Moya Brennan: Perfectly in tune with a healthy diet
Monday January 26 2009
This singer/songwriter has small, healthy snacks such as nuts and avocado throughout the day, to boost her energy levels and give her all the nutrients she needs
7.15am
I'm a little slow to start in the morning. I drink a glass of hot water and lemon while the kids eat breakfast.
8am
After the kids leave, I eat an apple and get ready to walk to the gym. When I'm at home I make a point of getting to the gym three mornings a week.
On this day I begin my workout with 30 minutes on the cross-trainer then move to the weight machines. I vary my routine and sometimes have a swim in the pool instead of weights.
11am
Once I'm back at home I put on the porridge for my breakfast. I love having porridge each morning with a couple of spoonfuls of flax and pumpkin seeds, some sliced pear and a bit of skimmed milk. On this day I also have a cup of peppermint tea.
12.30pm
I open the computer and start answering emails. Because Tim is our manager, he and I also run through some work. Then, our technician and co-producer Fionan and I go downstairs to the studio where we start working on the music I am writing for a programme. I only drink water in studio.
3.30pm
We break for a late lunch. I go up to the kitchen where I warm a bowl of tomato soup. After eating that and a couple of rice cakes topped with sliced avocado, I drink a cup of green tea then run through a few other business matters with Tim before I return to the studio.
5pm
The kids arrive home from school. I pop up to see them and make myself a cup of peppermint tea then get back to work.
7.30pm
Regardless of whether I'm working at home in the studio or I am on tour, I prefer to have my main meal fairly early. I normally eat a salad for dinner, with rice cakes rather than bread, but on the rare occasion that I do eat bread, it is always brown wholemeal.
I also have a glass of cider vinegar and a little honey in hot water. When I'm on tour, I drink numerous glasses of cider vinegar and honey throughout the day.
I try to eat well every day, simply because I feel better when I do, but I am not fanatical about food and I will sometimes break out and have a glass of wine with some cheese or dessert.
Although I'm not a dessert person, our son Paul is a great cook, and if he were to make something like rhubarb crumble I'd have a small portion of that. Otherwise, I'd be happy to eat a couple of rice cakes topped with sliced apple.
I get my protein mainly from chicken and fish; if I were to have red meat it would usually be roast lamb.
On this night, Tim prepares my favourite salad consisting of warm chicken, snap peas, lettuce, tomatoes and artichoke hearts with Paul Newman's balsamic dressing. I have this with a couple of rice cakes spread with a little Benecol and my glass of cider vinegar and honey in warm water.
After dinner, I sit and listen to the kids practise their piano and help them with their sight-reading. I also look after a few other household chores.
10pm
Once Aisling and Paul start getting ready for bed, I take a bowl of nuts and raisins and a glass of water with me down to the studio where I continue working.
12.30am
I am finished in the studio and make myself a cup of camomile tea.
1.30am
After reading for a while, I go to sleep.
Moya Brennan performs in T With The Maggies (along with Maighread and Triona Ni Dhomhnaill and Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh) on January 31 in The Button Factory as part of the Temple Bar TradFest
