What you eat, everything from your meals to snacks, can have a huge effect on how your day goes. Here are some tips from Men’s Health Magazine to eat and sip your way to a successful day!
Breakfast
Eat This: Bacon or ham and fried eggs (Protein that will leave you feeling satisfied)
Benefit 1: Fullness and energy
Benefit 2: Relaxed blood vessel (i.e. lower blood pressure)
Not That: Pancakes, or a bagel with cream cheese
These carbohydrate-loaded options will send your blood glucose skyward and then crash! Leaving you hungry too soon.
Extra tip: Eat now at home, not later on the road.
A University of Massachusetts study found that eating breakfast out instead of at home more than doubles your odds of obesity.
Dealing with Stress:
Try This: Chewing gum
Benefit: Stress relief
Not That: Coffee
Caffeine can trigger a spike in the stress hormone cortisol.
Having Trouble Concentrating at Work
Drink This: Peppermint tea
Periodic whiffs of peppermint increase people’s concentration and performance on tasks requiring sustained attention.
Not That: Soda
Sugary drinks have proven to make people drowsy
Lunchtime
Eat This: Grilled salmon
Benefit: Alertness
Add This: Spinach or arugula salad
Benefit: Improved mood and memory
Not That: Tea with milk (Mixing milk (protein) with tea cancels out the health benefits)
Continue to complete your perfect day of eating menu.
Calories can be tricky and they add up very quickly! You can sweat for hours to lose calories that you will add right back on when you reach for the candy in your purse. The good news is that when you know what you’re eating you can avoid the bad and enjoy the good.
Here are some great and easy ways to cut extra calories from your meals and snacks without cutting out food.
Breakfast:
Ditch the Pop-Tart for a slice of high-fiber toast with strawberry jam.
Gotta have carbs? Split a bagel with a coworker.
Drink your two cups of joe black. Or order a single espresso instead of your usual latte.
Lunch:
Leave the Swiss cheese out of your sandwich.
Slather your bread with mustard rather than mayo and save 80 calories per tablespoon.
Pass up croutons at the salad bar.
At the Drive-Thru:
Pass up a Wendy’s baked potato with sour cream and chives and chow down on value fries instead. Amazing but true.
Have a McDonald’s cheeseburger instead of a Quarter Pounder with cheese.
Downsize your drink: Trade a large fountain soda (with ice) for a medium.
I would say there’s a pretty good chance a thought like this has crossed most people’s (women’s) minds: “I know alcohol has a ton of calories, so maybe I just won’t eat as much if I’m planning to drink that day.” This is fine, in theory. A nutritionist might advise you, every once in a while, that it’s alright to skip dinner and just have dessert. That way you’re eating the same number of calories. However, “drunkorexia” can turn into a way of life. And one thing’s for sure: you are NOT going to get the nutrients you need from a glass of vino. Plus, not eating when you drink gets you drunk faster, and then lowers your inhibitions (which might then cause you to binge on food anyway). Point is: it’s a risky balancing act that’s likely to leave you unhealthy. Read more…
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