by Janey White, MS, RDN
Holidays are an extra busy time of year, and sometimes it feels as If we’re running out of energy. So whether you’ve added more activities to your day or you are just going about your normal day, fall is a great time to stock up on some brain fuel to keep you going!
Choosing foods with healthy fats and protein can help boost mental focus and keep your energy level up. That’s why we call those foods brain fuel. Healthy fats are a key nutrient for brain health. Good choices typically come from plants and fish. Some examples would be olives, olive oil, nuts, seeds, avocados, tuna, and salmon.
Protein-rich foods help keep your energy level stable and keep you from crashing between meals. Things like meat, eggs, poultry, fish, beans, nuts, and seeds are all protein-packed foods.
As the pace of life picks up, it’s a great time to cook bigger batches of food and reheat leftovers throughout the week to get healthy meals in.
Look at the list of energy boosting foods above. How can you add them to meals you already make? How about adding tuna to a tossed salad? Or giving your kids nuts instead of chips as an after-school snack? Be creative!
You can find this article and more in Reach Up Edition: Winter 2016
