What gives you an energy boost? Share with Nairn’s Oatcakes

[EllieMumsnet]

This activity is now closed

Everyone needs a little boost now and then. We all have those frantically busy days - whether at work, at home taking care of the kids or just rushing around trying to keep all those proverbial plates spinning – and it’s easy to forget how to keep yourself well nourished and energised. Not only can making better nutritional choices help keep you energised, but also little emotional boosts such as listening to your favourite song can also have a huge effect on how we handle life’s demands and whatever the day throws at us! With that in mind Nairn’s would really like to know what gives you an energy boost?

Here’s what Nairn’s have to say: “Nairn’s are all about ‘grabbing life by the oats’ and over the next few weeks we’ll be bringing you some exclusive, energising tips - we’d like to think it’s a pretty good fit considering just how naturally energising oats can be for you. You’ll find interviews with our inspiring and energetic ambassadors, expert advice from our resident nutritional therapist and loads more over on our website.

So, if you’ve got a go-to snack or energising habit that you swear by to keep you up and running, why not share it with the community? You could be lucky enough to win a hamper of incredible goodies from Nairn’s and friends, worth £150!”

What part of the day are you most likely to feel the need for an energy boost? What are the danger signs that your child’s energy is flagging? What foods or snacks do you give them to stop them getting ‘hangry’?! Do you get an energy boost from having a bit of family time? Maybe you get a boost from listening to your favourite playlist on your way to work? Would you say that exercise is what helps give you a boost? And if so what snacks do you eat to make sure you keep your energy going after exercise? What are your favourite breakfasts and lunches that help keep you going for the day? And what foods do you avoid that make you ‘crash’? How do you incorporate oats into your diet?

Whatever gives you an energy boost, share them on the thread below and you’ll be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a Nairn’s hamper worth £150 and one MNer will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

[Lovelydovey]

I’m trialling walking meetings at work as a way of raising energy and productivity levels. I much prefer bilaterals with staff while walking to St Paul’s cathedral, along the Thames or even to Borough Market for cake! Infinitely better than 30 mins in a dark cramped meeting room. Seems to be working so far - we come back to work energised and motivated.

[lovemyflipflops]

What part of the day are you most likely to feel the need for an energy boost?

Between 10 and 12 - even though I always have my overnight oats and fruit for breakfast.


What are the danger signs that your child’s energy is flagging? What foods or snacks do you give them to stop them getting ‘hangry’?! Do you get an energy boost from having a bit of family time? Maybe you get a boost from listening to your favourite playlist on your way to work?

Their signs of being 'hangry' are not being able to concentrate on playing, being sulky and not wanting to co-operate- and the odd door slam. I would offer a drink of juice and some toast or raisins normally. We would take a trip to the park to rejuvenate ourselves, or if it was raining put on our favourite singalong Disney film.

Would you say that exercise is what helps give you a boost? And if so what snacks do you eat to make sure you keep your energy going after exercise?

Yes, definitely being outdoors, and having exercise gives me an energy boost - even if I don't want to do it beforehand. I would normally have a banana or a chocolate bar (which probably is the wrong thing)

What are your favourite breakfasts and lunches that help keep you going for the day? And what foods do you avoid that make you ‘crash’? How do you incorporate oats into your diet?

I always have overnight oats, with either blueberries, oranges and honey to sweeten to keep my sustained until lunchtime, I would avoid biscuits and chocolate to avoid the mid-morning crash. I would incorporate oats into my diet by continuing with my overnight oats, I would add more oats into my diet by using by overripe bananas and making 'banana bread' incorporated with oats for a mid-morning snack for the family after reading about the benefits of oats.

[GooodMythicalMorning]

The time between getting home from school and dinner time. Yiu don't want them being hungry but at the same time not too much so they're still going to manage their dinner.

[GooodMythicalMorning]

oops posted too soon. we have toast sometimes or a cereal bar but I don't really like them as they are generally just packed with sugar and not much else. Fruit is ok.

My energy flags between dinner and going to work for 8pm but I might just have a couple of bits of choc as I dont need much, just enough to help me last a few hours before I can then go to bed.

[shumway]

Drinking water always makes me feel a bit more energized.

[WowOoo]

I am thankful that my kids eat porridge - it's cheap and really keeps them going.
If I need a boost I'll have some fruit. I have to say that I felt a bit weak the other day in work and someone gave me half a bar of chocolate. Not healthy but it really did help and made me feel better til I could go home and eat something better.

[lemonjam]

It’s coffee and chocolate about 3pm for me, but oats do sound healthier!

[Whisky2014]

Having a walk around the office after sitting at my desk for a long time. I snack through the day on yoghurt, grapes, cereal bars, satsumas which seems to give me good amounts if energy to last through the day.
If at home, I think hearing good news or making an exciting plan..that seems to get me buzzing and have lots of energy and listening to really good upbeat music :)

[Gatoadigrado]

Around 10 am is the danger point for me.... a long time since waking up but still not near enough to lunch time! I mix oats and fruit in a pot of fat free yoghurt, leave overnight in fridge and take into work with me to deal with that 10 o’clock dip. Really fills me up and gives me a productive work boost too. I even save tasks which require a lot of energy / focus for after I’ve had my mid morning boost! I reckon if I didn’t have this, I’d be eating a dozen chocolate biscuit as a substitute!

[ipswichwitch]

Why have I never seen these astro bites before? I’ll be getting some of those in for the DC ( since they eat me out of house and home they might fill them up a bit longer!)

I’ve started adding oats and fruit to yoghurt for breakfast and been surprised at how full I’ve felt for some time after. Breakfast during the week tends to be when I’m at work - don’t have time to fit it in at home for various reasons, including getting up very early (start work early) so I’m rarely ready for it then. I do feel an energy dip by 8.30/9am so I have my yoghurt/porridge then.

[bikerclaire]

I recently finished my MSc while working part time and looking after our DD who is now 2.5 yo. Every student gets those days when nothing sinks in and brain fog hangs low around you! I needed to be studying in all the precious time that I had and my best food to help this was salmon and brocolli. I'd simply cook the salmon in the microwave and steam or boil the brocolli and eat them as they come and I found that within about 15 minutes my brain would suddenly go ZING and I could soak up information again easily. I haven't had oatcakes for a while but now come to think of it these would be great for sustained energy when pulling an all-dayer, where he would take our daughter out for a few hours and I would get lost in the haze of study/writing, often not 'coming up for air' for a few hours at a time. I'd then kind of blink awake and suddenly realise I'm desperate for a cup of tea/water and food and the loo! Haha! Well I must've been doing something right as I managed to gain a merit, phew! It was worth it!

[jacqui5366]

definitely overnight oats mixed with an apple puree gives me the boost I need and keeps me satisfied til lunchtime, I love the oat and cinnamon bar as a mid afternoon snack to keep me going until tea time, and often pop one in my son's lunch box as he loves them too, and when he is getting 'hangry' the BBQ pop oats go down a treat !. We generally avoid foods with high sugar as it gives you a short boost and does not satisfy in the long term.

[ohdannyboy]

Oat muesli for breakfast, banana from break, and as I have just discovered your flatbreads - the caramelised onion flatbreads with cream cheese is a great lunch. If my little ones are getting hangry after school they are allowed an oats & chocolate chip biscuit whilst I am making dinner. We love a long walk, or bike ride in the evening to give us a boost after dinner. To incorporate oats into our diet along with overnight oats, I make flapjacks for snacks and if I make a rhubarb crumble for Sunday lunch - a oaty crumble topping goes down a treat !

[Florentina]

I cannot do wihout breakfast: muesli with gluten free oat milk that I make myself. Then I always flag mid morning so I have a slice of toast with peanut butter or another savoury snack to keep me going. Lunch is essential & then a couple of gluten free oatcakes around 4pm. Then I only need a light supper. My husband & bigger kids can go all day with quite little food & then a massive supper but that does not suit me at all!

[Montydoo]

for me it's banana oat pancakes for us on the morning - it fills us up and gives us the energy we need until lunchtime - the walk on the school run is just what I need to clear my head and give me the incentive to get in the kitchen to make lunch and dinner - oat flatbreads mixed with some spice are a great way to keep my children from becoming hangry before dinner. I avoid crisps biscuits and chocolate for 'hangry' episodes as they can bring you crashing down and affect your mood.

[OrdinarySnowflake]

I'm another who finds a quick burst of exercise gives me more energy, not less. Plus I'm like a small child in that I need to get out in the fresh air or I'm hard work!

[Asuwere]

I find a walk while listening to music gives me a little boost :)

[MadameJosephine]

Singing. Recently joined rock choir, originally I joined to get out and make new friends but I underestimated the value of the singing itself, belting out a few tunes is really energising and a great mood booster

[BettaSplenden]

A cup of tea with decent biscuits and something good on the telly always makes me happy. The nairns oat cakes I got in my moving in box last week were a definite boost (had to restock as I ate them without sharing ;) )

[user1496959500]

Toast with peanut butter!

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

I need an energy boost at about 3 o'clock and usually just go with a handful of nuts or a Nakd bar if at work. At home I'd generally go for a piece of peanut butter on toast.

To me, oatcakes are a lunch rather than a snack. I love them with tongue-cuttingly sharp mature Cheddar and a rock hard conference pear.

Non food energy boosts include a kitchen or bedroom dance or a quick walk around the block. Clarins yellow shower gel is lovely too, or a sniff of eucalyptus essential oil.

[torthecatlady]

My staples are porridge or muesli, bananas and coffee!

[Ingurr]

Nairns Cheese Oatcakes and Oat biscuits are a lifesaver for me on long train journeys after visits to family. If I'm late getting to the station and don't have time to buy a sandwich I don't need to worry as I have my oatcakes and biscuits to keep me going during the three and a half hour journey before changing trains. I like the fact that they are wrapped in small packs. I can relax with a book during the journey.

[StreetDreams]

I work from home and tend to find my energy flagging if I work for longer than 2-3 hours without a break. I used to drink coffee to punctuate the day but found it was the number one thing to send my blood pressure up, so I trained myself to drink tea instead, which I never used to like. I started with super-weak cups of earl grey and gradually developed a taste for all kinds of herbal and fruit teas. At the moment my favourite is turmeric tea, which tastes exactly as you'd expect and is also a jazzy bright yellow colour! I love my cups of tea. They give me a little break from work, a chance to stretch my legs and a little psychoactive lift.

[flowersfromheaven]

Peanut butter and jam sandwich and when their is not any sunshine like through the winter months I take a Vitamin D supplement it always does the trick for me. (Only a low dose of Vitamin D)