WHY
That was the first thing that people would say when I told them I was trying to be vegan in January. This was usually paired with bulging eyes, “I could NEVER” declarations and “good luck” wishes. Explaining why is a good place to start. I wanted to challenge myself. I wanted to see if I would feel any different. I wanted to expand my cooking repertoire to include more vegetable-based meals. I wanted to tap the brakes on what the endless buffets and potlucks of December were doing to my waistline. So I did it…or, rather, gave it my best shot.
Okay, okay: I wasn’t one hundred percent vegan, I admit. But although pitchforks are popping up in the hypocritical part of my mind, I have to say that I am proud of myself. I ate a LOT less meat day-to-day and was forced to become more aware of what I was putting into my body. As a person that likes to try anything and loves free food (thanks for nothin’, office job), I didn’t think about what I was consuming beyond what my preference in that moment was. This past January, I studied menus when I went out and made a conscious effort to prepare meals that were tasty, filling and nutritious.
HOW
I can’t stress how important it is to prep your meals out. Before the new year started, I leafed through a few cookbooks, including Roots and Jerusalem, to get inspired for dishes to make. I wasn’t interested in having a plate of just beans or rice cakes in my diet; I wanted REAL FOOD. I also stayed away from any imitation meat products so that I could focus on my goal of consuming more vegetables. Part of that prep was practical: I made and froze my own vegetable stock with leftovers from the holidays including various herbs, root vegetables and mushrooms in case I needed it for a recipe.
Even though I was somewhat prepared before the new year, the first week or so I basically just ate pistachios and bread because I was too busy (read: too guilty of procrastination) to put anything together or go to the store. I get really excited to take on new projects, but when the time comes to put the effort in to make it happen…nah.
However, when I finally decided to be an adult and feed myself, these foods were my favorites:
Pita and Hummus (The recipe is IN THE NAME)
Avocado Toast (I live for it)
Salads (Jerusalem’s Spinach and Date Salad was made multiple times)
Minestrone Soup (Based off of Cookie and Kate’s Recipe. AMAZING! I made it twice.)
CHEAT WEEK
Yeah, I did it. Do I regret it? Mostly. The hardest thing about the change in diet was going somewhere with other people and/or celebrating anything. I link togetherness and celebration with food so I cut myself a break for one week where a few lovely people in my life had special occasions. However, I realize now that I could have “downgraded” to vegetarian and been fine. I had an underwhelming burger and fish-and-chips at restaurants that had me asking why I bothered. Another day, I was seriously craving Publix chicken tenders (Florida people, holla at ya girl!), but the Publix near my house is the saddest one in all the land and the tenders WEREN’T EVEN CRUNCHY. I was so upset I used a cheat on that—UGH. I went to an Ethiopian restaurant in Orlando called Nile and it was FANTASTIC, but in hindsight, I could have just stuck with the vegetarian items in the platter. The cheat food that truly made me happy was a tuna melt. I. Love. Tuna.
OKAY GET TO THE POINT
Overall, trying to be vegan for a month worked well. I lost a few pounds without feeling like I was depriving or starving myself. Digestion issues—ahem—became better. Most of the cravings I had were for fish, so now I know what I need to do to make my body happy. I got to cook in new and interesting ways. I was more mindful of what I was putting in my body.
On January 31st, I was automatically wondering what vegan meal I should cook next without realizing right away that the month was over. To me, that is pretty successful. I learned that I don’t need meat at every meal or every day to enjoy and nurture myself. That night, I made falafel for the first time and loved it. After I write this, I’m planning on flipping through a vegan cookbook that a friend just gave me. I’m glad to have taken on this food adventure and to have integrated a more meatless philosophy in my lifestyle.
Recipes coming soon!
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