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Tag Archives: Vegan


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90 Day Vegetarian Adventure – Day #65 Lower Weight, Lower Cholesterol

Since the 90 Day Vegetarian Adventure began I have not eaten any red meat, hot dogs, pork, dark meat poultry or eggs.  There have been isolated incidents where certain recipes have contained a small amount of ground turkey or chicken breast and full fat cheddar cheese.  Also, we live in an apple  growing area and cheddar cheese with fresh apples is a lunch that I have chosen to enjoy.  The only nonfat dairy that I want to add to my diet is yogurt, however, my food choices have been less than perfect.

You must be asking why I’m giving you the background.  Yesterday, I visited my Family Physician to discuss the effect of the imperfect vegetarian diet, supplementation, exercise and Statin medication.  I’ve lost weight according to the Doctor’s scales, and it’s been a lot of years since that has happened.  My Total Cholesterol reading is 34 points lower and my blood pressure is lower, in the healthy range.   Plus I’m fitting into one dress size smaller.  The combination of a vegetarian diet, exercise, supplementation and Statins is producing healthier results.


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90 Day Vegetarian Adventure – Day 47 New Fall Wardrobe?

I forgot what I was going to blog about today, so I will give you an update instead.  Since the Juice Reboot at the beginning of the summer I have dropped almost 2 sizes in slacks and blouses.  This means that when I unpack my winter clothing most of it will be too big.  Unfortunately, or not, I do not hold onto clothing that doesn’t fit.  If I haven’t worn it during the past year, the item is donated to the local used clothing shop.  That means it’s time for a new wardrobe, yahoo!!

I also have a profile on Fitday.com and have begun entering my daily calories.  This is a great site for keeping track of weight loss goals and exercise.  Just want to make sure that I don’t regress into denial.  Believe me it’s easy to overeat and gain weight on any eating plan, just increase your calories past your activity level.  However, it’s much easier to stay within bounds when meat and high fat dairy are not on the plate.

I’ve been downloading and watching the “Heavy” TV series from Netflix.  Just like the “Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead” Documentary these shows greatly improve motivation.  Please send comments about how you motivate yourself to stay on an eating plan.  We accept all diets here, not just Vegetarian.  Though my personal results show that it is the plan that works for me.


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90 Day Vegetarian Adventure – Birthday!! How to Celebrate?

How do I celebrate a birthday low fat vegetarian style when in the past my favorite meals involved pork chops and cake?  Placing an order for Ma Po Tofu and Vegetable Lo Mien from my favorite Chinese carryout should do it with nonfat Frozen Yogurt for dessert. And I won’t feel stuffed or unhealthy afterward.


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The 90 Day Vegetarian Adventure – Day 40 The Great Frederick Fair

Normally, I love this time of year and one of the highlights of September is attending the Great Frederick Fair.  This is a county agricultural fair with something for everyone.  In past years I have entered baked goods, canned goods, artwork and photos for competition and a prize.  It’s good to know that I can bake prize-winning bread, brownies and pickle superior green beans.

However, this year is different.  With all of the changes in my schedule, I haven’t had the time or energy to make any entries.  Also, the Vegetarian Adventure has given me a different gastronomic perspective because most of the food sold at the fair is animal-based.  So, all of the lovely ham sandwiches, crab soup, full fat ice cream and gyros don’t call my name anymore.  In fact, I’m not even tempted to go back to the meat-eating orgy that the Fair used to be for me.

So, what am I going to do at the Fair this year?  Attend the Horse Pull on Friday night and eat a delicious bag of kettle popcorn.  Browse through the Farm & Garden building that is full of beautiful fruits and vegetables grown in the county this summer and pick up a free apple.  In this same building there is delicious local honey for sale.  I always buy honey sticks for the grown 20-somethings.

If I’m upping my fat intake for the day there are fantastic apple dumplings made by the best cooks in the world, Methodist Church Ladies.  And, sweet potato fries are always tasty and filling.  But, I guess that’s about it as far as the food will take me.

I love to look at the healthy, well-cared for, livestock.  It’s fun to watch the 4-H kids show their animals and to realize that each sheep, goat, cow and pig represent a lot of hard work to get them to this event.  The auctions are bittersweet.  I’m happy for the kids who get a good price for their animals but sad that the beautiful critters will end up in the freezer.

Then, there is the Household Building, where in past years I competed with the best of them.  This year I’m not even interested because none of my stuff is there.  That’s pretty childish, but it’s how I feel.

The free yardsticks, frisbees, key chains, erasers that look like cows, pencils, pads of paper and jar openers are all there for the picking.  The kids used to love getting Fair bags full of the stuff.  Only one college kid this year has requested freebies from the Fair, so I’ll wander around with my plastic bag advertising the local newspaper and collect for him.

This whole vegetarian lifestyle change has definitely changed the source of excitement caused by the Fair.  It has made me realize that I did go mostly for the food and now that fried meat doesn’t look or taste good anymore and full-fat dairy is not on the menu what’s left?  Just a different experience that’s all.  Still fun and satisfying, with a new, healthier perspective.


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90 Day Vegetarian Adventure Day 33 – How To Stay On the Eating Well Wagon

Let’s face it, this Vegetarian Adventure is not easy.  Living in the US means there are lots of quick, unhealthy choices everywhere you go, even in your own freezer.  So how do you stay on the Eating Well  Wagon? . . . Great cookbooks, planning meals, shopping for fresh ingredients, and COOKING.

Case in point, last night my husband was out-of-town,  the rest of the family was tired from a busy week.  I had planned to fix veggie fajitas and realized too late that the last shopping trip was disorganized and did not include pinto beans.  So, it’s pouring rain and my 9-month granddaughter is sleeping.  It’s not a good time to run to the store for just one item.  I made a healthy green salad, however, threw chicken nuggets into the oven, thinking that I wouldn’t eat them.  Just for the rest of the family, right?  Wrong, when I am tired and hungry, I’m weak.  I actually ate chicken nuggets, blech, I don’t even like them and they are definitely not part of the Adventure.

Staying on the wagon begins with great cookbooks.  See the book recommendations here.  Dr. Dean Ornish is one of my favorite authors along with Laurel’s Kitchen.  A great way to try out a cook book before you buy it is to check it out of the library.  You have three weeks to try the recipes.

Planning meals and shopping your plan not only keeps you eating healthy but also saves gas, time and money.  Keep healthy choices on hand and have a list available for whenever you run out of something.  Buying food for a family means stocking choices that aren’t necessarily part of your own eating plan, hence the chicken nuggets. However, if you make sure your own choices are in the freezer it’s easier to make food for everyone.

Then, cook your plan.  Prepare what you can in the morning, for example, put the beans on to cook, or place ingredients in a slow cooker.  Or you can prepare some of the ingredients the night before and refrigerate them.  It’s so helpful to have dinner partially ready in the evening when you are tired.  Following these guidelines helps me to continue to eat in a healthy way, staying on the Eating Well Wagon.

Do you have tips for staying on the Wagon?  Please leave your comments!


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90 Day Vegetarian Adventure – Day 30 I Love King Arthur

Flour that is, I love King Arthur brand Whole Wheat Unbleached Pastry Flour.  It has a delicious nutty flavor and the texture makes the best pizza dough and bread that I’ve ever eaten.  Since I make my own bread I’ve tried lots of different flours including a special hard red wheat bread flour from Minnesota.  King Arthur beats them all.  It tends to be a little pricey but it is well worth it.  So, keep up the good work King Arthur, you are greatly appreciated by this particular baker.


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90 Day Vegetarian Adventure Day 25 The Reasons

In reading and commenting on other Vegan and Vegetarian blogs I’ve noticed that a lot of vegetarians are what I would call aggressively mellow.  They have chosen to eat a certain way and love the results but seem to always have their armor on, defending their choices.  If my reasons are strong enough for me and I’m not offending God, who cares what others think or eat?   I don’t view eating well as a crusade, rather it is a personal choice based on past experience and study.

The past experiences have to do with always planting a vegetable garden in the spring and eating from it the rest of the year.  Fresh food from the garden to table has a flavor that cannot be duplicated in the 2 to 3 weeks that it takes to ship the food from somewhere else.  Plus, after 2 weeks at least half of the vitamin C is gone.

The study has to do with the book of Genesis in the Bible.  I’ve always been fascinated with our Creator and His methods.  The original design places us in a garden, tending it , living in it and eating the produce from it.  Nutritionists are finding that our bodies are designed to heal themselves when the right nutrients are in place.

So, your reasons for being a vegetarian are yours alone.  Relax, and take off your armor.  Enjoy your gardens and farmer’s markets.  In my view vegetables and fruits are a major miracle.  You don’t have to defend yourself or insist that others agree with you.  And you certainly don’t have to worry about what other people think.


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90 Day Vegetarian Adventure Day 19 Just So You Know

Just so you know, I’ve been in an earthquake, moved my youngest to college and am now watching a hurricane outside my window.  Quite the eventful week and vegan eating has taken a backseat.

Just so you know,  over the last 6 days I’ve eaten a taco with beef, a chicken breast, milk duds and iced tea with caffeine.  The taste of the beef was very strong and gamey, the chicken breast was rather bland, the milk duds and ice tea gave me migraine headaches complete with a visual aura.

Just so you know, I’m not a perfect, always eat the best choice vegan. However, the goal is when I fall off the healthy eating wagon, I get back on as soon as possible.  I am committed to the 90 Day Vegan Adventure and will be posting daily new recipes, challenges and victories along the way.


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90 Day Vegetarian Adventure Day 13 – Passing the test

Yesterday was a major test of the vegan eating plan.  My extended family met at the Utica Picnic and had a family style fried chicken and ham dinner.  The Utica Picnic is a yearly fundraiser for the local church.  It takes place in a wooded area that has hosted this picnic for decades.  The locals come out in droves and the church members serve lots of home cooking, family style and al a carte.  From hot beef sandwiches and full fat ice cream to fresh garden vegetables and country ham it is a major test of willpower.

This year I made it about spending time with family, and not about the food.  Avoiding the meats, rolls, and cake left lots of room for fresh garden tomatoes, potato salad, pepper slaw, peaches, apple sauce, green beans, homemade beet and cucumber pickles.  The food was delicious but not necessary for a great time.

So, I passed the test and really enjoyed seeing my family.  No one asked why I wasn’t eating meat or gave me a hard time, though my brother did offer me a piece of vanilla cake with peanut butter frosting.  I wasn’t even tempted.


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90 Day Vegetarian Adventure Day 10 Retro-Eating

When planning the evening meal I think about what my grandparents ate during the summer.  They raised families during the depression and lived on small farms with chickens, pigs, vegetable gardens, and a variety of fruit trees.  New potatoes cooked in their jackets, freshly picked corn on the cob and ripe tomatoes were standard fare this time of year.  This evening we had black-eyed peas, corn and collard greens from the garden.  The flavors are complementary and I feel deeply satisfied when I’m finished.  This is retro-eating at it’s finest.