‘An espresso and some peanut slab’: What a chocolate executive eats in a day

Matt Whittaker is the chief operating officer of Whittaker’s Chocolate. The 42-year-old share his day on a plate.

6am A strong coffee because our young daughter has the sleep cycle of an owl. If I could take caffeine intravenously, I would!

11am Breakfast is a smoothie gulped down between meetings: protein powder, banana, blueberries, coconut water, MCT oil, plus some other potions my better half chucks in. And, most importantly, a massive scoop of peanut butter. I also have a fistful of vitamins for good measure.

1pm Lunch is rice with tuna and half an avocado on the side, heavy on the salt and pepper.

3pm Arvo energy hit: an espresso and some peanut slab chocolate.

7pm After a run, dinner is fresh snapper with a salad of rocket, roasted capsicum, capers, lemon juice, olive oil and roasted kumara, washed down with a glass of chardy (okay, maybe two glasses).

9pm Three rows of coconut block chocolate and a cup of tea.

Dr Joanna McMillan says:

Top marks for… Getting your recommended weekly minimum of two seafood meals into one day. Your dinner was especially good as it had your only vegies of the day. The kumara is a great source of beta-carotene, an antioxidant that can also be converted to vitamin A, essential for eye health.

If you keep eating like this you’ll… Have to watch that your caffeine intake doesn’t negatively impact your sleep. Coffee, tea and chocolate, especially dark chocolate, all contain caffeine and it can remain in your blood for many hours depending on how quickly you metabolise it. This day is also short on calcium, essential for dental health and strong bones.

Why don’t you try… Swapping the protein powder in your smoothie for milk and yoghurt – these provide calcium as well as protein, plus a host of other nutrients. Have your espresso after lunch and then switch to tea in the afternoon and herbal tea in the evening to taper your caffeine intake before sleep.

Matt Whittaker is COO of Whittaker’s Chocolate.

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