Modern mums are expected to perfect the ultimate juggling act between raising kids. having a career and looking after themselves.
Too often self-care, exercise and healthy eating fall by the wayside and bad habits kick in.
But leading Sydney nutritionist Susie Burrell says there are plenty of simple ways mothers can boost their energy throughout the day by making slight changes to diet, workout plans and daily schedules.
Mother-of-twins Susie says parents are some of the worst offenders when it comes to forgetting to drink water.
Hydrating your body is fundamental for keeping energy levels high and feeling fresh from sunrise to sunset – but most mothers rarely find time to go to the bathroom let alone drink litres of water.
Susie recommends drinking a glass of herbal tea or lemon water in the morning, keeping a bottle of water in the handbag or car and ensuring you drink whenever you have a meal.
‘As we know, once the kids are up there is no time to do anything, so developing a morning ritual that includes you drinking a reasonable amount of fluid is the best way to get your daily hydration on the right path,’ she writes on her blog.
Spending time preparing three meals a day for children often means your own dinners end up being leftovers or junk food.
This results in an energy deficit early on, which may leave you tempted to reach for a muffin or caramel slice at the local cafe.
Susie suggests always keeping a protein-rich snack handy while on the go – such as nuts, cheese and crackers or an energy ball, reports 9honey.
A busy life raising kids also means there is rarely any time left to go to the gym or a spare half-hour to go on a run.
Finding time for exercise can be as easy as incorporating fitness into everyday routines, such as kids play-dates or taking the little ones to school.
Instead of lying down while the kids play in the rumpus room, Susie recommends taking them for a long walk to the park instead.
Up to a quarter of women also suffer from low energy because of insufficient iron levels.
The accredited dietitian warns feeling constantly tired is a sign of low iron and advises women to get an iron check at the doctors, take small rest breaks during the day, spend less time on the phone and to eat more red meat.
Lastly, Susie says exhausted mothers should learn to give themselves a break from time to time.
The nutrition expert urges mums to cook only a few times a week and to utilise frozen vegetables and healthy pre-made meals.
‘Do not make kids’ food complicated — a chop and frozen peas is a good dinner for them,’ she said.
DailyMail
