Wren Kitchens
January is nearly over, and many of us will have at least attempted to start 2018 with a healthy new lifestyle.
However, if you’ve found yourself lacking in inspiration or have fallen off the wagon, help is at hand.
Wren Kitchens teamed up with a group of seven fitness influencers — including a Barry’s Bootcamp trainer, a dancer, and a model — to find out how they’re staying fit and healthy in 2018 — and they shared a peek inside their fridges.
While they each have their own take on healthy living, be it following a strict eating regime or avoiding a restrictive diet altogether, most agree that you should factor in at least one or two plant-based days per week.
From saying no to “cheat days” to avoiding “fat-free” foods, here’s what some of the most influential people in the world of fitness — ranked in descending order by number of Instagram followers — are doing to stay healthy this year, along with a look at the foods that are powering them through.
Chessie King, fitness trainer and presenter — @chessiekingg, 300K followers.
Wren Kitchens
What’s in her fridge
While King doesn’t label herself a veggie or vegan, she doesn’t eat meat. “I pack my fridge with goodness,” she said. “[P]lenty of fish, tofu, chickpeas, and veggies. I just eat mindfully and make sure my fish is well-sourced.
“My favourite, easy-to-make healthy breakfast is avocado with smoked salmon in a gluten-free multi-seed pita. If I’m in a rush, I love a shake, with a banana, oat milk, peanut butter, oats, cacao powder, protein powder, and ice.
“I always have kale in my fridge to make kale crisps. I drizzle them in olive oil and salt before crisping them up in the Aga,” she said.
“Instead of coffee, I have pre-workout matcha, which I whizz up with oat milk and ice in the blender. I love oat milk and brown rice milk, so always stock my fridge up with these.
“Up until three years ago, I used to think the egg white was the healthiest part and wasted the yolk. But the yolk contains all the goodness and vitamin D. I love scrambling egg and tofu together with brown rice and broccoli, then adding a little honey, tamari, sesame oil, and mixing it all together to make a healthy teriyaki dish.”
King added that she doesn’t believe in low fat, high protein, or low-carb meals, nor juice diets or skinny teas.
Her one piece of advice for 2018
Walk everywhere. “Go for walks on lunch breaks and weekends – even start walking to work, if you can.”
Steph Elswood, health blogger and dancer — @healthychefsteph, 167K followers.
Wren Kitchens
What’s in her fridge
“I eat mostly vegan, which means I consume no meat, eggs, milk, or cheese,” said Elswood. “As a result, my fridge is always packed with colourful fruits and veggies.” These include courgettes, ginger, avocados, cucumber, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, broccoli, spinach, onions, strawberries, and blueberries.
“I make curries and stews a lot – they’re warming, delicious, and save me from this cold weather. I have dates that keep for longer than most fruit, and buy beetroot in a vacuum pack in case I ever fancy it.
“To mix things up, I find other vegetables that I don’t use as frequently. For this week, I have chosen a butternut squash, which I plan to make into a pie.”
Elswood added that she combines plant-based items to create a “complete protein” source that has an adequate proportion of all nine essential amino acids.
“Examples of this are pita and hummus, peanut butter on wholegrain toast, or rice and black beans. I also use coconut or almond milk for coffee, cereal, and smoothies.”
Her one piece of advice for 2018
Avoid being intimidated by the gym by having a plan. “There are so many newbies kickstarting their exercise journey. Pre-plan your workouts and walk in with confidence. No one will question you — they’re all too busy concentrating on themselves.”
Matt Law, model — @mattclaw, 99K followers.
Wren Kitchens
What’s in his fridge
“Typically, I eat oily fish, such as salmon, once a week, and lean meats or white fish on the other days,” Law said. “I try to have at least one plant-based day a week, replacing animal protein with plant based high-protein substitutes such as black beans or lentils.”
He said that instead of buying in bulk, he’ll buy just enough for a few days, which presumably avoids wastage. “I travel a lot, so this suits my schedule, and the added benefit is the food I’m eating is fresh,” he said. “Seasonal vegetables are a good option, too. They tend to be cheaper and you can sometimes pick up boxes of mixed seasonal vegetables.”
His one piece of advice for 2018
He advises people to schedule a workout on a Saturday or Sunday. “Having a couple of rest days in the week is a better idea than leaving it for the weekend,” he said.
And he doesn’t advocate “cheat days.” “All you’re doing by having a day off from your regular diet is reminding your taste buds of all the bad foods they’ve missed,” he said. “Wait until you’ve reached your goal, then slowly introduce the odd treat.”
He added that it takes about 21 days of healthy eating to overcome your junk food habits.
