What I Eat in a Day (and Why I Chose What I Ate)
If you follow me on TikTok, you know I like to share "what I eat a day" videos to transparently show what a life of food freedom really looks like.
However, these short clips never leave me enough time to explain in detail why I choose what I eat that day.
But this explanation can be super helpful for you in order to let go of certain fears about food.
I figured my blog is a much better place to do exactly that. So here is a ‘What I Eat in a Day (and why)’ - much more in detail 😊
Breakfast: Brain Food
I start my day with a big breakfast. Usually a combination of something savory and something sweet.
I eat eggs with avocado because that gives me enough energy for at least 4-5 hours. Especially in the morning I do the work that requires most of my brain power: Writing, education, reading contracts, etc.
So I need to perform, and having a nutrient-rich breakfast makes it much more possible.
And since I love to eat something sweet as well, the second half of my breakfast consists of oatmeal.
I no longer base my food choices on the preferences of others. I haven't seen this type of breakfast combination anywhere, I just tried what worked for me (quantity, what foods) and made it a routine.
When I eat at home, I eat the same breakfast almost every morning. Because I know it tastes delicious and fills me up.
Lunch: An Internal Clock
Since I’ve healed my relationship with food, I've discovered an internal clock for eating.
I've probably just gotten really good at listening to my body's needs, but if feels as if I was setting an alarm for when it’s time to eat.
On average, my body is hungry again 5 hours after breakfast. I don't even look at the clock, but I know when I think of lunch, it's been about 5 hours since I ate breakfast.
So I make sure I eat a big breakfast because I know I don't have to worry about the next meal anytime soon. Which is convenient, especially when I'm busy with work.
No Routine
For lunch, I eat whatever is available. I don't have a routine here, except for the fact that my body needs to recharge its energy about 5 hours after breakfast.
So today I worked from a restaurant and had chicken with spinach and mashed potatoes. It was delicious and exactly what I was in the mood for at that moment.
Tomorrow, though, I might eat something completely different. No routine, just intuitive.
Dinner: The Myth of 3 Meals
Every time I post my "What I Eat" videos, that rarely include dinners, I get comments like:
That doesn’t seem enough!
Where is dinner?
In the past, I was just like them. I ate according to an idea and not my own intuition.
So I would think that someone who has a healthy relationship with food would eat three meals a day.
Because I was constantly dieting or overeating, I had no idea what it was like to have a normal relationship with food. If I would eat three, five or two meals a day and so could only assume what was the appropriate amount.
So I understand these comments. When you are not confident in your eating choices, you criticize everything that deviates from the idea.
And that's why I have this blog, so that this changes for you too and you discover what it's like to have a normal and healthy relationship with food.
Btw, today I do have a good relationship with food and my body - yet, I don't eat three main meals a day…
Calories (Energy)
Basically, it's all about my body getting enough energy. And how is energy measured? In calories. The calorie is a unit of energy.
So let's say my body requires me to eat 2300 calories a day (that's just an assumption for the example).
So who cares if I eat the majority of it in two, three or five meals as long as I eat the calories (as long as my body gets the fuel it needs for energy)?
I enjoy big meals. Eggs with avocado toast and oatmeal may be too big for some people, but it's perfect for me. So I'd rather eat two larger main meals a day than 5 smaller ones.
Is this the right way to eat? For me, yes! If it is for you, only you can find out by trying out what works for you.
So on that day, I was visiting a friend and I wasn't hungry for another main meal, I just had an appetite.
I figured baked cheese works perfectly with a glass of white whilst catching up with my friend 🧀🍷😊
What About Snacks?
“Where are the snacks?” “Why do you never snack?” - more comments I frequently get.
Again, the idea. Three meals and two snacks. I do snack, and don’t. I no longer plan snacks however.
I will post another ‘What I Eat’ from a day I had snacks. That day I wasn’t snacking on anything in between. If I do it’s usually an apple, gummi bears, cookies or just an oat matcha. It really depends on what is available and how much food I had.
If I have oats only for breakfast I snack more thorough the day, because I ate less (I consumed less energy - calories, so my body asks for more). So again, no routine, jut intuitive.
Eating For The Wrong Reason
As you may have noticed, I have never once mentioned my figure or weight to justify my food choices. However, I have done that in the past. I chose meals for the wrong reasons.
And because of that, I was unhappy and ended up overeating. Today I know why I want to eat something, and the what, follows by itself.
And since I no longer overeat, I can maintain my figure naturally, without having to diet or over-exercise, as I used to. All thanks to a balanced diet.
For what reasons do you choose your meals? If you think like I have in the past, maybe you should try to find new reasons and make your appearance secondary - not completely irrelevant. That's an unrealistic approach. Wanting to feel good physically is not a crime. But it shouldn't be at the expense of your health 🌱
Samira ❤︎
