by Lovena Suson | May 8, 2021 | Health & Fitness
Top 5 Energy Boosters
With so many ads about which superfoods are best, it can be confusing to decipher what’s a scam and what’s the truth. That’s why I compiled a list of the top five energy-boosting foods that will give you true, lasting energy to keep you hopping all day!
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Oatmeal
Oats contain the energizing and stress-lowering B vitamin family, which helps transform carbs into usable energy. Oats are also low on the glycemic index because they have a lot of fiber. That means that your body gets a steady stream of energy, as opposed to a short-term spike because the carbohydrates gradually flow into your bloodstream.
The key here is to look for high-fiber oatmeal, like oat bran. For the best nutrition kick, avoid instant oatmeal and stick with more natural varieties, then add your own sweetness.
Lentils
Beans are a great source of fiber, which translates to a slow release of glucose, as well as B vitamins, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, calcium, and copper. Lentils provide both carbohydrates and protein, making them a great addition to any meal. Lentils help reduce your cholesterol and blood pressure, and they’re low in fat and calories to boot.
Bananas
Bananas provide a lot of potassium, an electrolyte that helps maintain normal nerve and muscle function. Unlike some nutrients, the body doesn’t store potassium for long periods of time. This means that your potassium level can drop during times of stress or during strenuous exercise when the nutrient is lost through excessive sweating. The sugar in bananas is an easily digested form of carbohydrate.
Other fruits such as apples, grapes, peaches, and pineapples also make great energizing and refreshing snacks. We all know we need to be eating more fruits in our diet!
Chocolate
Studies show that chocolate can elevate your energy levels by way of certain bioactive compounds such as tyramine and phenylethylamine. Chocolate has also been claimed to improve anemia, awaken the appetite, aid in digestion, and improve longevity. Chocolate contains sugar and caffeine along with fat and calories so consume in moderation. When possible, opt for dark chocolate or raw cacao for the highest source of antioxidants.
Almonds
These little guys are great if you’re looking to improve your focus and mental clarity. Monounsaturated fats such as almonds provide essential fatty acids, known as omega-3s and omega-6s that produce an alert mental state.
Healthy Fats
Other healthy fats to include in your diet are avocados, seeds, nuts, olive oil, and fish oil. Of course, you’ll want to check with your health practitioner before making drastic changes to your diet.
Incorporating these foods into your daily menu takes some planning, so here are some ideas you can use to ensure you’ll have all the energy you need every day.
Breakfast
- Smoothies: For breakfast, a banana fruit smoothie is a quick and easy way to get the potassium your body requires for normal function. In a blender, combine a small banana, some frozen berries of your choice, ice, 1/2 cup low fat milk, and a teaspoon of vanilla. You can also add a tablespoon of peanut butter or some raw cacao powder as well.
- Oatmeal: If you need a quick breakfast, you may not always think of oatmeal, or you may think of instant oatmeal, which isn’t as nutritious. Some companies are making instant oatmeal healthier by not adding as much sugar and artificial flavoring, but you’ll always want to compare the sugar and fiber amounts across a few different brands to find the most nourishing oatmeal.
- Cereals: Another great alternative to a bowl of hot oatmeal is bran and muesli cereals. They contain a lot of the energy-boosting nutrients of oatmeal and often contain healthy nuts and dried fruits as well.
Snacks
- Almonds: These nuts are perfect as a mid-afternoon snack. Grab a handful and take them to work with you in a snack cup or baggie.
- Dark Chocolate: When you’re feeling sluggish, a small dark chocolate bar is all you need for a great pick me up that will last longer than an hour or two.
Dinner Side Dishes
- Beans: Lentils are a great side dish to enhance many dinner entrees such as tacos and burgers. You can also make lentils a main dish by combining several types into one dish as bean soup or bean casserole served with cornbread. Another way to eat lentils is to add some pepper and melted shredded cheese as part of a healthy lunch.
Working these naturally energizing foods into your daily routine doesn’t have to be difficult. With a little imagination and effort, you can have all the energy you need to stay awake and alert throughout the entire day!
by Lovena Suson | Mar 7, 2021 | Uncategorized
By Lovena Suson, P.T. (👉👉👉Check out This Author’s Books on Amazon.com)
For a regular working girl like me, there’s an almost euphoric feel upon waking up on Saturday mornings! An indulgence I take time to enjoy is….brunch! Dinners are great, but breakfasts and brunches have their own appeal. A steaming cup of coffee, pastries, waffles, omelets, and whatever your palate prefers to savor on a particular day.
On this day, my craving was a french breakfast. Luckily, #Orlando has a lot to offer. Browsing through places that offer brunch, I came across La Boucherie, a french restaurant that apparently opened its doors just 2 years ago. La Boucherie or “The butcher’s shop”, “butchery”, “butcher’s shop”, is likely named as such as they specialize in steaks, beef, veal and lamb which is served for lunch and dinner.
Hmmm, never heard of it before but perusing the menu, they offer brunch on weekends. What I saw titillated my appetite. I just had to try this place. Today is my lucky day! So, off we went me and my brunch buddy, my daughter.
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The place, La Boucherie was easy to find, nestled in the corner of a shopping complex along the intersection of #Turkey Lake Road and #Sand Lake Road, Le Boucherie was right at the corner. Knowing that they open at 10:00 A.M. for brunch, we went 30 minutes earlier to beat the crowd, especially in this current environment. Masks on, we walked through the doors. I immediately noticed the cozy outdoor seating by the main entrance where a few patrons were enjoying their meals.
The greeter was cheery, very welcoming, and very professional. He guided us to a corner table for two right by a shelf of some wine selection. Wow! The feeling you get once inside @La Boucherie is that of being in an upscale establishment where the interior design, furniture selection is impressive. A combination of dark wood, the black and white cow’s hide design on some of the chairs with splashes of reds, and the very modern grey floor was very appealing. I liked the layout of the place. One thing I check and observe is the floor. This place has immaculate floors which I appreciated. It allows an easy flow of traffic and at which time, there was more than enough space for social distancing.
I took a quick peek at the covered patio seating and it was cozy as well. Gas-lighted torches warmed up the area which was for sure very welcoming to diners seated outside as it was a chilly morning.
Later on during the meal, I made a quick trip to the restroom, as this was another place I take into consideration when checking out local places. It was very clean and one can’t help but notice the well thought of interior design as well.
The La Boucherie staff was very efficient with the seating. The bar right at the entrance was manned by a very pleasant gentleman. From what I saw on the brunch menu, will sure be busy with serving the bottomless mimosas and Sangria.
Another thing I noticed was that they offer “Energizers”. Irish coffee with whiskey, #Espresso Martini, and a #Carajillo, a mixture of espresso and Licor. Hah! I am sure it will be quite an energizer to sample any of those. I and alcohol do not seem to have a loving relationship, however, so I settled for the classic cappuccino. I’m somewhat conventional, what can I say, haha!
Browsing the menu, I noticed the choices of #Benedicts and #Omelets right away. They even have a selection of fares from the griddle. Top round steak and eggs, who would have thought? The sandwich selection featured a Brunch Burger, Chicken & waffles, and the popular Frenchie/Paris Sandwich.
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Being a dessert lover, I was impressed by the dessert selection! #Profiteroles, Pecan pie, Sweet #Crepes (I love crepes!), a floating island (a soft meringue in a bed of Creme Anglaise, topped with roasted Almonds & caramel), the popular #Creme Brulee, and chocolate mousse. We opted for the Creme Brulee at the end of our meal which turned out to be exceptional. Just the right texture and sweetness, very creamy and quite a delight to the taste buds.
Our server was a very charming and pleasant young lady named Sara. She helped explain some of the selections and provided information that the owner of the restaurant grow their own coffee! Knowing this, I just had to try it. I opted for the cappuccino which came quite promptly in a very nice mug, personalized with the restaurant’s name and logo. Impressive, @laboucherieusa!
Even the silverware was engraved with their brand logo including the sugar holders, appetizer plates, and dinner plates. Very proprietary and exclusive. It bespeaks a business that takes pride in its brand and attends to the seemingly mundane details.
Getting hungrier by the minute from browsing the menu, it was hard to decide between an omelet and the benedicts. I gave in to the Salmon Florentine Benedict,
which was on a toasted croissant, chive cream cheese, sauteed spinach, fried salmon, poached eggs, and hollandaise sauce served with home fries.
My daughter Leann opted for the Shrimp and grits benedict: grit cake, sauteed spinach, fried shrimp, poached eggs, chorizo, and french creole hollandaise sauce.
When the food came, I can tell just by its looks that this was made with such careful artistry by the chef. It looked fresh, well, and very neat on the plate. See for yourself!
Tastewise? The texture of the La Boucherie homemade croissants was impressive. Flaky that seems to crumble with the fork and almost melts in the mouth: very light. The eggs were perfectly poached, not rushed, the sauteed spinach was tasty and well cooked as well. The sauces were just perfect, not overpowering to the palate, and made the whole entree come together as you savor the different textures and tastes.
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Even the potatoes were fried with fresh oil I can tell. The shrimp were lightly battered which allowed one to really enjoy the shrimp flavor and texture with each bite, not overcooked or over-fried.
We settled for good old creme brulee for dessert. Again, great texture and just the right caramelization of sugar on top. It was adorned by three frozen blueberries which added to its visual appeal.
Overall, the experience was quite pleasing. Between the ambiance and great food, great service at La Boucherie just made it all the more worthwhile to experience.
Of note, the La Boucherie dinner menu looked very intriguing as well and I will surely come back to experience that as well!
Have you been to this place before? I would love to hear about your experience. 🙂
Until next blog!
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