-Written by Miss Summer (Barbizon Instructor)
EXCITING NEWS! You've just been booked for a shoot where you'll be wearing some of Marc Jacobs most fabulous haute couture pieces spotted on the catwalk in his SS 2011 runway show. You're a smart model so you start planning ahead. You know you'll be on set for 7-8 hours without a break. It's going to be outfit after outfit with shooting in between including hair and makeup changes and they're doing a behind-the-scenes special. You're not getting out of the camera's sight. What are you going to eat? AND YES YOU NEED TO EAT! It's going to be a long day...and no one wants a grumpy, ready to faint, model on set.
Eating right and staying healthy starts the night before. Always be sure to get a great night's sleep. No amount food or water can measure up to the energy you'll get after a solid 6-8 hours of sleep. Something you should know about how your body burns up energy is that it does it in layers. First, it will use up any carbohydrates, then proteins, then fruits and vegetables. With that said, carbohydrates are going to give you the most energy but protein will make your energy last. Start the day off with low-cal but nutrient dense foods that will give you the energy you need minus the bloat you don't want for your shoot. Try having a whole grain, english muffin half with two egg whites, fresh baby spinach, a tomato slice and maybe some melted cheese. An orange or nectarine will be great company with that, also.
That hearty meal will hold you over for at least a couple of hours, as long as you're not running marathons. To save money, pack your lunch and snacks! Vending machines are not the way to go and any errand-running intern is sure to find THE most expensive and unhealthy sandwich shop right around the corner. Think easy and healthy snack foods that are sure to boost your energy. A handful or two of almonds will work wonders on energy levels. Sliced apples and peanut butter, a banana, even something as simple as goldfish are all great choices for snacking healthily. Bring plenty of water with you (stay green and pack a refillable, BPA-free, aluminum-free bottle). Water will keep you hydrated and will, amazingly enough, keep you from over-snacking. Also keep in mind that something as complicated as a philly cheesesteak will not work on set, that's a sit down kind of meal (and loaded with empty calories!). You need snacks that are going to be fast and easy (and not ruin your makeup!)
Stay away from sugary sports drinks. The energy obtained from a Gatorade or VitaminWater only works until the crash. And when a sugar crash happens, the only thing that's going to help it is more sugar - don't poison your body with overloads of sugar and take yourself through highs and lows, especially when you need to be on your A-game. Think about this - VitaminWater gets its flavoring through sugars and carbs. One bottle has 2.5 servings - meaning that when you drink the whole bottle, you're really ingesting 150 calories (empty calories!) and 39g of sugar. That's the same amount of sugar from eating three of McDonald's hot apple pies. A multivitamin will provide the same (if not more) vitamin nutrients and does it without the sugar. One other thing that seems like a great idea but isn't...coffee - which has such high levels of caffeine that the VitaminWater highs and lows will be nothing compared to the rollercoaster of energy that coffee gives.
All in all, be smart and pack your snacks. Bring healthy, nutrient-dense foods that can be eaten quickly in between hair and makeup changes, won't spill on Marc's fabulous clothes, and will give you the energy you need to last through the day - all without breaking the bank.
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