12 Easy (and Free!) Energy-Boosters

Facing fall's onslaught of back-to-school busy-ness, carpooling, team practice, and wardrobe reinvention could daunt even the most iron-blooded woman. But this is no time to go limp at the steering wheel! Instead, reboot your energy, raise your lunch-packing arm, and yell, "Charge." Here's how:

Small meals that pack a punch are what gets Amelia Jeffers—a 39-year-old mother of four and president of a Garth's Auctions in Delaware, Ohio— through her days. Think almonds, fruits, tuna, and salads, she says. Holistic nutritionist Annemarie Colbin, PhD, founder of Natural Gourmet Institute for Health & Culinary Arts in New York City, suggests quick snacks like guacamole and corn chips, a small glass of fresh apple juice gussied up with sparkling water, or even just three satisfying salty Greek olives. Facing a killer afternoon? "Have fish and vegetables for lunch, no starch," Colbin says. "This provides steady energy."