If you often have a long day ahead of juggling your career, family, friends, and personal goals (isn’t that all of us?) you can definitely relate to the incredible amount of energy you spend living your best life. Keep up with yourself by feeding your body the nutrients it needs to function at its best. Use food to your advantage as a means to help you reach your daily to-dos and long-term goals.
Food is fuel. With that said, incorporate some or all of these healthy and wholesome recipes to energize you throughout the day.
First thing in the morning
It’s an anecdotal health belief that what you put in your body first thing in the morning can set the tone for your entire day, and it makes sense as you’re setting yourself up for a momentum of healthy choices. Make it a habit of starting your morning with healthy choices and watch the day unfold into a string of more good-for-you decisions. To help set the tone for your day, try incorporate one of these morning beverages to kick start your digestive system, hydrate from a long nights rest, and to brighten your palate into a new day.
Lemon water: Drinking warm water with lemon is an ancient ayurvedic practice known to help detox your liver and stimulate digestive enzymes.
- Mix the juice of half a lemon with one cup of warmed water. Sip through a straw to protect your teeth, especially if you’re going to make this a daily morning habit.
Sunrise Green Juice: Nothing energizes the body quite like a chlorophyll-loaded glass of freshly pressed green juice drank on an empty stomach. Not only will you flood your body with energizing nutrients first thing in the morning, you alkalize your system too.
Simply run the following ingredients through a juicer for the perfect wake-up call:
- 5 medium stalks of celery
- ½ apple
- 1 large handful of kale
- 1 medium cucumber
- 1 inch knob of ginger
Breakfast time:
Whether you start your morning with an energizing elixir or not, breaking your fast from a night of sleeping should be all about putting in the right nutrition in your body to start the day. Focus on covering all your macronutrients to properly fuel your body for the day ahead:
Wake-up breakfast smoothie: This smoothie is perfect for on-the-go mornings where you need to zip around without having to sacrifice the quality, taste, or nutrient-profile of your breakfast.
Blend the following:
- 1 large banana
- 4 tablespoon oats
- 1 heaped tablespoon peanut butter
- 1 date, pitted
- 1 heaped teaspoon chocolate powder
- 1 teaspoon chia seeds
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 shot of espresso
- 1 cup almond milk
Lunchtime: Ever feel sleepy after lunch? That’s likely because your digestive system and blood sugar are bogged down from empty carbs. Try a more wholesome lunch that focuses on protein and wholegrains to fuel you longer without that post-lunch sleepiness.
Roasted chicken and massaged kale wrap: This wrap is delicious and makes for an easy and filling packed lunch. Simply fill up a whole-wheat pita bread with as much chicken and vegetables you want. The quantities are up to you!
Ingredients:
Makes 2 servings
- 4 large handfuls of kale
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce (tamari if you’re gluten-free)
- 1 heaped teaspoon tahini
- Caramelized onions
- Sundried tomatoes
- Shredded roast chicken
- 1 whole wheat pita
Method:
- Massage the kale in olive oil, soy sauce, and tahini until wilted.
- Add in the chicken, caramelized onions, and sundried tomatoes to the kale and toss well.
- Add a generous amount of the salad into your pita wrap right before eating.
Mid-Afternoon Pick-Me Up:
The 3 pm slump is no joke. Whether your body’s natural circadian rhythm is naturally winding down as the sun gets lower, if you’re at wits end in the office and mentally drained, or if your blood sugar is low with your lunch long gone and with a few more hours to go till dinner, an afternoon snack is the perfect opportunity to nourish and energize a tired body. Skip the 3 pm cup of coffee (your sleep quality will thank you!) and try this energizing recipe instead:
Ashwagandha latte: Counter the stresses of your day before it’s even over with a warming Ashwagandha latte. This adaptogenic drink will give your body that caffeine-free boost with the added benefits of feeling calm and relaxed. We added cinnamon to sweeten up this recipe and to help ensure your blood sugar levels stay stable, while a generous serving of nut butter will provide just enough protein and healthy fats to keep you satiated till dinner.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup cashew milk
- 1 tablespoon cashew butter (you can use almond milk & almond butter, or any nut milk and butter of your choice)
- 1 teaspoon Ashwagandha powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon honey
Method:
- In a pot, mix the Ashwagandha powder, cinnamon, nut butter and honey with the cashew milk.
- Gently heat the mixture.
- Pour and serve in your favorite mug
Stay energized throughout the day by stashing these essentials either in your bag or at work to help keep your energy levels up, without worrying about a rollercoaster ride of sudden rises and drops in energy. Have our Ashwagandha on hand to help keep you feeling focused and alert amidst stress which can leave you feeling drained, and pair it with our Ceylon Cinnamon to keep your blood sugar levels stable throughout the day.
