How to Eat for Increased Energy and Productivity

How often have you eaten poorly in order to save time? Probably more than you’d like to admit. But if you want to perform at your very best, you can’t afford to ignore your diet.

​To work at peak productivity, we need to provide our bodies with the best fuel. Without the best fuel, we often fail without even knowing it. It becomes so much easier for us to make mistakes and give in to other temptations (i.e procrastination).
 
So instead of making drastic changes to your diet, start with these simple suggestions. Here are 3 easy ways to increase your personal energy:
 
1. Eat Protein in the Morning
 
It’s important to start the day of right. And nothing should be a bigger priority than a healthy breakfast. But even if you enjoy fresh fruit, whole grains, and low-fat dairy, you still might be lacking in energy.
 
Most nutritionists recommend eating 25 to 30 grams of protein as a part of your morning meal. It’s because protein directly affects our brain performance. Our brains need all those amino acids (provided by the protein) since they help our minds to fire on all cylinders.
 
Foods like eggs, beans, nuts, and lean-meats are full of protein to help you start your day.  And you can also drink protein shakes to change up your breakfast menu.
 
2. Make Green Your Favorite Color
 
According to Kermit the frog, it’s not easy being green. But dark green vegetables contain some of the highest concentration of vitamins and minerals. Two things you need to sustain your energy levels throughout the day.
 
Spinach, broccoli, and asparagus are great foods to complement almost any meal. Kale might be the single best thing you can eat. It's full of great vitamins including A, C and K. But I can understand if you’re not the biggest fan of this leafy green.
 
We all have different likes and dislikes when it comes to food. So be sure to experiment with which greens work for you. Add celery, zucchini, cabbage, or bok choy to your shopping list and your body will thank you later. 
 
3. Take a Caffeine Break
 
Most of us have a habit of starting our day of with caffeine. And while our morning coffee will give us a spike of energy very quickly, what goes up must come down. As a result, we can easily abuse this drug which can lead to many negative health effects.
 
Quitting caffeine all at once can be a very difficult task to accomplish. But for you to enjoy sustained energy and focus, try reducing your caffeine intake. You might be surprised at how much more energy you have at the end of your day.
 
And no matter what you put into your body, be sure to be familiar with your labels. There is no shortage of energy drinks on the market. Discovering how much caffeine and other chemicals are included in a single serving just might shock you (and not in a good way)!
 
Question: What foods help you to work at your productive best? Leave your answer in the comments below.