I remember when I was around 10 years old and dreaming about how my life would be when I was “old” (ha!) and in my 30s. I imagined I would definitely be doing something I loved every day, married, have two kids, a cute house and life would be amazing being an “adult”.

Well here I am 30 days into my 30th year and I’m single, no kids, renting in LA and (may never be able to afford a home here) and I’m still definitely trying to figure out my life as an adult. BUT things are pretty freaking amazing, so I did dream that part up right at least!

I’ve heard your 30s are supposed to be the best years of your life and even though I’m only 30 days into it, I can already say I’m 100 percent feeling this year! I used to be so terrified of aging (I still am a little–work in progress over here) and I’ve come to realize age is truly just a number. I feel and look younger than I did when I was over 250 pounds at age 23. I am more passionate and driven than I ever was in my 20s and I’m proud of where I am today, even if it’s not the path I imagined for myself 20 years ago.

#thisis30 | fittybritttty.com

I came back from Kauai with a renewed and hopeful spirit and with a lightness about me that I can’t really explain, a feeling that everything is going to be alright. I never thought that I would leave a corporate job in my late 20s and completely change my career path and while it was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done, it was the best decision I ever made for myself. I’m a big believer in “things happen for a reason” and I’ll continue to hold true to that saying for life. I spent the last year and a half hustling and trying to figure it out, trying to figure out my new path and make sense of it all. And now, it’s finally feeling like things are falling into place more than ever.

After spending 30 days being 30 I have had some waves of knowledge and thought wash over me and a sense that I must start living my life to the fullest and in the healthiest way I can. I’m taking this first year of my 30s to focus on loving myself, self-care, working on my yoga practice not just for burning calories but for healing my body, mind, and spirit, and eating whole foods, less sugar, and teaching myself about food and all its amazing benefits. I have this strong connection with food, as we all do, but I want to truly change my connection with food and tap into how it fuels my body. How can I eat the best way for me to make my body feel it’s best? What am I eating too much of that my body doesn’t like that much (sugar, gluten, etc.). And that’s what I’ll be exploring in the kitchen this year.

My first major kitchen exploration this year was how I could make my yearly tradition of eating carrot cake on my birthday, healthier. I’ve always loved carrot cake, it’s a memory food for me and has been my birthday cake every year since I was about 8 years old! When I received my new a2300 series Vitamix I also got an amazing cookbook to start learning different ways to use my new Vitamix. I have a very strange habit of starting magazines and cookbooks from the back (does anyone else find themselves doing this?!) and when I flipped open the book to the back, I opened up a beautiful spread with a healthy carrot cake recipe on it (serendipity, duh!), and bam I knew exactly what I was baking for my birthday cake and it aligned perfectly with my new goals! #thisis30

Healthy Vitamix Carrot Cake

serves 12  |  prep time: 30 minutes  |  cook time: 30 minutes  | recipe from Vitamix’s Ascent Series Cookbook: Simply Blending  |  frosting recipe (my momma’s!)

Carrot Cake Ingredients:

3 large eggs
6 tbsp (100g) applesauce (unsweetened)
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup (120ml) low-fat buttermilk
1 cup (150g) pitted dates
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/5 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tbsp baking powder
2 cups carrots, chopped

Icing Ingredients: (double if you like more icing, I went for the deconstructed look so I used less and wanted to keep down on the sugar!)

4 ounces cream cheese (I used a block, you can use full fat or reduced fat)
4 ounces powdered sugar
2 tbsp butter
1/2 tsp vanilla

#thisis30 | fittybritttty.com

Method:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease either a 9-inch springform pan or use 2, 6-inch cake pans (Like I did, if you want to make a layered cake!) with cooking spray and set aside. Add eggs, applesauce, vanilla, buttermilk, dates, and brown sugar to the Vitamix container and secure the lid. Select Variable 1, start the machine and slowly increase to its highest speed. Blend for 1 minute.

#thisis30 | fittybritttty.com

While liquid components are blending, in another large bowl, combine flours, cinnamon, baking powder, and carrots. Pour the flour mixture into the Vitamix, secure the lid and pulse until combined well!

Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove cakes from pans and set cakes aside to cool completely. Once cooled completely if you are making it a layered cake take the two 6-inch cakes and cut in half using a long sharp knife.

#thisis30 | fittybritttty.com

While the cake is cooling you can prepare the icing in your Vitamix as well! Add the butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla into the Vitamix and secure with lid. Select Variable 1, start the machine, and slowly increase to its highest speed. Blend for 1 minute or until the frosting is well combined.

#thisis30 | fittybritttty.com

Assemble your cake on a cake plate (I posted some beautiful ones below if you are in need of a new one or one in general!) by adding one of the four cake sections down on the plate then add frosting, then your next cake layer, more frosting, and continue until all layers have been frosted! Feel free to decorate as you like, I love adding some walnuts as decor since there aren’t any inside the cake! Slice and enjoy with a glass of almond milk!

This recipe was just as good as the one I grew up with but with some better ingredients and NO OIL and I felt zero guilt making this for myself and enjoyed this cake for about 7 nights straight as my dessert, HA. The birthday cake has never tasted this good! What’s your go-to birthday cake recipe? Share with me below!

#thisis30 | fittybritttty.com

Remember, if you make this cake tag me @fittybritttty on Instagram and use the hashtag #fittybrittttyEATS so I can see your creations!

xobritney