A Day in the Life of Karima Hazim
Karima Hazim, a 37-year-old cook and author, shares her daily routine through the meals she prepares. Her day is filled with a variety of nutritious and flavorful dishes that reflect her passion for food and health.
Morning Routine
At 6:30 am, Karima starts her day with a double-shot coffee with milk, followed by a large glass of water. This combination helps kickstart her metabolism and keeps her hydrated throughout the day.
By 9:30 am, after dropping off her children at school and completing a seven-kilometre jog, she enjoys a banana, one medjool date, and a few walnuts. On days when she’s in the kitchen testing recipes, like today, she usually skips breakfast because she’ll be eating all day.
Midday Meals
At 11:30 am, Karima has three fried sardines wrapped in Lebanese bread with lettuce, pickles, chilli, and spicy taratour (a garlic sauce). This meal provides a good mix of protein and healthy fats.
By 1 pm, she prepares a dish of cauliflower roasted with cannellini beans, extra virgin olive oil, stock, and spices. She also finishes the litre of sparkling water she started in the morning. This meal is rich in fibre and essential nutrients.
Afternoon Treats
At 3 pm, Karima enjoys a piece of halawet el jibn, a sweet Lebanese cheese dessert, drizzled with orange blossom sugar syrup and crushed pistachios. This treat adds a touch of sweetness to her day.
By 5:30 pm, she has a piece of dried mango dipped in dark chocolate and half a carrot. This snack offers a balance of natural sugars and vitamins.
Evening Meal
At 7:30 pm, Karima has a meal of chicken with cauliflower, beans, and a chopped salad made with tomato, cucumber, mint, onion, and radish. She also drinks two glasses of sparkling water, along with jasmine tea and two mini chocolates. This meal is well-balanced and includes a variety of vegetables and proteins.
Expert Insight from Dr Joanna McMillan
Dr Joanna McMillan praises Karima’s Mediterranean-style diet, which includes sardines, beans, walnuts, extra virgin olive oil, herbs, and chopped salads. These ingredients provide fibre, healthy fats, and biophenols. The sardines are particularly beneficial, offering long-chain omega-3s, vitamin D, and calcium if the bones are consumed.
If Karima continues to eat this way, she can support her heart, brain, and gut health. The variety of foods ensures a happy microbiome. However, on recipe-testing days, meals can become a bit ad hoc, leading to fluctuations in protein and vegetable intake.
Suggestions for Improvement
Dr McMillan suggests turning the post-run banana into a more complete breakfast. By blending it into a protein- and fibre-rich smoothie with Greek yoghurt, oats, berries, and nuts, Karima can enjoy a more balanced meal. She also recommends reducing the amount of sparkling water consumed throughout the day, as it is more tooth-friendly to drink it with meals and stick to plain water in between.
About Karima Hazim
Karima Hazim, known as Sunday Kitchen Recipes, will be presenting on the Food for Thought stage at Vivid Fire Kitchen on May 24. Vivid Sydney runs from May 22 to June 13.
