Eat This For Breakfast To Enhance Energy & Cut Cravings

Most people customize their daily menu according to tastes they love and, oftentimes, health goals they have. Some prioritoze muscle-building foods, others skin-loving foods, and some, simply balanced meals. 

No matter where you fall, there’s no harm in adding some dopamine-rich foods to your plate. On the mindbodygreen podcast, integrative medicine doctor Amy Shah, M.D., author of I'm So Effing Hungry explains how to do just that and why it works to cut cravings and boost energy—here’s a quick overview. 

What are dopamine foods?

What are dopamine-rich foods, you ask? They're essentially foods high in protein—yogurt, eggs, nuts and seeds, etc. "Naturally high-protein foods are the dopamine-rich foods, because they contain an amino acid called tyrosine, which converts into dopamine in the brain, and it's a great way to start your day," says Shah.

The link between dopamine & cravings

Cravings are fueled by dopamine, says Shah, as opposed to nourishing your body. That said, you can "hack" those cravings by giving yourself a big burst of dopamine via protein-rich foods, especially early in the day. 

“In the morning, you want to break your fast with dopamine-rich foods because you want that motivation, you want that drive, you want that energy," adds Shah. "Dopamine is closely related to norepinephrine1, which gives you that adrenaline boost in the morning." Protein-packed breakfasts also help you stay full2, so you're less likely to engage in compulsive snacking throughout the day.

High protein foods

That said, you’ll want to ensure you have some high-protein ingredients in your daily breakfast. It doesn’t have to be the same dish every morning (unless you love the ritual of a consistent first meal), so feel free to pull inspiration from the foods and recipes below and keep them on hand. 

Here’s a quick list of some ingredients you may want to experiment with: 

Recipes to try out

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The takeaway

The next time you go to make your favorite breakfast, be sure to add some protein-rich (and thus dopamine-rich) foods to your plate. This way, you’ll be able to enhance your energy for the day and limit unwanted cravings. Bon appétit!