The Lasting Health presents: power foods you need to have the best day ever!
Let’s face it: getting up in the morning and leaving your cozy bed can feel like the last thing you want to do. I know that you enjoy lying around in bed and you’d wish to sleep in for a little longer, but that’s not always possible, and some things will make you excited about your day: a good cup of coffee, meeting someone you like, and a good breakfast.
If you always feel groggy in the morning and it takes you a couple of hours to be fully awake, a reason for that might be what you put inside your body. If you want to be enthusiastic about your day and have the energy to tackle your to-do list, you need to consume these power foods.
A balanced and nutritious breakfast includes protein, healthy fats, and carbohydrates that are slowly digested and that will give you a boost until lunch, along with veggies or a piece of fruit. Let’s not keep this intro any longer and start talking about these power foods that will help you have a successful day!
1. Eggs
If you’re into savory breakfasts like I am, you’ll be happy to hear that eggs are one of the best power foods you could consume in the morning. One egg has around 75 calories, 6-7 grams of protein, and 5 grams of healthy fats.
They’re versatile and packed with nutrients your body needs to have energy all morning long. You could eat them fried, with a slice of integral toast and a piece of fresh fruit, in an omelet with veggies and cheese, hard or soft boiled, with avocado toast, in breakfast bowls, burritos, or scrambled with parsley and cheddar cheese, and with a slice of bread.
If you want a sweet version of a recipe that contains this ingredient, I’ve got you: grab two whole eggs and a banana, mash them together, add a tablespoon of coconut oil in a pan, and cook them like you would cook regular pancakes. Put them on a plate and add them with maple syrup, Greek yogurt, and a teaspoon of peanut butter, and you’ll be full of hours.
Trust me, eggs are a power food, and they can easily become your new favorite food! Oh, I forgot to mention scrambled eggs and feta cheese sandwiches, and maybe a slice of ham or bacon if you’re feeling extra. The combination is divine; try it, and let me know what you think!
2. Greek yogurt
Speaking of Greek yogurt, this is another power food you need to add to your diet. It’s an amazing source of probiotics and they’ll make your body feel amazing. These probiotics are living microorganisms that improve your gut health and give you energy, so you won’t feel sluggish during the day.
What’s amazing about this power food is that is incredibly versatile and you can consume it in a ton of combinations. For instance, you could add Greek yogurt to cakes, muffins, banana bread, and soups, or you could eat it with seeds, fruit, nuts, dried fruit, biscuits, and anything you want.
My favorite way to consume this power food is with a cup of berries, a handful of oats, half a handful of walnuts a teaspoon of peanut butter, and a teaspoon of chia seeds. If you try this combination and you want to make it sweeter, you could add a teaspoon of honey in there too.
3. Oatmeal
Oh, yes, you probably couldn’t imagine reading an article about power foods that will give you energy and make your tummy happy without adding them to our list. Your body needs to process food so that it uses the energy it gives, and carbs are the easiest to turn into fuel.
While simple carbohydrates can give you an instant boost of energy, such as sugar, the fuel will run out quickly, and you’ll notice that you feel even more sluggish than before eating, and you might be tempted to eat something sweet again. It’s a vicious cycle that will affect your body, your digestion, your skin, your mood, and, of course, your energy levels!
To make sure that you feel good all day, you need to consume complex carbohydrates in the morning, such as grains and oats. Oatmeal, the homemade version without added sugars, is one of the healthiest and best options you could choose.
Oats are whole grains that are rich in complex carbs, fiber, and a little bit of fat and protein. Moreover, they’re packed with nutrients, such as magnesium, iron, manganese, copper, phosphorus, vitamin B1, zinc, and folate, so they will keep you satisfied while also keeping unnecessary pounds at bay.
You can consume this power food with plenty of toppings, such as protein powder, nuts and seeds, fruits, and even eggs, as some people like to pair oatmeal with sriracha and fried eggs.
If you don’t like oatmeal but still want to get all the amazing benefits oats contain, you can use this grain in pancakes, smoothies, bowls, and baked goods.
4. Coconut
Coconuts contain mainly fat, but it’s the healthy kind of fat your body needs to have energy and be satisfied. This power food also contains vital minerals and small amounts of B vitamins.
Since coconut meat is rich in fiber, it can keep your blood sugar levels under control and help with digestion. Flaked or shaved coconut will give a delicious flavor to sweet breakfast meals, and they’ll make your cereal, fruit salad, oatmeal, yogurt, or baked goods a lot better and tastier.
If you want to consume this power food along with other fruits, pair them with berries and mangoes, and I guarantee you’ll love it.
5. Almond butter
Despite its high fat content, almond butter is the type of fat you want for breakfast. This power food is rich in monounsaturated fat, which has been linked to a lower risk of heart disease and improved blood sugar control.
Two tablespoons of almond butter include approximately 3.3 grams of fiber and 6.7 grams of protein, which helps keep you satisfied for longer, but pay attention to calories because it contains a lot.
My favorite way to consume this power food is on a piece of toast with a banana, blueberries, or strawberries, in smoothies, or in a bowl of tasty oatmeal. This will give you a boost of protein and healthy fats, so you can feel full for longer.
Make sure to look for a brand that contains no added sugar, trans fats, or artificial additives when you shop for almond butter. If you’re on the hunt for a delicious power food that will give you a ton of energy, I recommend you get this AB here; it’s one of my favorites!
What do you think about these incredible power foods? Do you consume any of these at breakfast? If yes, which one of them is your favorite? If you have any tips and tricks or recipes you want to share with us, feel free to leave them in the comments below!
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