Mmm…This butter chicken is so buttery…

I had my first slip up being vegan here in Washington, and surprisingly enough it was at an Indian restaurant. After two long days with the family at assembly, we went out to eat with friends to a new Indian restaurant. The first thought that popped into my head is “Dang! I wish I could eat me some butter chicken right now”

But being the determined little girl that I am, I ordered Channa Masala. This dish is chick peas in masala seasoning. It was delicious…but so was my husband’s butter chicken. I admit it, I couldn’t resist lapping up the sauce from his dish. Even as the waiter pulled the dish out from under my nose…I think he knew I was cheating.

Phew…now that I got that off of my chest. I can move on with my last week of vegan foods!

The biggest challenge this past week was 1) Butter chicken *see above* 2) Going to eat after a long day with friends to the local Olive Garden, and not ordering the clams and linguine right off the menu with the Lemoncello cream cake for dessert, and 3) coming up with lunch ideas to take to said assembly. What would not get mushy? What would taste good cold? What can I make for my husband? As it was we did egg-less salad sandwiches one day (his had carved chicken), then the next day consisted of a quinoa salad, spinach/kale/chard salad, and an Egyptian lentil soup (that was slightly cool, yet that didn’t stop me from enjoying).

One thing that I was very excited to learn is that the co-op where we frequent, posts all of their recipes on-line. So this week I plan on making my own Aztec Quinoa Salad, and hopefully try to make the Egyptian Lentil soup.

As my last week of my 21 challenge is upon me, I promise I will post some of my favorite recipes so far.

Until then…

-M

A Third

It’s been an official 7 days here in Seattle since my last post! Can you believe it? I know I can’t! I have been pleaseantly surprised and content with this past week. Here are some peaks and valleys, some pros and cons, some cool things and not so cool things.

Last week I wrote on my personal blog about some fears I had. Time, coffee without cream, and frozen yogurt. The last two seem a little funny, and now I realize how much I can change in just seven days. I can safely say that I can remove frozen yogurt. While I miss it, it’s a representation of something bigger…dessert over all. I’ll talk about this in a bit.

Highlights

-Enhancing my love for brown rice. I can eat a bowl of warm brown rice with a little salt on it for dinner. It has such a great flavor on it’s own.

-I have lost some poundage this week. Although I’m not terribly surprised as that usually happens when I change my diet…let’s see what this week brings.

-While I’m still dead tired…my brain seems to be speeding up a little. I’m hoping this is true and not me just wishing.

-Popcorn with curry powder or nutritional yeast.

-Eating less sugar!! This may have a direct impact on two points up. When I say sugar I group it in with candies, desserts, etc. The obvious suspects. I know breads, sauces, etc have sugars…but I’m not concerning myself with those…yet.

-Finding new places and things to eat. Restaurants that I’ve been to before, yet now I get to try something new. Yelping (can I use that as an adjective?) and trying new places to have lunch around work.

-Realizing what supportive and beautiful friends I have, including my Cali Cousin.

Lowlights

-Ffake meat…I’m going to write a story about some of the new foods I’ve tried. But let’s just say I wasn’t a big fan before…and the thought of this one sandwich…actually let’s not go there.  In fact I took a picture to share with everyone, yet every time I looked at it, my stomach lurched so I had to delete it.

-I don’t like seaweed when it wraps itself around my feet, and I don’t like seaweed in my food.

-Lack of many options for “I snoozed my alarm for 2 hours, and I now have 5 minutes to get ready” breakfast.

-Coffee is not coffee without cream. Soy just doesn’t cut it. Although today I asked the barista to steam some soy milk for my Americano…and by the middle of the drink I was ok with it, even liked it a little. Now soy pumpkin spice lattes are a warm blanket and a sweet sweet lullaby for my taste buds…but it’s a fat party for my hips. So I’ve been saving those for once a weekend.

-Finding out my favorite protein bar has a dairy component as an ingredient.

-Not being able to take bites out of my hubby’s food. Although I’m sure this is a highlight for him.

-I miss chocolate!

Sounds like there is more negative than positive...but I actually don't feel that way at all. Stay tuned as I post some great (and not so great) foods I’ve tried so far!

-M

Can the Love of Veggies Be Balanced?

It's the California cousin signing in after months of ignoring the blog. That was because I spent months ignoring my healthy eating habits. Don't get me wrong, I generally eat pretty healthy. I enjoy vegetables and fruits...but I had to go back to eating meat after my Vegan adventure. I did get out of balance, though...eating more meat and grains without eating as many vegetables. And more sugar, too... So how does one find the balance?

I decided to start with Herbalife nutritional shake products. In the last year have gained weight by vacillating between meat and veggie lifestyles and I thought that having 2 shakes and 1 meal plus snacks would make my life easier, detox my system, and give me only 1 meat meal per day---resulting in weight loss. To my dismay, I started gaining more weight eating less and not eating meat for every meal for 2 weeks!

I have asked vegans, vegetarians, pescatarians, carnivores, and everyone in between, receiving many different types of advice on what to eat. "Eat more", "eat less", "give it more time", "detox first". Nutrition experts have told me that I need to eat more protein and more calories to stay within a certain range for health. I believe that too and have decided to listen. I downloaded My Fitness Pal app for my iPhone and I stay within a range, adding exercise calories for more eating pleasure.

My goal is to eat as healthy as possible, including more veggies and fruits while counting my calories and working out. I feel great eating lean meat in small amounts with each meal. Let's see what's in store on my journey. I've already lost 4 pounds since last week...

The Grass is Greener…after 21 days

This is the goal I’m setting before myself. 21 days of a diet free of animal products. I’ve been flirting with this idea since my cousin and I started this blog. I would have days of being a good little girl…then something would throw me off track.

This time I am committing myself to 21 days. My plan is not to go vegan for 21 days, then go back to eating animal products. What’s the point in that?! Nothing, besides utter disappointment! No, my plan is that with in these next 21 days I will be on the way to more energy, less headaches, smaller waistline, and an inner calm knowing that I’m helping myself every day.

As mentioned before, I’ve always leaned towards the fruits and veggie layer of our food “pyramid”. I have no issues eating salad over anything else…but the struggle is making that decision. The struggle is buying the fresh ingredients, cooking them, and finding recipes my husband will eat as well. The culture that surrounds us is fast and easy…which helps our busy life style. But what happens when we are continuously pushing ourselves to keep our pace of life…on fast and easy? Then our bodies struggle to keep up with our busy lifestyle.

Hopefully these next 3 weeks will allow me to find out my fast and easy green options. I find myself often forgetting my green options, and opting for what I know. This time around, I am telling everyone around me what I’m trying to accomplish so they can help remind me if I tend to forget!

I have several things that are motivating me to keep with it this time. Lack of energy, losing interest in what I shove in my trapper, and wondering why I don't take care of myself? I have plenty of ideas for loved ones about how to eat and feel better…but I barely follow my own advice! Shouldn’t I be modeling it first??

My cousin has already made me promise that I will not go psycho and judgemental on everyone around me. Now I will try my best, but at the same time I have to share! I hope to update this blog these next three weeks. I’m not sure if that includes blogging a little each day…or once a week. Or maybe when I’m inspired. But I do know that I can’t wait to share my findings and my experience during this short but exciting journey!

-M

On the road...

I'm at LAX right now, prepared to fly thousands of miles to Bavaro, Punta Cana. I am so thrilled to meet up with my cousin (whom this blog is co-written by) and to see the pristine turquoise waters...while sipping on rum drinks, like the local Mama Juana.

But nothing gives me more stress than what to eat when traveling! With the gluten issue, plus fast food that you get in the airport and restaurants...it can be really nerve wracking. As a planner I have decided to bring an assortment of delicious snacks, some even healthy! But as I read reports on local foods in the Dominican Republic I am getting nervous. I am forgiving myself for meat eating at this time as I struggle to feel healthy and well fed. But a major local food is...goat. Seriously? I don't know how I will handle that. But, there are other assortments of plantain, cassava (never had that before!) and an abundance of tropical fruits and seafood.

When I return from paradise, I will have a lot to say, I'm sure, about traveling to the Caribbean and eating with the locals. I hope it's all positive!

California Cousin, signing off to board the plane...thank God this is an overnight flight.

April Showers bring...Farmers' Markets!

Winters are long, grey, wet, and seem to drag to an unnatural time of year. It’s almost May and we still have threat of snow! To me, spring is when I start to make my goals for the year. It’s when I feel that we are out of the grey, and into the gloriously long NW days (6am-9pm!). Warm days but cool nights. These are all little ways of motivating me to stick to my goals.

Our local farmers’ market opened up two weeks ago. Although right now the pickings are slim, it’s just a reminder that the choices I make about what to purchase, consume, and support are up to me. I vacillate between two thoughts:

“My husband and I are only two people. The choices we make don’t make that big of a difference in the grand scheme of things. The effect on my bank account is more noticeable!”

And

“When I buy more conscientiously I feel content knowing that I did something for my health, for the health of my husband, and the health of the earth in a little way”

Buying locally and organically is difficult. When money is tight, I tend to think more towards option A. Even though the prices are only a little higher (.50 cents here, $2 dollars more there), it all adds up. Especially as we have to get used to things spoiling faster, or not tasting the same (but mostly tasting better!), and taking more time to prepare. I am trying to learn to do without in other areas of life, to make room for these positive changes.

As we head into the thick of spring I am excited! The fresh fruits and veggies available renew my determination.

First of all, I am determined to keep this year’s basil plant alive.

I’m not sure if I overwater them, or if there is not enough sunlight for my poor basil plants here in the NW. All I know is that this little guy will survive, or else!

This year will be different. I’ll make sure of that.

-M

After all, tomorrow is another day...
Eating better takes a lot of planning. Buying the right things, then preparing them for a busy lifestyle. It's not always easy and sometimes you still feel hungry after bringing all the right foods to a long day at work. 


The worst is when you just don't have the time in the morning to get everything together for a totally healthy day. If you have been living the healthy lifestyle long enough, you don't even have the unhealthy stuff in your house to fall back on. What's worse? When you run out for lunch since you don't have anything to eat!


Today's lunch adventure...at 2:15 with 10 minutes until washing out my client's color so I am ready in time for the next two clients back to back. Starving. What to do? In a moment of brilliance I remember that the famous "Native Foods" restaurant is down the street from my salon. It's a vegan, healthy take out place and they now offer gluten free options! When I get there I also begin to remember that the 1st time I went there I hated the food that were over-sauced and weird tasting, the 2nd time I was scared by the G-Free options, and this 3rd time I was overwhelmed that my only choices were funky nachos with black beans or salads with beets and sunflowers seeds, but no protein choice. I ran out to El Pollo Loco, my old stand-by and was content knowing I could be semi-healthy. I could order a giant salad, some sides, and maybe even a quesadilla (not healthy, but delicious). But, they had a sign stating that orders would take significantly longer than normal today, up to 20 minutes. That wasn't going to work. Since I now had about 5 minutes left, I sped off to the next nearest fast food....Del Taco. Ugh. I won't divulge what I ordered besides french fries, but will admit it was a tragic mistake. Normally I would beat myself up about this massive mistake and feel guilty. Instead I decided to eat, get over it, and move on. Lesson has been learned...I will plan ahead from now on. 


And it's ok because after all, tomorrow is another day...

Meatless in Seattle...

...almost.

I'm the cousin who loves her greens and would rather eat the grass with the cows, instead of eating the cows. OK, maybe that's a little extreme but you get the idea. Thanks to my cousin, I have support and motivation to keep on the straight and narrow.

Vegetarianism started for me back when I was at the tender beautiful age of 13. My obsession with The Beatles only convinced me that since Paul McCartney is a veggie, then I had to be too! Plus it fulfilled the teenage need of standing out as different. Of course life happened and the vegetarian in me was quickly pushed aside. Although my food choices always leaned towards the veggie options. At the same time poultry, fish, and dairy products never really bothered me.

About two years ago, I decided that I needed a change in my routine. I was tired, I was always dragging, and just my overall enthusiasm for anything was lacking. Of course the grey skies of Seattle didn't have anything to do with it *insert eye roll* Plus I am right there with every other person in this country, and need to loose some of these pounds that seemed to have snuck up on me.

I remembered the days of being 13 and abstaining from meat. I lost weight in no time, had energy, and was super satisfied with myself. What I failed to remember was that my hormones, metabolism, and overall outlook in life was different then.

This brings us to 2011. While I have significantly cut animal products out of my daily eating habits. I can need to do better. I want my life to be centered around a plant food diet and lifestyle, the way we were intended to live and enjoy our lives.

I have many changes to make. Now is my chance to learn what my gluten-free cousin has learned these past two years in her own journey. This is our journey to laugh with each other, remind each other how awesome we are, and to kick each other in the butt.

A reminder from my good friend - Baloo

"Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
Old Mother Nature's recipes
That brings the bare necessities of life" 

More later! <3

California Girl

It's me, the California cousin. I am a self proclaimed meat eater. For a few years I have had issues with my GI tract and have removed gluten from my foods for 2 years. But I haven't been feeling any better and constantly have searched out how I can change the foods I eat.


My cousin feels great when she skips meat, but I eat meat every meal and a lean protein and veggie diet make me feel the best. I told her to read the new book, Crazy Sexy Diet by Kris Carr since I want her to be the healthiest vegetarian around...and I also suggested The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone. These books have been written to help vegetarians and vegans eat healthy, not just without meat. I went to check these books out myself and ended up reading The Kind Diet in the store. I left never wanting to eat meat again.


I radically cut out all meat the next day, for 3 weeks! I cut out most dairy (I only have sour cream and some cheese from time to time), started drinking protein shakes, and spent $100s of dollars at the health food store. I was starving and did not feel very good...then I crashed HARD and had scary deprivation symptoms. What I learned was that I can have the self control and ability to survive without meat at every meal, but that I should start slowly. My desire to eat a vegetarian lifestyle will be realized with patience, time, planning, support, and forgiveness from myself when I fail. 


I was told by many that it has to do with blood type and that type O blood requires meat. I didn't know my type, but assumed that must be me. Then I tested and found out that I am blood type A positive, the vegetarian blood type...who also must avoid wheat. Sounds like me...so now what? This new part of my journey is going to be a slow evolving of my diet to make a healthier me over time. I plan to eat less meat and eventually remove it from my diet completely. I plan to slowly evolve toward healthier, more raw foods, and I can't wait to see the results to my mind and body as this happens!

The Adventure Begins...

This blog was started by two cousins who feel that 2 states apart is too far! We both have started healthier lifestyles and recently the veggie lover and meat lover have joined forces to each begin eating mostly plant based diets, shunning meat as much as possible! 


This lifestyle won't be easy, especially since the former self proclaimed meat lover has been gluten free for 2 years, which poses other challenges. We both live very busy lives and have the goal to be eating mostly plant based diets and being much healthier people. Side effects we hope to gain are positive feelings, weight loss, clearer skin, and a good influence on our spouses and eventually friends.


In the meantime this blog is to help inspire each other and have laughs while we journey into this new lifestyle!