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What ‘Yoga Girl’ Rachel Brathen Eats in a Day to Look (and Feel) Incredible

Rachel Brathen (known on Instagram as Yoga Girl) is a New York Times best-selling author, motivational speaker and yoga teacher. She lives with her husband and daughter in Aruba, where she founded the Caribbean’s largest yoga studio, Island Yoga. We recently caught up with Brathen to find out what she eats in a day to look and feel her absolute best. (Hint: Pancakes and popcorn are involved.) 

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8:00 A.m.

“I love waking up slowly with my family. We always take time in the morning to cuddle in bed and then we head to the kitchen to have a beautiful breakfast together. I have a big cup of water with lemon first thing, and after that I blend phyto greens powder with fresh squeezed lime and orange juice to help alkalize my body when I wake up. Then—breakfast galore. My go-to is vegan pancakes. I make my own from scratch with chickpea or oat flour, baking powder, oat milk, apple cider vinegar, vanilla and chia seeds. We always change the toppings, but I love blueberries, papaya and coconut butter! They’re fluffy, delicious and always a huge hit with my husband and daughter, Dennis and Luna. The breakfast you eat sets the tone for the entire day, so I love to make it special.”

8:45 A.m.

“Luna goes to preschool for a couple hours on weekday mornings, so I always pack her some snacks. Usually that includes an almond butter sandwich, cut fruit and almond milk. After dropping her off, I head to the yoga studio to practice and do some work. That means an oat cappuccino or latte for me in the office to keep me going.”

salad with avocado
Sonia Tapia/getty images

Noon

“I usually have my lunch at the studio before I pick up Luna from daycare. It’s normally a salad and soup. I love a good creamy carrot soup and big green salad. We have a great taco salad at the studio that I love—I normally top mine with things like cilantro, brown rice, avocado, black beans and fresh pico de gallo. I eat it on local Aruban lettuce—one of the only things that actually grow on this island! Salads and soups or stews fill me up and energize me for the rest of the day.”

hummus and vegetables
topotishka/getty images

4:00 P.m.

“When Luna wakes up from her afternoon nap, she’s hungry—and so am I. We usually have something simple like carrot sticks and hummus, or apples and almond butter. I’m always snacking on Wonderful Pistachios too. I love the salt and pepper flavored ones. They contain better-for-you fats, plant-based protein and fiber, so they keep me full until dinner, even when I’m chasing around a toddler for the rest of the day.”

roasted potatoes
Claudia Totir/getty images

5:00 P.m.

“Making healthy, toddler-friendly meals is one of my specialties. I cook a protein, like chickpeas or lentils, then some lentil or quinoa pasta or brown rice. Luna’s favorite is a vegan chili with black beans and oven-baked potatoes. (If you’re making potatoes for a toddler, slice them really thin and bake them on high heat.) The meal wouldn’t be complete without some veggies on the side, like broccoli, cocktail tomatoes and bell pepper. Luna loves olives too, so I always chop some up and put a couple on the plate for her. These meals are super easy and take no time.”

7:30 P.m.

“After Luna goes to bed, Dennis and I get to spend some quality time together. We have a lot of fun making dinner together and trying new vegan recipes. One of our go-tos is vegan chili (the baby loves it too). I make it at least once a week. Whether you’re in a rush or have time to let it simmer, it always tastes good. Top it with cashew sour cream and add guacamole and chips on the side. It’s jam-packed with protein and fiber.”

bowl of popcorn
JuliaK/getty images

9:00 P.m.

“After dinner, Dennis and I often curl up on the couch to watch some Netflix before bed. That means popcorn. For some extra protein, I’ll have some Wonderful Pistachios too. They’re great to pair with a glass of wine. Winding down at the end of the day with my husband like this makes the day feel complete and gets me ready for a great night’s sleep.” 



sarah stiefvater

Wellness Director

Sarah Stiefvater is PureWow's Wellness Director. She's been at PureWow for ten years, and in that time has written and edited stories across all categories, but currently focuses...