At Powerlogy we decided to change a generally accepted statement: every mum wants the best for her child, and instead of „her child“ we put „herself“. Dear mums reading these lines, we believe that before we want the best for our child it is important to put ourselves first. It is a fine theory and we assume many of you agree with it. But how do you put this approach into practice?
That is the question we decided to answer. Over the coming period we will be putting it to women and mothers around us who go into this subject in depth. The second person we spoke to was our kindred spirit, surely well known to you, Alexandra Patay.
Alex is the founder of the project Čo jedia zdravé deti. She runs the project’s Facebook groups, a community of more than 90,000 members, mainly parents. Besides that she advises mothers of small children, gives talks, trains nursery staff, runs workshops for children and oversees the menu for their own kitchen Zdravý dom, which cooks for 700 children. As she says herself, her goal is healthy children and contented mums.
We are very glad that Powerlogy is a partner of the project Zdravý dom. Thanks to our cooperation, Zdravý dom regularly prepares quality breakfasts for 700 children from dozens of nurseries across Slovakia.
So Alex does not do a small amount. ? In the interview we asked her what, in her experience, a mother should do to be content and less tired. Where she should find the strength to face the challenges of motherhood.
Alex, on your channels you say that children’s immunity is linked to the gut and to the mother’s good mental state. Let’s leave children’s immunity aside and talk about the mind. How do you keep it in good shape if you have suddenly become a mother and cannot cope with everyday tiredness? How do you advise mothers to recharge?
From my experience, mainly through sleep and carving out time for yourself. Even if it is 10-minute naps during the day and 20 minutes relaxing in the bath behind a closed door. That mental reset, during which we tidy up our thoughts, is very important. It does not even occur to many of us to build this habit into our routine, yet the consequences of its absence only pile up over time.
In trying to get everything done, brilliantly and perfectly, we often slip into the model of an efficient manager. And in the end we find that precious moments of our own life have passed us by, and enjoying motherhood has turned into a demanding managerial job of running a family.
At our webinars on food I always ask mums not to damage relationships in the family over quality food, and to step onto this ground slowly.
To apply mainly what they feel will help them.
What do you think will definitely help every mum? What should she eat to give herself strength?
She should eat something that makes her feel good over the long term. So not only when she is buying or cooking it, but an hour after the meal she should still feel good in her body and her head. Vegetables are essential and should be part of every meal in some form. And of course, we need quality food! Bringing ghee butter (that is, roasted, clarified butter) and olive oil into your kitchen, for example, is a big win. Adding quality chocolate and nuts to your bag helps at any time of day.
I like using your Powerlogy Ghee Butter. I appreciate that you make it from the milk of Alpine cows grazed on grass. What is more, thanks to precise filtration it contains no lactose and no casein.
What approach to food, or to motherhood in general, will take strength away from me instead?
An indifferent and negative approach will always take our strength away. When I settle for „it was somehow and it will be somehow“ and it bothers me to step out of my comfort zone – that will not get you far, in my view.
Can you give an example of stepping out of the comfort zone?
Stepping out of the comfort zone is of course different for everyone. For example deciding to stop deep-frying, to stop buying convenience foods and processed cheese, or starting to really read the ingredients when you shop. Simply to stop covering your eyes out of convenience.
Do you know any way of preventing exhaustion during the day?
Energy and the strength to live are not hidden in a miracle pill or drink. In my view it is the interplay of head and body. The appetite to go, to live, to know and to open your mind.
But when things are really bad and even nature does not help, then do not be afraid to ask for professional help, from a psychologist for instance!
Far too little is said about mums who are not coping! If we want to prevent sharp drops in energy as far as food allows, I recommend adding vegetables everywhere in any form and leaving out heavy combinations in a meal (meat and milk, cured meats, fried food). Also drinking good fluids – water, teas – and including food supplements in your diet.
What do you recommend starting the day with when, as a mum, I can find 10 minutes for myself? How should I use it?
Breathe in some air, quite literally – open a window, step onto the balcony, into the garden. That is a big thing. Then do something for yourself, have your own small ritual. For example drink some water and make a breakfast that makes you happy. And it does not matter whether that is porridge or eggy bread.
A contented mind means more to me than an organic carrot.
Finally, briefly describe your three favourite quick recipes for us and our readers.
- Quick pizza. I spread Arabic flatbread with a good ingredient list on one side with blended tomatoes, olive oil, basil or oregano (or with a quality tomato passata). I top it to taste, from mozzarella through courgette and jamón to mushrooms or sweetcorn, and bake it from above in the oven for 4-5 minutes. Nothing more is needed! At the end I add fresh rocket on the plate and I have a mega pizza…
- Pancakes. Practically any recipe with flour in it can be improved by something as simple as swapping the flour. For me white spelt wins. There is no need to add sugar to pancakes, better cinnamon. I admit, I love using nut creams as a filling – depending on age and sweet tooth, any of the Powerlogy ones. I mix them with banana and spread and spread. Whether almond cream for small children or pistachio for us mums and schoolchildren.
- I also like inventing porridges. Oat or millet; we have a guide to them on Instagram. You can really play with flavouring a porridge. Thanks to the variety my son eats one every day, and he is 7. He has not tired of them. In our house the favourite is oat porridge, which I cook in almond or coconut milk, topped with grated chocolate and cashew cream. And anyone who wants can scatter granola over the porridge, which adds great crunch.
We even put together a selection of my TOP Powerlogy foods into a value bundle. So in the Powerlogy ČoJediaZdravéDeti Pack you will find the basics of functional food to my taste. ?
Alex, thank you for the interview and we wish you all the best in educating people and spreading your approach.
You can find more about Alex and her projects at www.cojediazdravedeti.sk or on their Instagram @cojediazdravedeti.
The interview was prepared by Žaneta Morovská, author of the book Manifest mladej ženy. Thanks to Jana Fašungová for the cover photo.
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