I'm a Nutritionist and This is What I Eat in a Day to Stay Healthy and Fit
Do you ever wonder what people who are trained in nutrition eat in a day? The Diet Diva, Tara Collingwood, MS, RDN, CSSD, LD/N, ACSM-CPT, is a Board Certified Sports Dietitian who specializes in diet and weight loss. The Body Network asked her to detail all the food and drinks she consumes on a daily basis in order to stay healthy and fit.
Before, During, and After Workouts
Before workout: 1/2 banana or a few handfuls of cereal (granola or Cinnamon Toast Crunch!)
During workout: Water
After workout: AG1 + Creatine and other supplement pills
Breakfast
2-3 times per week: Plain fat free greek yogurt with 1/2 scoop of protein powder added for additional protein + berries, grapes, cutie, whatever fruit I have around + 1/4 cup granola
2-3 times per week: Smoothie: frozen banana, whey protein powder, other frozen fruit
Weekends: Egg white + 1 whole egg omelet with spinach and feta or cheddar, berries, toast or English muffin
Protein Tea
I always drink a big Yeti of hot tea (Roibos) with about 1/3 of a container of Premier Protein in as a "creamer."
Snacks
Collingwood usually has one snack one mid-morning and one mid-afternoon.
- Built bar
- Fruit: Love blackberries, raspberries, cherries, peach, apple
- Cottage Cheese and fruit
- Greek yogurt
- Handful of almonds or pistachios
Lunch
Collingwood will choose from a few different lunches. With each she will usually have a glass of A&W Zero.
- Salad with spinach, veggies, avocado, air fried tofu, feta, low fat dressing
- Wrap: Extreme Wellness wrap with sautéed spinach, tofu or veggie chicken, capers, feta
- Frozen meal: Usually Amy's or Trader Joe's vegetarian meals or Lean Cuisine cauliflower cheese pizza
- Leftovers of some sort
After Lunch Treat
Collingwood "always" has 1 to 2, "usually 2," pieces of chocolate of some sort after lunch.
Dinner
Collingwood usually makes a homemade dinner, but eats out "maybe 1-2 times per week and usually on weekends," she says. Her dinners include:
- Always a cooked veggie: Brussel sprouts, broccoli, green beans, or spinach are the faves in the house
- Always some sort of vegetarian protein (veggie chicken or meatballs) OR salmon (a few times a month and usually if I'm eating out) OR Tofu
- Some sort of starch: Potatoes, rice, pasta, quinoa, sweet potatoes, etc.
- I also LOVE pizza so might have cheese pizza or veggie pizza
Related: I Lost 19 Pounds in 15 Days with the Help of Salt
Nighttime Snack
Collingwood usually eats nothing in the evening "unless I have another piece or two of chocolate or some fruit," she says.
Body Booster: Eating healthy doesn't mean you have to deprive yourself. Even nutritionists allow themselves to indulge in treats such as chocolate, diet sodas, and pizza – in moderation.