HealthyFoodJournal.com

Right after the New Year, my niece was at university rugby camp for a few days. I went with her grandmother to see her at practice and at the break discovered that she was feeling totally drained and low on energy. She gave us a rundown on the food the team was getting and it was all high in sugar, carbs and heavy proteins. We immediately went into action and got her a shopping bag full of easy to digest high protein snacks and supplements.

Her particular league of athletes is not permitted to take protein drinks. At the local health food store we found a huge selection of organic “complete meal” bars, crackers made with sesame, flax & pumpin seeds with figs and coconut to sweeten. We got a few teriyaki soy burgers, trail mix with hemp nut seed, organic apple and berry sauce for her to munch on without feeling stuffed and losing energy on digestion.

To help her think clearly, we got her a bottle of Omega 3-6-9, and a bottle of B complex with C to reduce stress. Iron too. It was a matter of a couple hours and she was picking up her natural exuberant energy again. I reminded her to stay away from anything high in gluten, sugar and the hard to digest proteins in meats and eggs. Even turkey, since it makes you sleepy. The other young women on the team were struggling as well, so I hope they are better prepared next time! You need good noms.

(FYI, “nom” is the Lolcat sound cats make when they are eating or are fantasizing about eating.)