Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner with Ellie Krieger

The dietitian and cookbook author gives us a peek into her daily eating and fitness routine.

In honor of American Heart Month, we sat down with dietitian Ellie Krieger, in partnership with Campbell Soup Company, to discuss the importance of leading a heart-healthy lifestyle. The cookbook author gave us a peek into her daily eating and fitness routine.

For someone who is constantly around food, Ellie knows the importance of not overindulging, “I’ll try to plan recipe testing around lunch, and I do try to just have a few tastes if I’m making multiple recipes and try not to have full servings of food,” she says. “Fortunately, I’m cooking my food so it lends itself to not weighing you down. If I was testing cookies all day, it would be hard.” But it’s not just about nutrition, she notes: “Being active, working out, is my ticket to physical well-being and sanity. You know how people are hardcore? I’m softcore. But I like to sweat and push myself. I love vinyasa yoga, and I love to be outside, biking around Central Park or hiking. I’m much more of a jogger than a runner, but I’m getting my heart rate up and I’m feeling good.”

Ellie Krieger's Blueberry Blast Smoothie

Ellie Krieger's Blueberry Blast Smoothie

Photo by: Tara Donne ©2012, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Tara Donne, 2012, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Breakfast:

Ellie likes to work out in the morning but can’t eat too much before exercising, so she has a piece of whole-grain toast or a whole-grain bagel and coffee. “God bless coffee,” she says. After she works out she starts her day with “a Greek yogurt bowl and some fruit, or I’ll make a smoothie with a banana and low-fat milk and a scoop of peanut butter. Or an egg and a piece of fruit. Breakfast is where I’m eating my protein.”

Ellie Krieger's Spinach And Green Apple Salad As seen on Food Network

Ellie Krieger's Spinach And Green Apple Salad As seen on Food Network

Photo by: Stephen Johnson ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Stephen Johnson, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Lunch:

Her midday meal varies depending on if she’s recipe testing or not. “If I’m not testing I might have an arugula and fennel salad with olive oiled-cured tuna and lemon. That’s my go-to favorite lunch. I’d probably have whole-grain bread with that.”

Food stylist: Stephana Bottom

2133_Food_Ntwrk_EiieSnacks_002.tif

Food stylist: Stephana Bottom

Photo by: Jonathan Kantor

Jonathan Kantor

Snack:

Ellie definitely snacks. Her preferred pick-me-up? "Peanut butter and apple, a bit of soup or whole-grain cereal, or granola with milk in a small cup."

Dinner:

During the winter months it’s all about comfort food. “I’ll make chili and a big salad or roasted vegetables. Sometimes we’ll have roasted salmon or steak; filet mignon is our family-favorite meat. My husband is a bow-hunter, and so he brings home a lot of venison and I use it a lot, depending on the cut, either in a stew or as a steak. I’ve been cooking a lot from my latest book, Weeknight Wonders, which is all healthy dinners in 30 minutes or less (including prep time), so I know I’ll have dinner on the table quickly.”

Splurge:

Of course, even dietitians have their unhealthy splurges. In the cold months, Ellie often craves a big bowl of ramen or french fries. “I’ll save up if I know I’m going to have something like that during the day,” she says. “I account for it.”

Next Up

Ellie Krieger's Healthy Scrambled Egg Hack Is Life-Changing

You'll never look at egg whites the same way again.

Beyond the Cookout: 9 Ways to Grill Breakfast, Lunch and Dessert

Spending the day outside? These nine Food Network recipes are perfect breakfasts, lunches and desserts on the grill.

Ellie Krieger Bio

New York Times best-selling author Ellie Krieger helps people of all ages achieve balance in food, health and life, and have joy right at their fingertips. She is a registered dietitian and host of Food Network’s Healthy Appetite. Ellie’s warmth and charisma have made her the go-to nutritionist, with a lifestyle emphasis, in the media today. Her success can be attributed to her way of offering real advice without any of the gimmicks and crash diets that permeate today’s news. She reaches people with her message that it is possible for anyone, given the tools and knowledge, to live life to the maximum by being in healthy balance, nurturing a richly satisfying and sumptuous, attainable lifestyle. She believes that through her work she can help to change the way society views food, health and nutrition. Ellie’s ease in front of the camera can be attributed to her years as a fashion model for the world-famous agency named after the iconic Wilhelmina Cooper. After receiving her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in nutrition from Cornell and Columbia University, Ellie began educating others on eating healthy in a realistic, delicious and easy way.

Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner?

Food Network asked Facebook fans: “Breakfast, lunch or dinner? Which is your favorite, and which could you go without?”

Ellie Krieger’s New Cookbook: You Have It Made

Get a sneak peek into Ellie Krieger’s new book, You Have It Made: Delicious, Healthy, Do-Ahead Meals.