As a NASCAR driver, Danica Patrick spends plenty of time in cars—both traveling and on the track, in the No. 10 Nature's Bakery Chevy—but there's one place she rarely cruises: The drive thru line. The Wisconsin native maintains a pretty strict paleo diet, relying on plenty of protein and greens to fuel her throughout the day.
During a break between races, Patrick filled us in on her low-sugar lifestyle, including her secret to a kale smoothie that doesn't suck—and gave us a peek inside her fridge (Coca-Cola lovers, you've found your soulmate).
She's a Hardcore DIY-er.
After downloading an app on paleo foods, Patrick started dabbling with making lower-sugar alternatives to some refrigerator staples, like ketchup and almond milk.
"I like the taste of homemade almond milk better," Patrick explains. "It's thicker and probably fattier, but it has a more full-bodied taste."
She's Into Chia—Seeds, Not Pets.
Patrick often starts the day with yoga or a full workout at the gym, and she stays fueled with one of her favorite breakfasts: Homemade chia pudding.
"I mix almond milk with chia seeds and let them sit overnight," Patrick says. "They become tapioca-like."
She'll often add protein powder and cinnamon, and maybe some fresh fruit.
On days when she's craving something a little heartier, Patrick makes a breakfast hash with sweet potatoes, kale, apples, peppers and onions and lean ground beef or turkey.
"I like to have a big batch of that ready," she says. "Sometimes I'll have it for lunch too."
She's Mastered Green Smoothies.
It's taken some trial and error, but Patrick has perfected her green smoothie recipe. The key? Don't let it get too watery.
"I'll put three big handfuls of spinach in the blender, and only enough ice and water to get the spinach to make [the blades] spin," Patrick says. "The colder the ingredients, the better, so I like to use frozen fruit."
She'll add one-third of a banana and a quarter of an apple, so it doesn't get too sugary, and adds a lemon to cut down on the drink's bitterness.
"Take the seeds and skin off the lemon, and just toss it in," she says. "It really helps the flavor."
Spinach and Soda Dominate Her Fridge.
Patrick keeps her fridge well-stocked with several boxes of spinach at a time, since she uses the ingredient in her green smoothies and lunchtime salads, but that doesn't mean her fridge is 100 percent healthy.
She also always has a steady supply of Coke on hand, and one entire drawer is loaded up with all different kinds of cheese.
That's about as indulgent as it gets. If Patrick's craving something sweet, she'll grab a Nature's Bakery Fig Bar or brownie.
"The world's a lot more educated on what's good for you and what's better for you, and I like that Nature's Bakery recreates the things I've always enjoyed, just with healthier ingredients," she says of the dairy-free, soy-free, non-GMO treats.
She's Not Picky About Meat.
When it comes to dinnertime, Patrick sticks to eating a ton of vegetables and protein. The veggies may not change too much, but the meat can be anything from salmon or chicken to steak or bison.
"I made bison burgers recently and they were a hit," she says. "I tend to get more creative at night when I'm cooking."
She'll go all out, enjoying a pan-seared, roasted beef tenderloin with smoked paprika sweet potatoes and sauteed mushrooms, or indulging in a post-race meal that's both sweet and savory:
Yes, that's one waffle topped with steak and a fried egg, and another covered in cashew butter, pureed pumpkin, banana slices and chocolate chips. It's basically breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert all on one plate.
And yes, we're totally jealous of that meal.
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