Food Diary of a Gym Girl

Now that you have your workout wardrobe and gym essentials down to a T, it is time to focus on food and fuelling your body! When it comes to my diet, I personally prioritise cooking food that makes me feel good and is full of flavour, whilst trying to incorporate as much fruit, veggies and protein. Everyone has different eating habits, takes a different approach to their diet and how they monitor their eating so it is important that no matter your goals you listen to your body. 

It is super important to fuel your body when exercising and don't put too much pressure on yourself when it comes to food! Don't deprive yourself from having a sweet treat or having a takeaway when you feel like it. Remember balance is key.

Below, I have included some meal inspiration and tips within my gym, food schedule.

Breakfast 

My favourite breakfast of all time has to be porridge. Growing up, I never used to eat breakfast, however, as I got older I felt I couldn't go my day without it. Porridge is a filling, healthy, hearty breakfast which is a great meal to fuel you for your workout! 

I usually have peanut butter, banana and strawberries as my topping but you can add any topping you want, depending on your taste preference! If you don't have a lot of time in the morning, try making overnight oats the night before, that you can instantly enjoy in the morning.

If you have more time to spare, another breakfast idea I like is eggs! Personally, I don't enjoy scrambled or fried in the morning so poached or soft boiled is my go to. Eggs are high in protein and a slighter lighter breakfast alternative to porridge.

Lunch

Moving onto lunch, one of my favourites is a baked potato! They are quick and easy to make, relatively filling and inexpensive. You have lot's of choice in regards to the filling you choose to have on top, I usually go with beans and cheese or tuna with sweetcorn, onion and cheese. I am a pescatarian so I don't eat meat, however, for those who do, you can always have chili on top.

Dinner

My three favourite meals at the moment are pesto pasta, stir fry and chickpea curry. When making dinner, one tip I would offer is to meal prep, making large portions of a meal so that it can be enjoyed over multiple days. Meal prepping is extremely useful when you are tired after a long day and don't want to make something from scratch!

If I don't have too much time in the evening, my go to dinner would be red pesto pasta. I like to make it with garlic, peppers and onions to make sure I am getting my veggies in! Then, sprinkled on top I always add some feta cheese to give it some extra creaminess and flavour. For some extra protein and fibre I sometimes add chickpeas or red kidney beans.

Another favourite dinner of mine is stir fry! Again, I use the same veggies that I do in my pasta but I usually add mushrooms and for a meat alternative, Quorn pieces. I buy soft noodles so that I can add them into the pan once the vegetables and Quorn is cooked. My favourite sauce of choice is the packet sauces from Lidl, either chow mein or sweet chili and garlic. For a spicy kick, I usually add sriracha!

Lastly, if you have a bit more time to spare, a curry is always a great, very filling dinner idea. One of my favourites is a chickpea curry. This meal is packed full of flavour and can be enjoyed with naan bread on the side! 

As mentioned above, it is very important to fuel your body when exercising and remember that balance is key!