What a scientist puts on her plate each day

Scientist Rebecca Morris, 34, shares her day on a plate.

6.15am Fruit with granola and yoghurt and a cup of tea with my 18-month-old son and husband.

7.30am Daycare drop off, then some nuts for a snack in the field.

12pm Leftover homemade bacon, mushroom, onion and feta quiche.

2.30pm Back from the field for a few afternoon meetings, I have a cup of tea and an oat bar.

6pm I pick up my son from daycare and head to the beach for a swim and play before having a dinner of chicken pho and a ginger ale.

8pm A cup of tea and a few pieces of chocolate to finish the evening.

Dr Joanna McMillan says:

Top marks for … Your breakfast of wholegrains and fruit, giving both fibre and antioxidants, along with yoghurt for protein and calcium. This is an easy, quick meal yet contains bags of nutrients. Hats off, too, for enjoying leftovers for lunch.

If you keep eating like this you’ll … Fail to adequately feed your microbiome, since after breakfast your day lacks fibre. You are also very low on vegies, with only a few in the quiche and in the pho. This means you miss out on the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant protection that comes from the phytonutrients found in vegies.

Why don’t you try … Adding a lovely mixed salad to your quiche for lunch. Order a side of Asian greens when you enjoy a pho. Snack on carrot, celery and capsicum sticks with hummus as a healthier snack alternative to the packaged oat bar.

Dr Rebecca Morris is a recipient of the 2022 L’Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science Fellowship.

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