To not understand why my healthy (I think) way of eating isn't making me feel energetic and fabulous

This is so ignorant

There are world athletes that don’t eat meat fgs.

This is bollocks
not eating meat does not lead to iron deficiency 🙄

Some people tend to iron and B12 deficiency no matter what they eat. No sign this applies to OP. That poster was assuming she would be deficient because she doesn't eat meat, which is frankly bollocks

Main thing that jumps out is the lack of meat

You're probably iron deficient

Sport endorphins make you feel top of the world when you eat well. But a few shite nights sleep soon brings you down.

I don’t think you are eating enough to feel fabulous. I think you are under eating. Are you very slim and quite petite? If I were you I’d experiment.. try some scrambled eggs and smoked salmon on toast with a sliced apple with almond butter and a few figs or dates for breakfast. See if you feel better. Are you eating for your bone health, also. Sardines, tahini.. you need calcium.

sorry to hear that, do you mind if I ask how you were diagnosed if your symptoms weren't directly caused by the cancer?

I’m going to be be honest OP - there’s a lot of disordered eating on Mumsnet. It’s the worst place to ask for advice on diet.

People shuddering over a piece of toast or a bit of peanut butter. The demonisation of carbs (which we need for energy!) is next level.

If you eat well but are lacking in energy then blood tests at the doctors are the first port of call. I’d ignore 80% of the advice on here. Apart from those which have said relax a bit and maybe you’re not eating enough.

Exercise and fresh air are so important for energy.

Too many carbs, not enough carbs, too many cals, not enough cals, where’s the meat, stop the sugary smoothies, chill out and have a bun- bet op wishes she hadn’t asked 😂

And lentils. We eat them twice a week.

The one thing that makes the biggest difference to my energy levels is water.
The more water I drink the more energy I have.

not looking to lose weight as already a healthy weight

Why would you think she needs to be thinner?

Book a session with a Health Coach to go through all areas of your life, it’s all interlinked and not just about food. You could talk to a good nutritionist about food and do a hormone test too. I recommend Renee McGregor and Tori Cooper. Google them.

That’s not a lot of carbs! What is all this carb fear?? Ooh dearie me, god forbid someone should have bread for lunch and rice for tea - the horror! 😱 😂

No pulses. Hardly any whole grains. Plenty of insoluble fibre (assuming decent portions of the veg you mention) but not a lot of soluble fibre.

Try switching the snack to wholemeal sourdough with hummus, adding ground chia and flax seeds to your smoothie, mixing the brown rice with quinoa and alternate it with freekeh.

But there's a lot more to health than diet - you say you 'could be more active'. That's likely to be a big part of it. You only build strength with work.

Do you mean the way you're eating isn't making you feel that great? If so I'd keep a food diary for a while. To me, your diet seems a bit faddy, like its been prescribed by a Daily Mail nutritionist - I wouldn't feel that good on it but it's all individual. I know you say you don't want to eat meat but my husband made a pho out of bone broth recently and we both felt amazing the next day. It just worked. Salmon on white beans with tomatoes and greens also makes me feel brilliant.

Can I ask roughly what time you have the smoothie at and do you work full time or retired etc? If it’s quite early ie between say 7 and 9 am I would say it’s too sugary for that time of the morning and I agree with someone else that said maybe it’s an energy peak? I’m almost 59,work full time and have a teenager at home,I don’t think I eat as much as you’ve listed and I feel ok.
I started to fast a bit and definitely have more energy…I don’t have anything apart from maybe a coffee and biscuit until around 11am or later then I have chia pudding with berries and yogurt,a sandwich/salad at around 2-3pm and dinner around 6.
Are you drinking enough water? I started taking vitamins,supplements,electrolytes around 6-8 months ago and I think they help a bit.Maybe you’re iron deficient as don’t eat meat xx

Your diet looks fine.

How are your stress levels?

How much sleep do you get?

Haven't read the full thread but peanut butter is very calorie dense. Your breakfast and snack could add up to a lot of calories

You are not eating enough would be my guess. I would get rid of the smoothie (you need something filling and slower release for breakfast) - it's not filling you up enough to last very long if you are needing a snack AND an early lunch. Then you have FIVE hours between lunch and dinner, a tiny lunch that contains no carbs. Salmon with salad is a ridiculously small dinner. You have no energy because you are not eating enough and starting off the day really really badly.

You think toast and honey/jam for breakfast and an omelette for dinner is enough food? This place is proper bonkers.

I guess so. I just think if you don't have certain things in moderation it could lead you to binge on them. I agree treat is the wrong word. It's just one meal or snack as part of an overall healthy diet.

I'm a bit like that with pastry actually too. I love the idea of it but can't eat much as it is kinda bloating.

No foods should be labelled good or bad. If they're safe to eat them they're just food.

OP, use Chat GPT. They have given me a full meal plan along with shopping list for my chosen supermarket. It’s been really amazing and they have tailored it around my allergies and the fact I’m a vegetarian.

Calories? You must be starving!