As a nutritionist and registered dietician, I spend most of my time talking about other people’s diets. I help clients figure out how to eat in a way that aligns with their goals, needs and lifestyle. My advice is always individualized as I don’t believe in a one-size fits all approach to nutrition. Every now and then, I will work with someone who wants to know what I eat. How do I apply all this knowledge around nutrition to my day-to-day life? Do I always practice what I preach? 

So, today I am going to share with you what I tend to eat and how I shape my routine in a typical day in order to feel my best. Follow along as I lay out exactly how I apply my nutrition knowledge to my everyday life. 

6-6:30 am I wake up. The first thing I do is grab a cup of coffee and head to my office (which is also my meditation and exercise room). I start my day (every day) with kundalini meditation. I do anywhere from 10-40 minutes, depending on how much time I have. I’ve been practicing kundalini for a few years now and it is a total game changer for me. I feel so much more connected, grounded and present because of this practice. 

Right after my meditation, I either shower or exercise depending on the day. I exercise for 30 minutes almost every day, but when I’m able to do so depends on the day. My exercise routine also depends on how I am feeling. I commit 30 minutes a day to moving my body — some days it is a sculpt class, some days it is a walk and some days it is a gentle restorative yoga class. I allow myself this flexibility depending on how my body is feeling and really needing. 

7:30 – 8 am Breakfast. I always eat my meals with my kids when I am with them, and breakfast is no different. I believe it is important to sit down with the people you love at meal time and use eating as a way to connect. For breakfast, I typically eat a gluten-free english muffin with sunflower seed butter, hemp seeds, cinnamon and berries. I also have my second cup of coffee at this time and add some collagen peptides to this cup. The choice to eat gluten-free is because gluten is a migraine trigger for me. I don’t think everyone needs to go gluten-free, but it personally makes a difference for me. 

I drink lots of water in between meals! 

11:30 – 12:30 Lunch. Lunch is almost always a large salad. Eating a big bulk of veggies at lunch helps me to feel light and energized the rest of the day. My salad usually consists of…

• Between three to four cups arugula +
• One and a half cups of additional veggies (such as carrots, cucumbers, broccoli, bell peppers, and tomatoes) +
• Protein source (maybe 1 hard-boiled egg + crispy chickpeas) +
• Healthy fats (good quality olive oil) +
• White balsamic vinegar and salt and pepper.
• I also try to add some fermented veggies to my salad, such as sauerkraut or kimchi
• Also, depending on my hunger level that day, I may add some rice or crackers to eat with my salad

More water.

3-4 pm Snack. I normally eat one cup of cut up raw veggies — cucumbers, carrots or bell peppers — with hummus or cheese slices. Other days I might have an apple with cheese or a rice cake with sunflower seed butter. 

Yes, water here, too.

6-6:30  Dinner. I cook dinner most nights of the week. What we have varies, but I generally try to include a protein, vegetable, and starch. For instance, tonight we are having broiled salmon with green beans and rice. Last night we had white chicken chili and kale Caesar salad. I typically eat at least two more cups of veggies at dinnertime.

After dinner I almost always have something sweet, such as a handful of chocolate chips and walnuts or a rice cake with sunflower seed butter and chocolate chips. A little treat to end the day!

And there you have it. That is what the majority of my days look like when it comes to diet. But, just like you, I also have days where I don’t eat as well. I have days where I drink too much coffee, overeat at night and eat unhealthy foods, like pizza, desserts and chips. And that is okay, too! Being healthy is not being perfect. I believe that being healthy is nourishing your body but also being able to find peace with behaviors that aren’t always the healthiest and holding space for them.

If you are interested in learning more about my routine and habits (healthy or otherwise), check out my Facebook group. I shared two videos a few weeks back on this exact topic where I go into a little more detail regarding my dos and don’ts, as well as how I view healthy eating in general. Head on over to check them out and learn more.