HAVE you ever wondered what a professional athlete eats in a day to stay fit and healthy? I sure have! Questions like, “Do they eat clean 100% of the time?” “Do they eat fast food?” “Do they snack?” have crossed my mind countless times and that has led me to study and find out more about their diets, and I have somewhat adapted and adjusted them to my life. Let me share with you my usual diet in a day as a beach volleyball athlete!.
I start my mornings with a glass of lemon water. I simply take a lemon and cut about 2-3 slices and place them in a cup. I like to add in lukewarm water and drink it. It is one of the most refreshing things to do the moment you wake up as your body has lost a lot of water during sleep. Besides, it’s a great way to awaken your digestive system and cleanse your stomach. Ever since I started this habit, it has greatly improved my bowel movement in the morning! #easydetoxtip
After I finish my morning workout, it’s time to reward myself with some breakfast. This is one of my absolute favorite recipes because it’s so simple to make, which is perfect for lazy people like me! And not to mention that it’s like having dessert for breakfast! It’s called “Chocolate protein berry oats”.
Get about ½ a cup to a cup of rolled oats, then add in 2 scoops of chocolate protein powder. If you don’t have that, simply add in some cocoa powder. Then, add in some plant-based milk or milk and stir evenly. Then comes the best part, add in some frozen berries of your choice. I use strawberries and blueberries, but honestly, any berry would add that extra antioxidants and fibre and vitamins! Once you’re done, simply heat it in the microwave for about 2 minutes, add any desired toppings such as nuts or raisins or banana, and voila! You have made yourself dessert for breakfast in under 5 minutes.
For lunch I usually eat rice and dishes. But I was feeling lazy that day, so I simply took out the frozen vegan superbowl food that my grandma had given me. It’s packed with all that good stuff like quinoa, chickpeas, peas, mushrooms, brown rice, ginger and so on. It’s even easier (and healthier) to make than instant noodles! You simply leave it out from the freezer to thaw, then steam it until it’s heated and you can then enjoy a bowl of super nutritious, tasty and filling bowl of food.
As you can tell, I am not a huge fan of meat. Ever since I watched the vegan documentary “Game Changers” (a show about athletes who turned vegan and had a significant amount of improvement in terms of health and performance, it’s really good, highly recommend to watch), I have stopped eating meat for a very long time. However, now I do eat eggs and dairy and even a little bit of fish and chicken here and there, but it’s really rare. I feel better about my body and my conscious when I eat more plant-based/ vegetarian foods.
Not sure if anyone can relate, but I’m always hungry. I usually have a little snack in the late afternoon before I do my second workout. For that day I ate ½ a corn and some mangoes, but only because they were available. Or else, I like to eat dates, apples or nuts. These are some healthy snack options that you should store in your pantry! When I was younger, I would reach for biscuits to cure my hunger. But ever since I realized how much sugar is in there, I barely ever eat biscuits anymore, especially the sweet ones (yes OatKrunch, I’m looking at you). My friend used to say that I like to eat bird food (with all the nuts and raisins all) , but hey, at least I’m a healthy bird right?
After my workout, it was time for dinner. For that day’s dinner, we decided to order some GrabFood! We ordered from “La Juiceria”, which is one of my favorite restaurants to go to before the lockdown. They are known for their delicious superfoods and refreshing, creative combination of juices.
I’ll be honest with you, it was my first time ordering via GrabFood, and I’m blown away by the convenience! With just a few clicks on my finger, I can bring my favorite restaurant back to my house. I’m truly so grateful for Grab and all the front-liner delivery people who do their best to serve us Malaysians!
I had a Tofu Spicy Soba Noodle Bundle for dinner, which was kinda spicy, but really good. The combination of the spicy Korean sauce mixed with the tender tofu and fresh vegetables… just thinking about it now is already making my mouth water.
So this is how my diet usually is like in a day! Of course, my diet is not always clean and perfect like this all the time. There are times where I would indulge in cookies, chocolate and cake, but for the most part of it I try to eat relatively clean. I hope you enjoyed reading about what I eat in a day, maybe you can try out the oats recipe and enjoy your dessert for breakfast! - The Vibes. June 15, 2021
