Most of us would agree that lunch is a happily anticipated break in people’s workday. But how often after lunch do you feel over-stuffed and ready for a nap—anything but work? Whether you are packing lunch, grabbing it on the go, or eating out, you can make smart choices that will cut back on calories and bring you energy for the rest of your day. Best of all, these tips can decrease costs, too!
- Soup up your lunch – soup is a simple lunch that won’t weigh you down; in fact, studies have found that people who eat a serving of soup daily lose more weight than those who eat the same amount of calories but don’t eat soup. Nutritious low-salt soups will nourish you as they flush waste from your body; best of all, soup is easy for your body to assimilate and you will return to lunch with renewed energy and untroubled digestion. Go for homemade soup whenever possible to steer clear of the salt and chemicals in canned soups.
- Brown foods bring energy – if you struggle to stay awake in the afternoon, you’re not alone. Many people feel suddenly drowsy a few hours after lunch. This is usually because lunch consists largely of carbohydrates, which burn very quickly, leaving you without enough energy to make it until dinner. For more energy, switch from “white” foods to “brown” foods. Unlike white rice, white bread, and white pasta, brown rice is packed with magnesium, an essential mineral that your cell’s mitochondria use for energy production.
- Protein for steady energy – proteins are low on the glycemic index, so they burn slowly and give you steady fuel that will last two to four hours. A piece of chicken, turkey, or fish with a salad is an excellent lunch. Choose a light lunch that includes about 4 ounces of protein, the size of a deck of cards. Skip starchy foods and sweets at lunchtime—after the initial stimulation, fatigue soon follows.
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