011: How to Maintain Energy All Day Long • Passion Design Project

Summary::

Last year, I brought back awesome memories back from a month-long trip in SE Asia. Except that wasn’t the only thing. I also came back with a nasty bug that destroyed by digestive system. I won’t say it was a blessing in disguise, but it made me extremely focused on exactly what I was putting in my body because any tiny thing I ate wrong would cause me to feel so awful! During that time, I was often lacking any extra energy, so I completely cleaned up what I was eating in order to help me perform at the highest possible level.

One thing I discovered during this clean eating journey was that everyone’s digestive system is VERY different. so my point is DON’T GIVE UP!! Just because something you read doesn’t work for you, it doesn’t mean everything will be a lost cause.

For example, I started drinking green smoothies because I heard raving reviews and thought I would be doing my body a favor. Only to realize a month later that my daily smoothie was what was causing me extra discomfort. Once I stopped having them, I felt so much better! So keep trying things. Your body will respond rather quickly and you’ll have noticeable changes within a few weeks. Weeks, not hours. You still have to be a little patient.

So onto the juicy information. What should you eat to maintain energy??

For starters, healthy fats! Incorporate more healthy fats into your diet. Eating healthy fats does not equal gaining fat; healthy fats provide lasting energy, which in effect makes you stop craving quick sugary snacks! Attempt to slowly give up any snacks that have too much sugar (look at the grams on the nutrition label) AHA recommends no more than 25 grams a day.

Examples: Coke = 35 g, glass of OJ = 22 g.

Even good stuff like yogurt can trick you by putting sugar-heavy fruit puree inside. Opt for bulk Plain Full-Fat yogurt with fruit and a drizzle of honey.

Ideas for foods high in Healthy Fats:

Avocado
Whole eggs
Fatty fish
Nuts
Chia Seeds
Dark Chocolate
Coconut Cream & Oil

My almost-every-day breakfast is wilted kale or spinach with eggs any style, and occasionally some tomatoes or cheese sprinkled on. This easily keeps me satisfied until my late lunch.

I’m also a sucker for coffee, if it’s early I’ll drink bulletproof for the early morning fat intake, but if it’s later, ill have cold-brew with cream, coconut milk, or homemade almond milk. I’ve started making my own and it is DELICIOUS. The sweetness comes from a date I put in – yum! Dates are my new best friend instead of any sugar. And a quick note on fake sugars…just don’t! As they cause more addiction than regular cane sugar.

If you want a great food map, look up the bulletproof diet roadmap. Dave Asprey digs into food like none other, and even if you aren’t on the bandwagon with fad diets, his food map is clutch when wondering what are the cleanest foods for your body. I often refer to it when I’m not sure what my digestive system will like better. He focuses on a lot of organic veggies, grass-fed or wild protein, healthy oils & fats, fruits, and of course, bulletproof coffee.

I’m not getting into Lunch and dinner on this episode, but I will touch on some great snacks for any mid-day cravings. I made a fun chart of these as part of the blog post earlier this week, so make sure to refer to that if you forget!

Trail Mix! PHGB
Apple/Banana with Nut Butter
Air popped sprouted Popcorn w/ Coconut Oil
Mini Frittata
Protein Balls
Green Tea or Matcha Mylk
Veggies and Hummus or Guac
Berries

Any of these snacks will easily get you through until dinner while also leaving you extremely satisfied, plus not causing any more crashes throughout the day.

It’s easier than you think to stay motivated throughout the entire day, all it takes is setting yourself up for success. Go grab a few of these items from the store this week and start to raise your energy levels!