Huffington Magazine Issue 33 | Page 94

ESTHER’S 24-HOUR MEAL DIARY: BREAKFAST 1 Medium bowl of gluten-free oatmeal with chia seeds, ground flaxseed, frozen berries, raw almonds, raisins, stevia and salt ■ Large cup of coffee with stevia and 1 percent milk ■ Oatmeal is my go-to before practice, since it tends to stay down no matter how intense the work we do. It’s warm during cold weather, too, which helps warm me up when we’re heading out for a freezing row. Everything I put into the oatmeal is anti-inflammatory, with omega-3s and antioxidants giving me a boost right from waking up. Salt helps me stay hydrated during practice. And coffee — no explanation necessary, most rowers’ blood in the morning is 30 percent coffee! “MOST ROWERS’ BLOOD IN THE MORNING IS 30 % COFFEE.” POST-PRACTICE SNACK Scoop of Superfood powder mixed with water ■ Scoop of vanilla unsweetened whey protein powder mixed with water ■ ■ Right after a hard workout, your body is at its most vulnerable and is also most receptive to nutrients. Superfood powder has a really high ORAC value, and protein helps your muscles feel less fatigued later. BREAKFAST 2 Starbucks grande latte ■ Starbucks blueberry scone This helps me wake up and gets me started at work. A typical morning practice burns between 1,000 and 2,000 calories, so many rowers eat two breakfasts to help get calories in early. PHOTOGRAPHS BY WENDY GEORGE