If you tend to be stressed out or fatigued midday, what you choose for lunch or snack could make a big difference.

Research shows that highly stressed people performed better after a carbohydrate-rich meal. So if you need to take it down a notch, try a meal of pasta or rice and vegetables, or have a fruit smoothie as a snack. That doesn’t mean you should neglect protein, just eat it at times when you are less likely to be keyed up.

If you have low energy and tend to get sleepy in the middle of the day go for a protein-rich meal like grilled chicken on a bed of greens, a snack like nuts or a hard boiled egg. The protein prevents you from getting that drowsy feeling often brought on by eating carbohydrates. Save your carbohydrates for the evening when it is OK to be more relaxed and sleepy.

The more we learn about the connections between food and mood, the more we realize you not only are what you eat, you also act what you eat!