[twhitmore]

Perhaps I can share my personal experience. I have always felt tired/ crashed after having sugary foods. Sugary cakes & chocolate can leave me feeling pretty unpleasant. It might have been workable if eating more restored my mental state, but it didn't.

I figured this out in my twenties, stopped eating convenience food with sugar (cookies, sweet crackers, instant noodles, breakfast cereals), and instantly felt better.

I eat a high-protein breakfast of multigrain toast, avocado, cottage cheese, red onion and ham.

When you eat decent food with protein and vegetables you won't have cravings any more for sugary rubbish.

I snack on roast nuts (no peanuts), eat slightly more often and, for a pick-me-up in the afternoon, eat a small sandwich/ piece of sushi/ etc.

I am occasional only with desserts, cakes and ice-cream; typically only after dinner. Quality makes a big difference; quality cakes for example are mainly eggs, butter, chocolate and a bit of sugar whereas cheap cakes are sugar sugar sugar, refined flour and artificial flavours. Protein and fat seem to help stabilize the effects of dietary sugar on my blood sugar levels and mood.

My personal experience, YMMV.