Breakfast: Dorset cereal with rice milk and an apple
Lunch: Pasta from last night plus some wonderful red pesto that actually didn't have any cheese or egg in
Dinner: Eating out at 'Austells' for friend's baby shower.
I called ahead to the restaurant and the chef said it wasn't a problem. We were all therapists and a veritable veggie brigade and he was wise to prepare. I was one of three vegans amongst us and most of other 10 were vegetarians. This was reassuring. Had a feast of:
Olives
Wild mushroom, spinach, avocado and pine nut salad with truffle and port dressing
Roasted med veg risotto with rocket
Summer fruits sorbet and Raspberries
Friday, 9 November 2012
Vegan Challenge Day 3 : Wednesday
Breakfast: PG Tea and soy milk
Lunch : Rice and peas, leftover curry, steamed/fried kale
Dinner : Aubergine and black olive tomato rigatoni pasta
I must admit I had longing eyes for the Parmegianno, but actually the pasta was fine without. First time I have had pasta without cheese in a very, very long time.
Snacks: medjool date, really dark chocolate, packet of crisps
Lunch : Rice and peas, leftover curry, steamed/fried kale
Dinner : Aubergine and black olive tomato rigatoni pasta
I must admit I had longing eyes for the Parmegianno, but actually the pasta was fine without. First time I have had pasta without cheese in a very, very long time.
Snacks: medjool date, really dark chocolate, packet of crisps
Tuesday, 6 November 2012
Vegan Challenge Day 2: Tuesday
Breakfast: Mate tea, Dorset cereal with almond milk
Lunch: Granary bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar
Dinner: Sweet potato curry, brown rice, garlic dahl, spicy fried potato with asparagus, and steamed kale with lemon juice
Tonight's main meal was a veritable feast. Indian food is easy to cook dairy free. I used coconut milk in the curry so it was very creamy and satisfying.
Still no cravings for dairy. I am feeling really good about my decision and the commitment to this week. I used to eat a lot of cheese and drink lots of milky teas and coffees. I have a feeling that my body will thank me for cutting out that surplus of saturated fat and cholesterol. Bring on day 3 :)
Lunch: Granary bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar
Dinner: Sweet potato curry, brown rice, garlic dahl, spicy fried potato with asparagus, and steamed kale with lemon juice
Tonight's main meal was a veritable feast. Indian food is easy to cook dairy free. I used coconut milk in the curry so it was very creamy and satisfying.
Still no cravings for dairy. I am feeling really good about my decision and the commitment to this week. I used to eat a lot of cheese and drink lots of milky teas and coffees. I have a feeling that my body will thank me for cutting out that surplus of saturated fat and cholesterol. Bring on day 3 :)
Vegan Challenge Day 1 - Monday
Although I was taunted several times by Dad with milky tea, it didn't appeal to me.
Even had our dinner bake without the cheesy topping (usually my favourite bit) without any nasty withdrawal symptoms... and we left the table before Banana cake was served (eggs, milk).
Regarding eggs: I will endeavour never to eat an egg again should I not know where it has come from first. The whole process of mass egg farming is abhorrent. Even 'free range' hens often never see the light of day, being kept in huge barns in poor conditions. In the processing plant, baby chicks are sorted into male and female. They only really want to keep the egg laying hens, so the vast majority of male chicks face the blender. They literally get blended up alive for animal food.
If you are fortunate enough to live near a farm, or somewhere that as its own chickens, then you may be able to purchase eggs with better knowledge that the hens had happy lives, rummaging around outside in shrubbery and grass as they should be. Eggs from hens able to graze on varied nutrients are larger and of a far superior quality. Plus you are supporting local and small scale ventures, which is healthier for you, your economy and for the land.
Onto my food for the day.
Breakfast - Coffee with almond milk
Banana and peanut butter on wholemeal toast
Lunch - Butternut squash and lentil vegetable soup
Snack - Chilli peanuts
1 Cox's apple
1 small piece of 74% chocolate
Dinner - Bean tomato casserole topped with potato
All really yummy and very happy that I can still buy chocolate without milk in.
Even had our dinner bake without the cheesy topping (usually my favourite bit) without any nasty withdrawal symptoms... and we left the table before Banana cake was served (eggs, milk).
Regarding eggs: I will endeavour never to eat an egg again should I not know where it has come from first. The whole process of mass egg farming is abhorrent. Even 'free range' hens often never see the light of day, being kept in huge barns in poor conditions. In the processing plant, baby chicks are sorted into male and female. They only really want to keep the egg laying hens, so the vast majority of male chicks face the blender. They literally get blended up alive for animal food.
If you are fortunate enough to live near a farm, or somewhere that as its own chickens, then you may be able to purchase eggs with better knowledge that the hens had happy lives, rummaging around outside in shrubbery and grass as they should be. Eggs from hens able to graze on varied nutrients are larger and of a far superior quality. Plus you are supporting local and small scale ventures, which is healthier for you, your economy and for the land.
Onto my food for the day.
Breakfast - Coffee with almond milk
Banana and peanut butter on wholemeal toast
Lunch - Butternut squash and lentil vegetable soup
Snack - Chilli peanuts
1 Cox's apple
1 small piece of 74% chocolate
Dinner - Bean tomato casserole topped with potato
All really yummy and very happy that I can still buy chocolate without milk in.
Monday, 5 November 2012
The wake up call
'Get Vegucated' and 'Got the facts on Milk?' are two brilliant American documentaries that have compelled me to change my eating habits. Go and watch them.
I am a pescetarian, meaning that I eat fish and eggs as well as dairy and all the veggie stuff. I have had to have a big rethink regarding my consumption habits. Now I have done my research and the evidence is insurmountable. A balanced vegan diet can be really healthy and even life saving. In the West our huge appetite for meat and dairy has led to obesity, heart disease, diabetes and cancer on an unprecedented scale.
As a vegetarian I grew up with the incessant questioning of confused carnivores who found my family's food choices perplexing and somewhat unsettling. So going vegan is even more difficult for many to grapple with. For many I have spoken to, being vegan conjures pictures of emaciated, awkward individuals who are a nightmare to take out for dinner. Although the latter may be true, I will see this as an opportunity to embrace the challenge of cooking from fresh, changing my attitude, and most importantly, my diet!
My lovely boyfriend is with me on this one and we are taking a 7 day challenge together.
Our protocols for this week:
- to eat a vegan diet completely free from animal produce
- to eat regular meals and snacks which leave us feeling satisfied
- to have a way higher nutrient and fibre intake (more fruit and veg!)
- to consume less saturated fat and cholesterol (easy when cutting out cheese and milk and cream and ice cream and biscuits and butter and pastries and most processed foods etc etc ad infinitum)
Here I will post about my daily discoveries, daily meals/snacks, and how I feel too (The vegan community report increased energy levels and less mood swings - get in)...
I am a pescetarian, meaning that I eat fish and eggs as well as dairy and all the veggie stuff. I have had to have a big rethink regarding my consumption habits. Now I have done my research and the evidence is insurmountable. A balanced vegan diet can be really healthy and even life saving. In the West our huge appetite for meat and dairy has led to obesity, heart disease, diabetes and cancer on an unprecedented scale.
As a vegetarian I grew up with the incessant questioning of confused carnivores who found my family's food choices perplexing and somewhat unsettling. So going vegan is even more difficult for many to grapple with. For many I have spoken to, being vegan conjures pictures of emaciated, awkward individuals who are a nightmare to take out for dinner. Although the latter may be true, I will see this as an opportunity to embrace the challenge of cooking from fresh, changing my attitude, and most importantly, my diet!
My lovely boyfriend is with me on this one and we are taking a 7 day challenge together.
Our protocols for this week:
- to eat a vegan diet completely free from animal produce
- to eat regular meals and snacks which leave us feeling satisfied
- to have a way higher nutrient and fibre intake (more fruit and veg!)
- to consume less saturated fat and cholesterol (easy when cutting out cheese and milk and cream and ice cream and biscuits and butter and pastries and most processed foods etc etc ad infinitum)
Here I will post about my daily discoveries, daily meals/snacks, and how I feel too (The vegan community report increased energy levels and less mood swings - get in)...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)