'I know it's too much but I drink eight cups of tea a day'
7am
I set the alarm for 7am but I'm not up until closer to 7.30am. Breakfast is a bowl of porridge with brown sugar and low-fat milk.
I mentioned to my daughter I'd like to be a couple of pounds lighter and she told me to stop eating bread. I'm definitely someone who chooses foods for their taste rather than going for the healthiest option.
I have a cup of tea with just a little milk. I drink about eight cups a day, which I know is far too much!
8.30am
After I shower and dress, I walk down to my studio at the end of the garden. I turn on Lyric fm and focus on my work before I pick up a brush. Today I am finishing the final corner of my latest painting. It's a tricky time that requires full concentration.
10am
I go back into the house for another tea.
11am
I work for 45 minutes before making myself another cup of tea. I'm starving and I have one of my daughter's homemade brownies.
12.30pm
I stop for lunch. I rarely have sandwiches but today I make myself one using homemade white bread, and some cheese and pickle. I have another cup of tea with milk.
12.45pm
I return to the studio and continue painting until about 2pm, when I have another cup of tea with milk. I'm aware that working at home means I've easy access to food so I make a point of not eating between meals.
2.15pm
I take my cairn terrier for a 40-minute walk. Afterwards, it's time for another cup of tea with milk then I get back to paining.
5pm
I have another cup of tea and a homemade scone with butter and jam. I start the dinner. I love cooking and find it's a way of unwinding after the painting. Tonight I'm preparing shepherd's pie.
For dessert, I take small strawberries, sprinkle ground almonds and sugar and add flaked almonds. It's delicious with cream.
8pm
Another cup of tea. I try not to eat anything else but I end up nibbling on a square of dark chocolate and then have an orange.
10.30pm
I'm wrecked. I get into bed and read for a while before going to sleep.
Artist Lucy Doyle's latest exhibition, Rococo, is running in The Doorway Gallery, South Frederick Street, Dublin, until March 1
How does Lucy's diet rate?
Lucy relies on carbohydrates for energy during the day but she may be eating too many relative to her activity level.
Carbohydrates are the body's preferred source of fuel but if we take in more than we need it can go into storage as fat.
Lucy chooses good, high-fibre carbohydrate like oats and potatoes but also includes more refined carbohydrates, including a brownie, scone, fruit crumble and white bread. By choosing higher fibre carbohydrates it will help Lucy feel fuller for longer and reduce the sugar in her diet.
Her intake of fruit and vegetables is also a little low and, as she says, she drinks too much tea. Black tea contains tannins that can inhibit the absorption of some vitamins and iron so it's always best to drink tea between meal times.
Lucy's intake of essential vitamins is already low. Increasing her fruits and vegetables throughout the day will not only boost her vitamin intake, but her fibre too.
Aveen Bannon, Dublin Nutrition Centre
What’s your favourite meal?
One that someone lovingly makes for me.
What are your favourite foods and beverages?
Brownies and coffee, roast chicken with purple sprouting broccoli and and a glass of red wine.
What things won’t you eat or drink?
Pickled eggs from an evil looking jar, tentacles of any sort and unripe bananas.
How much sleep do you need?
About eight hours and if that’s disturbed then I pay for it the next day.
Do you have a sweet tooth?
Yes, for soft, fudgey chocolate cakes, especially those extra chocolatey birthday cakes from Marks & Spencer.
How do you keep fit?
I walk regularly and I do just enough housework to keep the place bearable to live in and me exercised.
Originally published in
