Food is the most important choice we make every day. What we eat can elevate or drastically lower our productivity. Various studies show that eating power foods can help you improve memory, decision-making ability, mental response, energy levels, stamina, and stress-resistance. Therefore, if you want to be productive and in a mood, it is essential that you make better food choices and fuel your body with food that gives you energy, mental clarity, and focus and helps you stay in top shape and maintain your performance.

Ever since I’ve learned the importance of developing good food habits I’ve started being mindful about what I eat and how my food choices support my energy levels during the day. Here I share with you a few suggestions on superfoods, which you can snack on every time you need a boost, as well as some kitchen essentials and time-saving gadgets that can help you plan and meal-prep in no time.

Superfoods that power the brain and boost your mood and productivity

Nuts and seeds are my best friend as they are packed with protein to keep me fuller for longer, while also delivering a hit of healthy fats, microelements, and fiber. I, honestly, used to neglect them a lot earlier but now they are a staple on my table and make a great snack on the go. Nuts and seeds are nutritionally dense and they can satisfy your hunger between meals and power your body. Besides, I can pack them for when I travel or keep a handful of them in my bag when I have to run around.

I usually stock on different nuts and seeds in bulk, as this is how it works cheaper for me that’s why I suggest you go for a bigger pack. I usually buy them raw and use them in so many ways like in toppings and dips, on salads, soaked, in smoothies, or just as something crunchy to munch on. Nut butter is also a good idea to snack on. A 2-tablespoon serving of nut butter can fill you up and stave off cravings for less nutritious foods and junk.

Almonds – natural, unsalted

Almond flour – natural 

Flax seed – ground, organic

Chia seeds – organic, whole

Walnuts – natural, with big halves

 Hazelnuts – roasted, salted

 Sesame seeds 

 Pumpkin seeds 

Organic Hazelnut Butter

Organic Nut Mix

Oils are another staple in my pantry as they are a great source of healthy fats that boost the immune system and the work of the brain. They each impart unique flavors and bring different nutrients, so I usually stock on a few different varieties and use them in dips, dressings, toppings, and soups. I prefer cold-pressed high-quality oils which come in a dark glass bottle that preserves their nutrients best and store them in a cool, dark place.

Extra-virgin olive oil – cold pressed, organic

Coconut oil – cold pressed, unrefined

Flax seed oil – organic, cold pressed

Pumpkin oil – 100% pure, coldpressed

Avocado oil – high smoke point for cooking

Olives are a great source of antioxidants. They will satisfy your craving for something salty and are blissfully low-carb. I love to make olive tapenade with herbs and chopped tomato but also throw them in my salads, in dips, in risotto or just have them as a midday snack. You can get a great value for the price if you get them in a bigger pack. Besides, you can choose from a variety of flavors such as basil and garlic, oregano and chili, etc.

Olive Tapenade Spread

Olives – various flavors

Olives – canned, perfect to stock on

Tea is a must-have drink for me all year round. It is comforting and I make a whole batch of it in my thermos during the cold months or a cold refreshing drink with ice-cubes in the summer. I have a variety of herbs for when I need something energizing or something shooting and here is what I usually stock on:

Teas to Give You a Burst of Energy:

Green tea 

White tea

Ginger tea with honey and citron

Stamina Herb Tea

Green Tea Jasmine Refreshing

Teas for Anxiety to Soothe Your Mind and Body:

 Lavender and Chamomile Tea for Anxiety

Chamomile Lemon Herbal Tea

Nighty-Night Blend Herbal Tea

Strawberry and Mint

Peppermint Tea For Relaxation

Bedtime Shooting Caramel

Dried fruits are another food that can help you get more energy and healthy nutrients. Similarly to nuts, they are easy to pack and carry with you, can treat your sweet tooth and are great to keep by your desk as they can give you a quick boost in the middle of the day.

 Figs – sun dried,organic

Cranberries – no added sugar

Dates – pitted, no sugar added

Blueberries

 Patter Bar Clean Energy Bar – fruit, nut and seed

Sun Dried Apricots

Dark chocolate is not only antioxidant-packed but it is proven to improve mood and the overall focus. It helps you feel more energetic and concentrate on the tasks at hand and also contains magnesium which is a natural stress-reliever.

Brown Rice is another magnesium-rich food which is perfect for maintaining stress and increasing your performance. It is also loaded with fiber and essential vitamins that help you focus and work properly, which, in turn, increases efficiency.

Superfoods: The 50 Best Foods For You!

Superfood Kitchen: Cooking with Nature’s Most Amazing Foods

Superfoods: The Food and Medicine of the Future

Powerful Plant-Based Superfoods: The Best Way to Eat for Maximum Health, Energy, and Weight Loss

KITCHEN Essentials For PRODUCTIVITY

(Planners and Time-saving gadgets)

Veggie hand chopper helps me cut onions and fresh herbs finely for seconds. I make tomato salsa, raw dips, pesto, and olive tapenade with it in no-time and chop vegetables for soups, sauces, and stews. I like that it doesn’t take much space, it is light, easy to wash and not as noisy as the electric chopper. It’s a gadget that saves me time (and fingers) and does the chopping job well.

Garlic Press is a little gadget that saves me tons of time with the cutting knife as it makes a paste of garlic in a second. If you are like me and you don’t like big chunks of garlic in your mouth or don’t want to play with the knife but still like its flavor in dips, dressings, salads, and stews, get a garlic press and you’ll be good to go. Plus, I use it for crushing ginger root  and slices of lemon too.

Vegetable peeler – A vegetable peeler helps me speed up my preparation time, whether I am using it to peel potatoes, carrots, cucumbers, zucchini, or any other vegetables. I love that it’s so simple, easy to wash, compact and quick.

Knife sharpener – A dull knife can give you a hard time in the kitchen. Luckily, it doesn’t take too many tools or much time to maintain a quality knife than a good knife sharpener. It’s cheap and effective. What more could you want?

Thermos – I use it both for storing hot and cold drinks so it’s a staple in my kitchen all year round.

Bamboo Travel Thermo Cup – retains heat and cold amazingly well and is very durable and lightweight.

Vacuum Sealed Smoothie & Juice Bottle – for keeping your vitamin drink fresh wherever you go.

Glass food storage boxes – High-quality food storage containers are priceless when it comes to bringing lunch to work and storing ingredients or cooked meals in the fridge so they stay fresh for several days. I don’t like plastic, so I use glass storage boxes that are 100% BPA free, with airtight & leak-proof lids, freezer and dishwasher safe. They also serve me as mixing bowls for salads and meal planning boxes.

Coffee and spice grinder is priceless for grinding herbs, nuts, and seeds.

Citrus Juicer makes juicing a lemon or orange super fast and easy and you don’t have to collect seeds from your food.I make my crazy healthy drink in the morning and clean up in 2 minutes.

Immersion Blender – I use the immersion blender (also known as a stick blender) all the time. It serves me well when I want to puree a cream soup directly in the pot it is being prepared in or to make a quick dip, tapenade, fine salsa, homemade dressing, lemonade or a smoothie. Plus, it comes with a variety of different attachments that turn your immersion blender into an extremely versatile tool.

Juice extractor is the tool you need for getting fresh pulp-free carrot juice, apple juice, beet juice or a mix of veggies and  fruits that can serve as a nutri-bomb for your body any time you need an energy boost. I use mine for juicing hard fruits and veggies, grapes, and even whole peeled lemons and oranges for instant lemonade in big batches.

Leak Proof Fruit Infusion Water Bottle I always carry one with me when I know I will be running around all day and even keep a bottle on my desk during work.

Magnet Dry Erase Board for your fridge – if you ever run out of anything just scribble a note and stick it in there. It is great for helping to keep your kitchen stocked.

Meal Planner – Track And Plan Your Meals Weekly (52 Week Food Planner Journal With Meal Prep And Planning Grocery List

Magnetic Meal Planning Pad with Grocery List– Weekly Family Meal Planner Notepad with Perforated, Tear Off Food Shopping List & Refrigerator Magnet

   Adult Portion Control Plate – For Visually Tracking Your Food Goals

  Whole Food Energy: 200 All Natural Recipes to Help You Prepare, Refuel, and Recover

    Superfoods: The Healthiest Foods on the Planet

Related: How to make better food choices

See More Resources & Tools

A Little Note and Thanks!

Note:This page is a growing collection of healthy brain-boosting snacks and kitchen time-saving gadgets and I suggest you bookmark it so you don’t miss any new yummy food suggestions or tools that can speed up your meal-prep time in the kitchen. 

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