This is the first of many great tips on food and nutrition for martial artists from Chef Eric Kay. With a little luck we can coax some of his secret and delicious recipes from him. Read his bio here.
Chef Eric is available for events, functions, and private dining experiences. He can be contacted at 1-603-748-9818. Check out his website Chef Healthy 2 You at chefhealthy2you.com.
The first thing you should do in the morning is drink a tall glass of water. You should do this before eating anything. This is a very cleansing and it helps to detoxify the body. Another reason is because we become quite dehydrated during sleep.
Next, it is important to start the day off right by eating something good and nutritious. Some people skip breakfast altogether which can cause fatigue and can also lead to binging on bad food later on in the day. Even just a piece of fruit or toast is better than nothing at all. Sometimes we may not be feeling hungry in the morning. This can be caused from eating to late at night.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It starts the day off positive and leads to better food choices for the rest of the day. A healthy breakfast contains the following components: it is low in sugar, high in fiber, and high in protein. Protein digests slowly and keeps blood sugar levels steady. Eggs, cheese, yogurt, and turkey sausage are examples of high protein foods. High fiber items are whole grains and whole fruits. Fiber rich products such as muffins, breads and cereals should contain at least 4 grams of fiber. Try to find healthy items that you like. If you enjoy them, you will stick with it.
Fruit smoothies and protein shakes are very delicious and are very good for you too. There are a lot of good healthy cereals on the market now-a-days to choose from. I am personally a big fan of the hot cereals. Try some old fashioned oatmeal with some fresh fruits and nuts. I’ve been mixing the dried cranberries and apples in mine lately. And finally if you love French toast as much as I do, use multi-grain bread and make sure it’s real maple syrup. Not the fake stuff.
Donuts and pastries which have lots of sugar and are made with refined flour are considered empty carbohydrates, which means they contain little to no nutritional value. They will give you a quick energy burst, but burn off fast and leave you feeling low in energy.
Another factor to consider is drinking too much coffee. Don’t worry, I’m not saying you have to quit coffee drinking altogether. But I would encourage cutting down consumption as much as possible. Over indulgence of caffeine will strip the body of vitamins and minerals that it needs to function properly.
Just remember to eat healthy and enjoy.
Chef Eric
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