Summer is packed with so many good times, from spontaneous park hangouts and long weekend road trips, to sunny evenings spent enjoying a little drink outdoors. It’s easily the best time of year to be social, but let’s be real for a second, it’s also exhausting!
When you’re constantly on the go, staying up late and doing more than normal, staying properly nourished at meal times often takes a backseat in summer. Before you know it, you’re relying on ice creams, grab-and-go meal deals from the petrol station, and cold fizzy drinks just to get enough energy to get through the day.
While treats may hit the spot in the moment, living on such empty calories throughout the warmer months is a fast track to feeling thoroughly run-down and unwell. So let’s switch things up so that you can feel fantastic all summer long!
The Empty Calorie Trap & Micronutrient Dips
When life speeds up, convenience usually wins. The trouble is that quick-fix snacks and ultra-processed summer foods often give us plenty of calories, but virtually zero actual nutrition; no slow-release complex carbs, minimal fibre, and very few essential vitamins or minerals.
This creates a double whammy with a sharp spike and crash in our blood sugar levels, combined with a gradual depletion of the micronutrients that our body relies on heavily to function properly.
How Our Body Tells Us Something Is Missing
When we’re overloading on empty calories while running low on vital nutrients, our body usually lets us know pretty quickly with a dreaded afternoon energy crash. Simple sugars melt away fast, leaving us feeling utterly drained by mid-afternoon. Then the brain fog and mood swings set in and suddenly we want to abandon what we’re doing and return home to crash out and snooze.
Low levels of essential B-vitamins and iron make it difficult for us to focus, stay sharp, or keep our mood steady, meaning we feel less than enthusiastic, hot, bothered and somewhat anti-social as our batteries drain.
When a meal lacks protein, fibre and healthy fats, our stomach starts rumbling again, not even an hour after we’ve just eaten because our body is still searching for real nutrients and craving substance. Skimping on dietary fibre, which happens when we reach for quick beach or picnic food, leads to unnecessary bloating and irregular digestion that can leave us running for, or avoiding the toilet entirely – not the most convenient conditions when you’re spending your day in swimwear!
And if you’re active in the heat without enough protein, your muscles may start to feel weak and take much longer to bounce back, meaning that long weekend or fortnight on the coast may turn more into a rest and relax by the poolside as opposed to exciting excursions and adventures.
Healthy Eating Without Sacrificing Your Summer
Nobody wants to spend a gorgeous sunny afternoon stuck inside meal-prepping brown rice and broccoli on a hot stove when a quick, healthy, and effortless option is available. The less time that you spend in the kitchen is ultimately more time outdoors enjoying the weather.
And this is where having a reliable, balanced option on hand makes all the difference. When I don’t have time to cook a proper meal, Huel Ready-to-Drink bottles offer a simple, delicious way to keep my nutritional bases covered.
Unlike a simple protein shake or snack bar, each bottle gives you an ideal balance of slow-release carbs, up to 22g of plant protein, healthy fats and fibre. Each sip instantly solves the micronutrient gap, ensuring your body gets the Iron, Vitamin D, Vitamin C, and B-complex it needs to keep your energy steady through 26 essential vitamins and minerals.
Because it’s built on complex carbs from oats and flaxseed, it releases energy gradually over hours instead of causing a sudden sugar crash, and comes conveniently pre-mixed and delightfully smooth. you can have them at room temperature or chilled, and I like to pop a few bottles into my fridge so that I can grab them on my way out, and enjoy them at the beach, in the park, or at my desk.
Whenever you grab a meal on the go, always try to aim for protein and fibre first to keep your blood sugar balanced and your digestion happy. Swap out sugary iced coffees and fizzy drinks for water, herbal teas, or nutrient-dense smoothies, and keep a couple of complete meals chilled in your fridge so that you always have a healthy choice ready for when plans change quickly and adventure calls.
By giving our body solid, balanced nutrition instead of quick empty calories, we can keep our energy levels high, dodge the summer slump, and make the absolute most of every long, sunny day ahead of us this season.
Use discount code “TRACYKISSHUEL” at Huel for new and returning customers!
