What I Eat in a Day as an Athlete

As an athlete, I feel I have to pay attention to what I consume each day as I want to keep my body fueled and happy while I do various activities. Throughout the past year, I have really started to create and follow the idea of a “balanced lifestyle.” I don’t personally believe in calorie-cutting, diets, or anything that restricts you from eating, but instead, fueling my body with good protein, nutrients, and fat, as well as eating the splurge food items without guilt. In today’s post, I’m going to share with you a typical what I eat in a day as an athlete.

Breakfast:

To me, breakfast IS the most important meal of the day. If I don’t have breakfast, I have found it affects my energy level and emotions. I am a huge creature of habit and like to eat the same breakfast most mornings, which will change every couple of weeks when I start to get sick of that specific food. Currently, I have been loving either egg + cheese sandwiches or scrambled eggs with pancakes/waffles in the morning. I found these have a great mix of proteins and carbs, and keep me fueled until lunchtime.

Lunch

Usually, I don’t have a morning snack unless I have had a lot of work or school, so my lunches are usually pretty big. I am a HUGE fan of sandwiches and soup, so those are my usual go-to lunches. I love a simple turkey and cheese sandwich with mayo on whole-wheat bread (I’ll also add lettuce and tomato if we have them) and add some veggies or chips on the side as an extra filler. Or, I will have any soup we have in the house that day. My personal favorite soups are lentil, black-bean, or classic chicken noodle soup as they have good protein, veggies, and, more importantly, they are just delicious. I like to pair my soup with some bread and butter and call it a day.

Snacks

I’m a big afternoon snacker! I have been recently attempting to pry myself away from processed snacks like Goldfish and Cheezits, but every once in a while I’ll treat myself. I have been loving a waffle with peanut butter and banana because it is super easy, filling, and delicious. I found it’s a great way to trick your brain into thinking you’re having something unhealthy when you’re really not. Some days, I’ll add honey or granola on top for extra sweetness. I also love any fruit for a snack. I have a new obsession with plums, so I have been eating those like crazy! I also love apples with peanut butter or cheese, strawberries, cantaloupe or any melon, and raspberries. If I am feeling like I need a bigger snack, I love to have smoothie bowls! I will eat any bowl without açaí, as it makes me super sick. I add peanut butter on top as an extra filler and protein.

Dinner

My family usually has a home-cooked dinner together every night or we will get take-out every once in a while. My family eats super healthy, so I don’t have to ever think twice about dinner. We usually have some sort of protein with some fats, carbs, veggies, or any side we have in our house. If we get take-out, I love to get fish sandwiches! And yes, I love a good pizza Friday! If we do not eat as a family, I will be making an egg over easy with arugula, potatoes (shredded, tots, or home fries), peppers, tomatoes, olive oil, and salt/pepper!

Dessert

I don’t really have a sweet tooth until I really do! When in the mood for sweets, I love a section of Hershey’s chocolate or ice cream (I will have either dairy-full or dairy-less). Most days, I don’t really eat a dessert as I am usually still full from dinner, but it all depends on the day.

There you have it! A typical what I eat in a day. Obviously, this schedule can change day to day depending on school, horse shows, or my overall schedule that day. I try to stick to this schedule as I find I work best with it, but will fuel my body when it needs it!

See you guys next time for another exciting post!