OPINION From her morning coffee to a sweet evening snack, The Telegraph ’s nutritionist reveals the details of her daily diet. As any nutritionist will tell you, diet is not a one-size-fits-all affair. What our body needs varies enormously and depends on how much exercise we do, how old we are, our ability to absorb nutrients as well our gender.
Then there are allergies some of us have to navigate, or other dietary restrictions - it can get complicated. So, while I am happy to share with you what I eat in a day, it’s crucial to consider your own personal circumstances and experiment with the types of foods you eat, in terms of the balance of protein, carbohydrates and fat, your portion sizes and the timings of meals and snacks. As for me, I have a mainly sedentary job (writing), but I exercise most days.
My calorie requirement is around 1600 per day (there are online calorie calculators to help you determine your daily requirement). As a menopausal woman, I favour protein (to maintain muscle mass) and healthy fats (for brain and heart health) over carbohydrates, although a good amount of complex carbs is still important for energy and hormone health..