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T. G. I. F. everybody! Lately on Instagram I’ve been sharing my healthy meals, snacks, and favorite smoothies, and have been getting some questions on what I eat on a typical day. So today I decided to dedicate an entire post to my balanced and and healthy lifestyle and answer your questions while sharing what I typically eat in a day…
First things first: I’m not a dietician or a nutritionist and I don’t follow any particular diet. I do however, eat a healthy, clean, and balanced diet, but I will also eat desserts! Pizza one day and a green juice the next? Sure! A stack of pancakes for breakfast and a salad for dinner? Of course!!!
BREAKFAST:
I have to eat breakfast first thing in the morning! I’m always hungry in the morning and I know that starting your day off with breakfast will speed up your metabolism and give you an energy boost! I also make a cup or two off coffee (tip: add cinnamon into the grounds, it’s delicious) and add a Dairy Free Almond Milk (by Silk) creamer. It’s extremely low in calories and sugar! This gets my brain functioning, as I usually sip on it while I get ready. Some of my go-to breakfasts that take less than 10 minutes to cook and eat (even on school days) are these:
- Quick Pancakes: Blend 2 eggs, 1 banana, cinnamon, chia seeds and top with almond butter (similar recipe here)
- Egg + Turkey Bacon Sandwich: 1 egg + 1 egg white, 3 pieces of turkey bacon on one piece of toasted Ezekiel bread
- Oatmeal: I like the gluten free oats from Trader Joe’s cooked in the microwave and I add a spoonful of PBFit, a banana, and some Unsweetened Almond Milk
- Egg Muffin Cups: I make these at the beginning of the week so I have them to grab an go and love this recipe
- On the weekends I will splurge big time if we go to brunch and order a stack of pancakes, my favorite 😉
SNACK:
I always always always have a snack between breakfast and lunch. Being a teacher, I obviously get a morning recess which falls about 3 hours after I eat my breakfast, so by then, I’m definitely starving. I always have the same snack on hand (and even eat it on the weekends):
- Greek Yogurt + Berries: I always have a greek yogurt cup with strawberries and blueberries. Make sure your yogurt has minimal sugar- just because it’s greek yogurt doesn’t mean it’s sugar free. My favorite brand is Fage or Oikos Triple Zero
- Hard-Boiled Egg: Sometimes this will be my snack if I have them on hand
LUNCH:
My lunch varies a lot, but I always keep it healthy which is easy for me because I pack them Mon-Fri so I can plan ahead and am only able to eat what I bring. Here are some examples of my typical lunch:
- Salads: My favorites are just creating my own using a leafy green, carrots, one other veggie, a fruit like strawberries, a nut, BUT there are good options from Trader Joe’s or the regular grocery store like Vons. I sometimes bring my own chicken to add if there is no protein in a salad, and I will also use the Bolthouse Yogurt dressings (you must try!) because some of the regular dressings are packed with sugar and fats.
- Leftovers: I know this sounds boring, but my leftovers usually consist of chicken or fish and a ton of veggies. It’s easy and healthy so I can’t complain!
- Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps: This recipe is absolutely delicious and so easy! I made it this week and it lasted me the entire week Mon-Fri. Plus, it’s all healthy foods!
- Safe Catch Tuna Salad: I like to mix this with celery, jalapeño mustard, and use GG crackers. SO good and filled with protein and fiber!
AFTERNOON SNACK:
Yes…I have another snack in the afternoon! Teaching is an exhausting job 😉 plus, I need to boost my energy at this point in the day (around 3pm) so I can get in a good workout! This snack is always on the go as I’m driving to the gym, so it’s always a protein bar. You have to be careful with protein bars, as a lot of them contain HUGE amounts of sugar. These are my favorite (and trust me, they’re sooo good):
- FitJoy Bars
- OhYeah! One Bars
- rX Bars
- Green Smoothie: On the weekends I will typically treat myself 😉 to a green smoothie packed with spinach, kale, avocado, strawberries, banana, protein powder, etc. Don’t be afraid of protein powder, I promise it won’t make you large, but will tone you out!
- Carrots + Hummus: I also love this snack on the weekends when I’m not on the go. Any veggie is better than pita chips with hummus!
- My protein ball energy bites: SO GOOD!
DINNER:
This depends of course on if I’m eating at home, or I go out to dinner! Most of the time I do eat home cooked meals though! Some of my favorite nutrition packed dinners that are also easy are:
- Protein (Chicken, Tilapia, Shrimp, Chicken Sausage, or Salmon) + Roasted Veggies: I usually make a huge pan or two of roasted veggies at the beginning of the week so I have them on hand. All I do is add a little olive oil, a little salt + pepper, and cook on 400 for 20 minutes!
- Spaghetti Squash or Zoodles + Protein: I love making spaghetti squash and have yet to try Zoodles, but have only heard amazing things about them!
- Mexican Bowl: I use chicken, brown rice, black beans, corn salsa, red salsa, guacamole, and hot sauce. I typically dip a few chips into that mixture and it’s delish!!
DESSERT:
I absolutely LOVE anything that involves the word dessert in it. I’m a huge fan of sugar, but since the New Year have vowed to wane off of it (and it’s absolutely working!). I no longer crave it like I used to which is so good for my body. However, don’t get me wrong, when I get the chance to eat a large bowl of ice cream or homemade cookies from my Mom, I sure as heck indulge! Some healthier dessert ideas that I love in the meantime are:
- Halo Top Ice Cream: This ice cream literally has protein in it. It’s so good and I claim it’s good for you (in moderation of course) 😉
- Protein Balls: I created a recipe here that you must try! They’re also a good snack to have on hand throughout the day or week!
DRINKS:
- Like I said in the “breakfast” section, I typically have two cups of coffee to start my day. By 10am, I’m typically drinking water and then with lunch I always have a La Croix (my sparkling water obsession that you need to try). Then I drink a ton of water in the afternoon/evening! I’d say I drink close to 80-100 ounces of water a day. The more the better!
Like I said before, I’m no expert in a specific diet, but I do know that eating clean, fresh, whole ingredients and avoiding processed foods is a whole lot better for your body and mind! Also remember, it’s all about balance 😉 If you want to splurge for one meal, do it, just be mindful the rest of the day. The best advice I can give is to keep healthy snacks on hand (such as a protein bar)AND listen to your body.
I’d love to hear if you have any favorite healthy recipes! Send them my way!
Jan says
This is great, thanks! Have you ever tried Quest protein bars? I like them but was curious if they maybe weren’t as healthy as the other bars listed. Thx!
Torey Beerman says
Jen, I’m so happy you loved this post! I used to eat Quest Bars ALL the time until I discovered the ones in this post. Quest recently changed their formula and it’s not as good as it used to be in terms of taste and nutrition, so I love the healthier ones I listed above! Hope that helps 🙂
Kristin says
What brands/types of protein powder do you recommend?
Torey Beerman says
Hey Kristin! I typically use the women’s vanilla protein from Trader Joe’s, or really any whey protein is great 😉 Hope that helps!
Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy says
LOVE this! So glad you like my healthy egg muffin cups!!!! 🙂 Also, Halo Top is everything. 😉
Torey Beerman says
Jennifer- I LOVE your egg muffins, thanks for the recipe! And 100% YES to halo top 😉 Hope you had the best weekend!