Fuel before a presentation: What to eat, what not to eat, and how to boost your mood

Ahhhhh cheeseburgers and fries. Delicious pastas with garlic bread. Blueberry pies and ice cream. And those funny, sweet little alcoholic drinks with the umbrellas tucked in. So good but soooo bad at the same time – and not in the calorie-laden, make-you-launch-into-a-coma way either…
These are foods, or types of foods, you shouldn’t munch on before a heavy presentation. In my experience, sugars, heavy meals, spicy foods and alcohol (trust me, you DON’T want to be THAT speaker that loosens up a bit ‘too’ much) are not the right ways to go prior to a performance.

Bad before a presentation...

Sugars will make you crash hard, depleting your energy, heavy meals of fats and carbs will slow you down, and spicy foods….may make you uncomfortable even more so if you’re already nervous for speaking in the first place.
It’s important to eat a cleansing meal prior to speaking. Drink plenty of water, eat light. Salads, veggies, fruits, granola and whole grains are good. Once you’re down, chow down! Just make sure you give yourself enough light proteins and veggies to give yourself the energy boost you need. Even making a smoothie helps.

Good before a presentation (although maybe less appealing)...

Last year, CBS came out with a story about ‘six stress busting, mood-boosting foods.’  It gives great tips on how to eat around the office, how drinking tea is a great tip prior to a presentation, even what foods to serve the in-laws if you’re feeling stressed. What we put into our bodies will ultimately reflect how we act, how we feel, how we behave. So I encourage everyone to put that fizzy-burp-inducing soda down and grab a water and lemon before talking to the boss and his crew about your new financial plans for the company! Good eating!

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