What I Eat In A Day: Future Dietitian Amanda Wagner

RUNNING ON LIL BUCKS

I am running on Lil Bucks, literally! Since adding this wonderful little fruit seed known as buckwheat (yes, you read that correctly, seed) to my daily athlete plate I have been feeling stronger and better fueled as a long distance runner.

Buckwheat is truly a magical food and I want to share that I was eating it before it was cool and in Lil Bucks form. 😉 I have always been intrigued by grains and new foods (and this is perhaps one of the many reasons I pursued becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist), so when I saw buckwheat hot cereal in the cereal aisle of a Jewel summer 2014 after I graduated college I knew I HAD to try it! It claimed to be a good alternative to a morning bowl of oatmeal and I was intrigued by the protein content and the supposed nutty flavor. I made my first bowl in the microwave and topped with cinnamon. I LOVED it!A few months later my now husband and I moved to Chicago and I made him try it and he found it to taste a little plain. 😔  Needless to say, I did not make it much for us after that.

Fast-forward to 2019 when I tried Lil Bucks for the first time and gosh did that put buckwheat back on the radar for both of us! I literally wish I could have an entire pool filled Lil Bucks, so I would never run out. 🤣 But I’m also not sure where the said pool would fit in my little Chicago apartment and how I would make it happen on a student budget… 🤔 Working as a Brand Ambassador is the closest I’ll get to a pool of Lil Bucks. 😆

What I love the most about buckwheat is how it is an excellent food for athletes, especially plant-based, vegetarian, and vegan ones like myself. 🌱 Buckwheat is an excellent source of magnesium, which is important for energy metabolism and sleep (the best recovery tool out there for athletes besides food). Buckwheat is also a good source of fiber (so you stay regular 💩) and a good source of protein to help repair your body after training sessions. 💪🏻

Since adding buckwheat, primarily in the form of Lil Bucks, I have felt stronger and healthier as a long distance runner than I have in years! See below how a day of buckwheat filled eating looks like for me.

A day of eating as a vegan long distance runner:

*Note: I am not a licensed medical professional. I will be a licensed Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) in the spring/summer of 2021. In the meantime, please contact a licensed healthcare professional with any questions or concerns before adapting a new way of eating, especially if you have any pre-existing conditions. The way I eat as a vegan runner running an average of 40-60 miles per week works for me, but may not work for you! Each person is unique and that is why I highly recommend working with a RDN!

Breakfast: Race Day Oatmeal II: Can’t Beet Chocolate from the Run Fast, Cook Fast, Eat Slow cookbook topped with salted almonds or walnuts, hemp seeds, Cacao Lil Bucks, and vanilla plant protein powder mixed in if it’s a heavy training week, I’m eating this meal after a morning run, or I’m extra hungry. I also take a vegan multivitamin every morning.

Snack 1:

A tropical smoothie made with frozen pineapple, frozen mango, almond milk or oat milk, and occasionally vanilla plant protein powder. A smoothie is not complete with some crunch. I love the Turmeric Lemon Myrtle Clusterbucks on this smoothie or the O.G Lil Bucks.

Lunch:

A cashew butter and jam sandwich on Whole Wheat Bread or a bagel. No sandwich is complete without some crunch, so I love adding some Chocolate Reishi Clusterbucks on top!

Optional Snack 2 (If I’m hungry, especially on afternoon/evening run days):

A larabar (Mint Chip brownie is my favorite) , a Pickybar (Blueberry Boomdizzle is my favorite flavor), or vegan yogurt with some Matcha Lil Bucks on top. Siggi’s is my favorite plant based yogurt followed by So Delicious Coconut Yogurt or Oatmilk Yogurt.

Dinner:

Black bean taco bowls because they are super easy to make and black beans are amazing. You just need to saute black beans, assorted vegetables such as kale, peppers, and broccoli in taco spices until heated thoroughly. Then serve over cooked rice, quinoa, or even buckwheat groats. Top with pumpkin seeds or O.G Lil Bucks if you want some extra crunch!

Dessert:

A few squares of dark chocolate, a vegan cookie, some dark chocolate peanut butter cups, or a bowl of dry cereal.

About Amanda:

She is a former high school science teacher with a BA in biology and M.Ed in science education, who decided to change careers after a quarter life crisis (lol). She has a passion for plant-based eating, wellness, and endurance sports, so what better way to combine the passions she lives every day with career than by becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)?! She is a former collegiate cross country + track runner and ethical vegan who thinks her best days of competitive running are ahead of her! She is on a mission to show that you can be successful in sport and daily life while eating vegan, vegetarian, or more plant-forward. And yes, this includes eating as much Lil Bucks as possible. 😉 She is about to start her ten month long required dietetic internship and then will be eligible to sit for the RDN exam and obtain her license next spring/summer 2021. In the meantime, you can connect with and learn more about her on social media and her website:

Instagram: @fueling.veggie.athletes

Facebook: Fueling Veggie Athletes

Twitter: @fuelvegathletes

Website (we love Amanda’s blog!!): www.amandawagnernutrition.com