A Post-Run Treat that Isn’t A Cheat

One of the best benefits of living in Los Angeles is the abundance of running trails.  As an ultrarunner, I’m always in search of trails that will allow me to run 20-30 miles per day on the weekends.  The trails in the Santa Monica mountains are among the best I’ve discovered during my brief time in LA.

On Sundays after my last long run of the weekend, I like to treat myself as a reward for all the training miles.  Ice cream is among my favorite treats. As a follower of a plant-based diet, it’s encouraging to see the growth of non-dairy ice cream alternatives made with coconut, almond, or cashew milk.  However, these “healthier” alternatives are not necessarily better for you. If you read the nutritional labels carefully, many are loaded with added sugar, palm oil, and other processed ingredients. While they may be an improvement over dairy-based items, I always feel uneasy about consuming these nut-based desserts given all the processed sugar and other ingredients.

I recently discovered the perfect alternative – the Frozen Fruit Co. in Santa Monica.  Their products look and taste like ice cream, but the ingredients are simple – fruit and natural fruit sugars.  It’s the perfect post-run treat that is a short trip from my training ground in the Santa Monica mountains. I can feel good about making Frozen Fruit Co. a part of my weekend post-run routine.  It is a healthy product that I don’t have to worry about putting into my body and the taste is amazing – far superior to any frozen dessert I can purchase in a grocery store! Additionally, since it is made from natural ingredients and isn’t heavy in fat and artificial chemicals, I feel energized and nourished after eating Frozen Fruit Co. treats – not tired and lethargic.

Many people are hesitant to adapt a vegan or plant-based diet because they believe they have to give up the indulgent foods that are a part of their current diet.  This is proof that you can reap the benefits of a plant-based diet and still enjoy an indulgent treat every now and then. Switching to plant-based is not about giving up foods and experiences.  Rather, it’s an opportunity to open a door to a new world of experiences that you didn’t have before. Plant-based food is full of color and flavor that is not masked by salt, artificial sugar, and other processed additives.  It’s exciting to see the Frozen Fruit Co. launch their fruit-based treats knowing that this is just the beginning. I can assure you their products are abundant with flavor and color – you’ll never miss dairy or nut-based desserts!

Now, if I can just get them to deliver some product during my next 100-mile race…

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Brian Uhlmann is the creator of the recently-established blog Ultramindful.net that focuses on plant-based nutrition, trail ultrarunning, and mindfulness.  In addition to an MBA degree from the University of Iowa, he holds certifications in plant-based nutrition from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies and in plant-based cooking from the Rouxbe Forks Over Knives Plant-Based Cooking Course.  He has participated in several trail ultramarathons and completed the Bear Chase 50-mile race in Littleton, CO in 2017 and the Javelina 100k race in Fountain Hills, AZ in 2016. In October, he’ll attempt to complete the 100-mile distance at Javelina. In addition to his blog at www.ultramindful.net, he is on Instagram under the name, “Ultramindful” and can be contacted at brian@ultramindful.net.