4 trainers share their favorite cheat day meals

Sticking to a new diet or nutrition plan can be challenging. And if your New Year's resolution included improving your diet, you're probably missing a few of your favorite foods right about now.

But eating healthy doesn't have to be about cutting out everything you love. Even the top trainers — who make a living by being in shape — occasionally indulge in their favorite cheat meals.

INSIDER talked with four fitness influencers who work hard in the gym, but also splurge on nachos, pizza, and buttercream frosting.

Autumn Calabrese has a weakness for Italian food.

Beachbody super trainer and creator of 80 Day Obsession, Autumn Calabrese, has motivated millions of people to exercise and eat healthier. But when she wants to cut loose, Calabrese told INSIDER that she likes to saddle up to pepperoni pizza and a good glass of cabernet.

And with a dad who owned Italian restaurants most of her life, it’s easy to see why Calabrese would pick a slice of pie as her favorite.

Jennifer Giamo loves cookie dough.

Jennifer Giamo, Aaptivtrainer and owner of Trainers in Transittold INSIDER that as a fitness professional, she tends to eat healthy about 90% of the time. The other 10% is reserved for cheat meals.

"This doesn't mean I go completely off the rails and eat bacon double cheeseburgers. It means that I balance out my really clean eating with an occasional indulgence," she told INSIDER. 

However, she does employ a few strategies when doing this. First, she plans ahead and knows exactly what her treat is going to be for that week. Second, it must be something that she absolutely LOVES but doesn't fit into her healthy diet on a regular basis. Lastly, she maintains portion control.

"When I do indulge, it's almost always with carbs," Giamo told INSIDER. "It will be either a slice of pizza from my favorite pizza place, an everything bagel with cream cheese, avocado, and tomato, or if I'm in the mood for something sweet it can be chocolate chip cookie dough."

Katie Chung Hua puts her pasta cravings to good use.

Katie Chung Hua,Bodybuilding.comTEAM athlete says she loves a good heavy meal, like pasta with all the sauce. And like many people who stick to a regular exercise program, Chung Hua told INSIDER that she doesn’t feel too bad about indulging because she can go get a heavy lift in afterward and put all the extra calories to good use.