This week I want to talk about food and nutrition as it applies to LadyFish and me. If you were to see what I eat on Monday through Thursday afternoon, you would think I’m built like a 25 year old fitness model. If you saw what I eat (and drink) Thursday evening, through Sunday night, you’d think I’m built like Chris Farley.
I realize that I should eat more like Monday through Thursday Fish, but I also like to enjoy life and all that it has to offer. Most of my posts are about fitness. However, my thoughts on fitness are geared more to being active in my 80’s. I’m not too focussed on the vanity side of fitness where I just care about what I look like. As with all things in life – it’s a balancing act.
One of the best analogies I’ve heard recently is to treat your week like the World Series – a best of 7. Do your best to win four of the seven days, and you’ll be doing okay. I like to get a sweep, taking care of it the first four days and then throw myself my own version of a championship parade the rest of the week.
Before I get into what I actually eat and drink during the week, let me first say this. I am extremely lucky that I have LadyFish. She cares more about us eating healthy than I do. She is fantastic about planning and preparing healthy meals for us. She is meticulous about picking out “clean” food, and making sure we get the appropriate mix.
We are very “boring” with our menu. We eat the same thing for breakfast Monday through Friday, and there are probably six or seven meals that we rotate for dinner. She’s not a big lunch person. She has some sort of healthy snack most days. I have a few staples that I mix in for my lunches during the week.
I’ll give you a glimpse at a normal week for us.
Breakfast – Monday through Friday:
LadyFish prepares each of us 2 eggs, 3 Amylu sausages, and a piece of toast with butter along with a Kiwi, 2 Dates, and 2 Brazil nuts. Again, I don’t know the nutritional value of all of this, but LadyFish assures me it’s healthy. It sounds and looks healthy. This is a full meal for me. I am stuffed.
If you haven’t tried Amylu chicken sausages, they’re worth it — high protein, clean ingredients, and LadyFish approved. Get them here.
Lunch – Monday through Friday:
I’m pretty quirky about some things. My rule for myself is to have 3 things for lunch. I work from home Monday and Tuesday and go into the office the rest of the week. I pick three things among the following: Greek yogurt, cheese, protein shake, pistachios, beef jerky, and tuna. I’m sure some of those are healthier than others.
My go-to for protein shakes is Muscle Milk — I’ve tried a dozen of them and this one doesn’t taste like chalk. If interested, try them here https://amzn.to/44Avljr.
Monday through Wednesday evenings:
We have a lot of red meat. I know some say it’s not the healthiest, but the research on protein for men our age tells a different story. We have some form of steak some days or sometimes she’ll make taco meat. You can always count on either broccoli or sweet potatoes thrown in for just about every dinner. I’ll be honest, I’m not a fan of sweet potatoes, but I eat a small portion every time they are offered.
That’s the boring/healthy part of the week. Hopefully, I’ve “won” those days and now it’s time to celebrate.
What happens Thursday night? Let’s start with the drive home. LadyFish usually complains that I’m an “old man” driver. I’m rarely in a rush. However, on Thursday nights, the golf course is calling. I leave my office, pick up LadyFish at her office, and then off to the races – literally.
I’m in a rush so that I can get home, grab a bite to eat, get dressed and be at the golf course before 5:30. The “bite to eat” is usually some combination of store bought protein balls (not the healthy kind), cheese, chips, M&M’s, or crackers.
Once at the golf course, food is not an issue, but drinks are. There are a few beers and/or shots of bourbon taken while we play. In all seriousness, drinking is done in moderation when driving is required. Trust me, LadyFish is all over it…
Friday breakfast and lunch are the same as the early part of the week. Friday night will usually mean going out to eat with friends, or picking up something like Chick-fil-A and eating at home. If we go out to eat, being healthy is the last thing on my mind. I’m looking for a good burger, chicken fried steak, or some good ole Mexican food.
Oh yeah, another habit of mine on Friday nights is to stop at the grocery store and purchase a 2-lb bag of Peanut M&M’s. I’ll admit it, I’m addicted to Peanut M&M’s. I’ll eat handful after handful Friday night, and then I follow suit all day Saturday and Sunday.
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights I treat myself to a homemade cocktail. My go-to’s are either an Old Fashioned or a Cranberry Vodka.
Saturday breakfast can be anything. Sometimes LadyFish will cook eggs, sausage, and toast. Sometimes it’s cereal with toast. Not a terribly unhealthy way to start the day, but trust me, it goes downhill from there. We don’t usually make a point of having lunch on Saturday, but I will be knee deep in M&M’s by noon. If we eat at home on Saturday night, it might be fajitas, tacos, or maybe spaghetti.
Of course, M&M’s before and after dinner and my cocktail(s) later that evening.
Sunday’s are pretty much a repeat of Saturday. It’s not unusual for us to cook a steak on Sunday night and keep leftovers for Monday night, or use them Monday morning mixed in with our eggs.
I’m not saying I do things the right way, but I do feel like I keep a pretty good balance between eating healthy and “enjoying” food. I’m sure that I could eat healthier on more days and technically be a healthier person. I’m doing my best to live a long time, all while enjoying every little bit I can. Why live to 90 if you aren’t enjoying yourself?
