Food That Gives You Energy

I have never been a very healthy eater. As a mother I had to learn how to prepare the best foods for my children but often struggled to feed them a balanced meal because they did not have a great love for healthy food either, despite me hiding my picky eating habitats. Once life was back to feeding just me, I found that chips or popcorn for dinners served to fill my tummy. Little did I know that popcorn, not the kind I was eating, gives you energy! When I entered into my 40’s I started thinking about my future and decided that I probably needed to make a few dietary changes in order to live a longer, healthier life and not one I suffered through in the years that followed. 

I started exercising and learning how to eat better. Many changes have stayed with me – I am now a veggie lover – somewhat. I have always eaten raw vegetables but started eating cooked ones like brussels sprouts and broccoli. I learned that iceberg lettuce wasn’t the only lettuce out there and the colored leaves were actually good; gone are the days of throwing them to the side!

I started my gardening business in 2014 and dabbled in gardening for others in my spare time while teaching container garden classes on the nights and weekends. After years of working in great companies and with a great emotional support and encouragement from my friends and family, I took the leap and started gardening full time. Working outside in Central Florida for 8 – 12 hours a day can be extremely draining and the desire to eat full meals, especially in the summer, was nil. I thought I should do a little research and find some food I could eat that might boost my energy and keep me going during the day. 

• Eggs – helps build and maintain muscle mass – lots of vitamin B 
• Edamame – B*complex vitamins & quickly converts carbs into energy 
• Nuts, pumpkin seeds, dried fruit, bananas, pistachios, almonds
• Quinoa & brown rice 
• Greek yogurt 
• Chickpeas 
• Leafy greens like spinach and kale 
• Salmon
• Sweet potatoes & avocados 
• Dark chocolate

Although there are still many things I am not ready to introduce into my diet, I was surprised to find so many things I could enjoy eating and get a little boost of energy while doing so.