All I do is eat

Seriously, it seems like I’m always eating!  Because I follow a high nutrient diet, I don’t have to worry about counting calories, fat grams, points or any of those other weight loss “methods.”  You will automatically lose weight by eating this way so if you are like my husband (who is very active and loses weight easily), you may have to add a couple more snacks.  I also make sure he eats healthy fats like nuts (not peanuts) and avocados.

Below is a sample menu of what I eat in a day.

UPON WAKING

8-16 ounces of water (Room temperature is recommended but to be honest, I have to drink my water cold.  Also, if you have time, squeeze some fresh lemon in your water.)

BREAKFAST

My Breakfast Smoothie

http://devitamin.com/2012/02/05/my-breakfast-smoothie/

LUNCH

A HUGE Salad: with all my favorite toppings such as, red pepper, tomatoes, mushrooms, onion, black olives, black beans and I sprinkle on some nutritional yeast (for B12).  Some days, I’ll make a gluten-free, vegan taco salad.  I’ll top it off with a little olive oil, balsamic vinegar or my favorite, salsa.  Just make sure you mix it up so you never get bored.

Nutritional Yeast: Yellow in color and with a nutty cheesy flavor, nutritional yeast is an inactive yeast that is a favorite amongst many vegans because of its unique flavor and similarity to cheese when added to foods. Sprinkle some on hot popcorn or garlic bread, or add a generous spoonful to a stir-fry or pasta sauce. Nutritional yeast is also the only reliable food source of vitamin B12, so if you’re vegan, it’s a good idea to add some to your food regularly. Nutritional yeast can be found in the bulk foods or supplement section of your health food store. You can look for either nutritional yeast flakes or powder, but be sure you don’t get brewer’s yeast by mistake, as it’s quite similar in appearance. In Australia and New Zealand, nutritional yeast is also called “savory yeast” or “savory yeast flakes”.  About.com

A handful of “Mary’s Gone Crackers” crackers and hummus.

http://www.marysgonecrackers.com

Dessert:  2 squares of (70% or more cocoa) dark chocolate.

SNACK

“Kind” bar:  My favorite! Some days, I’ll substitute for a handful of nuts.

http://www.kindsnacks.com

DINNER

I’ll eat a “regular” meal with my husband. I am gluten-free, I don’t eat dairy and I only eat fish, so our meals are planned accordingly.  If you don’t have any food in- tolerances, than I would encourage you to eat a sensible meal.

Dessert:  Two squares of dark chocolate or 2 of the Chocolate Turtles.

http://devitamin.com/2011/10/18/chocolate-turtles/

SNACK

Most nights, I’m too full to eat an evening snack but when I can, I usually make a fruit smoothie.  For me, this is a substitution for ice cream or a milkshake.  I’ve posted an easy recipe below.  Just allow yourself a good amount of time to digest it before going to sleep.

Blueberry smoothie

1 cup of unsweetened almond milk

1 cup of frozen blueberries

1 banana

Blend well.

*I never think about what I can’t eat; I think about all the delicious food I can eat!  I was never a big vegetable eater (until this year) but now my eyes light up when we hit the farmer’s market.  I keep my focus on all the great benefits that healthy food is doing for my body and for my mind.

Stay with me, the best is yet to come.  :)