In this series, we pull back the curtain on how real people fuel their lives with real-life nutrition. Each weekly journal will feature a different MyFitnessPal member’s meal goals, habits, and great meals to inspire your own journey—because progress, not perfection, is what really matters.
Today a MyFitnesspal Principal Engineer in Texas who is training for a half marathon and focusing on increasing her fiber intake.
Location: Austin, Texas
Occupation: Principal Engineer at MyFitnessPal
Age: 38
Weekly grocery and food budget: I don’t really keep track!
Diet plan: I recently went low-FODMAP
Dietary restrictions: No onion or garlic; limited wheat, barley and rye
Weekly Goals:
Weekly calorie target: 14,000
Daily macro conditions: The one nutrient I focus on is fiber—doctor’s orders!
Typical weekly training schedule: I run every day, about 40-50 miles every week.
When did you start learning about the importance of nutrition?
I always “knew” it was important, but I don’t think I really did anything about it until I started to realize that food can positively improve many aspects of my health.
When and why did you start food logging?
I first started logging my food in 2015 (before I even worked on MyFitnessPal!) when I accidentally found myself much heavier than I had internally thought. Since then I will periodically log more or less depending on my life goals.
What is the biggest lesson you have learned in your nutrition journey?
The foods you eat are far more than just the calories they contain. For me, certain foods that most people would consider “healthy” negatively affect my body. Your health is not one-dimensional.
What health or fitness related goals are you working towards?
I’m training for a half marathon in January so as part of that I’ve been working my way back towards my healthy running weight. I am down about 24 lbs of my 30 lb weight loss goal
How do you plan for life events that may affect your normal nutritional routine? (E.g. holidays, birthday or wedding-related parties, etc.)
I typically focus more on the big picture rather than individual days or events. For example, I like to think of my calorie budget as weekly instead of daily. If I know I have a complicated weekend or event, I typically budget for it earlier in the week.
How often do you eat out each week compared to cooking your meals at home?
I probably eat half of my meals at home. I eat a lot of sandwiches.
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7-Day Nutrition for Real Life
Day 1
Breakfast: I started the day with a warm bowl of instant brown sugar and maple oatmeal – comfort food in 90 seconds. I topped it with a sliced ​​banana and a handful of blueberries for that extra “look, I’m eating fruit!” energy. Total: 433 calories
Lunch: At noon, I grabbed a chicken dish from Waba Grill. Lean protein, check. Rice, check. Vegetables, check. Honestly, it’s my go-to when I want something filling, but don’t also heavy. Total: 640 calories
Dinner: Okay, balance. I ended the day with a medium cheeseburger and a side of crispy, straight-cut fries. Sometimes you just are need the burger. No regrets. Total: 681 calories
Daily total: 1,754 calories
Day 2
Breakfast: My go-to: instant brown sugar and maple oatmeal, topped with banana and blueberries. Easy, reliable and gets the job done.
Lunch: I grabbed a bagel from the deli and threw some cream cheese on it. Simple, carby happiness.
Dinner: I ended the day with a medium poke bowl from the neighborhood Poke food truck. Ahi Tuna and salmon, rice, all the toppings… Honestly, poke always feels like the right choice, even if the calories pile up a bit.
Daily total: 1,547 calories
Weekend update
I took a little food-logging break. Sometimes you just have to enjoy your meals without doing the math!
Day 5
Breakfast: Back to the routine – instant brown sugar and maple oatmeal with banana and blueberries. Why mess with perfection?
Lunch: I picked up an Italian panini from the local bodega, went with the top verified option in the app. It hit the spot and didn’t require much effort.
Dinner: Jimmy John’s is for dinner! I went for number 7 – with the bread, not a witch. Sometimes you just need the full sandwich experience.
Daily total: 1,533 calories
Dec. 6
Breakfast: You guessed it: Instant Brown Sugar Maple Oatmeal with Blueberries and Bananas. It’s reliable and I love it.
Lunch: I leaned into my Jimmy John’s streak and ordered the spicy East Coast Italian again – this time as a witch. The lettuce wrap makes it feel lighter, but still filling.
Dinner: Two slices of pepperoni pizza to end the day. Sometimes pizza is just calling your name. Total: 496 calories.
Daily total: 1,379 calories
Dec. 7
Breakfast: Instant brown sugar and maple oatmeal again, with sliced ​​banana and blueberries for some extra whole fruit nutrition. Can’t beat a classic.
Lunch: I swung by Thundercloud Subs and picked up a New York Italian sandwich. I paired it with a side of Sun Chips because, let’s be real, sandwiches are better with chips.
Dinner: Dinner with friends at a local brewery! I kept it simple with a row of lemon pepper wings. Tasty, shareable and not too heavy.
Daily total: 1,505 calories
The post A Week of Fiber-Rich Meals as a Runner appeared first on MyFitnessPal Blog.