Monika Ruggerino is a Goldsmith and jewelry designer. This 37-year-old reveals her daily routine on a plate.
4.55am Lemon water followed by some stretching first thing in the morning, quickly succeeded by a soy cappuccino.
9am Following the task of dropping the little ones off at kindergarten, I indulge in an avocado, feta, and lemon spread atop some olive sourdough sourced from my neighborhood bakery. Recently relocated nearby to Surry Hills in Sydney, AP Bakery has become my secret delight.
11.30am Heading to my studio with a Post-Pilates detox juice in hand.
1.30pm Before heading into a meeting, I enjoyed a light lunch. It consisted of a portion-sized serving of veal cotoletta served over an iceberg lettuce and cucumber salad dressed with my husband’s traditional family recipe vinegar and premium extra-virgin olive oil. Conveniently, my studio is located right above our restaurant, Verde, situated in Darlinghurst.
4.00pm An orange peel dark chocolate square that I hide away for a midday boost.
6.30pm Having family meals with our children, who are two and four years old, has become a cherished tradition. Since my spouse is a chef and tends to work late evenings, we treasure our Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays for these gatherings. Our preferred dish involves handcrafted pasta paired with fresh blue swimmer crab, cherry tomatoes, and herbs from our own garden.
9.00pm Herbal tea before bed.
Dr Joanna McMillan says
Top marks for … Giving priority to family meals highlights a beautiful bond with nutrition and health. These gatherings feature premium components like avocados rich in healthy fats, extra-virgin olive oil for an added nutrient boost, and crab—excellent sources of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B12, zinc, and the potent antioxidant selenium.
If you continue eating like this, you'll... Lack both the amount and diversity of fiber types. These components do much more than promote digestive well-being; they also play crucial roles in supporting your immune system, reducing inflammation, maintaining heart and brain health, and regulating blood sugar levels. Today’s meals were missing whole grains, seeds, nuts, fruits, and higher-fiber vegetables.
Why not give ... a go? Choosing whole grain sourdough bread. Preparing a heartier salad during lunchtime, adding chickpeas or beans along with some seeds for texture. Serving cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, or cabbage alongside your main meal in the evening.
Monika Ruggerino is the creator of her self-named Australian jewelry label.
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