Special Diets

• By Kathleen Finn

Avoid the Caffeine Crash

If coffee is a part of your morning routine, then the crash that follows the caffeine high is also part of your day. You can adeptly sidestep the energy dive by stocking your body’s energy reserves with a snack packed with fiber, complex carbohydrates, and lean, vegetable-based proteins. Stick to whole foods over processed, low-sugar over high, and healthy fats in place of trans fats to sustain energy levels and help you stay alert.

Plan it and pack it

Make it easy on yourself to stay energized and healthy. Whether heading to the office or running to and fro at home, try putting together one of the following nutrient-dense snacks the night before or in the morning to tide you over:

Sidestep the energy dive with snacks packed with fiber, complex carbohydrates, and lean, vegetable-based proteins

Plain, low-fat yogurt

Sprinkle with dried fruit such as chopped papaya, pineapple, or mango or portable fresh fruit such as an apple or banana. Add flaxseeds for an additional shot of fiber and essential fatty acids.

Single-serving cheese

Think beyond your kid’s string cheese to Muenster, sharp cheddar, or Monterey jack. Pair with a handful of whole-grain crackers or a whole-wheat tortilla.

Trail mix

Mix dried fruit—banana chips, apple rings, cherries, cranberries, or traditional raisins—with nuts such as walnuts, cashews, almonds, and a handful of seeds including pumpkin, sesame, and sunflower. Add a multigrain, high-fiber cereal and you have a “go-anywhere” trail mix that's high in fiber, protein, and iron.

Cooked soybeans (edemame)

Add a packet of instant, low-salt miso soup and you have a generous shot of soy protein and healthy, monounsaturated fats.

Protein dips

Black and white bean dips, or others such as hummus (chickpea spread), pair well with carrots or broccoli florets, tortilla chips, or whole-wheat pretzels for a protein punch.

Nut butter spreads

Almond, cashew, or peanut butter spread on fresh apples or firm pear slices combine fat, protein, and complex carbohydrates for an unbeatable trio. For a heftier snack, smooth nut butters on one-half of a whole-grain bagel or slice of bread.