Exhausted. Spent. At the end of my Jimmy Choo tether. I, like so many moms, feel like I am in a permanent state of fatigue. So, I turned to my friend Lauren Slayton, nutrition guru and owner of  FOOD TRAINERS for some advice on how to raise my energy level

“I don’t think Mom’s know how poorly they are feeling until they tweak their diet and feel better: sleep better and don’t crash in afternoon”, Lauren told me. She then issued this challenge: skip all added sugar (even agave/evaporated cane juice counts) for 3 days.. She added, “ You may hate me for first day but on 3rd you will be contemplating a load of laundry at 9pm”. Umm. Laundry? I can think of better things to do with extra energy!

When I told her that, after making my kids’ breakfasts and lunch, I ran out to my office often forgetting to eat myself, she tsk-tsked me and supplied easy solutions that all take under three minutes and will prevent me from making poor food choices later in the day.

Here are her tips:

• Smoothies: put it all in the blender before you go to bed (or in fridge in a bowl)
  Protein (sunwarrior or socalcleanse are my favorites)
  1 c frozen fruit (cascadian farms frozen fruit) or fresh fruit and a handful of ice
  1 c greens (baby spinach, kale or romaine)
  1 cup liquid (coconut water, almond milk OR ice water)
  Optional stevia

  

• Egg- try microwave poaching
  Fill mug 1/3 up with water
  Crack egg in
  Place in Microwave
  Cover with salad plate (to avoid egg explosion)
  Cook 60 seconds and transfer egg from mug to plate
  Have with berries or cut melon (washed and cut night before)
  
  Know the importance of a good purse snack, place 1 in all purses in your current rotation
• Bars: Pure, Zing, Kookie Karma
  Seeds: 1/4 cup sunflower or pumpkin seeds (in many ways nutritionally superior to nuts)

  FOR MORE INFORMATION:

FoodTrainers
Lauren Slayton
212.769.4300

I am one of those people who finds hunger annoying. I try and anticipate the day and bring food to the office. But, a busy mom, I often forget and set myself up for disaster. The result? I drink 4 cups of coffee and suddenly find myself famished. My blood sugar drops. I am cranky. I end up eating crackers and other scraps that are on hand.

I spoke with nutritionist ( and mom of two) Lauren Slayton about breaking this odious (non) eating cycle by eating with intention.

Translation? Preparing the foods throughout the day to keep me sated, healthy and energized.

“Most of us know what we ’should’ be doing when it come to eating and exercise. The problem is between work or kids or whatever it is that takes up our time, there is often a gap (ok, crater) between what we “should” do and what we end up doing. I work one-on-one with clients to help close that gap. Here are my five tips on how to maximize energy and keep your metabolism firing all day”

1. Breakfast-The purpose of breakfast is to raise your blood sugar (it drops overnight) and to keep your cravings at bay for the rest of the day. Eat breakfast within 2 hours of waking up and include protein. If you’re up at 6 as I am, breakfast should be no later than 8am. It doesn’t have to be first thing.

I am a huge fan of smoothies, omega 3 eggs and quinoa (who said oats are the only grain to eat in the morning).

2. My 2 favorite energy boosters I call M and M. Matcha (a powdered green

tea) and Maca (a ground root vegetable from South America) can be added to smoothies and matcha can of course be consumed like any tea.

3. Tush to chair all day doesn’t work. Make sure you spend time outside during the day. This is a stress reliever and energy booster. It’s also, as spring approaches, a good way to get vitamin D.

4. When you’re feeling low in the afternoon try Mulberries.

Mulberries are high in vitamin C and reservatrol (same antioxidant in red wine). They are also a good source of fiber and protein.

5. And at dinner, think of “salad plate dinners”. A large dinner interferes with your sleep and can leave you groggy the next day. Lunch should be larger than dinner. Think of 1/2 of a restaurant portion or an appetizer and a side of vegetables.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
FoodTrainers
Lauren Slayton
212.769.4300