Being a nurse can be very physically demanding. Nurses are also required to work long hours. Fortunately, if a nurse has a lot of energy, then it will be much easier for him or her to make it through a long shift. One of the key things that nurses can do to boost their energy is to eat healthy snacks. Below are five energy-boosting snack choices:
Banana With A Tablespoon of Peanut Butter
Bananas are an excellent source of potassium. Potassium is a mineral that can help boost energy. Potassium can also help keep the bones and the heart healthy. Peanut butter is rich in protein. One tablespoon of peanut butter contains about 90 calories and eight grams of fat. One medium-sized banana contains about 105 calories.
Whole Grain Crackers With Hummus
Whole grain crackers are abundant in complex carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates are slowly-digested by the body. Not only do complex carbohydrates help increase energy levels, but they also help keep a person feeling full. Hummus is a spread that is made out of either garbanzo bean or chickpeas. Both of those foods are excellent sources of fiber. Four whole grain crackers with one tablespoon of hummus will make a great energy-boosting snack.
Dried Fruits And Nuts
Nuts are a great snack choice because they contain a large amount of monounsaturated fat. They also provide the body with energy. Dried fruits are high in fiber, and they are also very sweet. That is why dried fruit and nuts are great snack choices. However, people want to make sure that they limit their consumption to a ¼ cup of dried fruit and nuts. Nuts are relatively high in fat, and dried fruits contain large amounts of sugar.
One Cup of Yogurt Topped With One Tablespoon of Granola
Yogurt contains vitamin B2, B5 and B12. The B vitamins provide the body with energy. Yogurt is also a great source of potassium, zinc and calcium. Granola is a mix of nuts, grains and dried fruit, which makes it a nice addition to a cup of yogurt. People who want their yogurt to be sweeter should add sliced berries and a dab of honey.
Meal Replacement Bars
Many people eat whole-grain, high-protein bars for breakfast. These bars also make a great energy-boosting snack. However, people should make sure that they choose a whole grain, high- protein bar that has five or more grams of protein and fiber. A good whole grain, high-protein bar should not have more than 15 g of sugar. Additionally, people want to make sure that they avoid choosing a meal replacement bar that has a lot of calories. It is wise to choose a meal replacement bar that has less than 300 calories.
Again, fueling the body with the right nutrients is one of the things that nurses can do to make it through their shift. Healthy snacks not only help increase energy levels, but they also contain essential minerals and vitamins that help keep the body healthy.
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Regina Tyler is a surgical nurse and guest author at TopRSNtoBSN.com, where she recently wrote an article on the Top 10 Online RN to BSN Programs.