help: what can I eat at work instead of sugar?

[MamaChocoholic]

I am chronically sleep deprived (18mo twins who don't sleep more than 3 hours at a stretch) and to get through the day at work I have lots of sugar - around 10am, 2pm, 4pm (lunch at 12). I'm getting lardy, and the sugar has to go.

What can I eat instead that will keep me going when I flag? Have tried filling up on oatcakes, nuts, fruit, but nothing seems to solve that fuzzy brain feeling except cake or chocolate.

To complicate matters, I am off caffeine so can't even mainline coffee or diet coke.

When I put bran flakes I meant to say it's also good/better with All Bran

I'm sure the GI is pretty low as it's all brown stuff (I use brown flour) but I've also used honey instead of sugar

thanks for the suggestions, all good.

yesterday I did really well, but today I gave in to some sweets I was offered, the bought a cake mid afternoon. bah. only 4 hours broken sleep last night though. trying to hope for better tonight, and have bought some iron tablets.

I do love ginger and chilli, so will think of a way to incorporate them. trying to learn to eat fish, but haven't braved mackerel yet!

googie, I totally adore dried fruit, but it gives me the same sugar buzz as a packet of sweets, so I will keep your recipe for weekend use to share with the kids. :)

Can you have a jacket spud with cheese and tuna for lunch? If I have wheat-based lunch I get v hungry and tired by 4pm, if I have a potato and some protein I last until 7pm. Worth all the cheese if it stops me eating sweets and chocolate :)

tbh though, and I hate to say this, but sleep training is your friend. DS didn't sleep through until about 18mo and I was completely buggered by this point. How you do it with twins....

MamaC - I do love mackerel but the best way I found to eat it was tinned mackerel in brine - ok it's a lot of salt but it takes away some of the real oily feel of it. I either mash it up into a rough sort of paste and have it on toast (which I LOVE) or I used to make a big salad with avocado and flake the mackerel into the bowl. Hot smoked mackerel is another nicer way to enjoy it, I found - again, just knocks some of the oiliness on the head - you can have that in sandwiches as well.
Just a few ideas for you!

Have you checked you vit D levels as this an cause tiredness?

As a chronic insomnia sufferer of nearly 17 years now, I can tell you that you need a protein heavy snack mid morning. As a veggie that's possibly harder for you than for a meat eater, but grabbing a small 2oz portion of nuts or a tablespoon of peanut butter, followed by a piece of fruit will keep you far more stable than anything else. Alternatively if you're not vegan, a couple of rounds of wholemeal toast and 2 scrambled eggs for either breakfast or lunch is also a great choice. I know this stuff believe me, I've tried all the tricks over the years and protein on waking and mid morning is what will see you through the afternoon to an early night :)

googietheegg that sounds yummy!! But why is it called a Bum Bun?? Because of all the fibre...? Am definitely going to try it, sounds delish.

Try
Porridge/ raisens/ banana for breakfast ( add oats to 1/3 water 2/3 milk in glass jug and leave overnight then 3 mins in microwave)

Spinach/ pesto pasta or spinach tomato pasta plus any other veg. Should fill you up and add iron

Houmous with oatcakes for more protein as snack

Plenty of Fresh fruit and water

wopbop because it keeps you regular!

roast a load of chopped sweet potatoes + bell peppers + munch on those at work. Make a protein heavy smoothie with yoghurt, a few almonds (I soak mine overnight first)and some silken tofu (plus any fruit, bit of honey etc). I'm in a similar boat to you OP and am far too drawn to the sweet stuff to combat tiredness. More water definitely helps, and I find it works best if I drink it warm, for some reason. But silken tofu is the biz for sorting yr blood sugar IMO.