EAT WITH ME: WITH AYDA WILLIAMS

Ayda Field Williams is a successful model, actress and loving mother and a close friend of the Sturm family. She follows a mostly plant-based diet and strives to live an anti-inflammatory lifestyle with just the right amount of balance and indulgence. Read on to learn more about Ayda’s typical daily diet and the go-to meals she cooks for herself and the whole family.

When do you usually wake up in the morning? Can you tell us a little about your routine?

When I’m up at 7 a.m. I’m a half awake, half sleeping zombie mom, so I usually make a warm lemon and water, quickly chased by the strongest coffee brewed on the planet. I’m big into bullet-proof coffee but I usually just make my own with a teaspoon of either coconut oil or ghee. Coffee is an essential part of being a better me and a less grumpy mom/wife. I’ve tried giving up coffee, and being a matcha only kind of gal, but eventually, “Mistress Coffee” always sneaks her way back into my life. Other than that, a quick brush of the teeth, cleanse of my face, and I always apply my SUN DROPS SPF 50! Done. Where are the kids?

Do you eat breakfast? If so, what is your go-to?

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. I have an autoimmune problem called SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth), which is super frustrating, so I usually try and intermittently fast, which tends to calm my gut down. Sometimes, I am not that dedicated, and I just want breakfast. I love an avocado toast situation if I’m feeling very groovy or just an old-fashioned oatmeal. I like to jazz it up with some almond butter, salt, and berries. If I’m at a great breakfast place or super hungover: French toast, full disclosure.  

What is your favorite everyday easy, healthy lunch?

For most days, lunch is a super yummy salad and sometimes a soup. I love eating mostly plant-based, so my salads tend to be full of different fun and vibrant vegetables, spices, and grains. The more color and texture the better, I say! I’m pretty adventurous in my quest for dynamic clean food, so if it’s sprouted and touted, I’m always game to try it. Plus, eating a clean lunch always makes me feel like I’ve left some room for a tasty treat later in the day. Start off the day with good intentions, right?

In the winter, if I’m in a cold climate I love plant-based takes on different cultural foods and warm winter salads. Something about cold weather and cold salads makes me go “yuck”, so warm, earthy, and spicy is always a nice option during the winter.

Are you mindful about where and how you shop for produce?

Definitely. The more locally sourced food, the happier I feel. Supporting local businesses and reducing my carbon footprint on my food makes me feel good as a consumer. Also, organic, and biodynamic food is top of the list when I shop for all my fruit and veggies. I want to feed all those little mouths (and the big ones) in my house with the cleanest foods, from the roots in the ground all the way up. We are what we eat, and I want our ‘we’ to be clean and healthy.

Do you snack throughout the day? If so, what are your favorites?

Snacks are a big part of my day. Whether its nuts and goji berries on-the-go or eating my kid’s food when I am sat next to them at the table (yeah, that happens) or taking down lots of dark chocolate treats shoved in my pantry, snacks happen all day long. To be honest, I’m not sure snacking is a great thing for my gut, but it keeps my heart happy. (P.S. does wine count as a snack?)

Your ideal dinner for the entire family?  

My ideal dinner changes depending on my mood. If I’m out to dinner, I always tend to go for sushi or Italian. When I’m at home, I usually try and mix things up. I am mostly plant-based at night as well, but I do like a great piece of fish and sometimes that is something I crave. Veggies cooked up are always on the menu. I really do try and experiment with things like curries or Asian-inspired cuisine because I find the spices so delicious and there are a bunch of creative ways to keep the food clean, without sacrificing taste. Miracle Noodles are also a great healthy option and manage to go nicely with those foods. And I have never met a grain I didn’t like…freekeh, quinoa, millet, barley - you name it, I eat it. Also, I’m a sucker for Taco Tuesday…but that’s more a side note.

What about dessert? Do you have a sweet tooth?

To say I have a sweet tooth would be a serious understatement! It is my drug of choice and my happy place. Salted caramel might actually be part of my DNA code. I am aware that sugar is ‘bad cop’ and as I get older, I try to find creative ways to ‘good cop’ my sweet tooth with cleaner and more plant-based options. That being said, I have never met a dessert I didn’t like and it’s all about balance, even balance itself.

Do you have a favorite cocktail/mocktail or drink?

I love a cocktail and if I am at my house, I play mixologist and try and make healthier versions of my favorite cocktails. My go-to cocktails are skinny margaritas and Aperol Spritz in the summer. If I am at the Ivy (an LA classic), I always have a Gimlet (well, lots of gimlets) and if I’m having a delicious Italian meal, I like a big ol' bold glass of red wine. Other than that, champagne has always been a gentle lover.