Special Features

Luke Landrigan and Danika Nemis: Clear Skies, Blue Waters and Golden Milk

by Jana Blanco
January 27, 2022

A plant- based life by the beach at a time of pandemic inspired a golden idea for pro surfer Luke Landrigan and Danica Nemis

For many of us, raising our family on a beach will remain a dream. But for Luke Landrigan, Danika Nemis and their daughter Luna, it’s a life they’re bold enough to embrace.

Danika and Luke call San Juan, La Union home. A quick scroll on Danika’s Instagram account shows how idyllic living close to the ocean is, especially for their four-year-old daughter, Luna. Besides the natural beauty of the seaside town, it is a place where freedom is palpable. It’s an ideal respite from the hustle and bustle of city life and for the family, a great place to grow and thrive together.

On the family’s inland property grows a small organic farm informed by permaculture. Here, Luna formative years are punctuated by activities such as planting trees, picking fruits and interacting with animals. It’s the ideal backdrop for a child-lead learning approach, where lessons are revealed through outdoor and imaginative play. Danika ponders, “I think it’s important to make learning as fun as possible. Because learning is fun, Luna will always want to learn more and more. So far, we’ve enjoyed learning alongside Luna because she always surprises us with her goofy antics and general zest for life. We just love her energy!”

Living on the beach with a pro surfer dad also has its perks. Even in her early years, Luna has developed a sense of ease and confidence in the water. Her dad, Philippine Surfing Championship Tour Founder, Luke Landrigan, saw to it that being in the water would be second nature to their daughter. “Luna knows how to swim, dive, and surf,” the proud mom shares.

Mornings at the family’s home are always slow. Luna helps Danika prepare a nutritious plant-based breakfast, usually a smoothie bowl with peanut butter or avocado toast. In the kitchen, Danika engages their daughter by explaining to her the benefits of fresh, plant-based ingredients. Today, all three following a vegan diet, which Danika shares took time to achieve. “With Luke and me, we stopped eating all things dairy first. Then we quit meat. Or you can also try to limit your meat intake by going meatless once a week first. Once you see and feel the difference in your body and mood, you’ll want to transition completely much sooner!” she advises.

Sunny days aside, Danika shares that their businesses — a surf resort and a plant-based café called Seabuds — took a hit during the pandemic. This motivated the couple to get creative. Danika recalls, “As I was learning how to bake and make healthier plant-based food, I stumbled upon a golden milk recipe using turmeric. I made Luke and Luna try it, and they both loved it! So after some fine-tuning, I developed a recipe that could be sold on a larger scale. And that’s how the Seabuds Golden Milk story started! It was really just a drink for us to enjoy as a family but after posting it on social media, it inspired a following and now the Seabuds Golden Milk is available for sale all over the country!”