Feeling exhausted after your lunch each day? There’s a reason your energy often crashes right after your midday meal. If you want to keep your afternoon productive, it’s essential to maintain a balanced diet.
You can boost your productivity in the second half of your day by:
- Eating the right amount of fiber, protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates.
- Staying hydrated
- Avoiding heavy creams or processed sugars
At La Marsa Eats, our fast-casual Mediterranean menu is a great choice for a lunch that doesn’t cause you to crash. Contact us today to learn more, or order online at our Auburn Hills location now.
How Does Unhealthy Food Lead to an Energy Crash?
Many people experience energy crashes after eating lunch, but don’t understand what causes them. When you eat a lunch that’s heavy in refined carbohydrates, it causes your blood sugar to rise sharply.
When this happens, your body responds with a large dose of insulin to clear away the sugar. This causes your blood sugar to plummet, which results in the brain fog and sleepiness that are commonly experienced.
Instead of reaching for more caffeine, you can change your diet to keep you energized and focused. Avoid refined carbohydrates such as white breads, pastas, and sugary drinks.
Another factor in energy crashes is foods that require immense energy to digest, such as high-fat, greasy foods. These foods require more energy for your body to process. As a result, it diverts blood flow away from your brain and toward your digestive tract. This change results in feelings of heaviness and sluggishness.
How Do Nutritious Lunches Boost Your Afternoon Productivity?
Nutritious lunches that keep you feeling productive feature complex carbohydrates and fiber. Whole foods like chickpeas, lentils, and fresh veggies are all great for helping you maintain focus in the second part of your day.
Since these carbs are complex, they break down more slowly. This releases glucose into your blood little by little, rather than a sudden spike. This makes it possible to avoid the insulin crash and maintain the glucose for your brain’s energy.
Proteins and fats also play a role in maintaining energy. Lean proteins can directly affect alertness, motivation, and your ability to handle stress. Healthy fats improve blood flow to the brain, reduce inflammation, and keep you feeling sharp.
How Can You Avoid an Energy Crash?
Eating Balanced
If you want to maximize your productivity, it can help you follow the 50/25/25 rule. This rule states that your plate should be made up of:
- 50% non-starchy vegetables for fiber
- 25% lean protein for focus
- 25% complex carbohydrates for energy.
Mediterranean food is great for achieving a balance of proteins, carbs, veggies, and fats. At La Marsa Eats, we serve bowls and wraps with plenty of fresh veggies, lean, halal-friendly proteins, and healthy fats like our house-made hummus.
Our bowls can also be customized, so you can choose the ideal balance of veggies and proteins to meet your nutritional needs.
Staying Hydrated
Another aspect of midday nutrition is proper hydration. Staying consistently hydrated can help you avoid an energy crash that leaves you exhausted the rest of your day. Even mild dehydration can significantly impact your attention, concentration, and memory.
You don’t have to drink plain water to achieve hydration. An herbal tea or electrolyte drink can also help boost your hydration levels.
Avoiding Heavy, Sugary Foods
Avoiding heavy, processed, or overly-sugar foods is also key to avoiding a crash. By not eating these foods, you’ll avoid the blood sugar and insulin spikes that leave you feeling fatigued.
You’ll also maintain more energy for your brain, rather than your digestive system. By choosing lighter, nutrient-dense food, you’ll keep oxygen-rich blood in your brain, allowing you to stay focused.
Get Healthy, Mediterranean Lunch On-the-Go at La Marsa Eats
At La Marsa Eats, we serve delicious Mediterranean-style bowls and wraps in a fast-casual setting. All our food is made with fresh ingredients, prepared in our kitchens daily. With halal-certified proteins and fresh ingredients, you can be confident you’re getting a healthy meal that will leave you feeling energized and focused.
Our signature bowls and sandwich wraps are created to deliver delicious, nutritious flavor that keeps you satisfied throughout your busy day. We also give you the option to customize your own bowl.
Ready to explore our Mediterranean flavors? Visit La Marsa Eats today. Contact us on our website or order online at our Auburn Hills location.
