Eating same thing daily

[Anonymous]

I have a crazy, crazy job. Last week was one hell of a week, and I realized at the end of the week that I had eaten the exact same thing every day from M-F. I also realized that I had a lot of energy and felt really good.

It made me think that I might try this longer term as a strategy. I work (routinely) 80 hours a week, and I have fallen into bad habits the past few years. In the mornings I drink coffee (at home and at work) all day long-never have time for lunch, rarely eat breakfast. By the time I get home from work at 7 or 8pm, I am FAMISHED and literally scarf down anything around--and then go directly to bed, because I am just exhausted. Sometimes dinner is cereal (thankfully that bad habit isnt awful as I really like plain cheerios with fruit of some kind, usually rasberries or blueberries) but sometimes its something heavy and carby and just....ugh.

Anyway, last week I ate breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. It was a weird stroke of luck, and leftovers, and chance, but it worked out that way. Here's what I ate:

Breakfast: two Oikos triple zero yogurts. For both yogurts, that is 240 calories, 0 fat, zero added sugar, 12g of fiber, and 30g of protein. (Why two yogurts rather than one? it so happened last week that I ate one at work, and I was like omg I love this yogurt so I ate another one. Then after I ate two of them, I realized that I was full, satisfied, and packed a lot of protein and fiber into one quick meal at my desk-so i ate it all week...)

Lunch: a big salad--lettuce, tomato, cucumber, carrot slivers, broccoli--any other veggies I happen to have in my fridge. I really actually like salad, and I like it just with olive oil and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. I also ate (on the side) a 100-calorie pack of plain unsalted almonds (just cuz I have them in my desk drawer).

In the late afternoon, I ate an apple (that was a routine I had anyway just because it was easy). Sometimes I'll eat a bananna instead but it's always some piece of fruit.

Dinner: so, here's what happened here: my husband has a lot of diabetes in his family, so he's trying to eat healthier. So he's been trying out different dinners every night and has fallen into a routine where every night, M-F, he eats the same thing: he boils boneless chicken breast until its cooked. At the same time, he sautees red, yellow, greeen and orange peppers as well as onion in olive oil with a pinch of sea salt. Then he mixes it all together. That's it. It's actually really good and leftovers heat up really well.

So thats what I ate every.single.day last week. And I felt amazing--I had so much energy and I just felt, like, light and energetic.

So my question is: I am trying to take an overall look at the day's diet here and see if I am missing anything (nutritionally). I'm getting a ton of fiber, enough protein with the chicken and yogurt...plenty of veggies....anyone see any place I could make an improvement?

I realize doing this wouldnt be for everyone. I just happen to have moved into a c-level job last year and all I do is work right now (kids just now in late high school/college so I'm going to have a couple of years of working continually like this with crazy hours.)

Thanks for any input!

[Anonymous]

I would eat 1 yogurt and some fruit for breakfast and a whole grain. Try yogurt, blueberries, and oatmeal (plain no sugar).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would eat 1 yogurt and some fruit for breakfast and a whole grain. Try yogurt, blueberries, and oatmeal (plain no sugar).

Thanks. What’s the oatmeal giving me? I’m trying not to eat carbs-and the yogurt already has tons of fiber?

I mix in blueberries to the afternoon fruit sometimes. I love them alone...

[Anonymous]

I've tried and I get sick of whatever I'm eating after 2 days.

Took me awhile to understand why some people just hate leftovers...period.

[Anonymous]

Maybe you felt better because you ate 3 healthy meals instead of starving all day and then bingeing? Also why don't you eat carbs? There are very few people who really need to not eat carbs.

[Anonymous]

I do this. I tend to make a big pot of soup on Sunday and then eat it for lunch and dinner for the next few days. Then I make something else that will give me leftovers. Breakfast is always a smoothie. I add celery, peanut butter and berries to the lunch I bring to work and eat some of it with lunch and some for snacks.

[Anonymous]

I think I’d add some avocado to your salad for a healthy fat - most nutritionists say fat is critically important - I might also add one whole grain carb like quinoa to dinner

[Anonymous]

I am the most boring eater and often eat the same things every single day.

I know I don't get enough variety in my diet.

[Anonymous]

DH and I have been doing this for years. We buy the same groceries every weekend, make-ahead the same lunches for the office, and assemble the same big dinner salad every night. We go out to eat once on the weekends, usually breakfast but sometimes dinner also/instead. It's working for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think I’d add some avocado to your salad for a healthy fat - most nutritionists say fat is critically important - I might also add one whole grain carb like quinoa to dinner

I really hate avocado....any substitute? A little cheese maybe?

I think I’m missing some protein...need 80g’s daily and I don’t think I’m getting it... maybe hard boiled egg on my salad?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would eat 1 yogurt and some fruit for breakfast and a whole grain. Try yogurt, blueberries, and oatmeal (plain no sugar).

Thanks. What’s the oatmeal giving me? I’m trying not to eat carbs-and the yogurt already has tons of fiber?

I mix in blueberries to the afternoon fruit sometimes. I love them alone...

Oatmeal will keep you full longer. It's not a bad carb unless you add sugar.

[Anonymous]

I'd add some beans to your salad. No fat, lots of fiber, and good protein. And/or some natural peanut butter with your apple.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think I’d add some avocado to your salad for a healthy fat - most nutritionists say fat is critically important - I might also add one whole grain carb like quinoa to dinner

I really hate avocado....any substitute? A little cheese maybe?

I think I’m missing some protein...need 80g’s daily and I don’t think I’m getting it... maybe hard boiled egg on my salad?

I think adding an egg or two to your salad will make it more complete because it adds some additional protein and fats. I think your diet is fine. Perhaps think about adding a few fish oil pills and a multi-vitamin if you expect to keep eating the same thing for weeks on end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would eat 1 yogurt and some fruit for breakfast and a whole grain. Try yogurt, blueberries, and oatmeal (plain no sugar).

Thanks. What’s the oatmeal giving me? I’m trying not to eat carbs-and the yogurt already has tons of fiber?

I mix in blueberries to the afternoon fruit sometimes. I love them alone...

Oatmeal will keep you full longer. It's not a bad carb unless you add sugar.

DP. If you already feel full and have tons of energy, I don't think there's any reason to add oatmeal. Of course if you want a change, then yes, maybe switch out the yogurt for the oatmeal. The yogurt itself already has carbs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think I’d add some avocado to your salad for a healthy fat - most nutritionists say fat is critically important - I might also add one whole grain carb like quinoa to dinner

I really hate avocado....any substitute? A little cheese maybe?

I think I’m missing some protein...need 80g’s daily and I don’t think I’m getting it... maybe hard boiled egg on my salad?

No reason to add cheese if you're not missing it. You're already eating nuts.