As I mentioned before, I pledged to eat a vegetarian diet. My goal is to keep it for at least a year. I want to experience the cons and pros of becoming a vegan. To walk in their shoes. What do I expect to gain? ... help out, even a bit, with the environment, better health, not support the mega companies that are involved in animal abuse, change someone's mentality about vegetables, learn and utilize more vegetables in my diet. They all sound like good reasons to me.
I started receiving emails related to my 21-Day Vegan Kickstart Program. A complete list of pantry must to have, shopping list for ingredients, and yes, online support. This program sounds good. The only downfall to it, my decision to be lacto-ovo vegetarian. In this program, I need to give up eggs and dairy items, for only 21 days. Not bad, right? ...oh help me!
So I started stocking up! I have made homemade pita bread, falafel and some green banana onion stew. Is is in my freezer. Plans to make some potato garlic raviolis in the next couple days. The 21-Day Vegan Kickstart does provide a week by week meal plan. Including recipes for the items and even nutritional guide per serving. This is awesome! I have decided to start with my own recipes, and only to take it 2-3 days at a time. I become very overwhelmed, when I look at the big picture instead of section by section. This is how I plan to achieve this goal. Otherwise, I will not last!!!
I am also keeping a binder of all the recipes I try and my rating or changes I make. I am planning to post all recipes and everything I eat during the time. Preparing some meals ahead of time and freezing them sound like a good idea. The times that I do not have energy, nor time, I won't be tempted to dial my favorite take-out place. I love to cook and enjoy making my own meals, nutritious and enjoyable.
I have been googling everything I eat...is "this" vegan? To my suprise, all those sugary treats that I love are for the most part vegan...what? yes... then it comes to the oils - a contraversy due to the way plant oils are produced. This will be my personal judgement...I love my olive oil!
I did have a step back yesterday "technically my new diet has not started yet - 2 more days"....but since I was cutting down on meats I feel kinda guilty... my boyfriend bought a steak strambolli. I ate it, mindfully thinking of my current stand. To my bad luck...I ended up with an upset stomach and time in the bathroom. Was it coincidence or the power of the mind?!
I also restarted my yoga sessions. I am not as healthy as I thought. I remember years back when I was able to do all the inversions and pretzel like asanas. Oh where have the years gone! But I know, it is not my body holding me back, is my mind putting limits. My body feels good pain, is in good spirit and is retraning a mindful mind. For now, happy because I am!
Maddy
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Doubts...
Just 3 more days before I start my vegetarian diet.
Today I am feeling doubtful. What if I can't keep this? Temptations? Guilt?
With every new decision, the fear of not been able to accomplish what one is set to do can become a little scary. I have cut down the amount of meat ingested these past days. I am having doubts vegetarianism is for me, I enjoy variety in what I cook with and eat. I am not craving the meats but I am thinking ahead of all the family gatherings, my mom's traditional cooking, the smells of food....
Yesterday my younger sister offered me steak strambolli. It smelled like heaven! But I didn't crave it. I am giving myself points. My purpose and will stand strong. I passed the first temptation test. What seems to help is the reality of animal cruelty. Thinking where that piece of meat came from, how it was raised and was there any mistreatment and abuse?
I am only human. Mistakes are expected. My attitude is go as far as you can, do what works and feels good to you. There are small farmers who raise their animals in a humane way. Maybe a solution is to buy from them. Remember we are all part of the food chain.
This is my jounal for a better me,
Maddy
Today I am feeling doubtful. What if I can't keep this? Temptations? Guilt?
With every new decision, the fear of not been able to accomplish what one is set to do can become a little scary. I have cut down the amount of meat ingested these past days. I am having doubts vegetarianism is for me, I enjoy variety in what I cook with and eat. I am not craving the meats but I am thinking ahead of all the family gatherings, my mom's traditional cooking, the smells of food....
Yesterday my younger sister offered me steak strambolli. It smelled like heaven! But I didn't crave it. I am giving myself points. My purpose and will stand strong. I passed the first temptation test. What seems to help is the reality of animal cruelty. Thinking where that piece of meat came from, how it was raised and was there any mistreatment and abuse?
I am only human. Mistakes are expected. My attitude is go as far as you can, do what works and feels good to you. There are small farmers who raise their animals in a humane way. Maybe a solution is to buy from them. Remember we are all part of the food chain.
This is my jounal for a better me,
Maddy
Friday, December 28, 2012
Finding the Support
".....i will make 2 juicy t-bone steaks." My stomach twitched as I managed to respond, "but honey remember as of January I am switching to vegetarian diet!" "For how long?" he asked.
John is my boyfriend. He is also a chef obsessed with bacon. He supports me in my decision of becoming a vegetarian. He will probably be my biggest challenge. I love him very much. He feeds me! The challenge is saying no to his delicious, mouth watering food. Although he started putting together a menu for me.
For the next few days, I am educating myself about what is considered vegetarian and how to read food labels. I am revising what I have in storage. My freezer only contains frozen veggies from the food market, 2 sandwich steaks and 2 burgers which have been there since the summer. Time to clean up!
Two major web sites I have found very useful and informative are: pcrm.org and peta.org.
PCRM or Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine offers a 21-Day Vegan Kickstart for newbies and PETA or People for the Ethical treatment of Animals also offers a vegetarian starter kit. I pledged to be vegetarian...does not have to be a "forever" decision and the decision should come from you. Do not feel you are been forced to do something you don't want. My decision comes from an overall mental self diagnosis. Meaning I am putting in perspective my age, my body, my eating habits, my health and what I want for myself. I am not asking my boyfriend to join me. He doesn't eat vegetables...but this will change. I have a feeling he will be tempted with my cooking and as long as he adds more vegetables to his diet, I will feel a winner!
There is plenty of information in the web. There are countless recipes. It can be overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. The first month and probably the hardest I will be guided by the vegetarian starter kits mentioned above. I am already formulating recipes in my head, maybe I should write them down:), for my first week. I am also thinking about the foods I love the most. Is it flavor, texture or smell that attracts me to it, and how to incorporate this into my new diet.
I am very excited about my decision to become a vegetarian!
Maddy
John is my boyfriend. He is also a chef obsessed with bacon. He supports me in my decision of becoming a vegetarian. He will probably be my biggest challenge. I love him very much. He feeds me! The challenge is saying no to his delicious, mouth watering food. Although he started putting together a menu for me.
For the next few days, I am educating myself about what is considered vegetarian and how to read food labels. I am revising what I have in storage. My freezer only contains frozen veggies from the food market, 2 sandwich steaks and 2 burgers which have been there since the summer. Time to clean up!
Two major web sites I have found very useful and informative are: pcrm.org and peta.org.
PCRM or Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine offers a 21-Day Vegan Kickstart for newbies and PETA or People for the Ethical treatment of Animals also offers a vegetarian starter kit. I pledged to be vegetarian...does not have to be a "forever" decision and the decision should come from you. Do not feel you are been forced to do something you don't want. My decision comes from an overall mental self diagnosis. Meaning I am putting in perspective my age, my body, my eating habits, my health and what I want for myself. I am not asking my boyfriend to join me. He doesn't eat vegetables...but this will change. I have a feeling he will be tempted with my cooking and as long as he adds more vegetables to his diet, I will feel a winner!
There is plenty of information in the web. There are countless recipes. It can be overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. The first month and probably the hardest I will be guided by the vegetarian starter kits mentioned above. I am already formulating recipes in my head, maybe I should write them down:), for my first week. I am also thinking about the foods I love the most. Is it flavor, texture or smell that attracts me to it, and how to incorporate this into my new diet.
I am very excited about my decision to become a vegetarian!
Maddy
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Becoming Vegetarian
The decision was made. Let this be my New Year resolution...a healthier me - body, mind and spirit!
The decision of switching to a vegetarian diet. This will be accomplish in a period of 1 year...365 days of getting reacquainted with vegetables. Lacto-ovo or full vegan, the decision is yet to be made, no rush, no pressure, just following instinct.
I have been researching the internet about anything vegan. My greatest challenge will be replacing this bad diet I have been in for the past 41 years. Switching to vegetarian does not have to be a terrible experience.
When I first joined culinary school, we watched all these videos that show cruelty to the animals used to feed us omnivorous. I was grossed out and for 3 months straight kept away from eating meats. I didn't make the decision then, but it was something I considered. Then last July I took a Nutrition class that opened my eyes on the importance of what goes into our bodies. This effected my decision because I was experiencing changes in my body that matched what I was putting in my body. With an open mind, a will to change and the creativity in the kitchen I know this can be done. I am not sure yet how to approach this. Little steps or full vegan... As of January 2013, my journey begins.
Thank you for joining me!
Maddy
The decision of switching to a vegetarian diet. This will be accomplish in a period of 1 year...365 days of getting reacquainted with vegetables. Lacto-ovo or full vegan, the decision is yet to be made, no rush, no pressure, just following instinct.
I have been researching the internet about anything vegan. My greatest challenge will be replacing this bad diet I have been in for the past 41 years. Switching to vegetarian does not have to be a terrible experience.
When I first joined culinary school, we watched all these videos that show cruelty to the animals used to feed us omnivorous. I was grossed out and for 3 months straight kept away from eating meats. I didn't make the decision then, but it was something I considered. Then last July I took a Nutrition class that opened my eyes on the importance of what goes into our bodies. This effected my decision because I was experiencing changes in my body that matched what I was putting in my body. With an open mind, a will to change and the creativity in the kitchen I know this can be done. I am not sure yet how to approach this. Little steps or full vegan... As of January 2013, my journey begins.
Thank you for joining me!
Maddy
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