Vegan and Going Strong

Well I've surprised myself and am still going vegan! I'm doing even better then before 30 Day Vegan ended.  I was a little unsure with my last post about being a vegan, feeling a bit overwhelmed that maybe I couldn't live the rest of my life "this way".  I don't know what happened, but after I received the last post from Heather I continued to make vegan choices!  I'm not hard core, but I think I could get there.  The idea of 80/20 or 90/10 works for me.  I like having the option of eating meat or dairy if there are no other choices such as at a party or restaurant (and of course I need my splash of milk in my coffee!).  I had such an experience this past weekend.  I went to a party and beforehand I privately emailed a friend who would be there and asked her if she thought there would be anything there I could eat.  She gave me a list of what food were expected to be served and I decided instead of making something to bring or walking in with my frozen veggie burger, I would make the best choices I could while there. I ended up having a bit of meat, some potato salad, and that was my 10%.  No problem, no guilt.  


The only downside is the family is not vegan but I am doing pretty well working around their meals and making mine vegan, it's not as hard as it seems.  (I noticed The Husband making some different choices too since we watched Forks over Knives!!)


I feel good, although very tired.  Not sure if it's the changes in my eating, my children who are home all day now and how busy we are, or maybe something is going on with my thyroid? (I have hypothyroidism and maybe my medicine needs to be adjusted. I have an apt in a few weeks so I'll know then if it's the thyroid.)


Anyway, that's my story.


Off now to wrangle my kids and keep them from killing each other.


Have a great day my friends!

26 Days of Veganism

Days:  12-26


Things are still progressing along nicely only a few mishaps.  Ahem.  (Those pesky, but delicious m&m's and a fish sandwich.  OK, what is going on with the fish??) And yes Michelle, m&m's are not vegan!


Today is day 26 and it's starting to get old for me.  I'm missing cheese and when the family is eating chicken or some other meat I find I am really wanting a taste.  Sigh..


I honestly wish I could make being a vegan a life style especially after watching Forks over Knives.  But until I get the will power or something happens in my life that will convince me to be vegan, I don't see it happening.  I tried before to switch over to a plant based only diet and I'd go to a party and try that appetizer with bacon, or there's nothing to eat in the house but hot dogs and I say to myself, "OK, it's the hot dog or starve" and there is no way I will starve!  I like food way too much.


I'll keep doing my best day to day and see what happens.

Tonight we're going to have Vegetable Shepherd's Pie.  I found the recipe in an old Rachel Ray magazine under her Meatless Monday section.  It looks so yummy, I can't wait to try it.  Lots of vegetables, rice, and beans in this one.   

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Only 4 days left.....

So Far,So Good: Days 7-12

As I prepare my meals each day, I think, is this going to get boring?  How much variety can I get from eating vegetables and fruit every single day for every single meal?  How do people do this for their entire lives?  


I was reading the comments on one of Alicia Silverstone's post from The Kind Life and a commenter wrote she has been a vegan for 20 years!  What?  20 years?  Here I am trying it for 30 days knowing there is an end date in sight.  Not that I am complaining, I'm not!  I am not counting down the days, I just know that this is a 30 day experience and I can make the decision at the end to continue as a vegan, go back to the way things were, or make healthy choices while eating meat and dairy.  Which is truly all I really want anyway, to make healthier choices.   I can picture myself a vegetarian for life, I was a vegetarian years ago and I feel there is more variety/choices and some vegetarians even eat fish.  *But fruits, vegetables and legumes for the rest of one's life? I'm not sure I can do that.  However, I'm not bored yet or dying for a cheeseburger, so I'd say, so far so good!


I don't have any recipes to share today but I do want to share my "go to" lunch, which has been a tortilla with hummus and chopped up veggies and kalamata olives. Easy and delicious!  And I even have added some chopped up left over veggies burgers which gives it a nice taste and adds a different texture.  I'm hoping to pick up some vegenaise this week to switch things up, you know instead of hummus on everything....


Off to eat some Sunbutter on flax seed bread.  YUM!


*(I know there is more to it than that, but I haven't ventured much beyond the veggies, fruit and beans) 

Vegan Goodness Days 3-6

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While I continue on my 30 Day Vegan journey, I've come across some sites and books I have found myself visiting often.  It is difficult for me to be a vegan after a life time of eating animal products.  I long for some cheese, an egg, a hamburger.  Yesterday afternoon I was hankering for a tuna fish sandwich.  I could not stop thinking about eating a sandwich, so I had one.  Tuna is a fish, mayonnaise is eggs.  Ugh!  Utter fail.  But today is a new day and so far so good.  (I'm not sure why, but I have and still am craving tuna fish sandwiches for weeks!)  Weird.  Does anyone know why a person would crave tuna fish??

Anyway to get back to my point; the sites and books I began mentioning above are helping to keep me on track, increase my enthusiasm, have delicious recipes, and, well, I enjoy them!  

Books:

The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone is by far my most favorite vegan book.  I also like Chloe's Kitchen. 

 I visit the following sites each day:

Post Punk Kitchen 

The Kind Life

Manifest Vegan

VegWeb

Happy Healthy Life

Most, if not all the site are ones recommended by Heather.  There may be one or two I found on my own.

Other than the tuna fish fiasco, I've done well.  Making my own veggie burgers, eating lots of roasted vegetables, steel-cut oats, fruit, hummus and cucumber sandwiches  - one of A's favorites, and several of the recipes I mentioned in this post.

Be back in a few with more "vegan news".

30 Day Vegan: Days 1 & 2

Day 1:  I spent part of the day reading Heather's post and visiting other vegan sites.   I was able to compile a weeks worth of recipes I'd like to try.


Here are a few:


Chickpea Burgers with Tahini Sauce
Eggplant Casserole
Red Bell Pepper and Olive Delight Sandwich
Sweet Potato Veggie Burgers


Day 2: This morning I went shopping.  I bought dried and canned beans, hummus, tahini, Ezekiel bread, and loads of fruits and veggies.  This afternoon I roasted some veggies which I'll have over rice, in some wraps, and on my pizza for dinner.

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I will prepare tonight, steel-cut oats for tomorrows breakfast, using this recipe from thekitchn

1 teaspoon butter or olive oil
1 cup steel-cut oats
3 cups of water
pinch of salt
1 cup of milk (optional) not an option when going vegan


1. Start this the night before you want to have the steel-cup oatmeal.  Measure out your oats.  This quantity makes 4 servings.
2. Heat the butter or olive oil in a 2 quart saucepan set over medium heat.  Add the oats and fry them for about 3 minutes, or until they start smelling toasty.
3. Pour in the water and add the salt. Stir.
4. Bring to a rolling boil.
5. Turn off the heat and cover the pan.  Leave it on the stove, and go to bed!
6. The next morning, uncover the pan and bring the oatmeal back up to a simmer.  If you would like thinner and  creamer oatmeal, stir in a cup of milk before reheating.

• Cover and refrigerate any leftovers.
• Reheat leftover the same way!

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Tonight we had home made pizza's.  Traditional for the kids and for myself I omitted the cheese, placing roasted veggies and kalamata olives directly on the sauce.  Delicious!

Tomorrow for breakfast, I'll enjoy my oatmeal with some dried fruit and honey(not vegan) or maybe a banana? For lunch I'll probably have the Red Bell Pepper and Olive Delight Sandwich.  Not sure about dinner?


There are two things I will not give up during these 30 days and that is a splash of milk in my coffee in the morning and honey.  Especially the milk in my coffee.  


No way, no how!

30 Day Vegan

Today is the first day of Heather's 30 Day Vegan online workshop.  Thank you Jamie for signing me up! I'm looking forward to eating vegan and simply for the next 30 days.  I did the 30 day vegan last summer also.  I really liked it and looked forward to Heathers posts each day.  I tried many of the recipes and felt the best physically I have ever felt.  Now if only I could always eat this way, but when the bacon calls, I come a running.  Sigh.....


Although it's not really hard for me to eat vegan, it does feel like extra work.  My family is not on board with being vegans f0r said 30 days that means I'm preparing two dinners each night.  I can swing maybe 3 meatless meals (including Meatless Monday) in a week and just omit any non-vegan ingredients for myself.  It should help.


Today I'll spend some time planning meals for the week.  I noticed quite a few recipes the morning I can't wait to try!


Have you ever been a vegan?  Have you participated in Heather's workshop in the past or currently? I'd love to hear how things went for you and your favorite vegan recipes.


I'll be back with with menus and how it's going overall.