I see these “What I Eat in a Day” posts where the mom has a 45-minute breakfast routine, a charcuterie board for lunch, and a three-course dinner. That’s not my life.
My life is school drop-off at 7:45, grocery store at 9, Mason’s therapy appointment at 10:30, pick-up at 2:30, homework battles at 3:30, and dinner somewhere in the chaos.
So here’s a REAL day. The kind where I’m eating in the car and hoping the cheese doesn’t melt on my shirt.
6:30 AM — Wake Up + Coffee
I get up before the kids. This is my survival strategy. 30 minutes of quiet, a cup of coffee, and my phone.
Coffee: Black coffee with a splash of heavy cream and a pinch of cinnamon. I use a simple French press because I can’t deal with fancy espresso machines at 6 AM.
No food yet — I’m not hungry in the morning. This is intermittent fasting, but I don’t call it that. I just call it “I’m not hungry until 10.”
10:00 AM — Breakfast (Late, I Know)
After school drop-off, grocery shopping, and a quick workout, I’m finally hungry.
Breakfast: 3 scrambled eggs with spinach and cheddar cheese, cooked in butter. A handful of almonds on the side.
Macros (rough): 450 calories, 5g net carbs, 35g protein, 33g fat
This takes 5 minutes to make. I eat it standing at the kitchen island while answering emails. Don’t judge.
1:00 PM — Lunch
Lunch: Leftover chicken thighs from last night, half an avocado, and a big handful of baby spinach with olive oil and vinegar.
Macros (rough): 550 calories, 6g net carbs, 45g protein, 35g fat
If I don’t have leftovers (rare, because I meal prep on Sundays), I’ll have:
- 2 cheese sticks
- A handful of macadamia nuts
- Sliced turkey rolled up with cream cheese
That’s my “I forgot to plan lunch” emergency meal. It’s not fancy, but it works.
3:30 PM — Snack (The Danger Zone)
This is when the kids come home and the chaos starts. Homework, snacks, complaints about homework. I need something fast.
Snack: Pork rinds and guacamole. Or cheese cubes and pepperoni. Sometimes a keto protein bar if I’m running out the door.
Macros: 200-300 calories, 3-5g net carbs
6:00 PM — Dinner (Family Meal)
Dinner: Sheet pan chicken and broccoli. Chicken thighs seasoned with garlic, paprika, and salt. Broccoli florets tossed in olive oil. Everything on one pan, 400°F for 25 minutes.
I serve the kids the same thing. Mason eats the chicken, ignores the broccoli. Olivia eats both. Ethan eats everything and asks for more.
Macros: 600 calories, 8g net carbs, 50g protein, 38g fat
8:30 PM — Evening Snack (Optional)
After the kids are in bed and I’m on the couch, sometimes I want something. Not always, but sometimes.
If I’m snacky: A spoonful of peanut butter (I measure it — keto and peanut butter are a dangerous combo). Or a few squares of dark chocolate (85% cacao, very low carb).
If I’m not hungry: Just water. Listen to your body.
Daily Totals
- Calories: ~1,700-1,900
- Net carbs: ~22g
- Protein: ~130g
- Fat: ~130g
What I DON’T Eat
- No keto desserts on a normal day (they trigger cravings for me)
- No “keto” packaged foods (too expensive, too processed)
- No smoothies (too much hidden carbs from fruit)
- No sweet snacks (I stay away from sweetness entirely — it makes keto easier for me)
My Honest Truth
Some days are messier than this. Some days I eat too many almonds. Some days I have a second helping of dinner because it was really good. Some days I forget lunch entirely and eat cheese sticks at 3 PM.
I don’t track perfectly. I don’t stress about it. I’ve been doing this long enough to know that one imperfect day doesn’t undo months of consistency.
The goal isn’t perfection. The goal is mostly good, most of the time.
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