Inspired by a deep respect for a lifestyle that I had previously perceived as being unattainable to me and incredibly supportive friends and fellow 30-day challengers, I decided to take on the 30-day challenge of being vegan for thirty days. I've had the intention since the start of the year but needed two months or so to get acclimated to the idea, more so the idea of not eating cheese.
Some pertinent background information about me: I love cheese. Meat I could take or leave-I was a vegetarian for about 5 years at the end of high school and through college. As a vegetarian, I wasn't very educated about what I ate and basically survived on eggs, cheese, granola, and salad. Not very healthy, right? The inevitable happened and I was pretty sick for a while, eventually turning to meat for the necessary nourishment my body was lacking in. I got better and have since maintained a primarily vegetarian diet since with the occasional burger or turkey sandwich making a guest appearance. However, the main feature of my diet has always been cheese. I eat it everyday, all the time. By the slice, as a brick, string cheese, on a sandwich, on nachos, quesadillas, burritos, on crackers, eggs, etc. etc. I love cheese.
Anyway, I am very much aware that there is a whole world of food that can be consumed without cheese and I'm about to discover it! Inspired by receiving two cookbooks from a vegan friend to help me on my journey, I started my 30-day challenge a day ahead schedule, and boy I am pumped!
Today saw me discard perishable dairy items from my refrigerator (cheese and cream cheese) and pack up non-vegan pantry items to consume at a later date (or donate to a local food bank if I exceed 30 days). These items only accounted for half of a grocery bag's worth of space so I'm not really all that nervous about abrupt changes. Went to Whole Food's Market to purchase some staples and ingredients for 4 recipes I hope to make this week.
So far the only speedbump I hit today was when I realized that my 1-a-day vitamins contained various fish. Weird. At the Whole Food's I was able to consult with an incredibly nice and knowledgeable employee who suggested some great multi-vitamins and also encouraged me to start on a B-complex regimen as well. I love random encouragement from strangers!
I sense that today will continue to go well; so far I've had some granola with soy milk and O.J. for breakfast and a hummus sandwich and banana for lunch. Going to score a substantial meatless meatball pasta for dinner tonight at One World. Go veg!
Some pertinent background information about me: I love cheese. Meat I could take or leave-I was a vegetarian for about 5 years at the end of high school and through college. As a vegetarian, I wasn't very educated about what I ate and basically survived on eggs, cheese, granola, and salad. Not very healthy, right? The inevitable happened and I was pretty sick for a while, eventually turning to meat for the necessary nourishment my body was lacking in. I got better and have since maintained a primarily vegetarian diet since with the occasional burger or turkey sandwich making a guest appearance. However, the main feature of my diet has always been cheese. I eat it everyday, all the time. By the slice, as a brick, string cheese, on a sandwich, on nachos, quesadillas, burritos, on crackers, eggs, etc. etc. I love cheese.
Anyway, I am very much aware that there is a whole world of food that can be consumed without cheese and I'm about to discover it! Inspired by receiving two cookbooks from a vegan friend to help me on my journey, I started my 30-day challenge a day ahead schedule, and boy I am pumped!
Today saw me discard perishable dairy items from my refrigerator (cheese and cream cheese) and pack up non-vegan pantry items to consume at a later date (or donate to a local food bank if I exceed 30 days). These items only accounted for half of a grocery bag's worth of space so I'm not really all that nervous about abrupt changes. Went to Whole Food's Market to purchase some staples and ingredients for 4 recipes I hope to make this week.
So far the only speedbump I hit today was when I realized that my 1-a-day vitamins contained various fish. Weird. At the Whole Food's I was able to consult with an incredibly nice and knowledgeable employee who suggested some great multi-vitamins and also encouraged me to start on a B-complex regimen as well. I love random encouragement from strangers!
I sense that today will continue to go well; so far I've had some granola with soy milk and O.J. for breakfast and a hummus sandwich and banana for lunch. Going to score a substantial meatless meatball pasta for dinner tonight at One World. Go veg!
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