‘I make fresh almond milk for my smoothie’: Elle Ferguson’s day on a plate
Elle Ferguson is an entrepreneur and creative consultant. The 39-year-old shares her day on a plate.
Lentil shepherd’s pie with steamed broccoli is one of Ferguson’s favourite vego recipes.Credit: Art by Eliza Iredale
6am I start my day by drinking a huge glass of water. As well as keeping me hydrated, this helps my digestive system wake up. Then I make fresh almond milk for my smoothie using raw almonds I’ve had soaking overnight in water, with a date. Once my almond milk is prepared, I add cacao, another date and ice to make a smoothie. It’s my sister’s recipe.
1pm For lunch, I grab a salad on the go. My go-to contains brown rice, avocado, beetroot, tofu, capsicum and balsamic vinegar. I eat this in the car while having a catch up on the phone with my manager.
3pm This is the time of day I start to feel the effects of not drinking any water throughout the day (I always have half-litre bottle of water in the car but never seem to drink it. So I set an alarm for 3pm, add one stick of Liquid I.V. to my water bottle, and drink it.
7.30pm Post an hour on the treadmill, I shower while my fiancé, Joel, makes one of our favourite vegetarian recipes, lentil shepherd’s pie with steamed broccoli.
9pm Two squares of Lindt dark chocolate
Dr Joanna McMillan says:
Top marks for… Including a good mix of plant foods into your lunch and dinner, with plant protein provided by the tofu and lentils, accompanied by a range of vegies. However, your breakfast smoothie does not supply much nutrition as few nutrients make it into the milk from the almonds.
If you keep eating like this you’ll… Risk calcium being taken from your bones as not enough is coming from your diet. Your brain function is being impacted by a lack of vitamin B12 and long-chain omega-3 fats as these are only obtained from animal foods, fortified foods or supplements.
Why don’t you try… Not straining your soaked almonds when you make milk, but instead simply blending the water and nuts to get the full benefits of the nutrients, including calcium, found in the nuts. Add a dose of long-chain omega-3 oil to your day along with other fruits and leafy green veg. Take a B-complex supplement.
Elle Ferguson is an ambassador for Liquid I.V.
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