Erika Heynatz: My day on a plate

Think it’s hard to fit in quality meals during a hectic day? Model, actress, health advocate Erika Heynatz, pictured here taking part in the recent Nike She Runs event in Sydney, shares how she maintains her energy levels on a busy schedule.

“First thing in the morning I drink a tall glass of warm water with lemon, or a green tea with a spoon of coconut oil. I get up and cook five small meals to take with me for the day, and a one litre bottle of Vital Greens with probiotics to sip throughout the morning. I’ll also make a veggie juice with beetroot, kale, carrot, celery, lemon and ginger. Then I take a Vitamins Multi, Vitamin D, Olive leaf extract and Co Q10.” Related: ‘Don’t-get-fat French toast’ recipe

“I usually munch my breakfast while reading something online or in a magazine; porridge with blueberries, banana and organic milk. I like to have a Black coffee with stevia around 9am while I do my makeup and pack my bag.” Brekkie Trifle recipe

“While I check my emails and make phone calls I blend up my first snack of the day, which is an iced BSC protein shake with banana, peanut butter and chia seeds. This gets me ready for the 20-minute walk to the theatre.” Related: 40 Protein-Rich recipes

“I usually have something light, like half a banana or a BSC protein ball before I meet the rest of the cast in the rehearsal room for skipping drills, stretching and a vocal warm up around the piano.” Related: Chocolate protein balls recipe

“Next I head to my dressing room and start on stage makeup and wig preparation while I eat something light. Today it’s a small container of home made pesto lamb, vegetables and brown rice with an instant miso soup.” 1:30pm: “Now it’s show time. During the interval I have half a banana and a hot tea made of some lovely sweet Chinese herbal mixture to strengthen my immunity. During this time I’ll do five minutes on the rebounder, some more stretching and a quick skipping warm up.” Related: All-green veggie power pasta recipe

“Dress down after the first show is when I get to eat my real lunch, which is usually a larger version of the first one (or if I am treating myself to a takeaway meal it is a steak salad from Guzman and Gomez with guacamole!). After this I normally try to find a tree near the theatre to sit under and meditate for 20 minutes.” Related: Winter warmers recipes

“This is when I’ll have a chocolate protein bar and another black coffee, and if I need to wake my body up more I’ll go for a bike ride or a run for 15 minutes. Next I’ll make another one litre bottle of liquid greens to sip throughout the show. By 7:30pm it’s time to do hair and makeup again. Now I’ll have a small container of chicken with rice and steamed vegies with half a lime, and an AVEDA liquorice and peppermint tea.” Related: DIY Trail mix

“Here I’ll have another interval snack of half a banana and a tea with honey for the extra sugar hit. I always have a bag of natural jellies in my fridge to share with my dressers during the show. I have four or five during the night.” Related: Cooking with Tea

“After I walk home from the theatre I am ravenous for dinner, which ends up being as late as 11pm by the time I’ve washed off my “circ-de-face” (makeup). This is usually only a small portion of chicken or salmon, and either ratatouille or veggies with a glass of red wine. Around midnight I’m tucked up in bed reading and don’t mind a cup of sugar free hot chocolate to put me into a slumber. I also take magnesium supplements to help my body recover and rest more deeply.” Related: Lamb cutlets with lemon-mint gremolata recipe