Foods that increase energy other than carbs?

gettingthere1721

I just started college and I'm tired . What's some good food that would increase my energy, both short term and long term?

TavistockToad

why 'other than carbs'?

how many calories are you eating?

psuLemon

Food in general will provide energy. If you are tired, I would ask what types of food you are eating (are you eating nutrient dense foods), how large of a deficit are you running, what kind of exercise and your sleep schedule.

Caffeine might help though.

jdwils14

Fatty protein sources. Or protein-rich fatty sources.

Sara1791

Good food, a little caffeine, and getting to bed on time. If I could change one unhealthy habit from my past, it would be sleep deprivation. Sometimes it's worth it - a party, a fun weekend - but it's often just a waste of time that makes you feel terrible.

MountainMomma58

Being away from your normal routine is tough. Work on getting into a routine. Make sure you eat regularly. Make a schedule of eating times if necessary. Protein and complex carb for breakfast will go far. Lean protein or half a peanut butter sandwich is good for lunch. Carry snacks like Fiber One bars or an apple with for snacking on the way to class. Try to eat a balanced dinner. Drinking a lot of water goes without saying.

lemurcat12

It differs person to person, so pay attention to what you eat and when you are feeling low energy.

Sleep is obviously the best option.

Caffeine will normally wake people up (wow, really going with the obscure facts, aren't I?). ;-)

Low-fiber/highly refined foods that are high in carbs (and for many of us, that have fat too, but are highly palatable) often will lead to an immediate spike in energy and then less energy a bit later. Getting into a cycle of relying on these foods for energy can thus be counter-productive, and yet for many a side effect of too little sleep is craving them. A better option for most is eating high carb foods with more fiber and/or eating high carb foods with fat and protein--for example, half a bagel with cream cheese and lox vs. bagel.

Similarly, for a snack, look for foods with more of a balance, especially fiber and protein. Good options could be greek yogurt (maybe with berries), fruit (some people find it works well, others find it doesn't work for them), cottage cheese, nuts. Many other options -- you get the idea. If largely avoiding carbs then better choices then these (other than the nuts) would be things like a hard boiled egg, jerky, some protein bars, maybe, cheese, avocado.

Sometimes a strong taste or the act of eating will wake me up, and if I thought that might help, a pickle or maybe just some raw veg.

divcara

Why other than carbs? I typically will eat a (portioned) good carb (oats, sweet potato, potatos, brown rice, pasta, etc) with my protein and/or healthy fat every 3.5-4 hours. I personally find it keeps my blood sugar levels from spiking or dipping and I feel like I have energy, not sluggish, and I am not starving until I eat again.

goldthistime

The earlier answers are the obvious and probably best answers but I'll add that eating red meat every once in a while seems to help me when I have inexplicable low energy.

bunnyluv19

cheese or peanut butter&fresh fruit(bananas) or dried fruit(dates,raisins)__eggs with tomato __ fruit or honey flavored Greek yogurt...

Dano74

Carbs are sweet nectar and ready fuel for... energy. It's easy to be afraid of them... but don't be. If you're active and at a deficit with your calories, you're using them. Fruits and veggies (all carb-ridden) are a great source of micronutrients which will help with energy levels.

Sleep helps with being tired, obviously but if we're talking nutrition... depriving yourself of food to the point of being tired... typically, that's a decent indicator you're not eating enough.

psuLemon

goldthistime wrote: »

The earlier answers are the obvious and probably best answers but I'll add that eating red meat every once in a while seems to help me when I have inexplicable low energy.

That could be due to low iron.

pebble4321

You need to consider more than just food... work on finding the right balance of food, sleep and exercise.
Caffeine works well for me in the morning, but I limit it to two or three cups of coffee, otherwise I have trouble sleeping.

CattOfTheGarage

Varies person to person. Whole grains are important for me, especially oats. Oatcakes are my ultimate for long lasting steady blood sugar and concentration. Great snack for a long drive. You need to experiment and find out what works well for you.

amusedmonkey

As far as food goes, food energy boost = carbs. No two ways about that. Now you may want to look at other things as well, like getting enough sleep, enough iron and B vitamin rich foods, your calorie allowance, fueling your activities...etc.