(Confession Time: I am a bit scared to write my Lenten challenge for this year, since once I write it, then you will know, and then my accountability has increased about 1000%.)
Truth be told, I am not sure I can do it, but I am going to try:
I am going vegan for Lent. No animal products: no meat, no seafood (sigh), no dairy (no goat cheese!), not even honey, milk chocolate (thank goodness for dark chocolate) or most gummies or anything with gelatin.
All plants, all the time...until April 8.
Thankfully, I have a couple friends journeying with me, a vegan Mother-in-Law and another friend who is eats vegan year-round. I am in good company.
I am not making SPH (he may choose to anyway) or the boys submit to this vegan eating challenge, so I've been doing loads of research on adaptable, or some call them, flexitarian meals.
Until Wednesday, I have meals with bacon, goat cheese, seafood and chorizo planned. Nothing like going out with a bang, right? I even treated myself to some gelato this weekend, since as I passed the case at Market District had the realization that it was off limits real soon.
Why do I do this? A big part of it is I just love a good challenge. Another part is that I recently read:
In short, this book (and the movie Forks Over Knives, which recounts much of this book) advocates that a plant-based, whole foods diet can help prevent and reverse many of the health ailments in this country. Near the end of the book, Dr. Campbell challenges the readers: Try eating only plants for 30 days and see how you feel.And so, here I go. I am not sure what to expect. When our family decided to try vegetarian two years ago, I realized how much better you feel eating less meat. The questions running through my head at I type:
Will eating vegan cause any noticeable daily improvements?
Will I have more energy or (yikes) less?
Will this have any lasting affect?
Oh, and if you're concerned about my protein, iron, B-12 and calcium, I'll be keeping a close eye on what I eat to balance out complete proteins and using products like nutritional yeast to ensure a complete, balanced diet.
***One last note: this website is not turning vegan. Sure, I'll share some vegan recipes, but I already have several recipes in the queue that will keep omnivores happy.***
So, what do you think? Do you think I can do it? I hope so...are you game?
And without further adieu, our meals for the week:
Pasta Carbonara, Broccoli
Lightened Gumbo
Chana Masala, Indian Sides from Trader Joe's, Brown Rice
Carolina Barbecue Vegetable Soup (new recipe), Whole Wheat Baguette
Lemon Caper Pasta, (without the cheese for me)
Have a sweet week,
SPC
And without further adieu, our meals for the week:
Pasta Carbonara, Broccoli
Lightened Gumbo
Chana Masala, Indian Sides from Trader Joe's, Brown Rice
Carolina Barbecue Vegetable Soup (new recipe), Whole Wheat Baguette
Lemon Caper Pasta, (without the cheese for me)
Have a sweet week,
SPC
6 comments:
I'm happy to help too! Just let me know. (Josh and I are 90% vegan.) On suggestion though: eat all of your Girl Scout cookies today! Or freeze them for mid-April.
Whoo! Good luck! I'm excited to see how this works out for you... and to try some new recipes!
JB--do you have any insight into soy cheeses? Someone told me Daiya (sp?) was good, and I am not going to use non-dairy cheese much, but figured it could help in some recipes.
Laura--thanks girl! We'll see... :)
Daiya is the best of the options (in our opinion and many others too) but we don't use it much except when a cheesy binding is needed (for example, in a cauliflower pizza crust). It will do when sparingly used on a pizza, over nachos or inside a burrito, but it definitely isn't CHEESE.
Good for you SPC. I know you can do it! GM Sheri
I know you'll do great Jess! Thanks for continuing to inspire me.
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