I was asked last week to describe a typical day in the (eating) life.  Please keep in my mind, I’m not a doctor, nutritionist, dietician, or online nutrition coach. I am just me, a person who likes to eat relatively well and tends to blow their budget on eating at restaurants.

I decided to record everything last Monday.  I don’t usually count calories, but I’m generally aware of an estimate of how many I’ve eaten.  I know if I’ve eaten 1500 and am starving or ate 2500 and feel fine.  It works for me.  Since being injured, I also know I’ve put on between 3-5 pounds.  I haven’t weighed myself, but my guess is I weigh somewhere between 130-135.

Breakfast (5:15-5:30 am):

I enjoy waffles for breakfast.  I utilize my waffle maker every morning. I’ve had the same breakfast for a long time, and I know it works for me. I eat the same breakfast whether I’m running, working out, racing or whatever.   I’m normally in the minority, but I am hungry when I wake up.

Waffle (500ish calories):
(easy recipe)
2/3 cup flour
1/2ish cup milk
1 egg
baking powder

You can add whatever else you want in it.  I’ve added blueberries, pumpkin, chocolate chips and even cocoa powder.  It’s a basic ingredient list.

This is a plain waffle

I normally catch up on work, emails, and everything and head out for a run between 6:30-7.  I like to eat before I run and never have an upset stomach during my runs.

On Monday, I ran 4 miles.  My run was uneventful and boring. It felt okay, and my ankle felt good, so I have no complaints.  In fact, my ankle has felt completely injury free since too. 

After my run, I ate a cup of Greek Yogurt and had coffee. I’m currently enjoying Fage or Chobani.  I choose whichever is cheaper at the grocery store.  I don’t normally drink coffee before a run but like to get Starbucks or Wawa afterwords…Monday was unusual for me and was my first iced coffee in about two years.  I don’t know why I was craving one, but I was.  That alone deserves a photo. 

After showering and getting ready, it’s time to begin the actual day.  The meat of my day is always interesting and no two days are the same.  Sometimes I’ll work in the store of Running Co; sometimes I’ll work at home, and still other times I’m on base doing things.  My google calendar has become my best friend to keep me on track and not missing anything. I have my phone and computer synched up.

Last Monday, I wasn’t in the store, but I had a couple of meetings as well as something to take care of on base.  When I left my house around 9:30 am, I wasn’t home until around 4 pm.  I try to pack my lunch, so I don’t end up spend a lot of unnecessary money along the way.  Plus going out with friends is much more enjoyable than eating on the road.

By 11, I’m hungry.  I had a roast beef sandwich on wheat bread with lettuce, tomato, and mustard. I also had a few carrots and a peach. It was boring but good.  I tend to each more frequently and often when I’m out or in the store.  When I’m at home, I’ll just eat lunch and move on.

Roast Beef sandwich on wheat

By 2, I was hungry again and ate another (exactly the same) sandwich.  A sandwich isn’t really a full meal, but it’s not a snack either.  I just consider it two lunches.

I got home around 4 and my husband, and I decided the night before we wanted steak.  I try and have red meat once or twice a week, and steak is by far my favorite red meat.

We usually do something simple like grill it and have a salad and potato.  That is one of my favorite homecooked meal.  It’s easy, fast and delicious.  We aren’t fancy, and our meals normally take 30 minutes at the very most to prepare.  I do the vegetable and potato cooking (which is not cooking at all) and my husband grills. I’ve also been drinking a cup of milk with dinner to keep getting calcium.  This evening we had asparagus too.

Lately, I’ve been doing core and strength at night.  I dedicate about 30 minutes to it after dinner.  I catch up on TV, get more core in and then relax.  From 6-9, I do that, relax and sometimes get work done.  If anyone needs a new Netflix show, I have loved “Army Wifes”.  A lot of social media happens at night, so sometimes I’m online for things like that too.

I’ve been making smoothies with a milk base, protein powder and whatever else I can find in the house.  Sometimes cocoa powder, sometimes fruit, it depends on what I’m craving. On Monday, I added milk, a scoop of protein powder, a half cup of pumpkin and cinnamon.

I’ve stopped eating a lot of sweets and dessert every single night.  We tend to go out for dessert.  Do I enjoy cookies and cake?  Of course, but I don’t think it’s necessary to have them every single day.  I used to crave sweets almost every evening but about two years ago I stopped having as much sugar and artificial sweeteners and no longer crave them.  I always add a Truvia or sugar to my coffee.  Thinking out loud, I used to dump boatloads in…no wonder I craved sugars.  

In summary, I’m a fairly boring person when it comes to life and food.  I eat what I get on sale and try to eat healthy.  Just like running, a day of good (or bad) eating doesn’t determine your health.  Consistency does… 

Questions for you:

What is your favorite food?

What are some good lunch ideas?  I definitely need help in that department.