Eating Rhythms
Ahhhh...it is Spring. More light. More sun. Everything is waking up around us.
All this light and warmer weather made me want to write a bit about our circadian rhythms and its impact on our food consumption.
Did you know that our body’s calorie burning capacity works differently at different times of the day? Yes...our bodies are hotter in terms of a fiery metabolism depending on what time of day it is. If you are trying to address body composition and energy levels this Spring, then it is best to eat in accordance with your body’s natural rhythms and wiring.
Breakfast. This meal needs to be robust. This stokes the fire of our metabolism and gets it roaring for the day. It gets us out of our fasting state so that digestion and hormones shift to absorbing and using nutrients and calories.
What do I mean by a robust breakfast? I’m talking about eggs, bacon and sautéed veggies; yogurt with nuts and berries; leftover salmon with mint chutney and a fried egg; homemade turkey sausage, sautéed greens, with sliced tomatoes/basil/olive oil mix; millet with gobs of butter or yogurt.
Lunch. This is when our metabolism is at its hottest. It makes sense to make this our biggest meal of the day. Why? Because a hot metabolism means your body is burning up calories more so than at any other time of the day. This is also the time of day that the sun is at its highest. Just like the natural world around us, our body is at its peak calorie burning capacity while the sun is at its most prominent point.
Get away from the skimpy salad here or the power bar on the go. If you have salad, add the meat, avocado, olive oil. Enjoy some soup on the side with a dollop of sour cream or coconut oil. Meatloaf with asparagus and curried butter or green beans; leftover rice and roasted chicken sautéed in coconut oil with salsa; egg salad on sprouted grain bread with lettuce and tomato.
Dinner. This is when metabolism is slowing in most cases. Therefore, it helps to make this your smallest meal of the day.
A light soup with sweet potatoes and butter on the side; carrot salad with quinoa and peas, infused with olive oil and rosemary; tilapia with fresh greens and almonds cooked in palm oil and sauerkraut.
Late night. Our metabolism gets slower and slower as the evening progresses... corresponding with the sun setting and light fading. Ideally, it is best to eat less or nothing after the evening meal. If you have had a powerhouse of nutrients and an abundance of pleasurable foods during the day, then the probability of compensating for nutrient deficiencies by indulging in late night cravings will be incredibly diminished.
Work with the fire within. Enjoy your nutrient-rich meals by adjusting quantities that work with your natural rhythm. See if you notice a difference in how you feel and look as the season progresses.
Happy nourishment!