It’s been a while since we’ve stared at my food together. So let’s do this.
It’s Wednesday. It’s what I ate in a day. It’s what I ate Wednesday. And I’m hoping maybe eventually the awkward feeling these posts give me will wear off…I’ll let you know if/when that happens.
Mostly raw
Fruit has turned me into a lazy daisy when it comes to preparing meals. Actually turn on the stove, cut stuff, measure stuff, cook stuff? Nah! I’ll just blend another smoothie or cut open a melon. Fortunately it’s warm too, so I can blame summer for worsening my lazy no-cooking nature.
I have been eating mostly raw lately partly because of the aforementioned reasons (summer, laziness), but also just to experiment, see how I feel. I’ve talked about my struggles with digestion issues before, and while I certainly haven’t figured it all out I do know that simple is best. A mix of lots raw and cooked doesn’t work very well for me.
Certain fruits don’t make me feel that awesome, like dates or apples. Certain fruits do, like bananas. That is why my day of eats is brimming with banana smoothies and nicecream.
I’ve also been craving tons of veggies lately! Anytime I eat mostly raw my veggie intake goes way up effortlessly. The savory-ness of a salad is a nice break in a long stream of sweet fruity meals. So lots of zoodles and spring rolls and bigger-than-my-head salads in my life right now.
Okay enough rambles, let’s get to the food…
What I eat in A Day
Breakfast: Green Smoothie.
4 frozen bananas + spinach + almond milk + water + maca powder.
I never get tired of this blend. A little bit of maca powder makes smoothies so much better–extra creamy and delicious. It’s subtle, but I defintely notice when I forget it.
Lunch Part 1: Pesto zoodles.
3 zucchini + 1 batch of my Low Fat Cheesy Vegan Pesto
Basil is one plant that I can actually keep alive, so fresh basil in my yard means pesto. This recipe is my favorite, especially smothered on zoodles.
Lunch Part 2: Pitaya nicecream.
5 frozen bananas + 1 frozen pitaya pack.
I was SO excited to see frozen pitaya last time I was at my local health food store! Finally I can make neon pink nicecream. ust as bright and beautiful as I had imagined. You can hardly taste it to be honest, but it’s winning big time for looks!
Recipe testing…
(That is bread, not an extremely chunky cookie.)
Dinner Part 1: BIG salad.
8(ish) cups of lettuce + 1/2 avocado + handful of carrots + 5 tomatoes + sea salt + 1/2 cup sauerkraut.
I am obsessed with this salad combination lately, I can’t stop making it. I subconsciously make bigger and bigger salads every night because I love it so much. The avocado + sauerkraut + salt together is so tasty you don’t need any dressing.
The photo for this one was just a mess, my apologies. It might not get truly dark till like 8 p.m. in the summer, but it’s still too dark to film by about 6:30. For a salad so good, the photo just didn’t do it justice. You can see it in the video, somehow the ugliness is slightly less harsh that way.
Dinner Part 2: Chocolate smoothie.
4 frozen bananas + Chocolate Ka’Chava + almond milk + water.
I usually make nicecream of some sort in the evening for dessert, but since I already had nicecream I was craving another smoothie instead. Since it’s dessert, of course I had to go with chocolate!
The video version…
And that’s it!
Have you tried pitaya?
What’s you favorite way to use up fresh basil?
So many bananas!!! Love it!! Unfortunately, I’m the opposite of you and bananas aren’t the best for my digestive issues, so I’ve become really good at finding alternatives to feed my smoothie/nicecream/smoothie bowl obession! In that regard, we’re one in the same 🙂
It’s so strange and unique the things different people feel great or terrible with eating. Very much a puzzle. It does force us to get very creative though! I love seeing your smoothies and smoothie bowls on IG 🙂 You should post more of them on your site! Because my cool creamy sweet obsession is almost always going strong!!
I also struggle with a host of digestive issues and have been thinking of trying to eat more simplistic and raw to see how that goes. I am glad to hear it’s working for you! I don’t do well with apples either- bananas are a go-to! I find that papaya is really nice on my digestion as well! All your food looks so delicious- I too am a salad lover- so refreshing during the heat!
I absolutely love when you do these videos. I hoe you’ll make more in the future! 🙂
Yes definitely give it a shot Elizabeth! Simplifying makes such a big difference for me, monomeals of just one fruit make me feel best. It also makes it easier to know what does cause an issue. Papaya is great for digestion I’ve heard, I wish I liked it! I’ve been researching a lot why certain fruits make me feel so bloated and bad, I think it has something to do with high fructose and/or sorbitol levels. Idk for sure. Yay for bananas–cheap and good for digestion. They are seriously a perfect food. I’m glad you like these kinda posts too, I will try to make them more often 🙂
I watched this video this morning and loved it! those zoodles omgeeee they look so good! 😉 and that chocolate smoothie I mean seriously YUM give me chocolate anything and I’ll be in a great mood hahaha!
Thank you Michele <3 I know right, I want both! Every day lol!
Ever since my “rawtill4” stint (lasted 3 months) I’ve been staying clear of large amounts of bananas and dates. Apples really work for me though! The days where I snack less on random stuff are still days I feel best. Munching on a bowl of chopped apple, blueberries, topped with oat milk + matcha + vanilla raw protein powder. I recommend mixing matcha, milk and something mildly sweet, it is deeeeelish!
That’s so funny, we are the exact opposite on bananas and apples 😀 But dates really do me in too. I have found the same to be true, snacking on everything all day does not work. More clear cut meals makes me feel a lot better. Oooh that sounds like a most delicious bowl! I could switch in bananas for apples and it would be perfect! Matcha and vanilla are so tasty together <3 I will try it!
“Fruit has turned me into a lazy daisy” LOL. I feel ya, Natalie! I’ve been exploring more no-bake, raw options and the fact of the matter is, it’s so much more low-key. So sometimes I stare at the oven and then the oven stares at me. And we’re both like, “yeah, let’s just take a break for today.” Summer, right? Meanwhile, I found it super fascinating to read about what you ate in a day. I can understand your weird feelings–maybe because this is so personal? But from a curious (let’s face it, nosy) perspective, it was lots of fun! I love that you included recipe testing in this post too. Seriously, that’s pretty much what I end up eating all the time. Also, chocolate smoothie for dessert? YUP. That about sums it up. 😉 Have a great weekend, Natalie!
A cone-ful of your chocolate nicecream would have been a much better end to this day of eats! If I could go back in time that’s what I would do…well after I find some vegan ice cream cones of course 🙂 Or sub it in for the morning smoothie, I’m a bit less lazy in the morning, plus we all know chocolate for breakfast is a very good plan! Recipe testing forces me and the oven to still interact in the summer, but other than that nope not touching it. Yes I think the awkward feelings stem from thoughts like “But why does anyone care?” Although google keyword planner tells me that people defintely do care for some reason, so okay cool I’ll roll with it! I’m totally nosy too–I blame youtube and the invention of vlogging. Thanks for reading, you leave the best comments too! You have a way with words 🙂 Happy (almost) weekend!
That videooo!!! So pretty and your editing skills are on point! I really enjoy watching all your videos.
The pitaya smoothie’s color is so vibrant.. I can only imagine how a day will go when having that for breakfast. 🙂
I actually had the luck of trying half a pitaya at a fruit market in barcelona, because they are usually way too expensive here 🙂 It was okay… the taste wasn’t too special to remember 😀 Haha but that color! It’s definitely worth alone for the color.
I completely agree, its funny how people are so into them but hey really have like no flavor! I pretty much just wanted to eat neon pink ice cream so I’m cool with it 😀 Thanks Bianca! I think I spent more time editing this one than the usual recipe video lol!
I LOVE pitaya! Unfortunately the pink variety is not available up here — fresh or frozen — so I never got to try it, but the white kind is one of my favorite fruits. I always experience fuscia envy seeing everyone’s pink pitaya on IG ? Love your zoodles!
Fuchsia!!!! Yes that is exactly the right word for this shade. I can’t find either fresh here, but the white kind can look really cool in photos too. I always think of dalmatians when I see it lol! I wonder if it comes in a pretty pink powder form??
Hmmm… I wonder the same! That would be so pretty in stuff.
You beat me in the banana department, but I’m not too far behind. I usually have a couple a day minimum, more when I have them in the house. I usually freeze them and enjoy eating them straight out of the freezer. Talk about lazy!!!
Question, do you buy your banana’s in bulk somewhere awesome? I’m always buying them and I think I’m becoming known as “that banana lady” at my local store. 🙂
Also, the bowl you use for your noodles, is it a half coconut shell from Thailand? Love it!!!
I’ve never actually tried just snacking on frozen bananas, I need to! My lazy side very much loves the sound of that easy snacking. Kinda like banana pops, but why bother with the stick 🙂
When I’m eating tons of smoothies and bananas like I am right now, yes I do like to buy them by the case. It’s just easier plus they ripen faster all in one box. I used to buy from a wholesale produce place, before I moved and that was awesome–super cheap. So you can google and see if there are any around you. Otherwise, most grocery stores are willing to sell you a case if you ask. Often I will ask if they have any that are “too ripe” which basically means spotty but closer to being ripe at least! A case of non-organic is usually 20-30 dollars for me. I’ve even gotten cases from Walmart before, not sure where you live or where you shop, but it’s worth asking!
And yes the bowl is made from a coconut, I love it. I got it here: https://www.bambuhome.com/collections/bowls/products/coconut-bowl
Thanks for the banana tips!! I’m embarrassed to admit I never thought about asking for a case, or looking into wholesalers…….. ?. That should save time and money, which is always a nice bonus. I totally recommend trying a banana straight out of the freezer, no stick required! Also thanks for the coconut bowl link, they have such cool stuff.
Loved everything here! That pitaya nice cream, oh my goodness, it’s like a dream! I wish I could buy those pretty pink pitayas here too, they only sell the boring white(/grey? :D) ones here…
Thanks for watching Evi <3 Don't feel too left out, I can rarely get white or pink in the fresh fruit form. This was the frozen stuff, and I'm pretty sure a freeze-dried powder exists too actually!
Summer time I always find myself having smoothies for dinner. Last night I did, and then Z came home and made SOUP! Which was great, but it’s hot, so it was a bit odd eating it in the middle of summer! Haha. Gorgeous video, too. <3 You are so inspiring. 🙂
You need to tell Zach to jump on the gazpacho thing haha! I actually don’t like gazpacho, so I wouldn’t really suggest it, but it would help with the heat problem. It sounds like your blender is working in overtime too right now 🙂 I love the simplicity of smoothies for dinner, plus I always feel really good and energized the next morning!
Wow girl, you eat a lot of bananas, hahaha! But hey, you love them, so why not?! That pitaya nice cream is just beautiful, the COLOR is making me weak in the knees. I just showed the pic to Olivia and she said “wooooowwwww”. Obviously, she is 4 and her favorite color (like every other little girl) is pink. I have some dragonfruit sitting in my freezer anxiously awaiting to be used. I just haven’t quite figured out what I want to make with it yet. Loved the video!!
Haha Olivia is so cute! Yes I think pitaya will be very very popular amongst the 4 year old girls crowd! I want to find some more creative fun uses for it too, I’m saving my remaining 3 packs for that. But I had to make a simple nicecream and revel in the color for a minute first 🙂 Thanks Brandi!
That tower of pitaya nicecream is incredible!!! Isn’t the color insane?! I feel like photos never actually do it any justice…the bright, almost neon, pink is just amazing. I hope that eating mostly raw is helping you! It’s definitely helped me and I feel like I’ve been eating more bananas than ever these days as they’re one of the few foods that don’t cause bloating or upset tummy. So yay for smoothies and nicecream! <3 I still need to make your pesto! It's on my list!! And I'll definitely pair it with some zoodles 🙂 And that big salad looked SO good!!! I've never added sauerkraut to a salad before, but now I need to try it. I also need to get bigger bowls to eat salads out of because half the time I end up eating it right out of a mixing bowl! Haha!! Happy weekend, Natalie! <3
I am in love with this color, yes totally neon!! I can totally relate to Willow’s awe over it now! Audrey described it as fuchsia which I think is pretty spot on. Eating raw has been helping, I’m glad you are still feeling good with it too 🙂 And more raw veggies, not almost all fruit seems to be better too. Plus I’ve just really been craving them. Although I’ve strayed a bit while traveling of course–Vitamix in the carry on just doesn’t work lol. Plus there are so many fun vegan things to try up here! I’m not sure you will like the pesto since you aren’t a pea fan, but there’s hope since you liked the pea ricotta maybe 😀 But sauerkraut (thank goodness for spell check on that word!) on a salad I highly recommend! Happy weekend and safe travels to you <3
I absolutely love your food for the day! The fact that you have second lunch makes me happy because I usually have something similar to counter savoury goodness. Nom nom!
So many bananas! You must be bouncing off the walls from energy 😀 I would totally crash with a nap, but it would be worth every bite.
Thanks for reading lovely! Haha yes I really just have a long stream of snacks and meals throughout the day, it’s hard to classify them all 😀 I almost always have to end a meal with sweetness too! Nicecream then a nap–sounds perfect to me!
that doodle bowl is gorgeous! def trying out that pesto with sprouted peas:)
Try proper food combining! if nanas make you feel good…eat them for breakfast and lunch any way you like and then have noodles and salad for dinner! try not to have nanasor fruit after veggies/dinner …it makes a world of a difference i promise! also mixing raw and cooked food causes issues so leave lots of time between raw lunch and cooked dinner
let me know if u have any other Q 🙂
@celinaeliz on IG
Hi Cel! Thanks so much for reading 🙂 I am very conscious of food combining, I agree it can make a really big difference. I never have fruit after cooked food, defintely a bad idea for me. Fruit after raw veg doesn’t seem to affect me too much, but I quite often just have fruit for lunch and veggies at night only. I think the simplifying thing works so well in large part because it is much easier to follow proper food combining that way. Thank you for the tips!!
you have inspired me to eat even more fruits and veggies, especially in raw form! I usually make cooked veggies but raw veggies are even easier haha!
Yay!! That’s awesome Rachel, now is the time to do it with fresh ripe everything and summer weather. Laziness is a large part of the reason I do eat a lot of raw foods, so if nothing else do it for mealtime efficiency 😀
Love pitaya! It’s so awesome how vibrant it is with just a little addition to bananas. I just realized I have all the ingredients to try that Pesto and I’m a little bit way too excited.
Hahaha! Pesto is something to be excited about in my opinion, I completely relate 😀 Thanks for reading Kim!
That’s a lot of delicious food in a single day! The Pitaya nicecream looks stunning 😀
Thanks Nadia 🙂
NAT! I love this- Confession, I’ve been trying to eat like you to see how my body responds with less protein, no meat etc- It’s been so interesting and I’ve come to the conclusion that I need more smoothies haha! Also that salad at the end- Seriously, I admire the amount of produce you can dig into, I’m going to try it out!
That’s awesome Arman, I’m so glad you are giving it a shot! I’m all about dietary experiments–when in doubt, more smoothies 😀 Blending certainly helps with smashing in all the produce, although I think my lettuce intake is getting a little out of hand lol. I am certainly enjoying the abundance of vegan recipes from you as a side effect of this experiment too 🙂 Good luck with it, I hope you are feeling fantastic!
Oh my goodness Natalie, all of this food looks soooo delicious! It’s making me so hungry right now! The pitaya nice cream is absolutely stunning, such a beautiful colour! Yum!
Thank you for reading Harriet! I am in love with the pitaya color too, I need to make the most of the other 3 packets 🙂
I loved watching the video of what you eat in a day, Natalie! You are quite a talented cinematographer 😉 Everything looked delicious!! 😀
Oh thank you Sarah, you are so sweet <3
Hi you lovely human 🙂 Love these types of posts!! It is super interesting to read (and SEE !!) all the food vegans eat. I would love to eat like this for even one day 🙂 I always think of what my kids would eat and then basically cook the same (or similar) for us all. So yeah, cooked food every day here for dinner. Lately it’s been some sort of vegan pasta. And I have my “big as my head” salad/Buddha bowl for lunch 🙂 And yeees lots of bananas in smoothies and nice creams!! Btw your pics are beautiful <3 Have a beautiful day!
Hiya! I love these posts too for inspiration and mostly because I’m just kinda nosey 🙂 I would love to see a whole day of eats from you, that would be fun sometime! Yes cooking for everyone would complicate things, I’m sure kids would get bored with my lazy meals quickly. But vegan pasta sounds amazing too! I had pasta last night, but if I know you then your pasta meals are likely much more interesting than mine 😀 I ran out of bananas a few weeks ago and ever since I finally restocked and ripened I’m full steam ahead with the smoothies and nicecream–ah summer! Thanks for reading, I hope you have a fantastic week ahead <33
Gosh, that Pitaya nicecream has my name all over it!!!! And I’m all into the raw, simple food concept in the summer. It happens kind of naturally to me every year. Btw how do you keep that basil alive? 😀 I regularly kill mine within a few weeks (I try not to, I swear)
Yep same here, raw food is just all that sounds appetizing when its 95F everyday! But I think it’s best when it just happens naturally 🙂 Hmmm i don’t really have any good basil tips, I just plant it and forget it. Mine is outside though, is yours? Our climates are probably quite different.
Darn, it must be the climate thing. I need to move to Florida ASAP then!
Hi Natalie thank you for all these beautiful recipes! You really inspire me!
What is the recipe for that grey smoothie?
The grey smoothie? If you are talking about the first photo with the tall nicecream jar that’s just the same pitaya nicecream with a black and white photo effect. Or if you are talking about the one a bit lower down with the raspberries on top that is a chocolate smoothie with bananas, almond milk, and chocolate protein powder 🙂
Wow, love the pitaya nice cream. Do you put the ingredients in a food processor OR blender?
I looked up the vegan pesto recipe and saw it had nutritional yeast. I learned last year that nutritional yeast is MSG; learned that from Medical Medium. I hate to share bad news especially since it’s one of your fav food. But I thought you might like to know.
I use a Vitmaix blender for my nice cream, but both work! And good to know, thanks for sharing 🙂