I am a new mom to an adorable three month and like many new moms, I am still learning how to meet my daughter’s needs without sacrificing my own. When it was 3pm for the third day in a row and I still had my pyjamas on and hadn’t showered or eaten anything yet, I knew I needed help.

I knew I could not carry on this way and expect to stay healthy. By mid-afternoon, I was cranky, sluggish and starving. Predictably, I reached for caffeine and the first sugary snack I could find. We all know how that goes and it isn’t pretty because what shoots up your blood sugar levels also makes them come crashing down and thus, a nasty cycle begins. I was already starting a bad habit that I desperately wanted to break.

As a new mom, my health is more important to me now than ever. Being healthy is not about crash diets just to get ready for swimsuit season. It’s about eating foods that make me feel healthy and strong and don’t leave me still feeling hungry an hour later. It’s about staying healthy for many years to come and having the energy to keep up with my daughter as she grows.

There are definitely days that I am frustrated, feel like a zombie and sometimes it just seems easier to grab a candy bar or pick up some fast food but the bottom line is that I care enough about myself and my family to be as healthy as I can and if I’m not going to take action now, when am I going to do it? According to new research by Phillippa Lally and colleagues from the Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Research Centre, it takes an average of 66 days to form a new habit. There is no time like the present so I better get started now.

In my quest for health, I searched the internet for nutritional information geared for new moms and I was delighted to find M.O.M.S Guide: Eating to Survive the First Years of Motherhood. Written by three certified holistic health counsellors, this e-book is packed full of nutritional information specifically for new moms. In this helpful guide, you’ll learn which foods will give you long lasting energy, stabilize your moods and make you feel great. It is not uncommon for your body to be depleted of many crucial vitamins and minerals following childbirth and you’ll learn which foods to eat in the weeks and months following delivery. There’s even a helpful shopping list, recipes and plenty of great ‘grab and go’ snack ideas when you literally only have 5 minutes to scarf something down. Perfect for any new mom, this helpful guide takes the guess work out of healthy eating and guides you step-by-step along the way.