Energy In – Energy Out

Submitted by Mary Jo Coyne on Mon, 07/18/2011 - 12:21pm

Food is fuel that affects our energy levels and supplies the nutrients so your body can perform its best. "Certain eating strategies will definitely help you ward off fatigue," says Stacey Whittle, RD, a registered dietitian at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.Chances are, you are already eating many of the foods best suited for daylong energy. It's simply a matter of eating them at the right time, in the right amounts, and in the right combinations."If you watch your portion size and take time for that midmorning and midafternoon snack, you'll be surprised at how positively your energy levels are affected," Whittle says.

 

Energy In…

  • Don’t skip breakfast
  • Snack on fruits and vegetables midmorning and midafternoon
  • Bring a healthy lunch to work rather than “eating out”
  • Eat off smaller plates to reduce portion size
  • Ask for salad dressing “on the side” to reduce calories
  • Drink water before a meal and avoid sugar sweetened beverages

 Energy Out…

  • Join an exercise group
  • Do yard work or house work to keep moving
  • Walk (outside or inside at the mall) instead of watching TV
  • Take the stairs instead of the escalator
  • Choose activities you enjoy…you will be more likely to stick with them

 

Choose to take some small steps today toeat well, keep moving and create and enjoy a healthier, more energetic lifestyle!!

 

**Adapted from US Dept. of Health and Human Services / National Institute of Health

 

Mary Jo Coyne, RN, BSN, CWC, CCM joined Managed Care Concepts in 1994. Currently she is Director of Nurses responsible for supervision of all of the registered nurses in the Case Management, Disease Management and Wellness Coaching Departments.