In-School Productivity Campaign | Go Foods vs Slow Foods

The clock alarms and while you stretch, yawn and wipe your tired eyes you think, what am I having for breakfast? There are 'go foods', foods that will boost your energy level, provide nutrients and add overall value to your day; while there are 'slow foods', foods which add little to no nutritional value or brain fuel to help you start your day on the right footing.

Being able to differentiate go foods from slow foods and making an effort to plan your breakfast menu ensures you and your loved ones enjoy a healthy breakfast and are productive during the day. Here are a few go foods you might want to include in your breakfast menus to boost your productivity.

Eggs: This is a go-to favourite for many of us; whether boiled, fried or scrambled, we just love our eggs. We should love it even more because it provides a type of B-vitamin called choline that helps to stimulate brain cells, thus helping to increase memory and concentration.

Whole grains: Whether it is whole grain oats, rice, wheat, etc, these are a good source of fibre to keep you feeling full longer. Another big plus for these foods is that they contain B-vitamins that help to boost energy and blood flow. Both these benefits allow you to better concentrate on your daily activities instead of being distracted by hunger pangs.

Bananas: These are easy to get and very affordable; so there's no reason why you should not have at least one each day. Bananas are a great source of the natural sugar, glucose, which is used as the main source of energy by your body. Bananas are also very filling, so when you have it as a snack between meals, it helps you to stay focused on your activities.

Tomatoes: Whether you add it to your scrambled eggs, omelette or a sandwich, it is great for flavour and texture. But did you know that tomatoes have an antioxidant called lycopene that not only helps to fight against some types of cancers, but is good for your eyes, heart and memory? This small fruit packs a nutritious punch, and what better benefit can you ask for than improved memory and productivity?

Coffee: My caffeine lovers have one more really good reason to drink coffee every day. Caffeine stimulates your feel-good hormones, resulting in a boost to your mood and improved memory and concentration. Having a cup of Jamaica Mountain Peak coffee with breakfast will bring you one step closer to conquering your day.

Water: No matter how hard you try, you cannot get away from the benefits of this 'food'. With your body being made up of over 70 per cent water and it being needed for everything your body does, it goes without saying that you need water to keep working and to be productive. Drinking eight glasses of water each day helps to keep you hydrated, helping you to be more focused and able to think more clearly. Now you see why LASCO says "iCool for life"?

While there is a long list of foods that help to improve your productivity, there is an equally long list of foods that can slow you down. Here is a list of slow foods you may want to limit or eliminate from your daily routine.

Foods and beverages high in sugar, such as some snacks, pastries and candies, have no place in your morning routine. These only provide sugar and will give you a sugar rush (short burst of energy) that leaves you feeling lethargic and weak once the sugar rush is over.

Foods considered to be junk food, like French fries and hamburgers, are thought to only provide calories and little or no nutrients. Eating these foods leave you feeling heavy and sluggish, preventing you from achieving your maximum potential at work.

The foods you eat have a tremendous impact on how you perform during the day. So when you are trying to decide what to eat for breakfast, the question you should ask yourself is, how productive do I want to be today?

- Krishta-Gay Lewis-Harewood is brand manager at LASCO Distributors.