What does an Ironman eat? I’d like to say ‘anything they bloody like’. But this isn’t entirely true. By the time I’ve been to work and trained (often twice in a day) I often can’t be bothered to make what I’d like to eat for dinner.
Still it’s a question I get asked a lot, especially once people know that I don’t eat meat. ‘WHAT? But where do you get your protein and iron and how are you still awake?’
I do eat fish occasionally. Though I don’t cook fish at home because I often don’t want to cook anything too involved and fish usually comes in portions for two and I really don’t have time to cook it twice in two days. So I eat lots of other stuff: tofu, tempeh, veggie burgers (proper meat substitute ones – a mushroom or some mushed up vegetables in a bun does not a veggie burger make), beans, nuts, lentils, cheese, loads of stuff.
Hang on! If you don’t like meat why do you eat ‘veggie burgers and veggie sausages’? Because I like them but I don’t like killing animals, so that’s allowed in my book.
More people are turning to vegetarian and vegan diets for their health benefits. Scott Jurek, one of the world’s top ultra runners is vegan. He seems to do OK on it. A 60-year-old vegan guy I ran with in the Bangkok half marathon told me to give up dairy and I’d be a much faster runner. I decided I’d rather live with cheese and a slightly slower PB. But still the health benefits are there.
Next week is National Vegetarian Week. I got invited to the Montagu at the Hyatt Regency Churchill to have dinner – a vegan dinner no less – with guest chef Ali Parvinjah who is visiting from LA and has designed a vegan menu. Because I’m an Ironman in training with a big appetite and little time to cook, I said yes. I tried seven courses including three deserts (all in the name of research) and they were all lovely.
The vegan menu is £20 for 2-courses and £25 for 3-courses. So if you don’t eat meat or want to eat less, go.
The Montagu at Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill
30 Portman Square, London W1H 7BH
I wasn’t paid to write this post – my dinner, however, was free.
I used to be vegan, but not anymore. I still like to minimize my meat consumption, though, so a vegan multi-course meal sounds great!
Food looks great, might have to check that place out, love that they will have Vegan options on the menu on an ongoing basis as well.
I have been slowly switching to non meat meals. Suggested recipes would be great…any ideas for Vegan recipe sites that are quick and easy. What foods do you keep in your house so you don’t have to run to the store all the time.Presently I am a runner with a broken foot…stuck in a chair for 6 weeks..no weight bearing for at least another 10 days…I need to shake it up…maybe food will do it..if it is simple…doing exercises on the bed and in a chair for the time being.
I don’t know about ‘quick’ but the vegan food blog Oh She Glows http://ohsheglows.com/ has some amazing looking stuff on it. I’ve tried a couple of thing off here (the avocado pesto pasta and the carrot cake baked oatmeal) and they were both great.
I hadn’t realised you were veggie! I’d love to hear some of your fave recipes– am trying gradually to go meatless but at times it seems a bit daunting.
I don’t really have recipes – I just make stuff that doesn’t have meat in if that makes sense. I cook a lot of Indian and South East Asian dishes when I have time at weekends – I had a couple of cooking classes while I was travelling – but I tend to just chuck stuff in and see what happens. One place you could try is the lovely Veggie Runners blog http://www.veggierunners.com/
oooh, that looks amazing! Thanks for the rec.
Diet is something I’m focusing on right now to try and help with my cycling fitness. It’s not something I’ve ever really thought about before, but most of what I have been reading is focused on meat and protein!! Whilst I’m not veggie, it’s interesting to read about vegetarian alternatives.