What Carla Hall eats in a day, with a delicious protein-rich dessert

Carla Hall is famous for her celebratory soul food offerings, Nashville hot chicken and butter biscuits, but what does she eat on a normal day?

In a recent Instagram feed, the celebrity chef and cookbook author took fans through a day of food in her life, from breakfast to late-night indulgence. The meals were full of nutritious whole foods and even featured delicious-looking, protein-rich desserts. Luckily, you can read everything she ate below, plus get some of our tasty recipes and tips to help you recreate the dishes that catch your eye.

Breakfast

In the morning, Hall said, I make an egg white omelet with broccoli and a little cheese. He started by spraying some oil on what looks like a toasted Arnold Sandwich Thin. On the bottom of the bread, he placed the cooked egg white omelette dressed with black pepper. As a trick for easier, protein-rich breakfasts, she used packaged runny egg whites. He also added a few shavings of Parmesan and about half a cup of cooked broccoli florets. Complete the plate with the superior bread and you will have a balanced breakfast.

Egg whites and dairy are great for a protein boost in the morning. Plus, cooked broccoli is an easy way to get your veggies in no matter the time of day. If you have fresh broccoli on hand, make our Broccoli Cheese Omelet. Or, keep trying different veggies like our Egg, Spinach, and Cheddar Breakfast Sandwich.

have a snack

Once the video hit snack time, Hall had a colorful selection of food on his plate. He gave us the lowdown: I’ve got some multi-grain fries, some grilled cucumbers, radishes, celery, and some of my BBQ-roasted carrots. And cabbage and basil pesto. In the caption, he mentions that when he’s at home, he prepares as many of his meals in advance as possible. In this case, she prepared the Kale Basil Pesto, Grilled Celery, and Roasted Carrots over the weekend to use throughout the week.

We see some red, orange, green and darker green on the plate, which reminds us of a healthy habit of the Mediterranean diet: eating the rainbow. A food’s color can indicate its unique antioxidants, phytochemicals, and other nutrients to help fight disease and keep you healthier.

Try the vegetarian route like Hall using our guide to cooking vegetables, or switch things up on the sweeter side with a bowl of our Purple Fruit Salad or Green Fruit Salad.

Lunch

For lunch, Chef Hall returned to her kitchen to whip up a very quick hummus wrap. He passed out some of his black-eyed pea hummus in the center of an omelet, he placed a mixture of salad greens and red pepper and then rolled it up. Just roll it up and wrap it up, she said, assuring us that it’s totally fine to have some spillage on the sides.

Hummus was one of the healthy foods she prepared over the weekend. Hummus is usually made with chickpeas, but similar to our black bean hummus, Hall replaced the chickpeas with black-eyed peas in her recipe. Another great addition was dark leafy greens, as they offer plant protein and other nutrients that can help ease symptoms of inflammation.

Dinner

Besides doing a little meal prep on the weekends, Hall wrote in the video’s caption, I also love passive cooking so I’m not stuck to the stove. My Insta[nt] Fryer and rice cooker all work. Indeed, they do. While her rice cooker took care of the brown basmati rice in a stock, the oven was busy roasting her broccoli. Meanwhile, her Instant Pot Air Fryer made easy work of some seasoned chicken thighs and drumsticks.

Not only did Hall show broccoli love for the second time in one day, but she also fit in another serving of whole grains. Whole grains like brown rice, quinoa, and barley contain helpful nutrients like fiber, which can support a healthy heart, digestive system, and gut microbiome. Not to mention, the protein in the air-fried chicken adds some staying power to help you feel satisfied.

desserts

As she slipped into her nightgown, Hall showed us the last thing she ate that day. I really want something sweet and I love ice cream, so I’m going to make a banana protein shake with toasted nuts. This is what she calls her nightly gift, and it’s super easy to do.

In a food processor, she added about 2 frozen and chopped bananas, a scoop of chocolate protein powder, a scoop of nut butter, and a splash of Kirkland Signature Almond Milk. Process until smooth, then transfer the mixture to a bowl. Then, she topped her milkshake sundae with a few raspberries, sliced ​​strawberries, toasted slivered almonds, whipped cream and grated chocolate. What a tasty and nutritious way to end the day!

The bottom line

For Carla Hall, balance is key. Much of her social media feed showcases the comforting desserts and soul food she enjoys from time to time. But in his daily diet, Hall clearly prioritizes whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and nuts. Also make sure to get a moderate amount of healthy fats and lean proteins like poultry. Plus, the chef often indulges in nutritious desserts that include foods she likes, like chocolate and nut butters. In combination with other healthy lifestyle factors, Hall appears to be fueling his body to feel better.