I think this is day three. Or actually day two because I had pizza on day one and started over.
I feel my life forced ebbing, which is kind of nice at bedtime because then I fall asleep super early and am awake early enough in the morning to get things ready for the day.
Breakfast was oatmeal with brown sugar. The usual, so no sense of deprivation or disorientation.
After church today, we ran to Sam’s Club because they have St*rbucks coffee in bulk packages, whole bean, and it was a terrific deal. We got PC some milk, as well as some grapes and a three pack of good frozen pizza (sigh). Someone walked by with a fully baked pizza for one of the sample stands at the end of an aisle, and my stomach growled audibly. I felt saddened and deprived.
Arriving home, I had only a few minutes to throw together lunch before going to my youth retreat training this afternoon. I had brown rice mixed with leftover vegan taco filling from the night before. It was filling, and tasted fine. But I could smell the pizza PC was baking, and left before I succumbed to temptation.
Tonight, on the way home, I stopped at Akins and found some vegan chorizo (at my sister’s recommendation), a package of vegan swiss “cheese” and some dehydrated texturized vegetable protein chunks, beef flavored, that you reconstitute to substitute for beef. It looked exactly like dog food. I cooked it tonight in spaghetti sauce and while PC said he didn’t like it, I was pleasantly surprised by the taste.
What I’m finding is that this vegan thing is causing me to take a much harder look at food labels. It’s appalling how many things I regularly ate contained milk products. I could really do without that (just because of my reaction to dairy) but I’ve been craving eggs like crazy.
I do feel at this point that I could definitely be a vegetarian my whole life (except on Thanksgiving) if I had to. I know I would be more healthy. But I don’t think I could follow the vegan lifestyle more than a week.
I’ve discovered a lot of terrific substitutes for dairy standbys, like soy yogurt (very good) and soy “sour cream” which is delicious. I’ll have to wait on the cheese substitute, as I haven’t been brave enough to try it.
One thing the vegans didn’t tell me, but the lady at Akins did, is that a vegan probably has to make a major investment in Bean-O.
OH. Yeah, she’s probably right.
Best Daily Show comment on Sarah Palin lately – she thought Soy Milk was Spanish for I am milk. (snort)
good luck!
And, if you choose to go back to meat at the end of this experiment, remember to be gentle to your system – it won’t be prepared and it might be a little harsh.
Is Bean-o an acceptable Vegan thing?
I love vegan — if someone else prepares it. It’s a lot of work! Good on you for trying and yes, watch it when reintroducing red meat and fats.
I’m much enjoying your reports. Thanks!
hmmmm……i would suggest a basic dietetics/nutrition course at a local college, if possible. one of the toughest classes ever (pre-google, pre-computer, pre-calorie counting and nutritional information software) because i had to look up and enter the caloric (protein, fat, and carbs) values, and list amounts (calculated without a calculator) of all vitamins and minerals present in everything i put in my mouth…for ONE WEEK. next, analysis of the intake versus daily recommended amounts. it would be a simple task, now!
it would be valuable if you were to decide to go light on the animal protein…you could make more informed choices. there is the option of ova- lacto vegetarian……and Lactaid (skim) is a choice i made because i can’t tolerate milk, and i’m allergic to soy!
great site for all things food-like: http://fanaticcook.blogspot.com/
a major investment in Bean-o LOL!
Good for you.
Having gone vegan, I was really glad that I eased myself into it rather than jumping in as you did. I went vegetarian first for 4 months and then made the switch to vegan.
I have a much easier time using fresh produce and grains than using all sorts of “vegan subsitutes” which I don’t think are any healthier than not being vegan.
Since it is fall season, I would lean towards making lots of soup recipes. Butternut, mixed veggies, etc. If it calls for milk, substitute hemp milk (but I water it down just a little — 3/4 a cup with 1/4 water if the recipe calls for 1 cup).
Good luck!
i’m not sure i could go whole hog into a vegan diet the way you have…but bravo to you! i occasionally go on some odd diet just to be more conscious about what i eat…when you really start looking, it’s a bit scary the stuff we put in our bodies! i couldn’t give up eggs and fish tho’. :-) glad you’re sharing your vegan experiment experience! :-)
I just thought of one treat you can try, if it is available in your area – Toffuti “Cuties”. These are fake ice cream sandwiches, made with soy and tofu. Which sounds revolting, but they are actually delicious. My kids used to beg me to get them at the grocery store. With your dairy intolerance, these would be a great substitute for ice cream.
http://www.tofutti.com/
P.S. I’ve been an avid food label-reader for years. It is extremely difficult to find products without high-fructose corn syrup, any hydrogenated oils, MSG, and/or other additives that our bodies don’t need. But it’s so worth it to make the effort.
Let me know if you try the cheese substitute(s). I’ve never been brave enough to try them either.
Good for you for giving a vegan diet a try!
Even if you significantly reduce your consumption of animal products, but you can’t go fully vegan, you are still having an impact and reducing animals’ suffering. For me, being a vegan isn’t about some sort of purity, it’s simply about reducing as much suffering as I can. It took me about a year from the time I decided to give up meat until I actually did it, and it took me longer to finally give up eggs and dairy (even though my body liked neither!).
If you’re reducing your consumption of animal products, which it sounds like you already have, then you are already reducing suffering and should be commended! I think TryVeg.com is a great resource for tips, recipes and other info about vegetarian and vegan diets — check it out!
(On the subject of Beano, I think it actually has gelatin in it, but I am sure there are other similar products.)
I’d love to go vegetarian but would never work with Hubby…. he must have meat even if it kills him. I’d always be fixing two meals instead of one. MEN! Congrats on sticking with your vegan lifestyle.
If I were doing what you’re doing right now I’d be buying stock in Bean-O.
Our youngest has food allergy issues and couldn’t eat eggs but scrambled eggs was a quick dinner saver on many nights. His favorite food is now scrambled tofu and I’m telling you it is fabulous! Saute a little garlic in a pan with some olive oil and add some tumeric to get a nice yellow color and add some soy sauce for a little extra flavor. Squeeze and crumble some firm or extra firm tofu into the pan and saute it in the pan. It looks like scrambled eggs when you’re done and it tastes better than the real thing. I love it!