What I Eat In a Day
Truth: the way I eat changes throughout the year.
It really just depends on what I need for that phase of time in my life. Sometimes I do intermediate fasting, sometimes I eat the same thing for breakfast for a month and sometimes I just add or subtract things from my diet, because it feels better for me in that moment.
Recently what has felt best for me and my digestion is 5 small meals a day, slower eating, more water and less processed sugar.
Here is what my meals have been looking like:
Breakfast
(8 am)
I have really been enjoying fiber and protein filled breakfasts, as they really keep me satisfied and energized until my next meal. If I can add a little healthy fat in the meal too, that’s a win/win. So recently, choices like two hard-boiled eggs and half of an avocado or gluten-free oatmeal with apples, bananas and cinnamon topped with nut butter and flaxseeds, feels amazing.
GF oatmeal w/ all the toppings!
Snack
(11 am)
For my mid-morning snack, I’ve been making one of these smoothies, especially since it’s Fall and it’s the perfect time for these flavors! The great thing about these smoothies, is that they are perfect to have as an entire meal for breakfast or as two separate snacks. So, recently, I’ve been making a full serving (sometimes, adding a little spinach to them!) and will drink half of it mid-morning. Then, I will either save the other half for my mid-afternoon bite or for the next day’s mid-morning snack. Since they have a natural sweetness to them, they are perfect in the afternoon when I’m craving something sweet (I’ve been weaning myself off of my daily addiction of processed sugar for the last few weeks and this is one of my hacks)!
(l-r) pumpkin chai, caramel apple spice + bananas foster
lunch
(1 pm)
Time for greens! My favorites are kale and spinach because of their added calcium, Vitamin C, fiber and amazing antioxidants. Sometimes, I will add spinach to my smoothies, but if I don’t get a chance to do so that morning, I’ll grab a double dose of the greens that day for lunch to make up for it. A stocked Buddha Bowl with lean chicken, turkey or fish and a heaping serving of my favorite veggies is my popular go-to. I also like to add a small portion of either brown rice or quinoa, and, a slice of avocado if I’m working out that day and need the extra energy!
blackened fish buddha bowl
Snack
(3:30-4pm)
My body interprets the bewitching hours of 3-5pm as: time for sugar. It doesn’t matter how much protein, fat, greens or fiber I’ve eaten that day, this is just what my body (or my mind!) tries to bully me into. So, this is where I have to strategize and eat something that will satiate the craving but, that won’t catapult me off the deep-end! (Disclaimer: there are no forever eradicated sweets from my current diet, I just feel better, at this point, when I’m not having refined sugar every day). So, this is why the other half of my smoothie from that morning slips seamlessly into place here. If I do feel like eating instead of drinking, I’ll have some greek yogurt, a little fruit and this gluten-free granola (which I love). The natural sugars in this snack help to nip any sweet cravings in the bud!
greek yogurt goodness
dinner
(before 7pm)
I’m a Caribbean girl, so I love stewed dishes (with chicken, normally)! We both also really love one-pot dishes with chicken, turkey or seafood (like our healthy turkey sausage and wild shrimp jambalaya below). If we feel like doing carbs that night, they’ll normally take the form of potatoes (sweet, red or Japanese) or gluten-free Banza pasta or rice, which we both really enjoy. This works wonders in our household, because hubby has a very high metabolism and definitely needs the calories! After dinner, if another sweet tooth occurs, I either go for a small portion of frozen grapes, a little watermelon or a large medjool date while I sip a cup of Sleepy Time (Valerian) Tea. An essential part of dinner is to: a.) not over-stuff myself and to b.) eat before 7pm (turning in for the night between 10-11pm). I always feel best ending the evening fully digested and not in a state of discomfort.
our healthy jambalaya!
Wishing you hearty meals + happy tummies! x