What I Eat in a Day

Good morning friends! It’s been a while since I’ve given you the lowdown on what I’ve been eating and it’s a question I’ve been getting a lot lately, especially after the swimsuit dressing room post, so I’m happy to share my typical daily meals with you!

When I was in my 20s, I could eat whatever I wanted and it never seemed to affect my shape.  #thosewerethedays Now that I’m in my 40s, it’s another ballgame for sure! I have a pretty big sweet tooth, but I’ve noticed that when I indulge too much, it definitely shows up on the scale!  Trust me, my body isn’t perfect- especially after two kids, but I’ve always appreciated a fit, athletic physique and that’s what I strive to maintain.

Even though working out with weights, doing cardio, and stretching is important to your overall health and fitness, what we put in our mouth is probably even more important!  Today I’m sharing what I typically eat in a day and this post is also in collaboration with Zella at Nordstrom, so you’ll get a double dose of fitness and fashion in this one!

6 food guidelines

Years ago, I competed in a fitness competition and was amazed to see the transformation you can make in just 12 weeks when you follow a super strict diet and exercise regimen.  I’m not in competition mode anymore, but I do tend to stick to these six food guidelines:

  • Never skip breakfast
  • Don’t go hungry; but only eat until you’re full
  • Try to get protein at every meal
  • Eat mostly whole foods
  • Eat every few hours
  • Eat ‘clean’ during the week, and have some indulgences on the weekend

At a glance, my typical meals look like this:

5:30 a.m. Pre Workout Shake (Muscle Egg)

7:30 a.m.  Breakfast (Steel Cut Oatmeal or Protein Pancake)

12:00 p.m. Lunch (Dinner leftovers or Grilled Chicken Salad)

3:00 p.m.  Snack (apples w peanut butter, peppers and hummus, Greek yogurt with granola and berries)

6:00 p.m. Dinner (I use my Recipe Binder to cook dinner about 4 times a week)

PRE WORKOUT SHAKE

If you’ve been here for awhile, you know I like to wake up early to workout.  The dilemma is that I can’t workout on an empty stomach, but I’m not ready at 5:30 in the morning to eat a big breakfast.

Yellow tank and black shorts

Tank • Sports Bra • Shorts

What I’ve been doing for years, is getting up and drinking 1 cup of Muscle Egg.  It’s flavored egg whites and sounds gross, but it’s pretty much like drinking chocolate milk. One cup has 26 grams of protein.  You can make your own at home with skim milk, egg whites and sugar free chocolate syrup, but I prefer the convenience of buying it pre-made.

Black shorts yellow top

Tank • Sports Bra • Shorts • Similar Shoes

Top Fit:  It runs TTS, I’m wearing XS. I was immediately drawn to the sunshiny yellow in this mesh tank.  It’s impossible to have a bad working in a tank so cheerful! It’s cool that you can shop Nordstrom activewear not only by category, but also by activity type, brand, price or COLOR!  

Bra Fit:  It runs TTS, I’m wearing S. You can’t see my sports bra through the top, but it’s a moderate workout bra, suited more for low impact sports like weight lifting, pilates and yoga.  The double straps are a fun detail and the pale aqua is so pretty!

Shorts Fit:  It runs TTS, I’m wearing XXS, but should have gotten an XS.  These shorts are awesome for running and are lined with a tulip hem and comfortable, wide waistband.  They’re also reflective if you run outside when it’s getting dark or the sun is just coming out. 

muscle egg

It only takes me a minute to drink it and sometimes I’ll put it in a to-go cup and drink it on the way to the gym.  It’s just enough to get me through my workout with energy.

BREAKFAST

After I come home, I’ll usually shower, then eat my breakfast with Jordan.  She’s a great eater and breakfast companion!

Mommy daughter breakfast

Similar RobeMommy daughter breakfast (1)

Breakfast is either oatmeal or a protein pancake.  I eat this almost everyday of my life, perhaps switching it up on the weekends for bacon and eggs or if I’m not that hungry, toast with butter and jelly. My toast is typically on whole wheat bread or this Power Seed bread that’s light but filling.

Ever since I organized my pantry, it’s much easier to pull out the ingredients I need to make oatmeal.

OATMEAL RECIPE

Bring 3 cups of water to a boil

Add 1 cup steel cut oats

about 1/4 cup of raisins (Jordan likes a lot of raisins!)

A pinch of brown sugar

A dash of cinnamon

Cover and let simmer for 20 minutes

This makes about 6 servings.  Jordan and I eat it for about 3 days, just microwaving it to reheat.

How to make steel cut oatmeal

I was adding whole flaxseed to mine, but realized I needed to grind them to get the benefits- but mostly I like the crunch.  So, I’m back to adding toasted almonds to mine and a splash of almond milk.  It seems regular milk and ice cream are upsetting my stomach these days, so I switched to almond milk.  It’s especially yummy in oatmeal.

Toasted almonds

Steel Cut Oatmeal

Did I mention Jordan’s a great breakfast companion?!  Not always . . . . 😉

LUNCH

By 11:30, I’m ready for lunch and because I work from home, I like to eat lunch with Jordan.  My favorite is when I have dinner leftovers I can heat up for lunch!

Recently, I made a Vegan Enchilada Casserole for dinner and it reheated beautifully for several days after!  It was more like a chili than a casserole and also yummy (and non-vegan) with sour cream on top- and tortilla chips!  This is one of those tasty meatless meals that still has lots of protein in it because it has black beans, red lentils and quinoa.

Zella crop high waist leggings

Top • Leggings • Sports Bra • Similar Shoes

Top Fit:  It runs a little large, I’m wearing XXS. I like a lightweight top to wear over my sports bra when it’s on the cool side out.  This one is comfortably thin with a cute cutout in the back. 

Bra Fit:  It runs TTS, I’m wearing S.

Leggings Fit:  It runs TTS, I’m wearing XS.  These are my go-to leggings with a high waist and mesh panel.  Nordstrom has been carrying these forever and I hope they never go out of stock!  I like the crop length because I tend to get too hot in long leggings unless it’s really cold out!  

By the way, I get lots of questions about our low microwave.  It works fine for me because I’m a shorty and can just bend over, but the other alternative was to put it up with our cabinets and that would’ve been too high for me.  Our kids were initially interested in pushing the buttons, but they’ve learned to leave it alone.

Zella crop high waist leggings and cutout top

Vegan enchilada casserole

Vegan enchilada casserole (1)

If I don’t have leftovers to eat, my go-to lunch meal is a grilled chicken salad.  I always have grilled chicken on hand and I’ll mix in whatever we have to top it with.

GRILLED CHICKEN RECIPE

Mix butter lettuce and romaine

4 oz. grilled chicken

tomatoes

cucumers

bell peppers

dried cranberries

goat cheese

sliced almonds

Fat Free Raspberry Vinaigrette

Grilled chicken salad

I also love chickpeas in a salad!

Before grilling my chicken (I typically use chicken tenders because they cook extra quick and evenly), I’ll marinate it in seasonings and olive oil so it has more flavor.  I cook it over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes per side.  Then let rest before slicing.  If you want to grill a big batch of chicken breasts, this is how we do it, keeping them nice and moist!

marinated chicken

Here’s the dressing I like- it’s sweet, but not too sweet!

Salad dressing

SNACKS

I go through phases with snacks, like peppers/carrots with hummus, Greek yogurt with fruit and granola, but right now I’m hooked on apples and peanut butter.

Zella crop joggers (2)

Crop Joggers • Sports Bra • Shoes

Bra Fit:  It runs TTS, I’m wearing S. I like this bra for the higher neck because I feel all tucked in, but it’s not at all uncomfortable. 

Joggers Fit:  It runs TTS, I’m wearing XXS.  I’m crazy for these joggers!  They are the perfect lightweight material and great for running around or exercising. They have a wide drawstring waistband and pockets.  I wear them at home, running errands, to ball games, and just about anywhere you need pants! I like them so much, I have them in both colors! 

Jordan loves this snack too!

Zella crop joggers (1)

Her Romper

Fitness snacks - apples and peanut butter

Fitness snacks - apples and peanut butter (1)

Fitness snacks - apples and peanut butter (2)

Fitness snacks - apples and peanut butter (3)

Fitness snacks - apples and peanut butter (3)

Keep your berries fresh longer

But we’re also big fans of fruit- James too, so I like to keep the basics like oranges, bananas, strawberries and blueberries on hand.  The way I was taught to keep your berries fresh is to wash them in a vinegar bath.

Put the berries in 2:1 water to vinegar and let soak for about 5 minutes.

Place the berries in a colander and rinse with water.

Let the berries dry on a towel.

Line your storage container with a paper towel and put the dry strawberries inside with a lid.

The berries should last up to two weeks!

How to Keep Strawberries Fresh

It works for blueberries too!

How to keep blueberries fresh

DINNER

I’m in a good groove of meal planning on Saturday mornings, and grocery shopping on Saturday afternoons.  But, I recently reorganized my Recipe Binder and that’s made a world of difference.  I try to include veggies and make some meatless meals.  But, I know protein is important, so for those meatless meals, I like to incorporate beans, lentils, chickpeas, or quinoa- all great sources of protein!

Below are a few examples of meals that are hits in our house.  You can subscribe to my newsletter for a new recipe every week that’s been HWH approved at our table!

Mongolian Beef

Mongolian Beef with Broccoli

Veggie Lasagna via  Veggie Lasagna Tastes Lovely

Chicken noodle soup

Chickpea and Noodle Soup

White Chicken Chili

White Chicken Chili

Sometimes we will just have grilled veggies and potatoes! Chop up the veggies, sprinkle with seasoning and olive oil and roast them in the oven until cooked through and crispy!

And one more pic of the joggers since they are at the top of my ‘athleisure’ list!  See how cute they are for running around in?!

Zella crop joggers and made well tank

Top • Joggers • Sports Bra Sneakers

I hope this post was helpful!  After I typed it all up, I worried that my meals are so boring because I eat the same thing over and over! But that’s what I like and what works for me! And I should mention, I never go without my coffee and creamer . . . 

I’d love to hear what some of your go-to healthy meals are! I’m sure we could all use some more ideas! 

And thank you to Nordstrom for sponsoring today’s post.  I appreciate that they provide creative freedom so that I can bring you the kind of meaningful content I want to provide, while still featuring their top quality fashion brands, like Zella. It’s one of the reasons I enjoy working with them so much! Thank you, dear readers, for supporting the brands that make this blog possible. 

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Meet Megan

Hi! I’m Megan, mom to a thoughtful teenager and spunky young girl. We call Houston home and recently moved into our dream home. I traded my lawyer hat to become a full-time blogger in 2010. I love sharing my passion for affordable fashion, home decor, organization, & fitness to help inspire you to take care of you!

37 Comments

  1. Great post! I’m always interested in healthy eating and getting more ideas. I tend to eat the same thing over and over and am currently hooked on peanut and almond butter. That can be dangerous! I’ve gone back to oatmeal for breakfast but have a problem with snacking (which I never used to have). Please keep up the healthy eating posts. I always enjoy your blog.

    1. I tend to eat the same thing over and over also! I’ll usually use those little to-go peanut butters- the natural ones and share with Jordan so I don’t eat too much!

  2. Great post! I have a very bad habit of grazing at night. How do you keep from snacking at night or if you do snack at night, what are your go to’s?

    1. The biggest tip for not snacking at night might surprise you- it’s go to bed early! But, if that’s not your routine, I sometimes eat a small bowl of cereal at night or have a piece of chocolate after dinner- or sometimes hot cocoa. If I’m hungry I will eat, but if I’m just barely hungry I’ll make hot peppermint tea. I usually drink hot tea before bed anyway!

  3. love this post Megan!!! All the amazing recipes and how you go about your day is great. I love how true you are about every step of your day and the outfits were fun too

  4. Love those crop joggers and just ordered myself a pair! I’m petite like you and the length looks perfect! Thanks!

  5. Great ideas…..everything looks so yummy! Love the tip for keeping berries fresh, can’t wait to try that. I love the Skinnytaste website for meal ideas. I try to get more veggies in with snacking and just discovered a pretty good dip……fat free plain greek yogurt with Knorr Vegetable soup mix stirred in.

  6. Thank you so much for sharing what you eat! You can’t go wrong with apples and peanut or almond butter, right? 🙂 And I put chickpeas in nearly every meal, they really go with everything!
    Please don’t get me wrong: I personally think that you are consuming a lot of animal protein (eggs, chicken, dairy)! there are so many plant based options (whole foods or powders from vega or garden of life) that are way more beneficial for your health, skin, stomach, the environment – and for animals, too 🙂 win-win!
    All the love!
    Nina

  7. Not boring at all! Have you ever had the little calcium chews? they come in chocolate or Carmel. They are my evening sweet treat. Also thanks for your recommendation of the Kodiak cakes, I found it at Target and my whole family loves them! Also have you very tried coconut oil in your coffee instead of creamer? Or an egg. I just blend in my Ninja. It’s creamy and you’ll never miss creamer.

  8. Viactiv is the brand name of the calcium chews I mentioned. I had to look it up. I prefer the generic Walgreen brand and we like carmel best. It’s just my trick for when I need a bite of something sweet in the evenings!

  9. I love the food/fitness post. I get so many ideas even if they are simple. I tend to get in food ruts, usually because I over complicate it. I’m striving for fat loss/ athletic look like you so its always good to see how someone lives that lifestyle.
    Great blog.

  10. Have you tried the Chocolate Hummus from H-E-B? It sounds gross initially because it is chickpeas and cocoa, but it is really good! Pretty low in calories and you get your chocolate fix. I like it with apple slices.

  11. I like a lot your sporty outfits and honestly I admire your tonic body and muscles, if this is result of your diet and exercise probably I’m going to copy you!!!

  12. How do you make your protein pancake? I used to make an oatmeal years ago, but completely forgot the recipe (I never wrote it down).

  13. Great post Megan! I love the recipes you share, and I am also trying my best to plan our meals ahead … it makes for way smoother weeknights! Love those Zella pants, I wish they made them in a long version (I checked and they don’t appear too) our weather isn’t not “crop pant worthy” just yet…brrrr. I have you to thank for my latest addiction…vanilla coffee creamer! I don’t know why I didn’t try it sooner! There is a dairy free vanilla flavored coffee-creamer made out of almond or coconut milk in case you were looking for an alternative. I have never used it in my coffee but I use it when making dairy free icing … my middle kiddo has a dairy allergy. Thanks for always

  14. Love the post- more like this please!
    What seasonings do you use on your chicken ? I can never get it just right!

  15. Great post! I love love love that yellow tank! I am in oatmeal eater too. I also will toast some slivered almonds, but I also will toast some Pepino seeds. Try them sometime- delicious.

  16. Thank you for making this post. Im at that point where Im sick and tired of being sick and tired of how I look and feel. The thing is that I HATE cooking with a passion, so we tend to eat out; a lot and usually the foods are very unhealthy. If I meal planned, it wouldnt nearly be as bad. Whew, lawd does my body show it too….Im going to check out the egg muscle shake. I know if I lack nothing else, it’s discipline, so I need to get my act together.

  17. All of those outfits we’re so cute and the meals looked so good! When you use the vinegar/water soak on the fruit do you notice the vinegar taste afterwards when you’re eating the fruit? That’s something I’ve always worried about when I see that method.

  18. Great post! Thank you so much! I will try this with our berries…and thank you for recipes too!
    Inspiring!

  19. Love the joggers! Question – what are your favorite socks to wear with all of your athleisure stuff? I need new no-shows for my gym shoes and also for my ‘fashion sneakers.’ What do you recommend? Thanks!

  20. I recently signed up for a fat loss program that required a 16 hour fast between dinner and “breakfast” everyday for 6 weeks. I love to workout….strength train heavy and some cardio. Because of my schedule I couldn’t eat until after my workout, on the plan…..it was miserable. And needless to say, I gave up on the plan. I LOVE to eat breakfast every morning as soon as I get up…a couple eggs and a slice of raisin Ezekial. I think it was more mental than energy that bugged me about it. But, I say all this to say it’s encouraging to see someone, my age, who looks so fit, and know that you eat breakfast early, too. I guess there is more than one way to skin a cat…..my problem is not my meals…..its my sweet tooth indulgences……all I have to do is ease up on that, and I think I can lose that last 8-10 to get that lean look I want. Thanks for sharing this blog post! 🙂

    1. You sound just like me Angela because I have a big sweet tooth too! I can often get away with a couple squares of dark chocolate which is so much better than a pint of ice cream! Also, after lunch, I’ll have a piece of gum and that actually helps curb my sweet tooth some! You can do it!!

  21. Thank you for linking the higher-necked sports bra. I’ve been looking for one both to keep me tucked in and to offer a little bit of protection to my chest from the barbell. I also love Zella and the price and reviews are great on this. Ordered 2 to take advantage of the special pricing.

  22. Thanks Megan for this post! I enjoy the day in the life posts! I eat really similar to you and it works good for me and our family. I’m struggling with finding the in the day to work out. I know I just need to make it happen! I’ll feel better for doing it. Thanks for all the inspiration And motivation. It really adds to my days! You’re my hero! When I grow up I want to be like you ?

  23. Hi Megan!
    I have made your oatmeal recipe (3x’s now) & just recently made your white chicken chili. LOVE both of them! My husband loves the chili also. Going to try your veggie lasagna next!
    One of my “go to salads” is spinach & romaine lettuce topped with diced green apples, chopped pecans, feta cheese & dried cranberries. I top it off with Marzetti’s Simply 60 vinaigrette red wine Italian dressing! So good!!
    I go to a body sculpting class 3 x’s a wk & I’m always looking for new healthy recipes.
    Could you share your protein pancake recipe?
    This girl loves oatmeal & pancakes!!
    I also love your blog!!! Thank you for all the great things you share!!

  24. But don’t force it if you’re not hungry for a snack, especially if you had a big lunch. If you plan to hit the gym after work, you may want to eat more or save some of your snack until after your workout .

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