My Vegan Experiment - Day 5

I almost ate a Samoa today! I was out of my predictable home environment, and I got blindsided with an offer of a Girl Scout cookie. As a former Girl Scout, how could I say no, right? I had it in my hand and was just about to eat it before I remembered that I was in the middle of My Vegan Experiment. Wamp wah. There was a moment of disappointment, but I was mostly embarrassed I had picked up the cookie and then put it back on the plate.

I think I did pretty well today with my food choices. I noticed the less sugar I eat, the less cravings I seem to have. Maybe sugar is really more of an issue for me than eggs and dairy. I also realized I'm not drinking enough water.

• coffee with rice milk
• my perfect breakfast - this time with fresh raspberries instead of cranberries
• whole grain wrap with hummus, lettuce, spinach, carrots, radish, and kohlrabi (it can be hard to find an acceptable tortilla wrap, but La Tortilla Factory offers a nice soft wrap with 13 g of fiber, 8 g of protein, and no hydrogenated oil or high-fructose corn syrup)
• orange juice
  
• organic raw cashews
• fresh strawberries
• earl grey tea with rice milk
• quinoa with sauteed spinach, red peppers and mushrooms

By the way, thanks to a suggestion by a reader, I'm going to give the 21-Day Vegan Kickstart a try. It starts on Monday, March 1. If you think you might be interested in trying the vegan thing, check it out!

My Vegan Experiment - Day 4

I cheated ever-so-slightly today, the fourth day of My Vegan Experiment. I had just a little honey in some honey-mustard dip I made as part of a raw veggie tray for a family get-together. I didn't feel too bad about it because honey is not a reason why I wanted to try a vegan diet. I plan to do a little research about the honey industry and see what the health and ethical issues are. Does anyone have any input?

Anyway, having to eat in a social situation did present a few challenges, as I expected. My sister-in-law's famous chocolate chip cheesecake was alluring, but I stood firm in my resolve. It wasn't too hard. My mantra right now is this:

I will not reward myself with food. Instead, I will reward myself with a healthy body by only eating food that contributes necessary nutrients.

It's hard to imagine maintaining that kind of standard forever. However, I'm not going to think about forever right now. Just this week.

Here's what I ate today. Pretty good. I could easily stand to loose the carbonated juice. I need more fresh fruit. I also read an article today (click HERE) that got me thinking about cutting coffee. I wish they made yerba matte in k-cups.

• coffee with rice milk
• assorted raw vegetables: organic broccoli and cauliflower, red peppers, carrots, and lettuce
• whole grain wrap with hummus, lettuce, spinach, carrots, radish, and kohlrabi (it can be hard to find an acceptable tortilla wrap, but La Tortilla Factory offers a nice soft wrap with 13 g of fiber, 8 g of protein, and no hydrogenated oil or high-fructose corn syrup)
• sparking raspberry juice (no added sugar)
  
• organic raw cashews
• dried cranberries sweetened with cane juice
  
• an organic orange
• earl grey tea with rice milk
• soup made mostly from all the odds and ends in my fridge: white kidney beans, organic whole grain brown rice, organic tomato sauce from a can, a fresh organic tomato, onion, and the green tops from the organic kohlrabi and carrots from my Sweetwater pickup.
• cereal with rice milk
  

I haven't noticed any new side effects today. Everything is pretty much status quo. However, tomorrow is another day, so we'll just have to see what happens!

My Vegan Experiment - Day 3

It's the third day of My Vegan Experiment, and I'm feeling surprisingly at ease with this lifestyle change so far. However, I think the true test will be when I step out of the daily weekday routine and I'm at a restaurant or special occasion.

I was feeling a lot of cravings today. Interestingly enough, the cravings were not for dairy or eggs, but for desserts. So I decided to have a serving of Talenti strawberry sorbet, which is certified vegan, and doesn't contain any undesirable ingredients (other than 21 g of sugar per serving). Yes, it tasted lovely, but I was not satisfied. In fact, I felt a rush of cravings for a bunch of other things I didn't need. Interesting. Instead of trying to satiate some kind of emotional urge with empty calories (and failing), perhaps I'm better off just eating foods that actually add something worthwhile to my diet. Surely I can find more constructive ways to address those emotions.

I am experiencing continuing improvements related to digestion and congestion. In addition, I may have detected a bit more energy today. It's hard to tell just based on a single day, but it was particularly noticeable because I didn't get around to having a cup of tea until about 4PM. On most days, I'd be sleeping on my feet by that time without my afternoon dose of caffeine. However, today, I felt perfectly alert without it. Nice!

In truth, the biggest benefit I'm noticing from this experiment is that I'm becoming a lot more conscious of what I'm eating. I realized just how much I was eating without even thinking about it. It really helps me to read labels carefully, write down what I'm eating, and be accountable to someone. Thanks for keeping me honest and aware you guys!

Here's what I ate today. Pretty good on the veggies. I need more beans and grains tomorrow.

• coffee with rice milk
• whole grain wrap with hummus, lettuce, spinach, carrots, radish, and kohlrabi (it can be hard to find an acceptable tortilla wrap, but La Tortilla Factory offers a nice soft wrap with 13 g of fiber, 8 g of protein, and no hydrogenated oil or high-fructose corn syrup)
• sparking apple juice (no added sugar)
  
• fresh strawberries
  
• organic raw cashews
• half an organic orange
• Talenti strawberry sorbet (on sale at Publix for $4 through Wednesday), which is certified vegan
• earl grey tea with rice milk
• cole slaw with raw sliced almonds
• banana
• whole wheat toast and organic hummus
• orange juice
  

Cole Slaw that Fights Cancer

I recently posted about the cancer-fighting properties of raw cruciferous vegetables, like cauliflower, broccoli and cabbage. Click HERE for an interesting article about it.

The article specifically mentions the link between crucifers and bladder cancer. Since we have a loved-one who is battling bladder cancer, I decided to come up with some tasty recipes for him.

I immediately thought of this outstanding cole slaw made by a family friend. I made it last night from an organic head of cabbage we got from our Sweetwater harvest. It was delightful! I like it so much better than the traditional mayonnaise-based cole slaws. The onions really give it a nice kick. Thanks Mrs. S for sharing!

Here's the recipe - enjoy!

1 head of cabbage sliced thin (I used a food processor)
1 small sweet onion
olive oil to generously coat the cabbage and onions
about 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon
salt and pepper

I thought some toasted almond slivers might be a nice addition. I'm going to try that for lunch today.

My Vegan Experiment - Day 2

The second full day of My Vegan Experiment went swimmingly! I experienced some noticeable improvements with my digestion and congestion. I was pleasantly surprised that I didn't really have any strong desires for anything that was off limits.

There was one moment when I felt like I needed something, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. This is a feeling that would normally cause me to eat something that doesn't serve me well. I quickly reached for my emergency snack - organic raw cashews (from the freezer) and dried cranberries. Oddly enough, putting the cashews in the freezer and mixing them with cranberries somehow makes them taste like an amazing treat to me.

Here's what I ate today. I did better than yesterday, considering I ate more vegetables. However, at some point I need to do a nutritional analysis to see if I'm getting everything I need. I think I'm doing fine on protein. I'm just not sure if I'm hitting all the vitamins and minerals.

• coffee and rice milk
• quite possibly the perfect breakfast: organic hot high-fiber breakfast cereal - walnuts, bananas, dried cranberries, flax oil
• tabbouleh - couscous, cilantro, tomato, garlic, lemon, olive oil
• whole wheat toast (an improvement over yesterday's pita chips that were not whole grain)
  
• Steaz Peach Ice Tea, which is certified vegan, by the way
  
• organic raw cashews and dried cranberries
• earl grey tea and rice milk
• half of an organic orange
  
• raw organic cabbage with onions and olive oil
• an organic green salad made from my Sweetwater pickup (several types of lettuce, carrots, radish, and kohlrabi). I added white kidney beans for protein.
  

I did have one "oh no" moment when I realized I wasn't going to be able to have my usual homemade honey-mustard dressing. I just made it with mustard and olive oil, sans honey. It was just fine. Less sugar is certainly a good thing.

Could it Be the Perfect Breakfast?

I had the most delicious breakfast the past two mornings. The best part is that it was really healthy. I challenge you to find a way I could make this meal better. Seriously - any suggestions?

I started with Bob's Red Mill Organic High Fiber Cereal, which is packed full of fiber (10 g), protein (8g), iron, and bunch of other stuff. It even has flax meal! See my blog post, Bob's Red Mill High Fiber Cereal $2.58 on Amazon.

Then I added:

• a fresh cut-up banana
• walnuts
• dried cranberries sweetened with cane sugar
  (not high-fructose corn syrup)
• drizzle of flax oil

That's it! I did not miss the honey because the banana was sweet enough. I did not miss the butter because the flax oil is just as good, and is a great source of Omega 3-fatty acids.

It was so delicious - it tasted like banana bread!

How could I improve this perfect breakfast? Perhaps the flax meal in the cereal and the flax oil on top may have been too much. Also, I could have used unsweetened cranberries. Hmm... what else?

My Vegan Experiment - Day 1

Well, I made it through the first day of my vegan experiment. It wasn't too hard, although I had a few moments of strong desire for cookies and ice cream. It was actually a good feeling to have a few extra reasons to resist the urges.

One of the main obstacles I knew I would have to face is finding an acceptable milk substitute for my coffee, tea, and cereal. I have tried all sorts of non-dairy beverages over the years, and was not pleased. However, this time I had a more open mind and stronger resolve. I'm not a big fan of the vanilla flavor varieties, which is what was always presented to me in the past. This time I tried plain rice milk. I really like it! It's not too sweet and it's delicious! It actually tastes like rice, which is kind of strange.

If you are thinking about cutting out dairy, but aren't sure about non-dairy beverages, my advice is to just keep trying until you find something that suits you. There are a lot of varieties out there, such as almond milk, soy milk, and coconut milk.

Here's what I ate the first day. I thought I would miss honey in my tea and hot cereal, but I really didn't. I definitely did not get enough vegetables. Luckily, we picked up our harvest at Sweetwater today, so that will be rectified tomorrow! I don't feel like I ate as much as I usually do, but I'm not hungry. The hearty breakfast and raw cashews in the afternoon really filled me up. I can't say I feel any different. We'll see how tomorrow goes....

• coffee and rice milk
• hot high-fiber breakfast cereal - walnuts, bananas, dried cranberries, flax oil
• hummus & pita chips
• ice tea
  
• earl grey tea and rice milk
• tabbouleh - couscous, cilantro, tomato, garlic, lemon, olive oil
• orange juice
  
• raw cashews and dried cranberries
• cereal & rice milk

My Vegan Experiment - Can I Hack It?

I've been toying with the idea of adopting a vegan diet (no meat, fish, dairy, eggs, or honey) for months. I finally decided to give it a fair try for one week starting today. First of all, I'd like to determine exactly how difficult it would be to make the change. Secondly, I'd like to see if it makes me feel better.

I have been a lacto-ovo vegetarian for about 6 years, meaning I don't eat meat but I do eat eggs and dairy. I actually eat a lot of eggs and dairy - especially cheese, butter, yogurt, and ice cream. Perhaps too much. So, this will be a fairly big change for me. I wonder if I can hack it?

Why go from vegetarian to vegan? Here are some of the things I hope to do by cutting out eggs and dairy:

• Improve digestion. Approximately 75% of the world's population loses the ability to digest lactose after infancy (click HERE for some interesting statistics about lactose intolerance among different ethnic groups). Perhaps I am part of that percentage of people who are lactose intolerant, and by cutting out dairy I will have better digestion, which could improve my quality of life in lots of ways.
  
• Reduce excess mucus. Although it's controversial, some people believe that dairy is mucus-producing. I figure it's worth a try to see if cutting dairy might give me some relief from the uncomfortable symptoms that come from excess mucus, such as sinus headaches and nasal congestion.
• Lower my cholesterol. My cholesterol lingers right around 200 despite the fact that I haven't eaten meat in 6 years. Perhaps my excessive consumption of dairy products and eggs are the culprit.
• Make room for healthier choices. When you've cut out meat, dairy, and eggs, what else is left? Fresh vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts, and whole grains! Yes, there is plenty of vegan junk food, but I'm hoping that by cutting out some of my main pitfalls (high-fat cheese and ice cream), I will end up making better choices overall to fill the void. I might even loose a few pounds in the process!
  
• Reduce exposure to certain chemicals. Dairy products and eggs sometimes contain things such as growth hormones, antibiotics, and coloring agents. Although there are products that claim to be free of these chemicals, they aren't always readily available or affordable.
  
• Support more eco-friendly & humane farming practices. Animal farming is much harder on the environment than produce farming. Plus, the humane treatment of the animals is not exactly ideal, even when "cage-free" and "free-range" practices are used. Click HERE for information about what these labels really mean.
  

I know that my diet will never be perfect. However, I am determined to make little changes each day for better health - not just for me and my family, but for the environment. I am often overwhelmed and confused with all the information and research about nutrition. While it's tempting to give up and just eat whatever, I'm determined to keep trying!

I recognize that we all have to make food choices that are best for us. I am not one to judge or criticize others who don't make the same choices as I do. I just hope, as always, to exchange information with you about my experience with food so that we all might be more healthy, green and frugal. I hope to hear from you about your experiences!

Seminole Heights Sunday Morning Market

There is a new farmer's market in the Tampa Bay Area!

Click HERE to read about my visit to the Seminole Heights Farmer's Market on March 14.

The Seminole Heights Sunday Morning Market runs from 9AM to 1PM at Hillsborough High School, 5000 N Central Ave. It will then take place on the second Sunday of every month through May. Future market dates are March 14, April 11, and May 9.

The market is managed by Tiffany Ferrecchia, the same woman who established the Downtown Tampa Market on Fridays.

"I'd like to turn this one into a little bit more of a green market," said Ferrecchia. She said she anticipates this market will offer more local, organic, and eco-friendly products. The market will also feature live music and cooking demonstrations.

Click HERE to read about my visit to the Seminole Heights Farmer's Market on March 14.

Click HERE to visit the market website.

Click HERE for a news article about the market on Tampabay.com.

Send Your Valentine an Eco-Friendly eCard

Click HERE for really cute Valentines you can send via email for FREE through the US Fish and Wildlife Service. They even contain great eco-friendly messages. Thanks to my mother for the link!