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Whenever we think about food, we should be thinking about fuel for our bodies. Certain foods take the edge off and give you a warm, fuzzy feeling coupled with an awesome burst of energy only to then turn around and leave you dragging on the ground. The obvious culprits are things like candy, cookies, cakes, ice cream, chips and sodas. But did you know that if two people were to eat seemingly the same thing, they wouldn't have the same outcome? Here's an example.

Person A has regular spaghetti, white bread, and spaghetti sauce from a jar. Person B has whole wheat spaghetti, whole wheat bread, and spaghetti sauce made from canned crushed tomatoes with no added sugar, fresh garlic, salt, pepper, olive oil, and basil. Person B will have a more steady stream of energy and will not be hungry for a longer period of time simply because his food is not as processed or contains as much sugar as Person A's food. Also, when Person A becomes hungry again, he will be starving but Person B will only have a slight appetite.

So what type of food should a person eat to maintain a steady level of energy throughout the day? Any food that says "instant" on it is a bad idea. It's already been processed so much that your body won't have to work very hard to digest it. Not good. Eating foods that are as close to natural as possible are your best bets because they will make your body work to digest it; providing you with energy. Following is a sample menu that includes foods that offer you maximum energy and benefit.

BREAKFAST
A good breakfast would include whole grains such as whole wheat toast or whole grain cereal or even better, oatmeal. It should also include a protein such as milk for your cereal or oatmeal, or eggs and ham for your toast. This is a great time to add some fruit to your diet such as half a banana or half a cup of strawberries or cantaloupe. Worse case, throw raw oatmeal, milk, and some fruit into the blender and drink it on your way to work.

MID-MORNING SNACK
Eat a handful of salted peanuts or a cup of raw red peppers cut in strips. Or chomp on apple slices smeared with peanut butter. Notice I said smeared, not smothered. A little goes a long way.

LUNCH
How about a cup of brown rice with shrimp, chicken or turkey, and a side salad with spinach, cherry tomatoes and a sprinkling of pumpkin or sunflower seeds? Try using lemon or lime juice for dressing or mix oil and vinegar together but keep it on the side and dip your fork in it before you spear your salad. It will still

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