Afternoon Energy Foods

Midway between lunch and dinner you may experience an energy slump that leaves you feeling tired and sluggish. The right afternoon snack can help you combat an energy drain and give you the motivation and stamina you need until dinner. According to "Dr. Gillian McKeith's Living Food for Health," the best afternoon snacks will combine a small amount of fat with protein.

Sunflower Seeds

One reason why you may feel tired and have a lack of energy in the afternoon is because you do not consume enough B vitamins, notes McKeith. Sunflower seeds contain several B vitamins, as well as a small amount of fat and protein. Pantothenic acid, another vitamin found in sunflower seeds, may also boost your energy levels by promoting proper function of your adrenal system. McKeith recommends carrying small portions of sunflower seeds with you each afternoon so you always have some on hand when you begin to feel sluggish. You can eat sunflower seeds plain or combine them with dried fruit or yogurt for a different taste and flavor.

Meat and Cheese Roll-Up

Meat and cheese each contain a good amount of protein as well as some fat. Chalres Kandutsch, author of "Eat the Right Foods Companion Cookbook," suggests making a meat and cheese roll-up to increase your energy level for the remainder of the afternoon. Choose a lean deli meat, such as turkey or ham, and a low-fat slice of cheese, such as part-skim mozzarella or 2 percent milk cheddar. Layer the meat and cheese together and roll up into a romaine lettuce leaf. Two or three roll-ups will provide you with several grams of energy-supplying protein. Experiment with different meats and cheeses until you find one you like and try adding a few pickle slices or tomato chunks for flavor, recommends Kandutsch.

Peanut Butter

Peanut butter contains protein and fat so you will be able to avoid the energy drain that often occurs between lunch and dinner. Fruit will give you a dose of healthy carbohydrates for energy without the crash that often accompanies sugary foods and goes well with peanut butter. Try spreading 2 tsp. of peanut butter on several apple slices or slicing a banana in half lengthwise and filling with peanut butter to create a sandwich, suggests Kandutsch. Fill a few stalks of celery with peanut butter and drizzle a little honey on top as another way to enjoy peanut butter. A half of a peanut butter sandwich on whole-wheat bread can also provide enough energy to make it until dinner.