Test Day

Yesterday was my "Test" day.  I ate vegan all day.  No meat, no dairy.

No problem.

For dinner I made paella... but used vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.  I cooked the shrimp and sausage separately (for my wife and kids).  It had lots of green beans and peas in it (no bell peppers as my wife has a pepper allergy).

It was great and there are left overs.

I might go vegan today too!

Starting Early

I find myself wanting to start early.

I am not sure I can commit to adding 10 days to the vegan plan, but I am now committed to making better choices.  The Pot Roast Sandwich and gellato ice cream last night seemed like the right choice, but today I feel it is a step in the wrong direction.

Lunch and dinner today?  Hmmmm, I will try to make the vegan choices.

Getting Nervous and Excited About Eating Vegan

My excitement level is growing.  I made the commitment to do this "Vegan Thing" for Lent, but now I am looking forward to it.  While my daughter was shopping for a book at Barnes & Noble I was in the cookbook section looking for ideas.  While checking out I saw a book called The Veganist, which I bought, and am not learning all the ins and outs of a plant based diet.

I have ten days until it begins and I am torn between wanting to start right now and making a pilgrimage to the Salt Lick to get one last "all-you-can-eat" BBQ.

I am nervous about trying to navigate my business trips and eating at conferences while maintaining the Vegan commitment.  But others do it, so I figure I can do it, too.

The family is going out to one of my favorite places for dinner.  I love the Pot Roast Sandwich at this restaurant and since Lent has not begun I figure I will eat my comfort food.  But there is a nagging desire to go with a big salad and some whole grain pasta.

My guess is I go for the Pot Roast!

**UPDATE-- yep, Pot Roast Sandwich, cheese on my salad, and gellato for dessert.  But even though Lent has not begun, I did feel guilty.  I think I will do fine once I start!

13 Days Until I Go Vegan

I had to begin my quest to going vegan for Lent two weeks in advance.  If I am really going to do this, I need to begin preparing for the effort that will be involved.  I also need to start telling people.  As with any thing that takes discipline, the more people I get to support me the higher chance I will have for success.

My wife and I have discussed that the rest of the family will not be avoiding meat and dairy, and I have to set realistic expectations that I may not always be able to be truly vegan for the whole 40 days.  I need to eat and stay healthy, so if the only available food choice is vegetarian, I will be okay with that choice.

Thus, I guess I am not really going "Vegan", but rather "Vegetarian with a Vegan Focus".  Still sound difficult.

People all seem to have different ideas of what is a "Vegan".  I still plan to wear leather.  Someone once told me that broccoli has something akin to a nervous system.... sorry broccoli... you will be a major food source for me during Lent. 

Why would I do this?  I have been trying to eat healthier the last two years.  I choose less meat and dairy regularly.... but have never gone cold turkey.  I already use Rice Milk on cereal, so breakfast is no issue.  My favorite lunch spot in Austin is a Vegan Restaurant (Casa de Luz), so that is a bonus (more meals at "Casa").

I would like to lose 10 pounds.  Have you ever seen a fat vegan?  Not sure how my weight will react to this 40 days, but if I lose 10 lbs as a side effect, well that is cool.


I think that it will take discipline and sacrifice... and that is really what Lent is all about.

If you have any advice or great vegan recipes, please leave comments on the blog.  I look forward to this whole thing.

13 days and counting until I begin.  Wish me luck.

thom singer