Laura Hamilton is a presenter for Channel 4’s A Place in the Sun and has starred in TV shows such as The Jump and Dancing On Ice. Here, she tells us why she can’t resist something sweet in the afternoon
5-10AM
I’m normally up between 5.30am and 6.30am, depending on when my kids get up. First thing in the morning I’ll grab a black coffee and a big glass of water. If I don’t have a coffee, then I’ll have a hot water with lemon and honey. I’ve always been a morning person (I’m not sure if that comes from being a former children’s TV presenter), so out of me and Alex (my husband) I’m the one more likely to start getting the children ready for the day!
7AM
During the week my breakfast tends to be an omelette with ham. At the weekend I eat a little later, and sometimes we’ll have breakfast as a family at the coffee shop and deli we own, Lord Roberts on The Green. If I’m there, then I’ll go for avocado on sourdough with smoked salmon, or eggs Benedict.
10:30AM
For a snack, I’ll grab a handful of almonds, or some apple slices with some almond butter to tide me over until lunch.
1-2PM
Often I’m on location, so I need to grab something quick and easy that I can eat on-the-go. That means I’ll end up eating soup, hummus, or I’ll make a sun-dried tomato and avocado wrap in advance.
4-4:30PM
I love to eat something sweet at 4pm, so I tend to go for some mango pieces or a handful of strawberries and blueberries. Sometimes I might have a few pieces of dark chocolate, if I’m craving it.
7PM
At the moment my favourite dinner is a quinoa bowl full of sweet potato, broccoli, chicken and kale. If I can, I like to eat with the children, otherwise, I will wait for Alex to come home and then I’ll end up eating around 8pm, which is a bit too late for me! I go to bed at around 10:30-11:30pm, depending on how much admin I have to do. Whether it’s for the children’s school, or paperwork for the business, the time that the children are in bed is the only time I have to do it all!
The low-down
London’s leading nutritionist, Lily Soutter (lilysoutternutrition.com), gives her insight into Laura’s day.
“Laura starts her day with a protein-rich breakfast, which can help to balance bloodsugar and keep her full. She could switch up her omelette fillings with options such as tomatoes, mushrooms or even spinach. Not only will this add extra vegetables to her diet, but it will also help to reduce her consumption of processed meat. A balanced lunch is key for keeping her energy high throughout the day and minimising that afternoon slump and, as Laura’s dinners are healthy and colourful, it could be a good idea to make a second portion that she can store in a Tupperware, ready for lunch the next day. Midafternoon, Laura satisfies her sugar cravings with fresh fruit, which are full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fibre. While a few squares of dark chocolate are all OK to have – she could try making a batch of low-sugar energy balls for a tasty alternative, by mixing and rolling cacao, oats, chia, nut butter and a dash of honey for long-lasting energy.”
