This has been the year I’ve really changed my life. I’ve made so many small improvements to the way I live, including making food for myself that is wholesome and helps me be more productive in my day. I never used to enjoy cooking, but this year I actually started to love and enjoy it. Simply by learning how to nourish myself better and how to plan my meals on a Sunday.
What really helped achieve this and keep track of what I was putting in my body was using my Getting Things Done planner every day. With it, I can write out my full day of meals well in advance, and even fill in my shopping list too.
With a glass of Kombucha in one hand and my recipe of the day in the other, this is a moment of pleasure for me.
7 AM
A BRAIN-BOOSTING BREAKFAST
After my shower, I make an Almond Latte before I get dressed. If you want to see my super healthy and sweet coffee recipe click here. Coffee gives me an energy boost to start my day, but almond milk contains a lot of potassium. Potassium provides your body with components necessary to provide energy for physical activity, which is great for after my morning workouts. It’s really important that I start my day with a high energy breakfast. That’s why I always start it with a smoothe bowl, which I love to make! I recently purchased a Ninja Blender on Amazon just for the purpose of making really nice smoothies at home. It makes things so much easier.
The best part of this meal is that it really works to keep me full until lunch. And it also has a lot of benefits that help me stay productive all day. Fruit like berries, bananas, and blueberries are great energizers. Blueberries especially, as they contain gallic acid, which is really good for your overall brain health.
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 cup of frozen berries
- half a frozen banana
- 1 scoop of protein powder
- Almond milk
- 1 cup of ice cubes
- 1 tbsp of almond butter
- Granola (I love Deliciously Ella)
- Fresh blueberries and raspberries
METHOD:
Blend everything together in a powerful blender until you get a nice creamy and rich texture. You don’t want your smoothie to be too watery. Once it’s done pour your mixture into a bowl and add your topping.
I like to add 2 tablespoons of Deliciously Ella granola, a handful of fresh blueberries, raspberries and a little bit of honey.
1 PM
A LUNCH FOR CONCENTRATION
For lunch, I usually have something light. I like to have a creamy chicken soup with boiled eggs or a salad with avocado and a source of protein. Avocado contains vitamin K and folate which improves brain power and concentration. I love avocado with everything and finding out that it’s good for my productivity levels is only a bonus.
Today I had a nice mixed salad with roasted vegetables, mozzarella, avocado, and tomatoes. I also included pine nuts and some olive oil dressing to give it a zesty and fresh taste. I don’t like feeling full and tired after eating, especially when I’m working for the rest of the day. So I always choose something light and delicious like this salad.
6 PM
A COMFORTING DINNER
On Monday, I like to round off a healthy day with pasta. Preparing and cooking the sauce at home makes it so much healthier than store-bought sauces, and it feels like a rewarding treat after a productive day. Tomatoes are a good dose of B vitamins that help support the nervous system and convert food into energy. I try to work out three times a week so I need a lot of food that supports my muscles, contains potassium and keeps me going.
What you eat really does have an impact on how productive you are, I’ve found that out this year and adjusted my diet to support my lifestyle. Now I have so much more energy and can get things done easily.
INGREDIENTS:
- Spaghetti
- Chorizo
- Grated Cheddar Cheese
- 1 tin of diced tomatoes
- Garlic clove
- Sundried Tomatoes
- Chopped parsley
- 1 onion
METHOD:
Heat up your preferred oil in a pan. Add the onion and sundried tomatoes together and sautee them for five minutes or until the onion is soft and translucent. Add garlic and chorizo to the pan for an extra two minutes and stir. Follow up with a tin of diced tomatoes and salt and pepper to taste. Let this simmer for ten minutes.
Meanwhile, bring a pot of water to boil and add your spaghetti or pasta of choice. Boil for 10-11 minutes until it’s al dente. Combine pasta with your homemade sauce on a plate, add finely chopped parsley and season with grated parmesan cheese.
7 PM
A GUILT-FREE DESSERT
After dinner, I like to have something sweet. Since I’m living a healthier lifestyle now, it’s important that I’m smart with my choices – even dessert. I was recently browsing Whole Foods and discovered Halo Top. It’s ice cream that only has 280-320 calories per pint!
The discovery that you can have ice cream and not ruin your healthy eating changed everything. I have a scoop of vanilla after dinner or mix it up with a couple of different flavors like the sea salt caramel one. There are dairy free options too, and they’re all Gluten Free.
What do you eat in a day to stay on top?
Photography by Celina Fairbairn for CGD LONDON
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