Fed up with getting tired at lunch? Research suggests that the average British adult spends seven and a half years of their life feeling tired – this amounts to almost three hours daily of feeling drained and exhausted.
It’s a wonder that any of us get anything done. With the nation still adjusting to pre-pandemic conditions, our bodies are trying to catch up – recalibrating back to early morning routines, long commutes, back-to-back meetings and post-work drinks – it is unsurprising that new research from market leaders of nutritionally complete food, yfood – the company revolutionising on-the-go nutrition – found that 37% of Britons say their energy levels are at the lowest they have ever been.
Existing data demonstrates that the worst energy slump hits at around 2pm, which is now known to drive the over-consumption of unhealthy foods to keep us fuelled as evidenced by yfood which found that over a third of the population say they snack the most between lunch and dinner. So, what can we do? Is there a way to preserve our energy and stay fuelled for longer to avoid a post-lunch nap?
Food-tech innovators, yfood, have outlined their top tips for staying fuelled even on your quiet days:
Protein-rich drinks
If feeling lethargic between commutes and don’t want to be tempted by suboptimal snacking, protein-rich drinks such as shakes or supplements provide individuals with a multi-nutrient alternative to a bag of crisps. Packed with all essential macronutrients, high protein drinks are excellent for an on-the-go energy boost and do not compromise your health. Commonly misinterpreted to be solely for the use of gym-goers, protein drinks are now widely being used amongst the general public to stay fuelled for longer.
Nutritionally complete foods/drinks
Nutritionally complete foods are on the rise. With rapidly growing companies such as yfood tripling their revenue in the past two years – the ‘smart food’ solution helps to fill the nutritional gaps in everyday life, with the primary focus of helping sustain a balanced diet in situations where a wholesome diet is not always possible. The food-tech innovators supply your body with 26 of your key essential nutrients in one drink, providing a practical meal alternative to those on the go.
Bananas
A tasty and healthy nutritional option to keep in your bag whilst on the go is a banana. Since they are low in water content but have rich quantities of sucrose, fructose and glucose alongside your essential fibre needs bananas are excellent for providing you with an instant yet sustained source of energy. Not only this, but they are rich in potassium which helps slow the digestion of the sugar, meaning consistent bursts of energy throughout your jam-packed day.
Nuts
We’ve all heard it before but nuts are essential in contributing to brain health – packed with concentrated amounts of healthy fat, protein, and fibre sustaining your mental focus for longer. Further to this, they also keep your stomach feeling fuller for longer which means less snacking in between meals. Given the finding from yfood’ research that 37% of Britons snack the most between lunch and dinner – nuts might be the best, healthy solution to carry with you!
Noel Bollman, CEO and co-founder of yfood discusses how on-the-go nutrition could be a lifesaver for those most affected by lethargy. He says:
“Using smoothies and protein drinks on the go is becoming increasingly popular for workforces and students who are quite tight for time – further in our data, we found 1 in 5 students don’t have time to eat whilst studying full-time so having a meal alternative to hand is a way for people to stay fuelled when food isn’t readily available.
“Great things to consider adding to your homemade smoothies are hemp, flax, and chia seeds, as well as other micronutrient ingredients and these, don’t compromise your calorie intake and keep you satiated for a long time. The great thing about meal alternatives is that they compact all these key ingredients into a 500ml drink – and mean you don’t have to spend time preparing a smoothie in the morning! This way, the body gets all the important nutrients, such as proteins, fibre, vegetable oils, as well as all 26 vitamins and minerals.”
About yfood
Now available in Holland & Barrett, yfood is one of the fastest-growing food-tech start-ups in Europe, reaching a spectacular run rate of €100 million in less than 5 years. Establishing itself as the market leader in the Smart Food category in Germany, yfood is quickly emerging in the UK market. Since the launch of yfood Labs GmbH in Munich in 2017, Ben Kremer and Noel Bollmann have been revolutionising the food industry with their products. Innovative “complete food” in the form of drinks, bars, powders, and hot bowls represents a new way of eating that perfectly fits today’s modern lifestyle. All yfood products are balanced, fully mobile (drink) meals and thus combine fast-paced nutrition with a conscious diet.
