Say goodbye to the slump: 5 healthy snacks for an instant energy boost

We’ve got three words to describe life as a mum – unpredictable, hectic and tiring.

Yes, our lives reach whole new levels of crazy when we have children, so it’s always important to take care of ourselves, to ensure our energy levels can keep up with the demands of the day. From trying (trying is the important word here) to get enough sleep, to making sure our diets are doing the best they can for us – there’s a lot we can do to help our bodies stay alert and ready for the day. However, it’s natural to have peaks and valleys, so we say it’s always best to keep little pick-me-ups at hand for when the yawning sets in. Here are five energy-boosting foods you should always have at arms length. 1. Bananas With three types of sugar (glucose, fructose and sucrose) present, a banana will help increase your blood sugar levels in an instant. There’s also tonnes of minerals that boast great benefits for your brain and cardiovascular function, so it's a win all round. 2. Dates Those three sugars we mentioned are also present in dates, so not only are they good for an instant energy hit, they also taste great. Dates are also a great source of B-vitamins, which can help with your muscle and nervous system health. 3. Water OK, so it’s not a food, but dehydration is one of the main causes of low energy. When your body is dehydrated, it can’t carry the energy it needs to your cells and organs leaving you feeling tired. Foods like watermelon and cucumbers are rich in water and are also a great way to hydrate the body. 4. Spinach While knocking back a can of spinach a la Popeye is not our ideal snack, adding some of these leafy greens to your salad for lunch can help you ride through that afternoon slump with no problems. An excellent source of iron, spinach can make a huge impact on the energy levels your body is producing – or not producing, as the case may be. 5. Almonds Filled to the brim with protein, manganese, copper and riboflavin, almonds are our go-to when it comes to quick and easy snacks. A handful of almonds will help keep the energy flowing by neutralising toxins and boosting the oxygen in your body.