Still at a loss for what to eat for lunch in the office? Sick of having the same bowl of yogurt and granola every day for breakfast? We hear you. In Preen Food Diaries, we take a closer look at the eating habits that keep people fit, healthy, and satisfied, while taking note of the treats they indulge in.
After Ride Revolution’s Ida Paras, we follow up this series with Beyond Yoga teacher Bubbles Paraiso. With a full daily workout itinerary consisting mostly of yoga, spinning, and running, see how she ensures that she doesn’t pass out before the day ends.
I don’t really subscribe to any diet—I eat what I want when I want. I don’t deprive myself of anything. If and when I eat junk, I just offset it with lots of veggies. I don’t normally crave for junk food, but I do have a sweet tooth.
I’m not afraid of carbs and sweets since I know I burn them anyway. I train to feel good and not for aesthetics so even my nutrition is based on making sure I don’t bonk out in a race.
The only thing I’m strict about is that I’ve been pescetarian for the past 12 years—I eat fish maybe three times a week—though I try to keep it vegan as much as possible. I’m intolerant to eggs so I avoid it like a plague, and I only consume dairy sporadically.
That said, here’s a peek at what my normal meals look like in a day.
I usually start my day at 5 a.m. (except for race days where I wake up as early as 2 a.m.) with just a cup of black coffee before training or teaching. I like my coffee black so nothing fancy, really.
After training, I eat my breakfast. Normally I’d grab whatever I can so sometimes a three-mushroom sandwich from Starbucks plus my second cup of coffee is a good enough main breakfast for me.
When I get home, I make myself a super smoothie bowl. It usually contains a banana, avocado, mango, strawberries, and dragon fruit blended with almond milk, almond butter, chlorella, spirulina, camu camu, maca, and plant protein. I like topping it with nuts, goji berries, chia, and the like.
For my next meal I either cook some mixed veggies with my secret recipe Asian sauce, or cook up some quinoa and put some fish on top. I don’t really have a set meal time so I just eat whenever I get hungry.
For my last meal, I head over to Susi, which is one of my fave restos, and order my go-to vegan “meat” loaf dish and some dessert.
Overall, I eat around five to six big meals a day, with some snacking in between. Today, I had some brownies and tea.
I used to believe in eating less and training more. But, I’ve learned that doing so won’t give me the progress in strength, endurance, and speed, which is what I’m after right now.
As told to Jacqueline Arias
Photos by Bubbles Paraiso and Sandro Paredes