I tried Prince Harry's wedding diet for a week, and I felt so good it made me rethink how I usually eat
Day 1: I slipped and fell into Dunkin Donuts.
For breakfast, I decided to eat two mandarin oranges, because that was the only whole food I could think of. A few hours later, I accidentally found myself at Dunkin Donuts ordering a caramel iced coffee.
For lunch, I ate a bowl of spinach, and for dinner, I had beans.
Not only did I feel guilty for cheating my diet on the first day, I also felt embarrassed that I had failed so quickly. I was determined to learn more about eating clean and resist temptation on my second day.
Day 2: I turned over a new leaf.
After spending some time reading up on Prince Harry’s diet and what it means to eat clean, I felt more confident in my ability to practice self-discipline. I skipped breakfast because I overslept (which is decidedly not part of this diet), but I was on the right track by lunchtime. I had a grilled chicken salad with carrots and peppers. I used extra virgin olive oil and black pepper as dressing — it was delicious!
For dinner, I had garlic shrimp with sautéed kale and quinoa. I didn’t know kale would be so bitter even after it was cooked, but I ate it anyway.
One of the most exciting things for me about Day Two was that I actually enjoyed my food. I went into the diet expecting to be juicing and feeling hungry each day. But by the end of the second day, I was looking forward to concocting more creative dishes.
Day 3: I gave smoothies a try.
I started the day with a green smoothie made with kale, apples, bananas, and kiwi — it was surprisingly good, but I was still hungry.
Before I started this experiment, I often skipped breakfast because I woke up just in time to get ready for work. After making a conscious decision to eat better, I wanted to improve my quality of life overall, which motivated me to get up earlier.
For lunch, I used some of my leftover quinoa and paired it with asparagus. When I packed my food, I didn’t think I’d be particularly satisfied with it. I thought I’d need chicken or fish to make the meal more filling and enjoyable. But it turned out to be absolutely great. I realized you don’t always have to eat meat to have a solid meal.
Day 4: I stopped craving unhealthy food.
By Day Four, I found myself craving fruits and vegetables instead of reminiscing about the unhealthy food from my previous life.
I started off with a bowl of mixed berries. I thought this breakfast was aesthetically pleasing, and at this point, I started to feel proud of my journey. I went from drinking artificially sweetened coffee to enjoying real fruit with no added sugar.
I skipped lunch because I was running errands all day.
For dinner, I had salmon with tomatoes and red onions, broccolini, and orzo. It was the orzo that betrayed me. I thought it was a whole grain, but it’s actually pasta! I was at an event, and this was the healthiest meal choice.
I resolved to do more research before eating something new going forward.
Day 5: I'm feeling like a pro.
By Day Five, I felt like I had the whole diet down pat. It felt like I was slowly making a lifestyle change rather than depriving myself. Previously, I thought I’d live on rice forever, so I was really glad to find myself enjoying other foods.
I made delicious scrambled eggs with peppers and mushrooms for breakfast. When I saw how little time it took to make my eggs, I realized how easy it was to skip going out for coffee in order to cook a healthy breakfast at home.
For dinner, I made grilled chicken, carrots, and mixed vegetable quinoa. If you’re wondering why I was eating quinoa everyday, it’s because I was still on the rebound from my lifelong relationship with white rice.
Day 6: I developed a routine.
Even though I overslept, I packed some fruit to go. This small gesture really made me feel proud of myself. I wouldn't let running late be an excuse to grab fast food.
At lunch, my leftovers made another appearance. I still had some garlic shrimp, kale, and asparagus on hand, so I combined them and called it a meal.
I skipped dinner, because I got home too late and couldn’t justify eating at midnight.
Day 7: I survived the experiment!
On my last day of Prince Harry’s wedding diet, I had a smoothie for breakfast and, you guessed it, more quinoa and shrimp for dinner. I did switch up my lunch with a garden salad, though!
The most difficult part of sticking to this diet was drinking only water. Most other drinks have tons of added sugar, so I avoided them altogether.
At the end of the week, I looked and felt great. My skin seemed clearer and brighter, and I felt more energized. One added bonus that I didn’t expect is that once I got into the swing of things, I was able to create a variety of enjoyable meals within the parameters of "clean eating."
I plan on incorporating what I learned this week into my daily diet. Instead of eating rice every day, I’ll substitute quinoa a few days a week and add more salad, fruit, and vegetables to my meals. Rather than getting a slushie when when the summer hits, I’ll continue making fruit smoothies.
Even though I only committed to this experiment for seven days, I don't see myself going back to drinking caramel for breakfast. Eating healthy had an undeniable ripple effect. When I had a clean breakfast, I wanted to keep the momentum going with a healthy lunch. By dinner, I had to eat clean because I'd feel like all my efforts were in vain if I settled on unhealthy food.
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