Mother Essentials: Sarah Koszyk
Written by Erin Feher
It feels like we are moving at lightning speed into the holiday season, which has put healthy habits top of mind. One of our favorite new wellness hacks is starting the day with Superstar, a glass full of adaptogens, matcha, moringa leaf, and a heaping serving of 14 different superfoods. It was created by Sarah Koszyk, a registered dietitian, food and nutrition expert, and four-time published author. Or course she’s also a mama to 2 1/2 year old Nico, who loves to cook and was an enthusiastic recipe tester for Sarah’s book: 365 Snacks for Every Day of the Year. But in between her nutrition sessions with tech CEOs and star athletes and getting the word out about her new company, Mija Naturals (Superstar is their inaugural product), she’s just like any other mom—trying to figure out how to get her kid to eat his veggies (hint: let them wield the seasoning jars during the prep process and taste test as many as they like!). We asked her to share her top Mother Essentials with us, from her favorite cooking gadgets to her son’s most beloved books. Her 20 picks are below. And you better believe we are giving Face Yoga a try.
Mo Willems Books. “My favorites are Should I Share My Ice Cream? and Waiting Is Not Easy. These books are fabulous for teaching kids simple life lessons. I never get tired of reading them over and over again.” Should I Share My Ice Cream? and Waiting Is Not Easy by Mo Willems, $9.99 and $5.99, Amazon.
Adidas Gazelle Sneakers. “I walk everywhere in the city and love my Adidas. You can get a different color for every outfit you need. Yes, I have 13 pairs of various Adidas shoes.” Adidas Gazelle Sneakers, $80–$100, Adidas.
Yumbox Bento Lunchboxes. “Perfect for toddlers and younger kids. The lunchboxes have different compartments for the different foods and they even have an ‘educational’ tray to give a friendly reminder of things to put inside. Easy to clean, BPA-free, and phthalate free. I’m all about safe, functional, and easy clean-up!” Yumbox Original Leakproof Bento Lunch Box Container, $29.99, Amazon.
Slip Sleep Mask. “I travel a lot and it’s always nice having a soft, luxurious eye mask to slip on and keep the light out so I can rest anywhere I need to. The silky material also helps keep my face smooth and relaxed.” Slip Sleep Mask, $50, Violet Grey.
Kjaer Weis Mascara. “I’ve tried over 40 brands of mascara and this is my favorite. It doesn’t clump. It makes my lashes long, thick, and luscious. The ingredients are organic and Kirsten’s packaging is sustainable.” Kjaer Weis Mascara, $38, Credo.
Superstar by Mija. “I start every day with Superstar, a superfood supplement. Even though I eat a variety of whole foods, fruits, and veggies, I can always use an extra boost of powerful antioxidants to kick start and energize my day while contributing to glowing skin.” Superstar by Mija, $78, Mija Naturals.
Curious Chef Cookie Cutters. “A fantastic way to get kids involved in the kitchen—have them make their own food. My 2 1/2 year old helps make shapes into his food. Fun food does taste better. I love coming up with different ideas for foods and recipes you can use a cookie cutter with.” Curious Chef 16-Piece Cookie Cutter Collection, $16.99, Amazon.
Havana Club Anejo 7 Anos Rum. “I love just sipping an exquisite rum on the rocks. It’s already naturally sweet and now that the embargo with Cuba is gone, you can get it legally. Squeeze a little lime in it to truly take you to that exotic beach on the island.” Havana Club Anejo 7 Anos Rum, $27.7o, The Whisky Exchange.
WaterWipes. “I carry these in my bag and they come in handy often, for everything from wiping down a messy kid to cleaning my hands to tidying up a dirty public table.” WaterWipes Sensitive Baby Wipes, $42.99 (pack of 12), Amazon.
Mandoline Slicer. “When you want your veggies and fruits thinly sliced, a mandoline is best. There’s a safe guard so you can slice it down and not worry about cutting yourself. All the slices are even, so you appear to be a gourmet chef with fabulous cutting techniques.” KitchenAid Adjustable Hand-Held V-Blade Mandoline Slicer, $17.95, Amazon.
Ceramic Knives. “We cook every day in our house and are always chopping something. With a ceramic knife, you never have to sharpen it and it cuts well.” Kyocera Advanced Ceramics Revolution Series 3-Piece Ceramic Knife Set, $72.65, Amazon.
Nana Joe’s Granola. “Michelle makes her granola products from her heart and soul and you can taste it. We eat it daily at lunch or for snacks. The bars are delish, too.” Nana Joes Granola, $30 (3-pack), Amazon.
Harmony Body Oil by YÜLI. “I care about what I put on my skin since it’s the biggest organ in our bodies and absorbs so much. And knowing that I can put Harmony on my son’s skin, too, is extra special. It is made from natural ingredients and rejuvenates, refreshes, and revitalizes my skin.” YÜLI Harmony Body Oil, $80, YÜLI.
AllSaints Dresses. “These dresses make you feel stylish and sexy and fit most body types. The small details like the cuts, hems, and stitching give extra flare from just the average dress. My current fave is the Limera.” AllSaints Limera Tank Dress, $150, Nordstrom.
The Perfect S.F. Sweater. “Margaret O’Leary is a local San Francisco designer and her sweaters are just divine. The materials she uses are extremely soft and cozy. When I wear them, I feel instant comfort and stylishly chic.” The Rugby Pullover, $160, Margaret O’Leary.
Burrata from Belfiore. “Burrata cheese is my absolute fave. At Belfiore Cheese Company in Berkeley, the burrata literally melts in your mouth and is superb. I get most of my cheese from this family-owned business. The owners Farr and Mojgan are incredible.” 2031 Second Street, Berkeley, Belfiore Cheese Company.
Mitchell’s Ice Cream. “There’s always a line here for a reason. A-mazing ice cream with exotic flavors like Black Walnut, Lucuma, and Ube. They deliver, too. Dangerously divine.” 688 San Jose Avenue, San Francisco, Mitchell’s Ice Cream.
Panini Press & Grill. “Nothing beats a warm sandwich that melts in your mouth. You can make a delicious grilled sandwich without buttering the bread for a lighter version. We also grill hamburgers, veggies, homemade crab cakes, salmon, teriyaki chicken, and more on the panini press. It’s one of our most-used kitchen tools.” Breville Panini Press & Grill, $129.95, Williams-Sonoma.
Dance Classes at Rhythm and Motion. “I’ve been taking classes with them for 17 years. I’m not a dancer by training, but I love the vibe here. Everyone is welcome and you have people from all walks of life shaking their booty and having fun while breaking a sweat.” Rhythm and Motion.
Face Yoga Method. “Fumiko is incredible and truly practices what she preaches. Face Yoga really does take years off your face and it’s a great way to laugh at yourself while doing the poses.” Face Yoga Method.
For more Mother Essentials, peep our past columns with designers Rachel Zoe, Cynthia Rowley, and Taylor Jay, children’s author Serena Minott, clean living expert Kristian Henderson, June & January founder Amy Richardson-Golia, Bubbsi founder Sweta Doshi, Oakland retail queen Sherri McMullen, Shahidah Zareef of Bossmom Nation, Joanne Encarnacion, LaTonya Yvette, Morgan Walker of Make.do, Jeanne Chan of Harlow & Grey, and more!
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The embargo against Cuba is ABSOLUTELY not ‘gone’.
Great suggestions presented clearly and with a classic flair.
Thank you Sarah.