30 more?

Things are going a-ok.  We are a happy vegan family.  Kelly has actually been requested vegan waffles.  Although I suspect Kelly would eat anything waffles.  We have found some great vegan products to fill some cravings.  Vegan taco meat- delish.  Vegan italian sausage at the Jake- not bad.  Vegan chicken posole- outstanding.  There have been a couple of loosers along the way.  Tofutti hot dogs- mush.  Frozen vegan dinner- blah. 
I am thrilled with Nature's Bin in Lakewood.  They have a great selection of prepared food.  Prices are lower than Whole Foods.  And it's right next to McDonalds.  Everyone is happy. 
I have actually been to the gym on multiple occassions.  All this healthy living is adding up.  Down 8 lbs and feeling good. 
We are actually considering added another 30 days to the experiment!

I like this.

Would  you believe me if I told you that I really like this vegan thing?  Don't get me wrong.  I have no intent on being vegan for life.  I just have to say this isn't so bad.  So far the food has been really delicious.  A shout out goes to Spring for providing us with a bounty of excellent veggie options.  I find myself holding back at the market.  Instead of obstacles I see options!  Too many options.  Should I make the roasted veggie sandwich? Portabello mushrooms?  Tofu pasta?  Black beans and rice?  So much to choose from, my head is spinning!
All of those crazy faux meat products I bought at Whole Foods- haven't made a single one.  I am having too much fun working my way down the produce aisle.  Yesterday Jim told me to make something happen with endive.  So it shall be done!
Yesterday we had the fam over for dinner.  Meat was provided for the meat eaters.  (I love how suddenly that sounds so dirty.) I can honestly saw I would have rather had the vegan options rather than the meat options.  We grilled yellow squash, zucchini, red peppers and portabellos up on the charcoal grill.  Put it on some ciabatta with a little vegan pepperjack cheese and veganaise.  Out of this world good.  Tossed together a grilled corn salad with tomatoes,  onion, basil and lime.  Dried cranberry and red cabbage coleslaw.  I achieved vegan cookout nirvana.
The other good news on my plate?  Down four pounds.  Cha ching!

One bad apple....

Still here!  Been sick as a dog the past two days.  The good news is that I have no desire to eat the elephant that has been trampling all over my sinuses.  The bad news is I  may have discovered how many apples are too many apples. 
The thing is, I am lazy.  This vegan thing takes planning and preparation.  Take yesterday for example.  Kell graduated kindergarten.  So after getting the kids dressed, coffeed and fed it was time to head out the door.  Didn't have time to eat anything.  So I grabbed an apple.  All good.  We got home from graduation around noon.  The baby had to be maintained.  I had some time sensitive emails to  shoot off.  There was work to be done.  I was hungry so I grabbed an apple.  By the time the dust settled it was time to get Jim off to work.  Made some quick portabello mushroom sandwiches.  Later we went for a walk.  What did I grab on the way out the door?  An apple!
Tummy hurt.
I actually think that there was a fourth apple in there somewhere.  I just can't place it.
Today was much better.  I went to the West Side Market this morning and got some great stuff.  The produce at the Basketeria was awesome.  I also picked up some vegan peirogies and some great bean salsa at Orale. Ohio City Pasta had some vegan Tofu pasta.  What the heck! 

All of this cost less than 20 bucks!

So all in all.  I think we are doing pretty well.  There have been a couple of tough moments.  Breaking Kell's white chocolate cookie in half for him was pretty cruel.  It smelled sooooo good. 

This weekend we are going to have the family over.  Meat will be served.  I will be tempted.  But vegan will prevail.



Made it through day 1

So we made it through day one.  Well, I know I did.  Husband has technically only had a salad for breakfast.  (That's what you call your 7pm meal when you work nights.)  I am confident that he will make it through the night.  It's cute.  Out of nowhere he'll ask a question- are gardenburgers vegan?  is bread vegan?  is beer and wine vegan?   Let's just say I answered yes to the right question.

Breakfast was pretty simple.  We blind tested some non-dairy milk.  Personally, I preferred the almond milk.  There was a mini carrot muffin involved.
Lunch was a really big sweet potato.  I was horrified when I saw how may calories were in the fudder (fake butter).  I passed.
Dinner was a really good salad.  I know, weak and predictable.  But it was fricken hot today. Cooking seemed like a bad idea.
Just finished up the day with an apple from the farmer's market.  Surprisingly satisfying.

I did take the time today to make a batch of vegan waffles.  They are officially six year old approved.  They were yeast based so they did take a while.  It will be worth it to open the freezer and pop one in the toaster oven on a busy morning.
I was really disappointed in my trip to the Tremont Farmer's Market today.  I don't know if I got there too late but it seemed like everyone was out of everything.  Just some spring mix and apples for me today.  I was really hoping for some inspiration.

I am really excited about all of the support that everyone is showing.  Keep sending those recipes!

Vegan Eve

Hit Whole Food today.  I dreamt of walking out with a cartful of fresh colorful veggies, tofuy goodness and baked delights like a contestant on vegan Top Chef.  Instead I managed to spend $120 on some alarmingly processed meat substitutions and an angel food cake (to be eaten today).  Veganaise?  Tofutti sour cream?  Vegan meatloaf?  These are things that shouldn't be  happening.  But, I am game.  I am sure I will close my eyes, take a bite of my vegan sausage patty  and immediately think I am at Bob Evans.

I do hope these products make the experiment easier.  They sure were expensive.

Veganaise $3.99

Soy Whip $4.99

Marmite yeast  $7.49

Vegan Meatloaf $7.99

Vegan Gourmet Mozzarella $4.69

Gimmie Lean Sausage $4.99

As opposed to my send off lunch at McDonalds.  $6.49  And it was "angus". 

Ok. So I don't seriously think that the mushroom swiss burger at Mc D's qualifies as meat.  I was there with Kell and I thought it would be a good send off. 

I am lucky that the Tremont Farmer's Market is tomorrow.  I am hoping to score some French breakfast radishes, arugula and the like. I am keeping my fingers crossed for a random ramp.   I am pretty sure that Bon Bon Bakery has some vegan cookies.  Or maybe I will just stop at the bar on the way home and get a vegan taco.  The cooks love that.

I love meat.

Let me rephrase that.  I really love meat. I love it grilled, braised and roasted.  Wrap in puff pastry or put it on a stick, I don't care.  Unless you make a terrible mistake, it will come out delicious.  So why?  Why go vegan  for 30 days?  I wish I had a good answer.  Maybe it's because my pants are too tight.  Maybe it's because I want to see if I can do it.  Mostly I think it's because I really love meat. 

The 30 day experiment begins on Tuesday May 31st.  I have spent the past week getting some research done.  So far I am surprised by the tasty looking recipes out there.  Breakfast seems like it's going to be a lot of work for 7 in the morning.  Lunch will probably be something out of a box purchased at Whole Foods.  Dinner could be a wild and crazy good time.  We'll see!

Tomorrow I hit Whole Foods to stock up on vegetable yeast, beans and frozen lunches.  Wish me luck.