I have had a few people ask what I eat in a day and to be honest, I feel a little silly showing that…BUT I also do love to see what people buy at Traders Joes, so that I can add them to my list if I haven’t yet tried something.
Let’s start with this. I started modeling when I was 14. 1994. This was an era where heroin chic was in. SKINNY. STRUNG OUT look. Do you remember? Kate Moss, Tasha Tilberg (who I lived with for a few weeks in NYC at 15!), so as you can imagine, I didn’t learn how to eat properly in those young, early teenage years. My agency wanted me small, so small is what I did. I measured everything, I never ate after 7, I never ate pizza…this was coming off being a competitive cheerleader and at a time when I ate everything! I had to learn to “eat like a model.”
I had such a complicated relationship with food during high school. I spent the summer in Japan at 17 and ended up getting a parasite, which dropped me to 97 pounds at 5’9. It was not pretty. I spent most of my senior year at different doctors trying to figure out what was wrong with me. After we found out it was a parasite and I was treated for it, I had a decision to make – go to college or model full time. I chose college. I became a kid again. I ate anything and everything, drank beer, and man, you could see it immediately. I bet I put on 20-30 pounds before Thanksgiving break. I felt awful and was very self conscience about my weight gain. But man, did I have fun!! My sophomore year I was back to my original weight pre parasite. My boyfriend at the time met me when when I was bigger and he missed my curves!!
Another thing you must know, I have always been a creature of habit. Still am. I am fine eating the same damn thing every day. SO BORING. I definitely eat to live not the other way around. My very close friends joke about what I ate in college and still know everything I ate for breakfast, lunch and dinner! When I got pregnant with Lawton, I gained 70 pounds. Yes, you read that right! I was STARVING. It was like a had a damn tapeworm! Only carbs, ZERO fruits and vegetables (my favorite) and more carbs. When I lost the weight after 9 months I saw where my body went back to what was normal for my frame. Since then, I have had SUCH a better relationship with food. It was like my mind healed. I was never anorexic or bulimic, but my mind definitely had a problem with food from 14-29. That’s a LONG time. I still don’t eat certain things don’t get me wrong – I still model and take care of my body, but I will NOT deny myself if I have a craving or want to eat a brownie!
I am not the person you want to model your eating habits off of. I cook different meals for me and the kids – they won’t eat vegetables, I want vegetables. Jack loves my veggies, but always needs a meat, which I don’t eat much of … so we are all over the place here! I am here to give you some new ideas for lunch or just a few ideas for bowls, which we make a LOT of.
SO, here is what I eat in a day.
BREAKFAST – always a HSM smoothie. I have been doing this smoothie for 8 years now. I never ever feel bloated. This magically gets rid of any bloat in your belly, I swear. I do one scoop of vanilla whey protein powder, I took out the chia seeds this year just because I was annoyed at much much they got stuck in my teeth. I have also never done the Vit C in mine. I also think it is better without the lime. This is my favorite thing. I make time to make it for myself in the mornings….I deserve it! It keeps me full until around 1-2 too! The protein powder, greens and avocado make me feel like i am doing something good for my body!
LUNCH – This is when I eat my meat for the day. I make chicken on Sundays and eat it with these two things from Trader Joes. I also get chicken burgers from Costco that I love. I used to eat a turkey sandwich for lunch and my trainer told me to get rid of the bread and the processed turkey. When I did, I noticed that I would actually see my muscles more. That may sound weird, but it’s true! This chicken and the rosemary from TJ is so good. I love love love love this cilantro dressing as well – I cut up chicken breasts and marinate them in this and bake for 28 min at 350. I put it over both of these frozen grains. SO YUMMY.
DINNER – I usually eat a huge plate of veggies for dinner or a salad. I make these veggies every sunday and will make a bowl out of them with some of these TJ frozen items and Jack and I are done (I will make him a meat on the side that he and the boys eat). Jack doesn’t like chicken (WTH) so I’m telling you, dinner isn’t easy!!! Here are some of my FAVORITE vinegars from Pour Olive. You NEED these!! You will thank me I swear. Your vegetables will be amazing!!!
Brussel Sprouts – I get 2 bags. cut end off, cut in half, 1.5 TBSP olive oil, same with maple vinegar, salt and pepper. Toss in bowl, roast at 400 for 25 min, toiss around on tray, back in for another 10-15 depending on how crisp you like your brussels.
Butternut squash – I like to get the container at HT that has this already cubed. Toss in bowl with 1.5 TBSP olive oil, 1.5 cinnamon pear OR fig vinegar, roast at 400 25 min, toss, another 25.
Cauliflower -this is my fav. I get 2 heads of cauliflower – we go through these veggies quickly with 2 of us eating them! Cut up and put in bowl, toss with 2 TBSP olive oil. Roast at 400 for 45 min. Meanwhile, get a small bowl and toss 1.5 TBSP olive oil, 1.5 TBSP white wine vinegar and 1.5 TBSP dijon mustard. mix up. Once cauliflower is done, put back in big bowl and pour the mix over it and mix up.
Below are some of the things I add to bowls – boys do eat these!
Here are just a few things to try/add to whatever you are doing now – don’t forget to let me know if you try the veggies and what you think about them! I wonder if you will get addicted like me?? I also need to let you know, I have never done the whole 30, a juice cleanse, fasting, etc. I am a BIG candy lover and can’t/won’t give it up – love my gummies!! I also can’t imagine not eating right when my feet hit the floor when I wake up. (I don’t like coffee). The only “diet” I have ever tried was Weight Watchers when I lived in NYC because I wanted to learn how to eat. I lost weight eating more than I ever had! I think that is a great system if you are looking to lose weight. I met Jack when I was on it and had to get off because of my champagne consumption – too many points haha!
I am again, not an expert in this area, I like what I like and I am okay with that. I am going to eat the cheese plate at the party, but probably not the sausage balls š
xx Brooke
Iām new to your page so can you explain HSM smoothie please?
hey!! yes! it is so yummy. i put 1 c mixed frozen berries, 1 c ice, 2/3 c coconut water, 1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder, 1 scoop of caties organic greens and 1/4 avocado, blend and enjoy! it is a lot of a smoothie, but i drink it all. it is so good for you, so delish and will keep you full! please let me know if you try it and thank you for coming to my new blog!
Thank you for all of these suggestions. Will definitely add to my diet. Trying to lose 10 good lbs. LOVE your page. You seem so real and I can relate to your Instagram and blog… except the model part. Lol.
Hey Monica! I appreciate that more than you know!! I am having fun with it – we will see where it goes! Girl, aren’t we all – it been a tough year! I PROMISE, if you want to lose weight, sign up for Burn Bootcamp online. It is so hard and only 45 min and it will change your body! I swear!!!!