"So like...what do you eat?"

Whenever I tell someone that I am studying nutrition science, I always seem to get entertaining responses. I tend to get responses such as "Oh gosh, you wouldn't want to know what I eat then!" or "Well now I feel like I should order a salad." More frequently though, I'm asked questions such as "What do you think about going gluten free?", "What diet plan do you follow?", "Are you vegan?", or my personal favorite, "So like...what do you eat?"

No I will not judge you for not getting a salad. (In fact I really hate salads). No I am not gluten free. I am not a vegan. And I don't follow any specific diet plan.
I just eat healthy and am very mindful about the foods I choose to fuel my body with.

But since I'm asked so frequently what I eat, I figured I would record a few of my favorite healthy meals and power snacks for those who are curious. This is in no way a diet plan or guide to be rigidly followed. These are just a few of my healthy favorites that you're welcome to try if you're in a food rut or are looking to eat a bit more nutritiously.

BREAKFAST FAVORITES:
It's the most important meal of the day so make sure it's a tasty one!

• I love hard boiled eggs. I like to have two of them for breakfast in the morning with a little salt and pepper on top. If you hard boil a dozen or so over the weekend then they're a super quick and easy breakfast for weekday mornings.
• Toast is another favorite. I've gotten super creative with my toast lately. I like to mash up avocado and spread that on my toast. Or for something sweeter, I love to spread Nutella on a piece of toast and top it with strawberry slices. This works really well with peanut and bananas too, especially if you drizzle it with honey. Yum!
• On the weekends, I like omelets. I typically pack them with veggies like spinach and tomatoes to up the nutritional value and keep me fuller longer.
• You can never go wrong with good old Honey Nut Cheerios.
• I have an extreme weakness for Cinnamon Toast Crunch and I'm not ashamed to admit it. Treat yo' self. 

Here's some toast inspiration for you. This was my breakfast last weekend. So yummy!

LUNCH FAVORITES:
(Disclaimer: I'm really bad about lunch. I tend to eat sandwiches everyday and don't include much variety but it's something I'm working on. If you have yummy lunch suggestions let me know in the comments below!)

• I'm a sucker for a classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich on whole grain bread.
• I love wraps with whole wheat tortillas and low sodium deli meat. I like to pack them with spinach and other veggies.
• I make quesadillas a lot with chicken strips and cheese and add veggies to those sometimes too.

POWER SNACKS:

I am all about some snacks. I LOVE them. Snacking is often seen as a diet "sin" but it doesn't have to be as long as you're fueling your body with good healthy snacks!

Mmm, spinach in a smoothie! I promise they're much tastier than they look and you can't even taste the veggies because of all the sweet, yummy fruit!

• I've recently become obsessed with green smoothies. I'm not a big vegetable fan so I love being able to hide my veggies in a yummy fruit smoothie. I like to blend Greek yogurt, banana, berries, and either spinach or carrots into a smoothie for a nice midday pick me up.
• I've been snacking on whole nuts a lot lately. Nuts are often seen as a no-no because of their fat content but they're packed with HEALTHY fats so don't write them off! I like to snack on whole almonds or walnuts mixed with a few M&Ms or dark chocolate chips. This snack fills me right up and gives me energy for the rest of my day.
• Whole fruits and vegetables are always are good snack.
• I really like Greek yogurt too. It took me a bit to get used to the thickness and the flavor but it's packed with protein and keeps me full for hours. Just look out for added sugars, because some brands sneak a ton of them in there.
• Air popped popcorn is another favorite. It has the satisfying crunch of chips without all the fat and sodium and it happens to be a great source of fiber! I like Skinny Pop and Boom Chicka Pop.

DINNER FAVORITES:

I always struggle with coming up with dinner ideas. I have a bad habit of eating the same thing all the time and never having any variety, but here's a few favorites that I rotate between.

• I know I already mentioned wraps for lunch but I have them for dinner a lot too!
• I also like to make rice bowls and throw in some broccoli and grilled chicken. It's a quick and easy meal that provides a good serving of grains, meat, and vegetables.
• I love to make homemade pizza. I just get a frozen pizza crust and then top it with tomato sauce, cheese, and loads of vegetables.
• Breakfast for dinner is my all time favorite. I like to make scrambled eggs or pancakes since a lot of times I don't have time to make a big breakfast in the morning.

Hopefully at least a few of these sound yummy to you and you'll want to try them out! Hope you have a swell day. :)