I've written a lot on this blog about my attempts to lose weight through exercising and a few times I've mentioned various diets that I've been on. What I've neglected to emphasize is just how important healthy eating is to me in my daily life. In the past I've led a healthy lifestyle to lose weight but now as I've gotten older I've changed my focus to being heart healthy. In the past this was very difficult since David has always been naturally trim and fit but lately (especially after he quit smoking) Dave has begun to develop a tiny baby gut. Even though he is having a very hard time dealing with his new metabolism, this has actually been a blessing in disguise since I finally feel like I have 100% of Dave's participation in healthy eating and exercising.
In general my diet consists of 1200 calories per day divided between 6 meals. For the most part I try to eat non-processed foods with an emphasis on fruits, veggies, and lean meats. I usually cook dinner each night and when I do so I choose recipes that are easy, cheap, quick, healthy, low calorie, and tasty. What is that I hear? Snickering. Oh yes. Getting all those qualities in one meal is not always easy but definitely do-able. In the next few weeks, I'll be sharing some of my favorite recipes that are regulars in our diet.
Now you may also be asking how in the hell I only consume 1200 calories per day, yet still eat 6 meals. Introducing my daily diet:
5:30am Meal #1 - Pre-Workout Snack (100 calories)
I usually eat something slightly sugary and carby to give me that extra energy boost needed for my morning workout. Sometimes if I'm in a hurry I'll grab a
Luna Bar or
Kashi bar but usually I eat a half slice of
fiber rich whole grain wheat bread, with a thin layer of peanut butter, and a drizzle of honey.
9:00am Meal #2 - Breakfast (200 calories)
Yoplait yogurt plus banana (or some other type of fruit)
Noon Meal #3 - Lunch (300 - 350 calories)
Usually my lunch breaks consist of me sitting in front of a computer, rapidly typing out emails, while trying to consume a meal. Due to these reasons, lunch is the only meal in which I consume processed foods. My typical lunch is a lean pocket, healthy choice meal, or lean cuisine with a fruit (typically grapes) and diet cherry coke.
3:00pm Meal #4 - Snack (100 calories)
An apple with sugar free caramel dipping sauce is my perfect mid-afternoon snack. The apple has enough sugar to give me energy but also fiber to keep me full until dinner. And to be honest I hate apples (don't know why but I do) so the sugar free caramel dipping sauce helps me like to eat the apple. Sometimes if I'm busy I'll grab a
Luna Bar or
Kashi Go Lean Bar.
6:00pm Meal #5 - Dinner (400 calories)
This is where things get complicated. My goal each week when cooking dinner is to have one vegetarian dinner, one fish dinner, and only one red meat dinner each week. The other nights are usually chicken, turkey, pork, or leftovers. As I said before all recipes must be quick, cheap, easy, healthy, and tasty. I usually don't include a carb (even as a side dish) unless the recipe requires it such as veggie pizza (must have the crust) or fish tacos (need the corn tortilla). Most importantly, I try to make my dinner portion size the same as what I would eat for lunch. In the past I would over eat at dinner which is a shame since my body didn't get much of a chance to metabolize my meal.
9:00pm Meal #6 - Dessert! (100 calories)
My favorite meal of the day! I love sweets so my dessert is usually a
sugar free skinny cow or sugar free banana pudding with chunks of banana. Mmmmm!!!!
