Holiday eating and celebrating can (and often does) get the best of most of us—hence the influx in gym memberships and spike in wellness purchases come the new year—but, as much as we don’t like to admit it, there are strong-willed health enthusiasts exercising, eating well and treating their bodies properly around the clock 365 days a year. And though I like to consider myself a realist—I understand we can’t simply flip a switch and begin eating and training like a nutritionist does—seeing an example of what clean eating makes taking on the endeavor a whole lot less intimidating. To help spearhead your (and who am I kidding, my) healthy new year goals, we asked holistic nutritionist, wellness expert and health coach Kelly LeVeque to take us in and show us what a typical day of eating is like for her. Don’t rule it out just yet—you might be pleasantly surprised!
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Breakfast: 8–9 a.m.
“I start each day with a Be Well Smoothie, which consists of varying ingredients like greens, berries, chia seeds and almond milk, but always a healthy dose of protein, fat and fiber (aka The Be Well by Kelly FAB FOUR). The components work together to turn off your hunger hormones, elongate the blood sugar curve and keep you full and satisfied. Nowadays, I am leaning on my Spa Smoothie or another green favorite.”
Lunch: 1–2 p.m.
“Subsequent meals always involve of a mix of protein, fat, fiber and greens. Macronutrient intake plays an integral role in keeping cells, the microbiome and the brain healthy, plus, maintaining a loose structure allows you to eat what you want while guaranteeing you get what you need.”
“Lunch normally consists of a wild piece of salmon or bison, usually over a salad or wrapped into a lettuce cup. I love to mix up salmon salad with primal mayo with cucumbers to dip. If out and about, I tend to snag chicken and vegetables or a salad from places like Whole Foods, Erewhon, Sweetgreen or Urth Caffé (its chicken pesto salad is my favorite!). No matter where I eat, my goal is always to nourish my body with nutrients and calm my hunger with protein and healthy fat.”
“Pro tip: If I order a salad and it’s only an appetizer portion, I will order a side of avocado, ask for olive oil or double up on the protein. It’s all about front-loading your calories throughout the day instead of counting them (this way, you naturally eat less later on).”
Snack: 3–4 p.m.
“I limit snacking because research suggests it actually increases hunger, spikes insulin and interrupts the digestive process. However, if I need a pick-me-up, I go for nuts, hard-boiled eggs, a slaw or another fat-and-vegetable combo, or almond or coconut butter primal bars. If I am snacking around this time, I might not be getting dinner until 8 p.m.”
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Dinner: 6–7 p.m.
“Dinner is normally homemade, semi-homemade meal or a crockpot favorite. I love to cook, but I don’t want to spend four hours in the kitchen unless it’s a fun weekend and I am trying to create something new. I would much rather be getting to my favorite yoga or spin class instead of spending hours on my feet in the kitchen. I love a whole rotisserie chicken, turkey flax meatballs and zoodles or a warm winter chili with a fresh vegetable salad.”
Dessert
As if these ideas weren’t mouthwatering enough, LeVeque doesn’t skimp on desserts, either! This guilt-free chocolate mousse option counts coconut yogurt, chocolate protein powder and cacao nibs as its only ingredients for serious flavor without all the calories. For more recipes, healthy ideas and waist-slimming motivation, follow LeVeque on Instagram and be sure to check out her website here.
