Meet the Mom – Lauren M.

Name: Lauren Manaker

Where did you grow up: West Palm Beach!

Tell me about your kids: One daughter-3 years old named Hannah.  She thinks she is the next Gwen Stefani.

Favorite things to do with the family locally: Palm Beach Zoo to ride the train. over.and over.and over…. 😉

Best family restaurant: The Girls so we can get some awesome pizza and the kiddo can run around

Ideal family vacation spot and why: We love going to Saint Simons Island in Georgia.  It is so laid back, the beaches are awesome, it is super kid-friendly, and and the food is amazing!!

What’s your ‘day job’? I just launched a virtual nutrition support company last week!  It is called Nutrition Now and I am 100% focused on infertility, preconception, prenatal, and postnatal nutrition.  I am a registered dietitian and a certified lactation educator-counselor and love working with this population!  I am trying to cater to the busy women who may need my services and offer quick nutrition “audits” as well as traditional nutrition counseling.  Check it out at www.NutritionNowCounseling.com

What is something that makes your life easier/better/more fun? My girlfriends! And Bravo TV.

How do you balance your ‘day job’ and motherhood?  Like most moms, I have learned to survive on less sleep than I ever thought possible!  I have to be very conscious of being “in the moment” with whichever hat I am wearing.  When I pick my daughter up from school, that is her time with me to play and do what we need to do….phone is off and I am in the moment with her.  When it is time for me to work, I am not answering my phone if it is a personal call, TV is off, and I am 100% focused on work.  My yoga practice helps me maintain this focus.

Who inspires you and why? My grandfather.  He is 97 years old and still is contributing to the medical field and making people’s lives better.  His passion is ingrained in me and I hope to carry on the torch and impact people’s lives through nutrition.

What do you do for self care? If I don’t make it to a barre class or yoga AT LEAST 3 times a week, my husband knows the repercussions so it is a priority for both of us that I go.  I also have a standing monthly dinner-date with 3 other women where we always overstay our welcome at a local restaurant and gab away.

What did you wish you knew but no one told you about being a parent? If you think you are over-doing it with taking pictures/videos, and keeping mementos, you aren’t and TAKE MORE!  I think back to when my daughter was a baby and am having a hard time remembering details already!  I wish I had more videos of when she was starting to speak or walk to remember those moments.  I was so enveloped at the time that I never imagined I would forget anything!

Anything else you want to share? I was a Delta Gamma at UF and was in the same pledge class as the owner of this blog :).