What I Eat in a Week as a Plant-Based Runner (Simple Dinners for Busy Athletes)

Greenletes Podcast

Greenletes Podcast
What I Eat in a Week as a Plant-Based Runner (Simple Dinners for Busy Athletes)
Mar 30, 2026
Natalie Rizzo, MS, RD

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what I eat in a typical week as a sports dietitian, marathoner, and busy mom. Spoiler: it’s not complicated.

I’m sharing the real dinners I make on weeknights, all ready in about 30 minutes or less. Plus, the simple system I use to make sure my meals are balanced, nourishing, and realistic (even on the busiest days).

You’ll learn:

  •  How I plan a week of plant-based dinners in 10–15 minutes
  •  The simple formula I use to build balanced meals for energy + recovery 
  •  Why I rely on theme nights (like Taco Tuesday + Pizza Friday)
  •  How to get enough plant-based protein as an active person
  •  Easy dinner ideas you can repeat every week without getting bored 

These are the exact strategies I use to stay consistent with my nutrition and feel strong in my training without spending hours in the kitchen.

Watch the YouTube video to see examples of the dinners: 

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Check out Natalie's book 📕: Planted Performance



Episode Artwork What I Eat in a Week as a Plant-Based Runner (Simple Dinners for Busy Athletes) 10:07 Episode Artwork Why You’re Not Recovering From Your Runs (And How to Fix It on a Plant-Based Diet) 12:23 Episode Artwork Protein for Plant-Based Athletes: How Much You Really Need + My Daily Intake Breakdown 19:32 Episode Artwork The 3- Step Fueling Framework To Master Your Running Nutrition 21:31 Episode Artwork Electrolytes for Runners: How Much Sodium You Actually Need for Hydration & Performance 30:47 Episode Artwork How to Fuel on a Plant-Based Diet When You’re Too Busy to Meal Prep or Track: 3 Simple Principles To Follow 10:19 Episode Artwork Postpartum Running & Underfueling: What Most Moms Don’t Realize with Stephanie Darby, RD 48:57 Episode Artwork Ask Me Anything: Fat Intake, Soy Protein, Bone Healing & Post-Workout Headaches 27:07 Episode Artwork Do Plant-Based Runners Really Need Supplements? 20:48 Episode Artwork How to Tell If You’re Underfueling Your Runs (Even If You Eat Healthy) 20:24 Episode Artwork The Plant-Based Athlete Blueprint: The 5 Core Principles I Teach All My Runners 23:08 Episode Artwork From Surviving to Thriving: Lessons From 2025 and a Plant-Based Runner’s Game Plan for 2026 15:33 Episode Artwork Fuel or Fiction: The Biggest Running Nutrition Myths with Marathon Nutritionist Kristy Bauman, RD 39:08 Episode Artwork Philly Half Marathon Recap: The 4 Changes I Made To Run My Fastest Half Marathon In Years 26:30 Episode Artwork Unlocking The Joy In Fueling & Exercise: The Science Behind Happiness with Dawn Jackson Blatner, RDN 41:18 Episode Artwork The Hidden Cost of Under-Fueling: Why Female Athletes Lose Their Periods & How To Get It Back with Reilly Beatty, MS, RD, CSSD 35:10 Episode Artwork How to Lose Weight Without Losing Performance: The Truth About Body Composition for Athletes with Alex Larson, MS, RD 42:18 Episode Artwork Fueling the New York City Marathon: Carb Loading, Race Day Breakfast & Plant-Based Tips 14:26 Episode Artwork How to Be a Faster, Stronger Runner, at Any Age with Claire Bartholic of The Planted Runner 40:38 Episode Artwork My Pulmonary Embolism Story: What I Learned After a Life-Threatening Postpartum Emergency 27:54 Episode Artwork Greenletes Is Back! What We've Been Up To & What’s Ahead for Plant-Based Athletes 7:55 Episode Artwork Should athletes monitor their blood sugar during exercise?-- with Erin Palinski-Wade RD, CDE, LDN, CPT 26:39 Episode Artwork A Deep Dive Into Iron & Athletes: Foot Strike Hemolysis & How Iron Relates To Cognitive Decline & Cancer-- with McKale Montgomery, PhD, RD 33:58 Episode Artwork The Psychological Side of Sport: How Your Mental State Affects Performance--with Dr. Kensa Gunter, PsyD, CMPC 29:44 Episode Artwork Nutrition for Mountain Sports: What Trail Runners, Ultra Runners, Hikers, Cyclists & Skiers Should Eat For Their Sport-- with Vic Johnson, MPH 36:49