‘A perfect snack’: How a fashion designer fuels her workouts (and what she’s missing)

Shona Thatcher is a fashion designer. The 52-year-old shares her day on a plate.

Credit: Art by Eliza Iredale

6am Soy piccolo and a litre of water on the way to a reformer Pilates class.

11.30am A boiled egg, hummus, kimchi and beetroot bowl from a local bakery, followed by a multivitamin.

3pm Almonds and blueberries fuel back-to-back Zoom meetings with the team.

6pm Dinner with a girlfriend of salmon sashimi, Japanese salad and a glass of pinot grigio.

9.30pm The day winds down with magnesium, a glass of water and a cup of ginger tea before bed.

Dr Joanna McMillan says

Top marks for... Your clear focus on nutrient-dense wholefoods. Emerging evidence shows that fermented foods such as kimchi are winners for gut health, while the oily fish is rich in omega-3s and is nicely balanced with plant foods in the salad. Nuts and berries are a perfect snack.

If you keep eating like this you’ll... Risk not meeting your energy and carbohydrate needs, particularly on active days. A low intake of carbohydrates after your morning workout could limit muscle recovery and leave you feeling flat by late afternoon.

Why don’t you try... Incorporating a small serve of whole grains such as quinoa or brown rice into lunch or dinner to help balance blood sugar and for sustained energy release. A piece of fruit or some wholegrain toast with your piccolo in the morning could also help fuel your workout.

Shona Thatcher is the creative director and founder of Shona Joy.

Get the best of Sunday Life magazine delivered to your inbox every Sunday morning. Sign up here for our free newsletter.