What Do I Eat? And, What 5 Things Are Always In My Pantry?

Recently someone asked me what I eat.

What do I eat?

 

Since the end of 2010 I have kind of avoided getting into any detailed “what do you eat” discussions.  I used to share a lot of information and ideas on Twitter related to food.  I learned a lot of great tips – like the powerful anti-inflammatory properties of red foods like cherries (and thus, my incorporating Cherry Active into my routines).  And using coconut water as a post workout recovery drink as it is naturally loaded in electrolytes. 

But sometime in 2010 I started to find the constant chatter about “what to eat / what not to eat” to become a drain.  Lots of “don’t do’s” and “I need to lose weight” talk, it started to get to me.  I had enough when I was asking for ideas on how to use up carrots, and one of the ideas I received from Bea was to make a carrot and coconut soup – it was ideal for me, as I had all the ingredients at home.  When I tweeted that I was making it, a comment came back that said something along the lines of “coconut milk is high fat and I don’t need fat, it is bad.”  I couldn’t believe it – fat IS NOT BAD.  In fact, fat is required for good neurological health.  It is the type of fat that is bad – and coconut milk is not bad.

So I stopped tweeting about food with as much frequency as I had been.  I unfollowed a bunch of people who make their modus operandi tweeting about how people should eat and dispensing dietary advice.  And I have pretty much stayed quiet about how and what I eat.  Until now.

Recently I received a couple of genuine questions from people wanting to know how I eat.  If I do anything special with regard to eating to either help my triathlon training along, or to help in the management of my nerve disease.  So the silence is over.

Besides, I miss writing, tweeting and sharing ideas about cooking, eating and food.

So… What do I eat?

I think if I could summarise my eating, it is that I “just eat normally” and “just enjoy food and drink”.  I don’t absent mindedly eat – I always make deliberate choices about what I eat, I try to plan out meals.  I know myself pretty well – for example, I love leftovers for breakfast.  I really enjoy wine – but I try to make sure to have a glass of water for each glass of wine – if not more.  I try to follow a few simple rules when it comes to eating – keep it real, use fresh ingredients, eat homemade whenever possible.  I also incorporate the lessons I learned from a six month programme with Christine Lynch – aka The Holisticguru – into my meals.  Things like “protein at every meal” “leafy vegetables once a day” and “Green Vibrance”.  And I have worked face to face with Vicki Edgson since 2004 for strategies to manage my nerve disease through food – which mean that I pay particular attention to magnesium, and yes, I do take supplements.

Feeling emboldened by this post from Frayed Laces, I decided to photograph what I eat for three days.  A no holds barred view of what I eat.  I welcome ANY comments and questions about the foods, my choices, and yes, ever your opinions.  

Day 1

Today’s training:  hour long running rehab session at the track, leg strength / glute activation work, only 400m running as week after London Triathlon

Things to note:
* I have Green Vibrance mixed with orange juice in the mornings – that is the weird black looking drink, next to the coffee
* I eat out at lunch almost every day. My lunch purchase also includes snacks for the afternoon, especially important for my training in evenings
* I enjoy wine with meals, but normally only have one glass in the evenings. Normally
* I don’t shy away from potatoes…

Day 2

Today’s training: Spin class in the morning, legs not quite ready for a full speed return to training, but good to start the day sweaty

Things to note:
* The big pot of food is a Thai Red Curry (chicken) with brown and red rice. I struggle to eat that whole portion, usually eat about 2/3 (it’s a lot of food)
* Wheetabix is a go to easy to digest meal for me – but if I have it I always add seeds to get protein and fibre
* Snacks included cherries! Love the red foods (anti-inflammatory)…
* Yes I ate a gigantic bowl of salad – I make my own dressing, super easy to do – olive oil, vinegar, course mustard, shake and pour

Day 3

Things to note:
* Did I already say? I love leftovers for breakfast. Especially meatloaf. Yum!
* I will often grab a salad at lunch – always with seeds!  Also salad for lunch is perfect when you know you are going out for a big meal.

Training today: Day off.  Fridays are typically a day off for me, although sometimes I re-jig things and do some training depending on how I have felt during the week.

 

Dinner out at Pollen Street Social

Thoughts on Pollen Street Social:
* I ordered well: scallops, fish with chorizo paella, PB&J—ordering well is key to your experience here
* I ate one of DH’s chips – it was possibly the most disgusting chunky chip I have ever eaten. It is NOT pictured.
* I love the idea of peanut butter and jelly for dessert. I think a peanut butter ice cream with strawberry jelly ripple would be awesome.

This Is What I Eat

This is a pretty typical representation of how I eat.  Breakfast each day. Snacks. Lunch takeaway at work.  And dinners out.  I try to keep the balance, to eat a salad for lunch if I know I will eat a dessert that evening.  To eat fresh real foods.

After Frayed Laces posted her blog she asked on Twitter what staples people kept in their kitchen.  There are a few things I rely on to eat how I eat.  And to “fuel” my habits – good and bad!

 

5 Things Always In My Pantry

1.  Green Vibrance.  I have it religiously at breakfast.
2.  Seeds.  I have a bag of mixed seeds (and a jar of ground flaxseed) which I add to my yoghurts, cereals, salads.  Seeds are a good source of protein, fibre, and omegas.  And they taste yummy.  Unlike the Green Vibrance.
3,  Olive Oil and Vinegar.  Ok this is two things, but I always have them around, like a pair they are the basis for a quick and yummy salad dressing (I always make my own dressings), or the flavours to toss root vegetables in before roasting (oh my this is delicious).
4.  Abel & Cole.  I honestly can’t imagine my house and routine without my weekly foodbox delivery.  I get a fruit and vegetable box delivered each week from Abel & Cole, and plan my menu for the week around it.  I love it.  And have learned so much about how to cook, how to be creative, and how to use produce from my weekly delivery. 
5.  Coffee.  I always start the day with a mug of coffee.  And often have two.  But always stop my coffee after lunch (I will take an espresso after lunch out to pick me up for the afternoon).  I love coffee.  My coffee machine was probably my favourite ever investment for my house / kitchen.

So, over to you.  What 5 things are always in your pantry? And how do you eat?