over. Do yourself a favor: quit the diet fads and eat for energy!

*And if you are interested in watching some fascinating movies, check out “Fat” on Amazon and “The Magic Pill” on Netflix.

Top 10 Foods For Energy:

1. Artichoke
2. Berries (Blueberries, Raspberries, Strawberries)
3. Apricots
4. Asparagus
5. Avocado
6. Oatmeal
7. Dark Chocolate
8. Eggs
9. Sweet Potato
10. Banana

10 Examples of Healthy Fat:

1. Cage-Free Eggs
2. Chia Seeds
3. Coconut Oil
4. Wild Salmon
5. Avocado
6. Flax Seeds
7. Nut Butters
8. Tofu
9. Full-Fat Yogurt
10. Olives & Olive oil (not an olive fan, toss some into your pasta for some extra flavor you will hardly notice).

Easy ways I incorporate both into my daily diet:

1. Add a tablespoon of chia or flax seeds into my morning protein shake or oatmeal.
2. Add a scoop of nut butter into my cereal, shake, or oatmeal.
3. Add a handful of spinach into my morning shake (you can’t taste it!).
4. Add 2 teaspoons of coconut oil into my morning coffee.
5. I have plenty of “snacks” with me at all times to make sure I am eating consistently (roasted chickpeas, seaweed, turkey jerky – watch the sugar content, or a handful of almonds). Trader Joes is amazing for on-the-go snacks!
6. I always carry a “bar” in my purse (my “bar” of choice is Kind, but other people love Luna).
7. Monthly, I make a batch of protein-energy balls with my kids and keep them in the fridge (recipe here).
8. I always keep hard-boiled eggs in the fridge.
9. I use deli meat – nitrate free! – for a wrap as opposed to bread (deli meat and cheese, deli meat and cottage cheese, deli meat and mustard, turkey and jelly, etc.).
10. Nut butter on graham crackers are delicious – give them a try for a daily pick-me-up (add a sliced banana with some honey!).
11. Apples go well with almost anything. I usually pair them with sliced cheese, nut butter, or yogurt.
12. I sometimes use avocado as “mayo” on my sandwich.

What are some foods or fats you can’t live without on the daily?

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