It's 7:30 am and you've been hitting the snooze button for half an hour now: you've got a serious case of the Mondays, and you are definitely not a morning person!
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However, snoozing is not the best solution since you're not getting a restful sleep this way. The best way to have energy all day long is to eat a well-balanced breakfast. Read on to find out how!
Anti-fatigue foods
When you're feeling sleepy, certain foods can be of great help and provide an energy boost. The trick? Go for foods that are rich in vitamins, and which have stimulating properties.
A fruity drink to wake yourself up
To wake up gently, and to bring a little freshness to a difficult morning, opt for fruit! They are hearty, rich in vitamins and fibre. You can enjoy them in the form of smoothies or juices, by using a juicer. To save time, you can freeze your fruit and blend it in a blender with a bit of water or milk in the morning. Alternatively, choose fresh fruit, such as clementines, apple, berries, kiwis or bananas.
A hot drink for energy
Some people only drink coffee in the morning, but this is not the best way to start the day. The more coffee you drink, the less effective it is. So we tend to drink even more of it, except that too much coffee every day is not ideal for the body.
The best option remains green tea, or spiced herbal teas, made with various spices or ginger, such as chai tea. These are natural energy drinks that will help you wake up without pushing your body too hard.
Wholegrain cereals
Whether it's muesli, granola or bread, there is only one rule to follow: these products should be wholemeal. Forget about ordinary wheat flour, and opt for wholemeal flours (spelt, rye, whole wheat, buckwheat, etc.), whole grains and oilseeds such as almonds. You can therefore opt for mixing yoghurt with wholegrain cereal and dried fruit, or a slice of wholemeal bread with wholemeal almond mash. If you prefer a savoury breakfast, try a slice of wholemeal bread with ham and cream cheese. This will make sure to keep you going all morning without feeling sleepy.
Superfoods
Superfoods can give you a lot of energy. Matcha, spirulina, acai, curcumin and ginseng can become real allies for a morning full of energy. Add them to your smoothie, cereal, herbal tea or toast.
Watch out for the boomerang effect!
While some foods have the advantage of giving you a boost to get you through the day without any problems, others, on the other hand, may tend to tire you out.
If you drink industrial fruit juices, eat very sweet cereal, sweet breads, jams or pastries, you're sure to get tired! Indeed, all these foods contain bad carbohydrates and are totally energy-consuming. On the spot, they may wake you up and make you feel great, but a few hours later, you'll feel hungry again and tired. This is how fast sugars work. They should therefore be eaten in moderation.
