vegan food pyramid

• Consume high-net-gain foods: leafy greens & colorful vegetables deliver energy by way of conservation rather than consumption. The digestive process is energy-intensive – highly processed, refined, denatured foods require much more digestive energy to break it down in our systems. By shifting from processed and refined carbs (pasta and bread) to fruits and pseudo grains (amaranth, buckwheat, millet, quinoa and wild rice), our body can assimilate easier and also obtain more nutrients.
• Consume alkaline-forming foods: keeping a balanced pH is important to achieving peak health. People with low pH are prone to many ailments and fatigue. Brian suggests consuming more high alkaline-forming foods (asparagus, beets, bell peppers, broccoli, carrots cauliflower, celery, chicory, cucumbers, dill, green beans, leafy greens, leeks, onion, parsley, parsnips, peas, sea vegetables, sprouts and zucchini). Prescription drugs, artificial sweeteners and synthetic vitamins & minerals are extremely acid-forming and consumption should be monitored.
• Eliminate biological debt: there are 2 types of energy, one brought about from stimulation (short term energy), the other from nourishment. If you are well-nourished, you have no need for food stimulation. Brian states “Caffeine is North America’s second favorite drug next to refined sugar. Obtaining energy by way of stimulation is like shopping with a credit card. You get something you desire now, but you will still have to pay eventually. With that bill comes incurred biological interest: fatigue.”

This information is courtesy of the Thrive group headed by Brendan Brazier.
I found this write-up on the blog Enrich. The article is eating for energy.