Do you ever find yourself ravenous or exhausted an hour after eating? That’s a good indication that your meal wasn’t balanced enough to keep you full (satiated) or prevent your energy from dipping into a slump. We’re here to help you learn how to build meals and snacks so you can get off (and stay off) the energy roller coaster.

Fabulous fats

Fats were the villain of years past when fat-free diets were all the rage. Luckily for our health (and our taste buds), we now know we need certain types of fat in our diet. Fats have lots of functions in our body – they provide energy, help us absorb certain vitamins, and make up crucial parts of cells, just to name a few. 

There are many types of fats, but we’ll keep our focus on plant foods that contain the kinds that benefit our health. 

• Plant oils (olive, avocado, coconut, canola, sesame)
• Avocados
• Olives
• Nuts (ex: almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, peanuts, walnuts)
• Seeds (ex: chia, flax, hemp, pumpkin, sesame, sunflower) 
• Nut & seed butter (ex: almond, peanut, sesame, sunflower)
• 70%+ Dark chocolate (in moderation, 1-2 oz each day)

When you add healthy fats to your meals and snacks, the food you ate actually hangs out a little longer in your stomach before moving along in the digestive system. Fats also help your stomach send a signal to the brain that you’re full. Both of these effects give you that feeling of fullness and satisfaction, which prevents overeating and helps with weight management. 

Fantastic Fiber

Fiber is another important nutrient that contributes to that full and satisfying feeling after a meal. If you just conjured up an image of oat bran, we’re here to set the record straight. There are plenty of tasty foods that are chock full of it. 

What is fiber? Fiber is a type of carb found in many plant foods, but we can’t actually digest it for energy.  It makes the full journey through our digestive system, and that’s the key to it’s health benefits. While we can’t digest fiber for our own use, our gut bacteria can. In fact – it’s their favorite food. Since fiber is bulky and takes up space, when you eat higher fiber foods, it fills up your stomach faster than low fiber foods, making you feel full more quickly. Your body also takes more time to digest those foods that contain fiber, and slowing down the digestive process keeps you satiated, satisfied, and energized. To get the most benefit from eating fiber, it’s best to get it from food, rather than fiber supplements or additives. Here are some good options to include in your meals:

• Whole grains and foods made with whole grains (ex: whole wheat, quinoa, brown rice, whole corn)
• Nuts & seeds (ex: almonds, cashews, flax, chia, sunflower)
• Avocados
• Potatoes and sweet potatoes with skins
• Beans & lentils
• Fruits (ex: berries, apples, pears)
• Low-carb veggies (ex: mushrooms, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, spinach)

The amount of fiber in fruits and veggies varies, so be sure to eat a variety of them for peak fiber intake!

Pro-tip: when introducing more fiber go slow and drink plenty of water to prevent digestive upset.