Today I’m going to get a little bit personal. I guess talking about miscarriage and body image is very personal, but I find talking about what I eat to be every bit as personal. I don’t know why but I always feel so vulnerable talking about what I eat with other people. Anyone else feel the same way? Food is just so incredibly personal sometimes.
If you know me in real life chances are you also know that I tend to be pretty repetitive in the way I eat throughout the week. I know, I know. Variety and color on your plate is the key to eating well, but I’ve always found that eating the same foods day-in and day-out with just a little bit of variety helps keep my on track. Sound boring? Hear me out.
When I began to log my foods on My Fitness Pal for The May Challenge, I noticed a trend. The days I feel my best, most balanced and well-rounded my eating goes a little something like this:
BREAKFAST
1/2 cup oat bran made with water, cinnamon and stevia
1-2 tablespoons creamy natural peanut butter or almond butter
Coffee with a splash of whole milk
Vitamins + water
MID MORNING
Cup of decaf coffee
48 oz water
LUNCH
1/2 cup oat bran made with water, cinnamon and stevia
1 serving of fruit (blueberries, blackberries, raspberries or a banana)
1-2 tablespoons creamy natural peanut butter or almond butter
1 teaspoon chia seeds
AFTERNOON
Some type of afternoon snack, usually plain whole milk yogurt with some walnuts and flax or a serving of fruit with walnuts, etc.
24 oz water
DINNER
Veggies, veggies, veggies! I may eat a whole head of roasted broccoli with hummus and whole wheat toast or a large bowl of zucchini pasta with black beans and marinara, or a sweet potato with hummus and kale. Sometimes I’ll have a really large salad with lots of veggies. Volume is key for me at night, since I’m hungry after my workout. Most nights I would estimate I get 4 to 5 servings of veggies at dinner.
DESSERT
I may have a piece of dark chocolate or a tiny bite of something sweet with decaf coffee, plus more water!
For some people I guess this type of repetition probably sounds incredibly dull, but I find that when I stick to more of a routine I’m satisfied without eating too much. Of course I don’t eat like this every day, but when I’m looking to re-calibrate and feel good, I always go back to this little routine. I think because I am around food every day, it’s easier for me to not think about the food I’m actually eating.
Do you have a routine in the way you eat or a fall-back eating style? Or are you all about variety? I’m always curious about what works best for people when it comes to healthy eating.
Madison