Eat to Avoid the Midday Slump

It happens to us parents and also to our kids.  That midday “I need to take a nap” feeling.  Well, I am all for a nap on the week ends and holidays but the reality is that if we are eating and drinking properly we should not feel such a crash mid afternoon.

Here’s the good news:  there are steps you can take to energize your body throughout the day and avoid this slump. The best place to start is with breakfast. Before we even talk about what to eat, let’ s recognize that it’ s important TO EAT breakfast. Your body has been in a state of rest, relaxation, and recharging for several hours. It needs fuel in the form of carbohydrates and protein to get going in the morning. Instead of processed cereal and milk, why not go for oatmeal with almonds and blueberries? Or prepare a couple of hard boiled eggs that you can grab-n-go in a hurry. Pair them with a brown rice cake with almond butter and jelly and you’ re starting your day off on the right foot.

It’s also important to remember to drink water throughout the day. Dehydration is certain to cause sleepiness and fatigue. Imagine that a few glasses of water could be the difference between your 3pm exhaustion and vitality. Don’ t forget to put some thought into your snacks. You want to be sure to stay away from excess fats and sugars, which are in candy bars and most packaged food. The fatty foods will make you feel lethargic and the sugars will provide an initial spike, but then you’ ll feel the afternoon slump as you come down from the sugar high. Take a few minutes at home to prepare trail mix with almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and  Goji berries. For sweetness, you can add some cacao nibs or mini chocolate chips (I prefer Enjoy Life brand because their products are free of common allergens). The midday madness doesn’t have to continue. You can control how your body feels by nourishing it with healthy food (and water) throughout the day.

But do take that nap whenever possible!

PS: Please let us know if you have any suggestions of topics for our wellness column.  Thank you!  

Cheers to your health,

The Wellness Committee