by Nicole Gould, RD LD
I’m often asked ‘What does a dietitian eat?’ Do we eat at McDonalds? Do we count calories? Are we really getting all the fiber we should be?
While I can’t speak for all dietitians, I can say that I really try to stay true to what I preach. I believe in what I do. Food is medicine, and we can prevent so many diseases just by living a healthy lifestyle. When you put the right things in, you will live a longer, healthier life.
However, this doesn’t mean I only eat grass and tree bark. I come from a family that revolves around home-style meals that aren’t complete without a homemade dessert -and trust me not even I can pass up one of my moms pies! I strive for balance and moderation not perfection, and I focus on health over counting calories.
So what does my typical diet look like?
I will start by saying the first thing I have in the morning is always a glass of water.
Breakfast
- 1 Ezekial Raisin English Muffin with 1 Tbs Almond Butter and 2 tsp Agave Nectar
- 1 cup green tea
- Snack
- Smoothie (3/4c lowfat Kefir, ½ c orange juice, ¼ c frozen pineapple, ½ c frozen raspberries ½Tbsp flax)
I make this the night before; because I am not a morning person and would never have the time otherwise.
Lunch (usually my biggest meal)
- 1.5 c Mixed Green Salad (my favorite dressing is olive oil, lemon juice and sea salt)
- 2-3 oz Wild Salmon (or whatever protein is leftover from dinner the previous night)
- Light String Cheese
- Apple
I also pack or at least plan out my lunch the night before. I’ve learned I don’t make good decisions when it’s 12pm and I’m starving!
Water
Snack:
- A medium decaf Mocha from Starbucks or homemade (this is my weakness, and even though it’s nonfat, I still consider it a dessert)
- I also have a few whole wheat crackers
Dinner:
- Homemade Turkey Chili (This is a great Crockpot meal for busy moms) made with onions, green & jalepeno peppers, zucchini, kidney beans, extra lean turkey, crushed tomatoes and chili seasoning over Whole Wheat Penne Pasta
Water
Snack:
- A couple pieces of dark chocolate,
- a small bowl of high fiber cereal or a chocolate chip cookie courtesy of mom.
See I told you – but at least the eggs and milk she uses are organic 
Water
Total Calories: 1820 Carbs: 240g Protein: 86g Fat: 63g Fiber: 29g
So there you have it – a little look into a dietitian’s stomach.
One last note – if you’re wondering how I came up with the calories, carbs etc. from my diet, I ran a Nutribase Clinical Diet Analysis of my diet. If you’re interested in finding out what’s in your diet call me at 440-885-9505, email me at ngouldRD@gmail.com or visit Vital Choice’s Dietetic Services page.
