Nutrition advice - afternoon energy slump

[Hairytoe]

I feel fine in the morning but around 2.00 in the afternoon I have absolutely no energy and really struggle to get motivated to do anything. It really affects my mood and I just can't face doing anything with my 2 year old (unfortunately he no longer naps and will only watch tv for a short time). Then the 3 o clock school run to collect his older sisters is such an effort! by tea time I start to feel a bit better.

I'd really like to be less tired and grumpy in the afternoons. Are there any straightforward easy to implement tips I could try? Is there something I should or shouldn't be eating for lunch?

Thanks for any help

Hi

You could try having carbs for lunch that are digested slowly - grainy bread instead of White, pulses (beans etc) So beans on toast with granary bread with perhaps a just ripe banana? Aparently it's a slump in blood sugar levels that usually causes the energy level slumps you describe.

Can recommend the book GL Diet for Dummys ( it's not necessarily a weight loss diet) as it explains this approach to eating really well.

What DO you have for lunch? I would say nothing too stodgy. Perhaps a salad with tuna or chicken for protein with lots of peppers or other vegetables in.

I have recently cut way back on sugar and Im feeling so much better for it! I used to feel tired so eat chocolate or similar for a boost which would wear off quite quickly putting me into another slump. Now i feel much more even all day.

Also try some iron tablets in case you are low. I find that i feel the effects after about a week on those.

Thanks for these replies. I normally have either a salad or a sandwich. I have tried cutting down on carbs before but sometimes felt that made me a but weak and wobbly. I don't eat much sugar ( don't normally have anything sweet after my meals or as a snack).

I will have a look for that book. And I had thought about iron too but I have been checked for that in the past and it was fine.

Maybe I should keep a good diary for a while and note down how I feel. Maybe it would be easier to spot a pattern then.

Thanks again for the advice.

Sorry that should read 'food diary' not 'good diary' !

Oh! I thought you were going to say you have a stodgy lunch followed by chocolate and donuts!

A diary would be a good idea then if its nothing obvious.

I can't do whitebread, pasta, potatoes or anything like that for lunch. They leave me with zero energy for the afternoon.

Ok first day of my food diary/ eating plan and today I am having crab salad.

Could really do with shifting a few pounds too so fingers crossed.

I've bought some probiotic yoghurt drinks too, bit sceptical but thought I'd try one a day and see if it makes a difference.

See that's where I was confused. What does live yoghurt mean? As opposed to dead??

Pharmacist advised me to try probiotic yoghurts but i struggled to find any actual yoghurts labelled as probiotic.

Sorry to sound dim

Ps did feeling better this afternoon but could be psychological. Plus the sun came out which always helps put a spring in my step