The Weakonomist is all about nutrition. Mind you, I have a serious sweet tooth that is only bested by The Sheconomist’s sweet tooth. She is blessed with the metabolism of an Olympian. I however do not possess such a metabolism so from time to time tend to “bloat” (more on this in a later post). Regardless of such issues, I regularly eat healthy and tend to get a right proportion of the good stuffs. My work demands that I stay sharp at just about all times of the day. Whether I’m writing posts at 6 in the morning and analyzing some data and writing a report at 10 in the evening I’m always thinking. My food choices are high in protein and fiber. I usually don’t do fancy things with veggies or fruits, raw works for me, so my power foods don’t include much of that. So below are my 5 favorite power foods, each includes a description that’s matched with other power foods I love.
Cliff Bar: I love Cliff Bars. They’re a great energy food with lots of protein, fiber, and a little bit of fat to get you a quick fix when you don’t have time to prepare a meal. Pair it with an apple (another power food) and you’ve got a lunch that takes 30 seconds to prepare. Cliff Bars come in tons of flavors, but I prefer Chocolate Brownie because it gives me a chocolate fix. Shop around and you can usually find them for a buck, or cheaper if you buy them in a 6-pack.
Oatmeal: Oatmeal tastes terrible by itself. The blandness is almost nauseating. Thankfully you don’t have to eat oatmeal by itself. I like to add dried fruits, my favorites are apricots, prunes, and golden raisins. I then sweeten it with honey and top it off with sliced almonds. It’s all natural and all healthy. If you can, get rolled oats, steel cut oats are the best. Don’t buy that prepackaged mess which is overly sweetened. I also prefer to make the oatmeal on the stove, instead of the microwave.
All Natural Peanut Butter: Smuckers was the first to get me hooked on this kind of peanut butter, which is simply peanuts and salt. But now I can get any store-brand of just about the same stuff. Lately I’ve preferred the Whole Foods brand which is surprisingly cheap. It’s high in protein, fiber, and healthy fats. All natural PB goes very well with my favorite bread: 100% Whole Grain Nature’s Own which contains no added sugars and is high in protein for bread. Slap on some spreadable fruit from Smuckers and you’ve got the healthiest PB&J on the planet.
Bananas: Pound for pound, this is the best value in fruit. Bananas are always cheap, travel well, and are easily added to a bowl of cereal (which is my preferred method of consumption. I usually eat a store brand which is a cross between Wheaties and whole grain Total. If you’ve noticed a trend here, I get a lot of fiber in my diet. Oh, and always drink skim milk, another power food in my diet.
Greek Yogurt: This is the newest addition to my list of power foods. Plain greek yogurt packs more protein then regular yogurt, and you can sweeten it with just a little bit of honey. Add some low-fat granola and almonds and you’ve got a great snack. WARNING: Greek yogurt does not taste the same as regular yogurt. I’d recommend you try it first by purchasing an expensive brand in a flavor you’d like (such as blueberry or chocolate). Then you can work your way down to cheaper brands. My wife likes Oikos and their website has printable coupons too.
BONUS: I’ve also got my two power drinks.
Coffee: Coffee is packed with caffeine and antioxidants. There are countless studies that point out how great coffee can be for you. I drink it all day in caf and decaf (depending on what time of day it is). With the caf it can boost your metabolism. I try to take a swig before working out because it can give you a boost of energy. Learn to drink it black or sometimes with a bit of skim milk. Add sugar and cream and you turn a no-calorie drink into a fattening dessert. Drink it brewed or instant, doesn’t really matter. Avoid the french press because it doesn’t filter out a chemical that can be harmful to you. In warmer months it’s great when iced.
Green Tea: Again, caffeine and antioxidants. It’s got less caffeine and different antioxidants which is why I drink it. I prefer the taste of coffee but I like drinking flavored liquids more so I switch them around. And just like coffee, learn to drink it without sugar. Never add milk because it can kill the antioxidants or something.
Note: I’ve mention a number of name brands here. They are brands and products that I like and I am not being compensated in any way to talk about any of them. If these companies happen to be reading though, I’d love for you to pay me to endorse your product 
Photo: d vdm
 By The Weakonomist |
The Weakonomist is the founder of Weakonomics. Clicking the picture of the puppy will tell you more about him. If you like what you're reading consider subscribing to the blog, following him on Twitter, and checking out the related posts below. Please consider a donation if you really enjoy Weakonomics. Also keep in mind that nothing I say can be construed as financial advice. |
