Kayla Slater is a Registered Dietitian and an online Plant based Dietitian Nutrition and Run Coach. She aspires to provide virtual nutrition and run coaching services to plant-based endurance athletes for optimal performance and health. Meatless Movement recently had a chance to find out more about her virtual nutrition and run coaching services to plant-based endurance athletes for optimal performance and health.
Tell us more about yourself, please
I am from Upstate NY. I am a plant based marathon runner and online dietitian nutrition and run coach.
Can’t wait to help you on your journey!
Kaylar Slater
When I was studying nutrition in college, the research showed the more plants we eat the better for our health to decrease the risk of cancer, stroke, heart disease, diabetes, etc. Heart disease ran in my family and my grandfather recently passed away from heart disease. When I was told I had nearly high cholesterol, I knew I could do something by changing my diet.
I was a vegetarian and pesacatarian for a couple years then the last couple of years, have been vegan. Even though, I turned to plant based eating for my health, I love that I am also helping the environment, not killing animals, and it has helped my recovery as a marathon runner!
I have been plant based for at least 5 years. I went vegan cold turkey* for 30 days, but then never wanted to go back to eating the way I was.
Do you struggle with not knowing if you are meeting your nutrition needs as a plant based runner?
Kaylar Slater
As a dietitian nutrition and run coach, I help plant based runners to fuel properly and reach their personal running goals by staying true to their morals.
Some misconceptions about being a vegan or vegetarian especially as athletes is where do you get your protein? We have no problem getting our protein because protein is in all plant foods! For many of us, we consume more protein than is needed because of the media and supplement industry.
My favorite meal is a black bean patty and sweet potato fries. I also love grain and veggie bowls!
The challenges I see my clients face is when they travel for races and need to not only eat vegan/vegetarian, but also make sure they are getting the right foods. I teach clients to overcome eating out, but having a plan, researching ahead of time, and bringing snacks. You can never be too prepared.
Do you just don’t know if you are eating the right foods for fueling your training?
Kaylar Slater
How To Smoothly Transition To A Plant-Based Diet?
As a dietitian and coach, I have seen people have success with living a plant based lifestyle to losing weight, reversing diabetes and other chronic diseases like walking again after diagnosis of an autoimmune disorder to faster recover after runs.
My advice if you are just beginning to go meatless is to take your time. Not everyone can go cold turkey*. It can be a gradual process. Start with limiting red meat first then so on. You may realize that you don’t really like the taste of meat. Try it once a week. Have fun with it and being open to trying new friends can be fun!
* vegan cold turkey means dropping all animal products from your diet overnight
all images courtesy of @plantbased_performance_rd_
plantbased_performance_rd_
Kayla RD|Nutrition & Run Coach
Coach
🍑Fuel for health 🌱and performance 🏃♀️
🔊 Host of the Plant Based Performance Podcast
🌱Creator of the Run on Plants Method
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