This is probably going to be the only time that I post a day of what I eat, because I don't believe that what works for one person will work for the next person. And I don't think that its healthy to try to eat like someone else because what I've found throughout the years is that you need to eat what makes you happy and leaves you feeling fulfilled. And again, what works for me probably won't work for you.
As I made my dinner last night, I piled all my food up on my plate and realized something. When you are filling your plate with natural, plant based foods for the majority of your plate, 500 calories is A LOT of food! I made a piece of toast and a scrambled egg, both topped with a slice of Swiss cheese, and a sweet potato hash made with sweet potato, carrot, 1 slice of beef bacon, mushrooms, spinach, onion and a handful of cherries on the side. Now, when I was done eating I WAS STUFFED! My plate was heaping full. Now visualize 2 little slices of pepperoni pizza. Would you be full after that? Probably not for long if you were.
That is probably the best lesson I've learned throughout my years of losing and maintaining weight. Food that is good for us usually is also naturally lower in calories, nutritionally dense and keeps you full and sustained to get through the day.
So, without further blabbing from me, here is a typical day of food on a day I don't workout. I want to stress that fact of a non-workout day food intake is different from a workout day. On days I workout, I eat extra calories to replace the calories I burn, so that I always end up with the same amount of calories consumed. I've learned if I don't eat enough calories a few things happen:
1. I turn into a ravenous cranky food monster the next day
2. I burn out fast the next day and have no energy to get through the day
3. My metabolism slows down and I am hungrier for days after and gain weight as my body tries to recover from survival mode.
Vanilla Greek yogurt with 1/3 cup granola
Strawberries, Blackberries and Cherries (Totaling about 2 cups of fruit)
Small Latte made with skim milk and 1 pump of vanilla flavoring
Calories: 450ish
Lunch - Again at my desk at 11:30am:
4 ounces shredded chicken breast with bbq (Made in the slow cooker) wrapped in lettuce
Carrot sticks and grape tomatoes dipped in yogurt ranch dressing
Cheese stick
Calories: 350ish
Afternoon Snack - The desk once again at 2:00pm:
2 stalks celery
2 tablespoon chocolate peanut butter
Calories: 180ish
You Pick 2 from Panera Bread with:
Garden Vegetable with Pesto Soup
Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich
Apple
Calories: 470ish
And that's about it! I don't typically eat out for dinner, but today was a special occasion. But I would have had something like this at home anyway after a long week at work. I wrapped up the day at about 1,470 calories. I don't calorie count every single day, but I will about once per week to make sure I'm keeping myself on track with where I want to be calorie wise, and to make sure I'm eating enough (especially on workout days).
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