Powering through the Season of Giving (read: Shopping)

No matter how you approach your holiday gift-giving,  eating well can give you the energy to last longer and stay more focused than your fellow shoppers. Keep these following tips in mind for when you're planning the next shopping spree.. 

1. Start strong with a good breakfast. Sure, it’s easy to grab a cup of takeout coffee and a donut, but that sugar rush with only take you so far. Take an extra few minutes to cook up some Applegate bacon or breakfast sausages and fold them into a burrito with eggs and cheese, or layer them in an egg sandwich with a little leftover cranberry sauce (try it!). A protein-rich start to the day will give you hours more energy than some grab-and-go sugary treat.

2. Pack a few lightweight snacks for the road. Almonds, homemade granola bars, popcorn (especially nice with a bit of bacon and cheese!), a small sandwich, a bag of salami and cheese cubes…all of these healthy, home-packed goodies can keep you from fading and spending unnecessary money at the food court.

3. Prepare for your homecoming. When you return after a long day of shopping, frazzled and spent, it’s so easy to just binge on leftover pumpkin pie and cold stuffing straight from the fridge. But if you have a block of nice cheese and a package of Applegate Naturals^® Prosciutto or Applegate Naturals^® Genoa Salami on hand, you can lay out a simple charcuterie board almost instantaneously. Add a bunch of crisp (and hydrating) grapes and you’re good to go. How civilized!