The 30 Day Vegan

I Haven't Given Up!

2008-09-14T05:56:00.000-07:00

I just don't have the time to keep track of two blogs. Or more. ;-)

Please come visit me at my "regular blog" that has plenty of vegan stuff on it, as well as what is actually going on in my life.

Hooray for Veganism-I'm loving it, well after my 30 days!

Do People Tease You Too?

2008-07-10T11:23:00.000-07:00

I know the answer to this already, but I just have to complain. I'm so sick of people teasing me about what I eat. Or even commenting about it in general. It's so funny because being vegan FAR from defines me (I haven't even followed this lifestyle that long) but people always make jokes at the office about my "science project" lunch, which is funny to me, but then they all make a big deal when we're doing a recipe exchange or something. They are like "is it going to be some of your vegan crap?" and I always say "no, I'll make you something you'll like" and it's vegan and then I tell them and they stop liking it. What the hell? Why are people so scared of this?

I have three office food moments coming up. On Monday we're having a "Make Your Own Sundae" fundraiser. No biggie. When asked if it was a good idea, I said that I'd bring my own ice cream (i'm Angela on the party planning committee) and everyone was like "you're so high maintenance". I'm bringing my own. I didn't say "make sure we buy some vegan stuff", I just said that I would bring my own. Then we have a summer picnic for the office in two weeks. This is supposed to be a "gift" to us for all our hard work. Yeah, I'm going to have to bring my own food for this too. The place they are ordering from has salad but no one cared. It's not that I want special attention, but they know and I'm on the committee and part of the team. Our Christmas party has a limited menu as well, though we could expand it if we choose AT NO CHARGE! But no, that would be ridiculous to offer another option. So I'm going to have to do my standard just eat the french fries off the plate. I don't want special attention, as I'm writing this it seems like I do, but what I really want is for me to be ALLOWED to follow my lifestyle. I can make the calls for all of this, but they are like "oh don't bother them". When I went out with my girlfriends they all insisted that I order separate from them because they are afraid people will spit in all our food when I ask for no butter. What the heck?

Ok, I'm ranting, but I'm pissed. When they asked me what I could eat from the BBQ place I told them that I verified the fries and green beans were vegan. Tell me why we couldn't throw that on our catering order for a whopping $6 when everyone else is getting a $20 meal for free?

A Question to the Vegans...

2008-06-30T06:14:00.000-07:00

Ok, so how strict are you? I've found that people keep making me food that they say is vegan, and then I find out that there was egg white in it. I don't induce vomiting, and sometimes I still continue eating b/c I figure the damage is done. I feel kind of bad about it, but at this point it has been all egg that has been involved b/c people can't seem to understand that egg is not vegan. I was also recently told in a restaurant that they don't have any vegetarian items other than the grilled chicken sandwich, so I do live in strange place, but I just wondered what your opinions were on this.

One other question. My friend Lindsay and I are going on a cruise in January (hooray!). I've called the cruiseline and they have promised that there is vegetarian eating, but not vegan eating. I am thinking that I am going to be vegetarian for the cruise and a few weeks prior (to get my tummy ready) but I still really don't want to. I don't want cheese. I don't want butter. I don't want milk, eggs, etc., but I don't want to starve on the cruise. Does this make me a hippocrite?

I'm not sure why I'm asking people because really, I am making my own decisions, but I just feel so badly about this and unsure of what the right thing is. I've got that devil/angel thing on my shoulder.

Oy!

Much Needed Update

2008-06-04T05:10:00.000-07:00

I haven't been writing much b/c I've been trying to decide what exactly to do with the blog. Frankly, the title is all wrong, because I have been a vegan for way longer than 30 days, and I'm sick of having several blogs for the different areas of my life. I'm trying to come up with a blog that would just be everything, with less of my daily ranting and more posts with some substance, but I've gotten into such a roll with the ranting that I can't seem to get through that.

I have found a ton of great vegan recipes and I'll take more pictures this week. The problem is, other than one original recipe, I'm stealing from other people. Of course I will give them credit when I post the recipe and the pictures, but I want to have some of my own innovations and ideas. I'm just learning the different flavors with all the vegetables (I must have lived under a rock) so I am sure that I'll experiment more and get working on my own recipes soon.

Be sure to visit my regular ranting blog.

Vegan Shopping

2008-05-15T16:25:00.000-07:00

I'm going to see Lindsay tomorrow and we have some big plans. Mostly I'm forcing her to take me for some retail therapy, but it's the good stuff. We're going to go to Trader Joe's (the closest one is well over an hour away-it's a travesty) and for lunch we're going to Sunflower Vegetarian Restaurant. With the exception of one thing with milk on the menu, everything else appears to be vegan, so I'm super excited. They even have vegan sushi, so I'm thinking I might be able to learn new taste sensations so I can really be a vegan, instead of one who plays one on the internet.

On Saturday, Lindsay has a date with some girlfriends, and I'm tagging along to P.F. Changs. Now they make me a little mad because they aren't so "vegan" or healthy, though they like to pretend they are healthy. I am not at the point where I think that they need to have a veggie only wok, but I understand the people that are concerned about that. There is pretty much just the one vegan dish, which is the Happy Buddha, which is just steamed vegetables. I am hoping they'll put some tofu in there, they seem pretty agreeable to that.

I am so excited to be stocking up on all the good vegan treats. Woo-hoo!

I Heart Tofu

2008-05-09T09:30:00.000-07:00

I've been experimenting with tofu. I'm sort of a mad-scientist in the kitchen with this stuff and I have yet to perfect it. I'm the best sushi rice cooker in the whole world, but tofu still vexes me. "Freeze it, then cook it" my friends say, and when I do that it is all wet and spongy. "Just bake it" they say, and then I burned it and it tasted wrong. Just plain wrong. So I don't know what to do. I got recipes off the internet, followed them to the letter, and mine tastes nothing like they claim their's tastes like. Either I'm a bad cook (which we know isn't likely) or they are a bunch of liars and their tofu is a spongy mess like mind. Ok, so I'm not a great cook.

I am probably having sushi tonight, but I'm not enjoying it like I used to. The guilt factor is so high that I know I'll be weaning myself off of it. I am still going strong elsewhere, but I am not eating as healthfully as I was before, so I sort of need to recommit to the Skinny Bitch. I'm not being a total crazy person, but I had a couple of Atomic Fireballs (sugar) and I had a sip of some soda (when I thought I might dehydrate in the car) and that is just unacceptable.

Best sandwich ever (other than the delicious Lone Star from Jimbos). Smart bacon, avacado and veganaise. Yum yum yum!!!

A Cry for Help

2008-05-01T10:21:00.000-07:00

Today after lunch I ate two Sugar in the Raw packets. I wanted something sweet and had a couple packets in my desk. I guess it was like eating rock candy without that little stick and the sticky saliva on my cheek, but it was still a little rough.

The Fat Vegan

2008-04-28T11:06:00.000-07:00

I haven't weighed myself in two weeks. All of a sudden I feel fat as a moo cow because I know I've been eating more oils and nuts then I used to. However, I'm not eating any other "fat laden" items, I am still consuming a lot of fat. I'm trying hard not to feel like a lard-o, but I think I'm going to have to go back to my house and get the scale to either prove or disprove my fatness.

I am started looking into some more vegan cooking. A lot of the recipes look great, and I'm going to experiment a little more this week. Mircea's mom has decided that she wants to eat vegan too, but she is romanian and a meat lover, so she is going to have meat once a week. I guess every little bit helps, and she's so cute helping me cook and asking me all kinds of questions about how we can make something healthier and vegan. I did make some yummy zucchini yesterday, but it had olive oil in it, so there's some more fat. I feel like there is no winning in all of this.

I think I should have called this post the "Tubby Vegan" because that is how I feel today. Tubby!

Day 30: It's Only Just Begun

2008-04-24T05:30:00.000-07:00

On day one, when I "enjoyed" a can of kidney beans for lunch I thought, "this is not for me." When I was in San Diego, eating tofu sandwiches, I thought otherwise. When I failed at making my own tofu sandwiches I thought, "I guess I'll have to move to San Diego". I love eating this way. Would I say it is permenant-I have no idea? I don't know what the future will hold, maybe in my lifetime animals will be treated fairly and I can eat them again. Or maybe I'll be a "freegen", someone who eats vegan food unless someone else purchased the non-vegan food or it is being thrown away. I don't really want steak, chicken or pork. I don't want eggs, cheese, or yogurt. I do sort of want to have some fish, occasionally, and I know that makes me an awful person, but I feel like we can all do the best that we can. I've already stopped eating processed foods, hydrogenated oils, refined sugar, and refined flour and rice (except in my beloved sushi). No more soda, no more coffee...but maybe a little fish once and awhile. I live in Maryland, for God's sakes-we have nothing else to look forward to except an occasional crabcake.

I'd like to start experiementing a little more with cooking, and with that, I'll start to post some recipes, etc. My standard meal is just rice, beans, olives, and tofu, and I'm still not doing a great job with tofu so it's getting a little old.

I dare anyone to join me...for 30 days. At the very least, it is a nice test of willpower and you may find that it makes you feel happier and healthier. And you may just realize how much you appreciate the meat that you do have in your diet. I dare you to try and find out!

Card Carrying Member

2008-04-23T12:44:00.000-07:00

I just donated to Peta and became a Peta member. Now I think that they can go a little overboard on somethings, but I have to say if shock value gets people to act, well then so be it. It's still a little nutty though, but I figured I'd put my money where my mouth is.

I did eat some raw tuna steak today and felt weird about it. I feel guilty for eating the sushi, and I don't know why it is bugging me so much. I guess it is because I know I'm not being a "good little vegan" but I think that it is good to have a little more protein in the diet and the sushi fish is supplementing that. Or at least that is how I am justifying it.

I wonder if vegans think I am a hypocrite?

Tomorrow is my last official day. And I'm sooooo going to keep up with it b/c I couldn't be happier.

In the Land of Soy Milk and Agave Nectar

2008-04-19T09:18:00.000-07:00

Sunny San Diego proved to be a goldmine for vegan eating. Not that I was surprised because Californians are stereotypically big fans of tofu and sprouts, so it was perfect for me. The first night we ate at Baja Fresh, which is a great little fast food Mexican place that puts Taco Bell to shame. They were so great to me there. I got my beans and rice with some guacamole. (I had to assume that the guac didn't have any sour cream in it...that is a standard assumption I will be making unless otherwise noted). It was delicious and fresh and wonderful!

We also went to a great place called Pei Wei. (Pay Way) This is like a stir fry with rice or noodles place and it was awesome. First of all they had brown rice, which made me super happy, but in lieu of meat you could choose the tofu and veggies. It was so delicious that we went there twice. So so so so good.

I did have my sushi. I actually felt really guilty about it, so I'm not sure if I will just let go of the guilt or let go of my precious raw fish.

The best part of the week, other than seeing my friends David, George and Janie, was Jimbos. The best way to describe Jimbos is "Heaven on Earth". Jimbos is a full service grocery store that caters to those who wish to eat organically. NOTHING in their store has refined white sugar and the majority of their items are vegetarian or vegan. This place was amazing. I felt like a kid in a guilt-free candy store because almost everything I picked up was appropriate for me. If I ever move to San Diego, as I've dreamed about for years, I have to be within short drive or walking distance from Jimbos. Best place ever. And the best thing ever is their deli. They make made-to-order sandwiches and I had the best thing I've ever eaten. Vegan or non vegan. It was called the Lone Star sandwich and it was marinated tofu (marinated to be a sweet/spicy flavor) with avacado, sprouts, Bac-un, tomato and pickle. FANFREAKINGTASTIC! My friend Linda was with me and she ordered a turkey sandwich and said it was the best turkey she'd ever had. We both went there to pick up a sandwich to take on the plane the next day, and we also won over another guy that was at our meeting.

Lastly, I want to mention that I watched the documentary I AM ANIMAL. It is the story of Ingrid Newkirk, the cofounder of Peta. It was very well done and showed several sides to the woman as well as the cause, and I liked that it wasn't skewed to indicate that she was a perfect woman. Once again, there were scenes of the treatment in meat packing facilities and it was unbelieveable. I was sobbing and it was only like a 2 minute montage clip. Stupid people molesting a chicken with their finger because it is funny. A cow that hadn't been killed by a machine literally had its skin taken off while it was still alive. Here's the thing: I don't think that Peta is saying "don't eat meat". They're saying "stop torturing defenseless animals for food-there is a humane way to kill" and there is. It was just terrible and I encourage people to learn about and read about (not from some crazy peta movie or anything else) about the treatment of animals in these facilities. The answer isn't to stop eating meat-the answer is to campaign and write to Congressmen, the facilities, etc., and explain that you don't appreicate this treatment of the animal and will not be purchasing their brand unless they raise their standards. It is heartbreaking though because as much as we joke about Chinese food sometimes, we'd never think of eating a cat...so why does turkey, beef, and pork pop into our minds as appropriate food? Enough preaching, I'm sorry. I'm still a raw fish eater so I can't talk, but I just find it so terrible the way they are treated and something needs to change. Yeah, they'll feel pain but they need not be treated like "pieces of meat" when they deserve respect too.

Day 18: More Food Reviews

2008-04-11T07:59:00.000-07:00

I haven't been cooking as much as I wanted to during this vegan trial, but I have been enjoying some vegan convenience foods and wanted to share my finds.

-Amy's Texas Burgers: Oh my God these are delicious. They have a nutty taste to them (from the bulgar) and a great texture (probably also the bulgar) and they just make me happy. I enjoy them just plain (no bun) and they are super nutritious and low in fat. I haven't tried grilling them, but they are even awesome out of the microwave.

-Alexia Foods Organic French Fries: I'm going to pull a Forrest Gump here. They have all kinds of fries; sweet potato fries, yukon gold fries, sea salt fries, pesto fries, the list goes on and on. They are super yummy and fairly low in fat per serving. The two combined make a great "fast food" kind of meal, and they definitely kept my belly happy.

Not much else going on. I will probably not be able to blog too much next week as I'll be in San Diego for travel. That is going to be the real test for me-eating out vegan for every meal, but it is California and they are definitely more veggie friendly. I'm getting my sushi though, and I can't wait!!

I am still feeling a little weak and I think I have an iron defieciency. I'll start taking vitamins because I don't like how that feels (my bowling ball felt so heavy) but I love how I feel about the rest of it. I am planting my seedlings in the garden this weekend, so hopefully I'll have a bounty of fresh veggies throughout the summer to enjoy. I'm really looking forward to it and now that I'm done with grad school I'll have more time to cook some of the fresh stuff instead of relying on my boxed dinners.

Day16: The Weakling

2008-04-09T12:44:00.000-07:00

I think the lack of protein is getting to me. I tried to lift some cases of soda at work (for someone else, I am no longer enjoying the goods) and I could barely do it. I am not a weak girl by any means. I guess I am defiecient in B12

Day 14: Livin' on a Prayer

2008-04-07T11:00:00.000-07:00

I'm halfway through my 30 day trial. I have not had any meat cravings, nor have I had any dairy cravings...with one exception. I just want a piece of pizza with cheese on it. Dear Lord I want a piece of pizza. I can't stop thinking about it, it's all I ever think about and I'm going crazy. I'm not a big pizza girl anyway, but I want a flippin' slice of pizza!!! On day 31 I will be enjoying a slice of homemade pizza and I don't care who knows it!!

I went to a party yesterday and had no problem with the cravings. There wasn't anything there that I could eat, but I'd planned ahead and had a snack before I went. Probably a good thing to do if you aren't a vegan b/c it cuts down on your intake. They had the little sandwich pinwheels that I love, but I didn't eat any and felt better for it. I usually feel so guilty for pigging out on the stuff, so this was way better.

I made sweet potato fries on Friday night. They were pretty good, and guilt free, so that made them taste even better. My boyfriend and I have discovered an addition to Veggie Booty, and we managed to eat two bags over the course of the weekend. I ate a lot of strawberries and grapes this weekend, and they were super tasty.

So yeah, this isn't so bad. I need to be cooking a little more, but I'm busy with school right now (last week!) so that takes up a lot of my time. I'm down a total of 7 lbs now too, which is pretty nice for a gal who is still eating like a little hoglet.

Day 13: Gotta Go to Moe's

2008-04-05T10:14:00.000-07:00

Mircea and I went out to lunch today. I was very nervous but knew that I'd be able to find something I could eat. We went to Moe's, which is a fast food Mexican place. I got a salad, which I didn't realize was in the big taco shell bowl, but whatever. I got to have beans, rice, salsa, black olives and cilantro. It was delicious and I didn't miss the cheese or meat. Seriously, I did not miss the cheese, which was really surprising to me. As we were walking out, I saw that they had tofu on their menu, so next time I'll give that a shot. And yes, I had a couple bites of that big taco bowl-not good for me at all and hopefully not fried in some sort of animal fat. I have never had a taco salad bowl before...that was yummy and highly non-nutritious. So no more of that!

I've been buying a lot of strawberries lately...they taste so sweet and wonderful. I swear that not eating sugar or sugar substitute has changed my taste buds to really enjoy the flavor of the food I'm eating. I'm getting a little sick of all water all the time though and have purchased some organic juice.

I'm almost halfway there and though I'd kill for a slice of cheese pizza, I know that I'll make it through my 30 days, with both myself and my pocket book a little lighter.

Day 11: The Cravings Begin

2008-04-03T09:06:00.001-07:00

I want some pizza, slathered in cheese. Fresh grated mozzarella cheese, with basil and tomatoes. Oh, it tastes so delightful in my mouth. I will not be having this pizza...but I will be craving it. I'm almost halfway through the challenge. I'm down 7 lbs, feel a lot healthier (despite the cold I picked up last night) and have a ton more energy.

I made Mircea a vegan dinner last night and he thought it was pretty good. It was very filling, but a little flavorless, as I accidently left my spice rack at his house and only had cumin and chipotle powder... I borrowed some salt from a neighbor.

Since I feel sick, I am going into hiberation mode, so I've been sitting at my desk eating Mi-Del ginger snap cookies all day. They are made with whole wheat, canola oil and cane sugar, so they aren't overprocessed. I feel guilty though-mawing on cookies isn't all that healthy but I feel like a slug today, it's all gloomy outside and damnit, I want to.

No matter how hard I try this tea doesn't taste like a cheese pizza. But it still burns the roof of my mouth.

Day 10: Week 2 Smooth Sailing

2008-04-02T05:14:00.000-07:00

I am really enjoying following a vegan diet. I've experimented with a lot of different food, and I'm working on cooking some original vegan treats. I have had sushi, I made it on Friday with tofu, but made it on Sunday with tuna, and I enjoyed it, though I felt sort of bloated after the meat eating. It's funny, I'm technically not even a vegetarian because I eat sushi, yet I don't eat any other animal products, but I know that I would be miserable otherwise and I think this is something I can continue doing. I've been having a hankering for pizza lately, so I may end up purchasing one of the Amy's Cheese Free frozen pizzas.

Speaking of cheese, there are many things wrong with Veggie Shreds, but the two main things are: they have casein in them, which is a dairy product (despite the fact that they say non-dairy) and they taste like disgusting, plastic, nasty, gross ew. I figured I'd put it in my mouth and taste it since I'd already used it before seeing the casein (could have sworn i checked the label at the store), and it tasted like I was chewing on Barbie's hands. EWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!

One More Review

2008-03-29T14:16:00.000-07:00

I had the best dinner tonight. As I went shopping on Friday, I'm trying out all of my new goodies (instead of eating yet another can of beans) and found the best meat replacement I've ever tasted (and as a former vegetarian, I've tasted a lot). These yummy "chicken" wings are made by Health is Wealth and are totally vegan. Mircea tasted one and he said "you checked the box-these aren't meat?" The only poor review we got was from Yukon, who I think was turned off by the "buffalo" part. He put it in his mouth and spit it out-literally spit, so I think my goal of turning him into vegan (yeah right) isn't likely to happen. I'll give him credit-he's doing his part to reduce waste by pottying outside and by using feline pine litter if he has to go inside.

Day 6: Food Reviews

2008-03-29T07:58:00.000-07:00

I have had some interesting food in my mouth the past few days. The following are the reviews:

R.W. Knudsen Simply Nutritious Mega Green juice: This 100% juice mixture of all kinds of goodies was pretty delicious. It has a lot of fruits and veggies in it and no added sugar, so it was pretty darned delicious.
Light Life Smart Bacon: This is a meat free bacon subtitute. It isn't all that smart. Or tasty. The more of it I ate the more I enjoyed it. It was nice and salty tasting, but I could also tell that it wasn't any form of meat whatsoever. It tasted very "grainy". I actually would recommend it if a vegetarian or vegan really wants to have that smoky bacon flavor. But if you're doing it just to cut out fat and calories in your bacon-eat the damn bacon!
Frey Vineyards Menocino Sauvignon Blanc organic wine: Oh, it's medicino. This wine doesn't contain any sulfites (those nasty inorganic preservatives that make the wine taste good). It's disgusting. DISGUSTING. It sort of tasted like olives...and nasty. I had two sips and thought I would die. Mircea had a sip and I thought he was going to spit it out (and he has Romanian tastebuds). GRRRRR-OSSS. So despite the fact that the Skinny Bitches suggest that one doesn't drink any alcohol other than wine that is sans sulfites they can shove it! That was gross. Part of me is like "well, I should just give up all alcohol b/c it isn't healthy" but the I also wonder if following a strict diet like this really does make life suck a little.
Sushi: I made it myself with brown rice and I avoided eating the fish, though I wanted it so badly. I made mine with brown rice, a little bit of tofu, avacado, and a heck of a lot of wasabi (to make the tofu taste like something.) They were pretty tasty, though the salmon looked unbelievable. I figured eating it the first weekend wasn't following the rules very well.

It been almost a week and I think I know how this might end. I'm totally willing to give up the dairy. Gone, gone, gone! I will eat my sushi with brown rice, but I'll eat it with fish. I don't think I'll eat a lot of meat either...if any. It's weird. I love this, but I don't love eating all the fake products. The taste of meat is good.

Day 5: Grocery Trip

2008-03-28T11:49:00.000-07:00

I had a very eventful trip to the new Giant in Lusby. I'd been there with Mircea before, but I wasn't looking at it from the vegan perspective. Let me tell you this-they know how to cater to the vegan. There is an entire organic aisle and there is a whole freezer section of mostly vegan items. Woo-wee!!! Life is good!

At bowling last night I was a little nervous about eating. But I brought a banana and a Larabar and felt great. My team got beer and I didn't even miss it-I had a big bottle of water. Bowled one of my better games too-I credit vegan eating!!!

Too Funny

2008-03-27T09:45:00.001-07:00

Day Four: Life Rocks!

2008-03-27T04:48:00.000-07:00

I’m sure that everyone is sick of my daily blog entry, but I need to keep a record for myself. I’ve found out the following things in the last 4 days.

I am guilt free eating. Do you know how awesome that is? Nothing that I’ve been eating is bad for me, so I don’t have those guilty feelings after eating a meal or enjoying a snack
I feel skinny. I’m not skinny (unless we’re talking in the rhino family) but I feel amazing. I don’t feel that bloated feeling. Yeah, I am jiggling, but I know that I’m not adding to that jiggle anymore and it feels amazing
I am nervous about this weekend. I will be at Mircea’s house, but I’m going to bring plenty of rations and plenty of willpower. I’m making sushi this weekend too and I’m going to attempt to use tofu instead of fish…I just really don’t want to eat the fish. I told myself I could, but now I want to show some real willpower. Only thing with that is that I can’t give that up forever so I may be setting myself up for failure if I try to keep it up too long.
I’m going to experiment with some veggies on the grill. That thrills the heck out of me.
If anyone has problems “going #2” this is a great diet to follow. Let’s just say what goes in comes right out. How liberating!!!
I really thought that I would hate this. I love it. LOOOOOOOVE it!

For dinner last night I made a "catch-all". I made tofu, black beans, black olives and brown rice and mixed it all together with some garlic and chipotle powder. It was spicy and wonderful!!

Day Three Baby!!!

2008-03-26T09:50:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was pretty good and today isn’t too shabby either. I find that I am FAMISHED when I get off of work but a little bit of Veggie Booty is making life a little easier there. Here’s the thing with “the booty”. Technically it’s not vegan b/c it is manufactured in a facility that has dairy in it’s other products (pirate booty) I decided that since finding vegan items is nearly impossible, that I’d be willing to take the change that I’d come in contact with a grain of dairy on my “booty”. I think I just like saying booty.

Also, it is very hard to find things made of whole wheat. Every box in the store touts that is whole wheat and whole grain, but if it says “whole wheat flour” it isn’t. Well isn’t that special? I can’t find a damn thing anywhere other than the Good Earth store because everything is made of the stupid flour. Thanks a lot wheat.

My lunch today is a little lacking b/c I slept late this morning. The only items in my lunch sack are a grapefruit, a banana, some baby carrots, and a can of pineapple. I had some cookies for breakfast (I know, bad) but they tasted so good with my tea that I wanted them. They followed all my rules, no sugar, no processed b.s., and the like, but they were made with whole wheat flour. Well excuse me, it was worth it.

I’m looking forward to this weekend. I’m going to make some yummy grilled veggies and I am also going to make sushi. Having said that, I’ve agreed to make Mircea sushi, but I am starting to think that I will try to jam some tofu or something into my rolls (with my brown rice) and keep this vegan thing going. I know I’ll have sushi in San Diego, but I am actually enjoying following this and although I gave myself a free pass on sushi, I’d like to try to maybe forgo the raw fish this weekend. We’ll see. You can guarantee that you’ll get a full report, whether you want it or not.

Day One: Evening Day Two: Morning

2008-03-25T08:38:00.000-07:00

I finally got some food other than the can of beans I had for lunch. I went to the Good Earth store in Leonardtown and although their prices were a little high, they had a great selection. The sales staff was very helpful with all the questions that I had and I came home with a nice full bag of food. The best find there was a Larabar. I got the Banana Cookie flavor and holy crap, this is the best food I’ve ever tasted. (Note: this may be skewed as the only other things I had eaten that day were unsweetened hot tea and a can of beans) I also picked up other treats and some more fruits and veggies so I should be set for the week.

It’s easy to find vegetarian food. All those Boca, Gardenburgers, and Amy’s fare are all vegetarian-not vegan. So I came home with some Chipotle Tofurkey dogs, which I can only assume are going to taste disgusting. I’m already noticing a change in my taste buds because I’m not eating the fake sugar (or real sugar for that matter.) My tea tasted sweeter today, my cantaloupe was sublime. If Day Two is this much better than Day One, then I’m really looking forward to the rest of this time.

Oh, another recommendation. Yogi Tea. It is awesome. The Sweeet Thai Delight is caffeine free and needs no sugar to make it taste like Heaven.

Day One: Halfway Point

2008-03-24T12:36:00.000-07:00

It’s midday on Day One of Thirty. The day began with a cup of disgusting, unsweetened tea. I’ve had other tea with no sweetener, but this variety was gross. But I drank it. I need the water and I also need to build up the tolerance to disgusting food, because I have a month of nothing but. Actually, breakfast was lovely. I had half a cantaloupe (not the recalled kind) with my nast-tea and it was so sweet and delicious. Lunch was interesting. I hadn’t had time to shop for a lot of good vegan lunch staples, so I brought a can of kidney beans that I’d seasoned with some chipotle pepper. It was surprisingly good, and I was thinking that I could make some changes and turn a can of beans into a gourmet meal with little work. The celery sticks are gross. I like celery, but I think I only like the inside, tender parts. The outside stalks taste almost as good as that tea. I also have a banana for my late afternoon snack, and tonight after work I’m going to the Good Earth store in Leonardtown to pick up some overpriced organic and vegan items. The Food Lion near my house also has a decent selection and I’ll pick up some other stuff there. I bought a juicer this weekend and I’m going to attempt to make some veggie juice with the parts of the celery I didn’t eat (I’m sure that won’t be terrible!) I’ve also decided that with all of this fruit rind and pit waste; I’ll finally start the compost pile I’ve been talking about doing. I really need compost for my garden, so maybe this will eliminate two problems. Maybe.

A nice side effect from all this natural food is the fact that I’m losing water weight at lightening speeds. I have already tinkled 11 times this morning and we’re at the midpoint. It’s going to be a busy day!

Just One More Day

2008-03-22T12:06:00.000-07:00

I decided that I can't wait any longer. So Monday morning I will wake up and begin following a vegan lifestyle. I say this, knowing full well that I will continue to wear leather shoes and Lord knows I can't give up my mink coats (I'm kidding on that one!).

Reading about all the vegan stuff has me up in arms though. I'm torn. Does one little person make a difference? This is what I think...at least on the cruelty to animals part. How is this movement really going to stop the cattlefarms, for example? It's not. The Government pays farmers to slaughter their animals if they aren't sold to keep the prices up, so it's not like a group not buying the stuff is really going to stop the initial production, breeding, slaughtering etc. What really needs to happen is that everyone needs to be aware of this cruelty. I'm not saying that animals that we breed for food should be put up at the Hilton Garden Inn & Suites...but they shouldn't be tortured, branded, diseased and mistreated. I talked to Mircea about this and he said "it's not like they aren't going to die anyway," but I said, "ok, we have to put an animal to sleep because it's old. Do we drag it around the yard first?" He hunts deer and what do you do-you put it out of it's misery (from that first shot) by usually shooting it again to kill it. You don't sling it over your shoulder and drag it, miserably bleeting, back to your truck. It's just the right thing to do. And all the diseases those animals have-you think those aren't getting into our food source?
I'm really not on a high horse here. I am at a loss more than anything. I don't know how to make it better because it is regulated by the Government and despite my Government affiliation, they aren't very good at regulating themselves.
On Monday I will begin my 30 day journey into healthier eating. I'm looking forward to it, and we'll see what happens after that 30 days-maybe I'll become a cattle rancher, but maybe I'll realize the benefits of eating fresh, natural foods, and cutting out the hydrogenated middle men.

I'm Working on a Plan

2008-03-20T13:45:00.000-07:00

I’m not quite ready to begin my journey into veganism. I’ve been reading some different books and articles lately and I feel that it will be a healthy lifestyle, but I’m just not ready to give up my sushi. In fact, I’m pretty sure that after the 30 days, I will once again eat sushi, but I will probably attempt to avoid all other animal products.

Although I wish to lose weight, I am not looking at this as the way to lose weight. I really would like to maintain a healthier lifestyle. I don’t want anymore trans fats, processed foods, or refined carbohydrates. I’m sick and tired of feeling like a pig eating sweets, when the happiness from those items is only temporary.

There will be a lot of obstacles on this journey. I have a Romanian boyfriend who is in LOVE with meat, all kinds of meat. Seriously, we eat cows stomachs (tripe), and he eats pig’s ears and the like. So whether or not I eat meat, I’ll still be around it all the time, and that will be tempting (other than the pig ears). I am also going to be traveling to San Diego in a few weeks and I want to dine at my favorite sushi restaurant, so I’m considering easing into the veganism, but still partaking in sushi for that trip. I just couldn’t give up my sushi…I can switch to brown rice, but I can’t say no to my raw fish!

There will also be a lot of help on this journey. I have a friend who is trying to cut out processed foods and we will help each other with some tips and tricks for finding the good stuff. I also have a friend who read the same book as I did and propelled herself into a healthier lifestyle, so I will use her for support as well. Finally, I started an organic vegetable garden. I’m not sure how it will turn out, but if it goes well, I will have a wonderful, fresh bounty to enjoy in my new lifestyle.

When I do begin, I will post how I’m feeling, how the food is affecting me, etc. I’m sure I’ll have a bad attitude the first few days, but in the end, I will be a lot happier and healthier.