I think I died and went to, uh, well, no where I guess since I don't believe in heaven. But the point is that I had some seriously good food the other night. Grilled artichokes, fresh mushrooms, salt and pepper, oregano, oil and vinegar, lettuce, tomato, onions, and banana peppers on a toasted white bread loaf. I didn't think vegetables could melt in your mouth until now!
It was so good, I got it again the next day, it was awesome! Now, we had a junk food day yesterday, so it wasn't really healthy for me. But Friday and Saturday, I had a fabulous lunch at Penn Station. Now don't get me wrong, my junk food days aren't the same as normal people. Wine, spinach and artichoke dip, fried mushrooms, and buffalo style "chicken" pieces (made from soy of course). But for me, it was nearly over whelming, so I'm not feeling well today. Its my own fault, but it was oh so great!
Today, its purge day, so I'm drinking nothing but V8 Fusion all day. No food, unless I get weak, then I have some oodon noodle soup to chow on. But I'm going to try to do the proper juice purge today, then just eat salad all day tomorrow. I may end up eating something for dinner, something light and fresh. But I'll stick to the salad tomorrow and mostly juice today. It always helps me feel better when I purge my body of the crap I put into it the day before.
On a lighter note, I started out at 340lbs when I went vegetarian. I weighed myself at 311lbs yesterday. I haven't been this light in three years! I'm so excited that I'm dropping weight. I'm sleeping better, feeling better, and not getting constant colds and aches that I used to get. I am really glad this is working out for me. I'm drinking soy milk now, so I'm really trying to push myself a bit further towards being a full vegan. Once I can get milk out of the way, it will be a big step for me. Next, cheese and I will have done it! After that its a matter of keeping away from products made with those things. Thats going to hard to do because we eat out and get food from the store allot.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Friday, February 8, 2008
Penn Station
Penn Station is a sub shop that I always loved to go to before I was a vegetarian. But today I realized they have some good veggie options that I am going to try tonight. I'm getting the grilled artichoke sub, with provolone, oregano, Parmesan, mayo, mushrooms, banana peppers, lettuce, tomato, red onions, salt and pepper, olive oil and redwine vinegar. OMG I am seriously stoked! I'm hungry just thinking about it!
We are also getting my daughters birthday gifts tonight and her Princess cake. I'll post more tomorrow on the sub so you all will know how I liked it. Later!
We are also getting my daughters birthday gifts tonight and her Princess cake. I'll post more tomorrow on the sub so you all will know how I liked it. Later!
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Vegetarians Can't Eat Out
I just can't stand it any more. I can't just eat things with no meat any more. I have had enough of bean burrito's, veggie sub's, and anything cheese based. As of yet, only a couple sit down restaurants my wife and I love eating at have things I can eat. I'm tired of refried beans, cheese taquito's, and cheese quesadilla's. I want more from a restaurant!
And why not? Why should I not expect at least something of good tasting? Especially when I am paying for it? Doesn't have to be anything huge, but a couple unique items would be nice. Chili's at least has a spicy black bean burger, as does Ruby Tuesdays. But for sure, nothing fast food has anything worth paying for.
I'm only complaining because I'm at the end of my rope eating out. So I am really doing some good cooking myself. I am making vegetarian chili and homemade vegetarian soup this week. I am taking my own initiative and making something delicious for myself. Next week, I am making meatless chicken buffalo pieces with real buffalo wing sauce! As well, I am going to try the "stroganoff" that Abolitionist Raven made and put her recipe up on her blog.
Its slow going as I have no friends or family that are vegan or vegetarians, so I am alone in my venture. This seems to me harder than I first expected as no one wants to really hear why I don't eat meat of any kind, or why I am trying to be a vegan. At least my wife is very supportive.
And why not? Why should I not expect at least something of good tasting? Especially when I am paying for it? Doesn't have to be anything huge, but a couple unique items would be nice. Chili's at least has a spicy black bean burger, as does Ruby Tuesdays. But for sure, nothing fast food has anything worth paying for.
I'm only complaining because I'm at the end of my rope eating out. So I am really doing some good cooking myself. I am making vegetarian chili and homemade vegetarian soup this week. I am taking my own initiative and making something delicious for myself. Next week, I am making meatless chicken buffalo pieces with real buffalo wing sauce! As well, I am going to try the "stroganoff" that Abolitionist Raven made and put her recipe up on her blog.
Its slow going as I have no friends or family that are vegan or vegetarians, so I am alone in my venture. This seems to me harder than I first expected as no one wants to really hear why I don't eat meat of any kind, or why I am trying to be a vegan. At least my wife is very supportive.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Eating Out, Tofu, and My Garden
Its complain and whine time for me. I'll just index them for you.
1. Eating Out
I live in Indiana and I can tell you that its really hard to get anything diverse to eat when eating out. Everything is made with some sort of flesh. Its so annoying when the only thing vegetarian is made with cheese. Oh yum, just give me a plate of cheese for christ sake and skip with the pleasantries! What about something unique and good? Chili's has a black bean burger, but thats about it. Perkins has a cheese quesadilla, but not much else. And just forget about fast food! I'm not picky, but I'm tired of my only option with any flare being Subway. Don't get me wrong, I love veggie subs, but all the time? It gets old! Come on people, I'm not asking you to cater to me, how about just a couple items that aren't meat based? Is that to much to ask?
2. Tofu
Tofu is gross. Its not the flavor, because it doesn't have much of its own. Its the texture of it. It feels gross in my mouth. Unlike veggies and premade veggie treats like Morning Star's veggie Italian Sausage, its hard to imagine what ever flavor your imitating when its so squishing and mushy in your mouth. Last night I made Fancy Fillets with extra firm tofu. You know, it wasn't terrible. The breading flavor was great, as was the vegan tartar sauce, and the hot sauce rocked it out for me. But I couldn't eat more than the one on my plate. It just didn't fell right in my mouth. I will try it in something else I'm sure. But tofu as a main dish? It just ain't happening again!
3. My Garden
What is there to complain about my garden? Nothing. As in there is nothing, I don't have a garden. I don't have a yard big enough and its cold any way so I'm screwed. I really want an indoor greenhouse garden so that I can have fresh veggies all year around! Imagine fresh peppers and mushrooms all year around! Fresh spinach, squash, onions, lettuce, and tomatoes, any time I want them. OMG I'm drooling right now! We are buying a house this year, and at the very least, I'm going to get one with a yard big enough for a garden. A big garden. A big garden all for me!
1. Eating Out
I live in Indiana and I can tell you that its really hard to get anything diverse to eat when eating out. Everything is made with some sort of flesh. Its so annoying when the only thing vegetarian is made with cheese. Oh yum, just give me a plate of cheese for christ sake and skip with the pleasantries! What about something unique and good? Chili's has a black bean burger, but thats about it. Perkins has a cheese quesadilla, but not much else. And just forget about fast food! I'm not picky, but I'm tired of my only option with any flare being Subway. Don't get me wrong, I love veggie subs, but all the time? It gets old! Come on people, I'm not asking you to cater to me, how about just a couple items that aren't meat based? Is that to much to ask?
2. Tofu
Tofu is gross. Its not the flavor, because it doesn't have much of its own. Its the texture of it. It feels gross in my mouth. Unlike veggies and premade veggie treats like Morning Star's veggie Italian Sausage, its hard to imagine what ever flavor your imitating when its so squishing and mushy in your mouth. Last night I made Fancy Fillets with extra firm tofu. You know, it wasn't terrible. The breading flavor was great, as was the vegan tartar sauce, and the hot sauce rocked it out for me. But I couldn't eat more than the one on my plate. It just didn't fell right in my mouth. I will try it in something else I'm sure. But tofu as a main dish? It just ain't happening again!
3. My Garden
What is there to complain about my garden? Nothing. As in there is nothing, I don't have a garden. I don't have a yard big enough and its cold any way so I'm screwed. I really want an indoor greenhouse garden so that I can have fresh veggies all year around! Imagine fresh peppers and mushrooms all year around! Fresh spinach, squash, onions, lettuce, and tomatoes, any time I want them. OMG I'm drooling right now! We are buying a house this year, and at the very least, I'm going to get one with a yard big enough for a garden. A big garden. A big garden all for me!
Friday, January 4, 2008
New Years Dinner
Well, spending time with my family over the holidays has been fun. Now I live in another state from them, so they didn't know that I had gone veg until I came home soon after christmas. Most response from friends and family was, well, interesting to say the least. Most immediately got defensive about it. I think my mom has said about four times, "Don't expect me to give up meat". They some how think I will be on a crusade to "convert" them to vegetarians. That is wholly not my plan.
My uncle argued with me about it, not sure why. And one of my friends tried to tell me that I HAVE to eat chicken because they have proteins I must have or I will die. Of course, I would have thought I would have seen many more vegetarians dying from this instead of them living longer if that where the case. LOL
But all of them, with out exception, couldn't comprehend what I meant by "not eating meat". Some assumed that I would still eat fish, or that I was still eating chicken, or that I was just cutting out red meat. All of those assumptions are wrong and I had to continually go back to the definition of meat. No dad, I am not eating wild game, that is also meat. No friend, I am not eating Salmon, thats still meat as well.
Oh well, I guess its a change for everyone. As far as I know, I have never personally known a vegetarian. I have not had a friend or family member that I knew of that was a vegetarian. So I am a first. I hope I am the first among many in my family, but everyone has a personal choice, and I will only lead by my example. People only change by their own choice, not by force.
My uncle argued with me about it, not sure why. And one of my friends tried to tell me that I HAVE to eat chicken because they have proteins I must have or I will die. Of course, I would have thought I would have seen many more vegetarians dying from this instead of them living longer if that where the case. LOL
But all of them, with out exception, couldn't comprehend what I meant by "not eating meat". Some assumed that I would still eat fish, or that I was still eating chicken, or that I was just cutting out red meat. All of those assumptions are wrong and I had to continually go back to the definition of meat. No dad, I am not eating wild game, that is also meat. No friend, I am not eating Salmon, thats still meat as well.
Oh well, I guess its a change for everyone. As far as I know, I have never personally known a vegetarian. I have not had a friend or family member that I knew of that was a vegetarian. So I am a first. I hope I am the first among many in my family, but everyone has a personal choice, and I will only lead by my example. People only change by their own choice, not by force.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Christmas Dinner
Well, Christmas dinner was fabulous! I have never had such a variety of foods at one table. Since I am a vegetarian now, I had lots of different veggie meals instead of the several kinds of meat. It was very good. I will be eating Green Bean Casserole, Broccoli Casserole, Brussel sprouts, glazed carrots, sweet peas, rolls, sweet corn on the cob for days now! The green bean casserole is my favorite so far.
As well, my dieting is coming well, I didn't eat any of the pie we had for desert. I am done with soda now as well unless its diet. Back to my eating habits, eating small, eating often, and eating better. This is my new years motto, but thats not really correct since I have been doing it for a few weeks. Maybe my new years motto will be to completely go vegan by years end. That seems like a reasonable challenge to me.
Last night I was watching food network with my wife, and on "A Cooks Tour", he watched a pig get slaughtered. Now this wasn't in corporate farming facilities like in the US, he was in south America on a small family farm. But he watched them butcher the pig. They turned it side ways on a cart, and had a bunch of people restrain the hog. Then, the hog was tilted head down, still awake, still squealing, and its throat was cut. The people held it down for several minutes while it bled to death, slowly. Then, they hung up the hog by its feet to butcher it.
But what I found most disturbing is that the cook was able to watch it and then eat. They did this big old ritual meant to honor the meat that was being slaughtered. They sang songs and made sure they would fix and eat every single part of the hog. The problem is, "honor" a dead carcass does not make it okay to bleed an animal to death. Thats barbaric and cruel. They allow themselves to feel absolved and justified because they "honor" the meat. If we "honored" a house cat after we bled it to death, we would still go to jail. If we "honored" a person after bleeding them to death after cutting their throat, we would still go to jail for murder.
This ideal of being able to justify what we find abhorrent in order to not give up that which we love is disgusting. I can't see how one can watch that and be okay with eating that meat. Have they no heart? Have they no conscience? I'm just amazed at what we humans can do, what we can justify, to stay in our comfort zones.
As well, my dieting is coming well, I didn't eat any of the pie we had for desert. I am done with soda now as well unless its diet. Back to my eating habits, eating small, eating often, and eating better. This is my new years motto, but thats not really correct since I have been doing it for a few weeks. Maybe my new years motto will be to completely go vegan by years end. That seems like a reasonable challenge to me.
Last night I was watching food network with my wife, and on "A Cooks Tour", he watched a pig get slaughtered. Now this wasn't in corporate farming facilities like in the US, he was in south America on a small family farm. But he watched them butcher the pig. They turned it side ways on a cart, and had a bunch of people restrain the hog. Then, the hog was tilted head down, still awake, still squealing, and its throat was cut. The people held it down for several minutes while it bled to death, slowly. Then, they hung up the hog by its feet to butcher it.
But what I found most disturbing is that the cook was able to watch it and then eat. They did this big old ritual meant to honor the meat that was being slaughtered. They sang songs and made sure they would fix and eat every single part of the hog. The problem is, "honor" a dead carcass does not make it okay to bleed an animal to death. Thats barbaric and cruel. They allow themselves to feel absolved and justified because they "honor" the meat. If we "honored" a house cat after we bled it to death, we would still go to jail. If we "honored" a person after bleeding them to death after cutting their throat, we would still go to jail for murder.
This ideal of being able to justify what we find abhorrent in order to not give up that which we love is disgusting. I can't see how one can watch that and be okay with eating that meat. Have they no heart? Have they no conscience? I'm just amazed at what we humans can do, what we can justify, to stay in our comfort zones.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
A Work in Progress
Okay, so my first attempt to be a vegan has failed. I am going vegetarian, but I cannot make the vegan jump yet. Its to hard to give up everything with anything from an animal. Milk, eggs, these things are in so many things. I have to give up so much at one time, its just nearly impossible. I can't do it. But I can go without meat. Meat is at least a start right? I feel lousy for not following through, but at least I'm trying right?
I tried veggie dogs yesterday and found out that I hate them. They are seriously gross. Veggie burgers and veggie "chicken" patties are good. I am having wraps this weekend with chicken flavored soy strips. Don't know how those will turn out. But tonight, we are having salad, and I have bought so many things to put in mine, its awesome. Olive, banana peppers, carrots, jalapeño peppers, mushrooms, fresh green beans, fresh sprouts, fresh broccoli, and some Italian dressing! I'm excited about dinner already!
I am working towards not having to use "meat" tasting products, but they appear to be a good substitute for beginners like myself. I'm finding that being a vegetarian is not really that hard, as long as you can keep variety and not pigeon hole yourself into just eating vegetables all the time. People usually visualize people like me just eating carrot sticks and celery, but that really isn't the case. I have to start preparing meals differently and start trying new things. Most of those things I have never had before, and never would if I ate meat.
I tried veggie dogs yesterday and found out that I hate them. They are seriously gross. Veggie burgers and veggie "chicken" patties are good. I am having wraps this weekend with chicken flavored soy strips. Don't know how those will turn out. But tonight, we are having salad, and I have bought so many things to put in mine, its awesome. Olive, banana peppers, carrots, jalapeño peppers, mushrooms, fresh green beans, fresh sprouts, fresh broccoli, and some Italian dressing! I'm excited about dinner already!
I am working towards not having to use "meat" tasting products, but they appear to be a good substitute for beginners like myself. I'm finding that being a vegetarian is not really that hard, as long as you can keep variety and not pigeon hole yourself into just eating vegetables all the time. People usually visualize people like me just eating carrot sticks and celery, but that really isn't the case. I have to start preparing meals differently and start trying new things. Most of those things I have never had before, and never would if I ate meat.
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