Outside of questions about my workout routine, the thing I get asked most about is my diet and what I eat. The Fit Guide: 4 Week Workout Challenge has a sample 2 week meal plan based on my typical daily “menu” but I thought it would be fun to give you guys a little peek into what I eat most days. I’m totally a creature of habit and also a little bit of a picky eater so my typical meal isn’t usually super complex – but that doesn’t mean I don’t eat good. Read, there’s pasta involved almost daily. Let’s dive in.
6:30am
Brandon and I try to get in a morning workout 3-4 days a week. I usually use this morning workout strictly for fasted cardio (30min max of cardio on an empty stomach) and then my evening workout consists of my weight/resistance training.
Before heading to the gym, I chug TWO glasses of water followed by 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar mixed with a little water.
8:00am
For breakfast, I usually switch back and forth between two favorites. The protein is usually the same and then depending on my mood I either opt for oatmeal or a bagel as a good source of carbs.
Option #1: half of a Dave’s Killer Bread Boomin Berry Bagel + three (3) hardboiled egg whites, I toss the yolks + two (2) slices of bacon + one (1) cup berries
Option #2: one (1) cup steel cut oatmeal with cinnamon + one (1) sliced banana or green apple + three (3) hardboiled egg whites, I toss the yolks+ two (2) slices of bacon
Both options are served with a cup of coffee and almond milk creamer (usually try to stick to 2 tbsp max)
12:00pm
I’m not sure what it is about lunch but this is the meal I’m usually the most hungry for. I like to fuel up big for this one, especially when I have an evening workout planned. My favorite quick and easy to prep lunch is:
+ 1 cup Banza pasta noodles tossed in 1 tbsp olive oil, red pepper flakes, salt & pepper. I then top with 2 tbsp parmesan cheese. I love Banza Chickpea pasta for SO many reasons. No 1: it tastes just like and has the same consistency of regular pasta. No 2: it’s packed full of protein and fiber.
+ Roasted broccoli: toss broccoli with 2 tbsp olive oil or spray to coat wit Olive oil spray with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Roast in the oven at 425 degrees for 15 minutes or until a little crispy. Combine 1-2 cups of broccoli with pasta.
+ Top it all off with protein of choice. I usually dice up chicken breast tossed with paprika, salt, pepper, garlic powder and red pepper flakes and cook in a saute pan until done. Mix the chicken with your pasta + broccoli mixture and enjoy!
4:00pm
I don’t always snack but when I do, I usually opt for a One Protein Bar (love the Cookie Dough and Almond Bliss flavors) or a String Cheese – yes I’m five.
7:30pm
Regardless of what time we get done at the gym, I follow each workout with a recovery shake – try to drink within 30 minutes of finishing your workout. I combine 1 scoop of protein powder with unsweetened almond milk or water. This is a great way to fuel the muscles you just worked!
I sip on my shake while I’m cooking (or reheating) dinner. Lately, this has been one of our favorites:
+ Season lean ground turkey with salt and pepper. Cook in skillet until browned. Drain and then add back to pan. Add taco seasoning mix with 1/4 c water, cover and let simmer.
+ While meat is cooking, prep your tacos! I love using small corn tortillas (pop them in the oven for a few minutes to get a little crispy) and then set out a few toppings. Think romaine lettuce, tomatoes, shredded low-fat cheddar cheese, verde salsa and jalapeños.
+ Scoop 2-3 tbsp of ground turkey mixture onto a tortilla and top with your favorite toppings. I usually eat about two tacos depending on how hungry I am and serve with a pre-made bagged salad with olive oil + vinegar.
8:30pm
I almost always have a major sweet tooth after dinner. I love the Yasso Frozen Yogurt Bars – the Coffee Chocolate Chop is the bomb. If we’re out of those I slice up an apple or peach and eat a small scoop of almond butter.
So there ya have it – this is what a typical day looks like for me. It’s not super exciting but it gets the job done and I never feel like I’m dieting or restricting myself which is a major KEY.
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