We all think so much about what we eat, but do you ever wonder about when to eat? For example, is it good to eat before exercise? Right after? To have an early dinner or eat right before bed?

It turns out that when you eat can have a great effect on whether and how your body can use the food effectively. So, when planning meals, use these simple guidelines.

The Basics

First keep in mind the very basics: Foods are composed of protein, carbohydrates and fat, the three energy nutrients. Each plays a specific role in the functioning of our body.

• Carbohydrates provide quick energy but are not stored well in the body.
  Examples are breads, cereals, pasta, rice, bagels, crackers, fruit, fruit juice, vegetables and legumes.
• Protein is used primarily for building muscle and other body parts.
  Examples include chicken, beef, pork, legumes, soy products, nuts, seeds and eggs.
• Fat is a long-term storage form of energy.
  Fats are found in butter, meats, margarine, mayonnaise, fried foods and some salad dressings.

In addition to those main elements, foods also contain vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients that keep us healthy, full of energy and focused on the task at hand.

Foods for specific times of day