Love this thread! I’ve been a lacto-ovo vegetarian for almost 2 years now and feel great! I am also on the SP2 bandwagon - haven’t seen a huge increase in my cycling performance yet but I started taking it at the end of the season so am excited to see what I can do in the next round. However, I have a ton more energy now. My typical days go:
Breakfast: either a Dave’s Killer Bagel w/ vegan spread, a whole sliced avocado, and sriracha or I go with Sprouted for Life cereal + fruit (thanks, Nate!). I always pair with 2 shots of espresso and a smoothie (SP2, banana, blueberries, etc)
Lunch: Typically a salad, a veggie burrito, or Indian food.
Snacks: Nuts, granola bars, etc.
Dinner: I probably rely too heavily on pastas but… usually red lentil pasta (or whole weat) + sauteed veggies. Fruit or dark chocolate for dessert.
Ovo-lacto here for almost 19 yrs now, been cycling for the last 8 yrs and TR for the last two seasons. I’ve never felt limited to being vegetarian as a lot of people said back in the early 2000’s. I typically eat a “junk food” vegetarian lifestyle but I’ve been eating a lot better over the last few months and the motto eat more fruits and vegetables is right ha!
Science in Sport has a lot of products that are vegeterian friendly not to mention being easy on the stomach.
I’m almost 100% plant based, but when I do eat other things it’s mostly rice, tofu, and some bread. Went Vegan for the ethics, along came with it was feeling better than I could ever imagine.
Title Vegetarian or Vegan Cyclists, don’t shy away from the term… our ranks are growing!
I choose the title on purpose, because in Germany vegan has a bad reputation and “normal” people get along better with the term plant based. And thats the goal to get more people interested in this topic
I’m not eating the original recipe, its from a doctor from Switzerland Max Bircher-Benner – Wikipedia but I think you try it with what you like.
Let me know how you like it
Thats the reason why I change my diet. If its only because of cycling I think its hard to stick with it. When you see the animals suffer in factory farming and what an huge impact it has on the environment you must change your diet…
Almost purely vegan cyclist here. Been 100% vegan for the last year until about a month ago when I started to reintroduce some animal proteins into my diet. I made the transition due to severe abdominal pain that lasted 4ish years on a daily basis. It’s horrible. 5 surgeons examined me and had no clue. The ethical reasons came along as we did this so know I fight internally with myself if I have an egg. I do enjoy being plant based and my wife has been a true partner as she’s come along with me and made the whole thing possible. The cookbook “Eat like you give a f**k” has been instrumental. Vega & Naked protein powders as well.
What are some of your favourite vegan high-protein meals? I love a good bean stew or soy-based veggie sausages but can struggle to fit 20-30 grams for a meal unless I go for higher calories. Also any preferred protein powder?
Oh. That’s so true. If you say vegan the butcher alter ego in every German flips out and tells you something of hipsters and Körnerfresser. But I really like the term plant based. It’s more accurate to the way I’m thinking (sports) nutrition. Mostly natural, unprocessed, clean. Vegan sounds more like a urban lifestyle to me.
If you follow Vegan Cyclist on YouTube, you can always ask him questions. He’s super responsive and loves to talk bikes and plant powered nutrition with people. He also posts recipes sometimes, too!
I think our first plant based meal was the Vegan Cyclist’s One Pot Pasta. So good! Another favorite of mine is just steamed veggies. Lots of them. Rice, broccoli, mushrooms (sautéed), sweet red pepper, beans. Gardein also makes some tasty frozen meals that you heat up. Things like their Chickn sandwiches and meatless meatballs. Those two are both good sources of a dump of protein. When eating out we love to go to PF Chang’s. They do vegan surprisingly well.
I like Spaghetti “Bolognese” with lentils and wholemeal Pasta, thats pretty high on protein
or Sweet Potato with Chickpea and Walnutsauce. When you add some beans or other legumes you get a lot of protein.
Yep that’s a good one. Shepherd’s pie with lentils comes to mind too. I’m waiting impatiently for the release of the beyond burger in the UK. Had it at a restaurant with vegan cheese and mayo - delicious.
I love the Prana brand.
They have a few protein options. Most of their products are vegan as “Billy Simmonds”, the vegan body builder and winner of the 2009 INBA Mr Universe title promotes them.
But I really like the term plant based. It’s more accurate to the way I’m thinking (sports) nutrition. Mostly natural, unprocessed, clean. Vegan sounds more like a urban lifestyle to me.