Hello Out There!

I've been gone so long, I hope you haven't forgotten me!

Since going "vegan" in March, I've been doing tons & tons of research, reading everything I can get my hands on regarding a plant-based diet, watching documentaries, experimenting with recipes, etc. etc. It's been all consuming, honestly, but I've enjoyed every minute of it.

I still have a lot to learn, but so far what I've realized is this: You can be a fat, unhealthy vegan. You can fill your body with processed non-meat garbage the same as your omnivore friends.  There is an abundance of vegan junk food out there, and while consuming it may be ethically good for the animals and the planet overall, it's not necessarily good for you.


Being a lapsed vegetarian, I thought I knew what I was doing and hopped on the vegan bandwagon with both feet.  I gathered up faux sour cream, mozzarella "cheese," vegan burgers and sausage like it was going out of style. I was ever so proud of myself for making this change in my diet/lifestyle, and I felt really good both physically and emotionally.  However, my new eating plan did nothing to make the scale move.  So I went back to logging my food into Weight Watchers, counting food POINTS and earning extra by walking.  Still no loss, and I was beginning to feel deprived and frustrated.  Though WW is an awesome program and I recommend it whole heartedly, I do not think it's a good option for vegans.  Yes, they do promote vegetable consumption and that's awesome, but they also have that dairy requirement and very few of their recipes (and none of their own foods) are veg-friendly.  I have some other issues but for now I'm going to leave it at that, at least until I show some success with another eating plan.

So, after countless hours in front of the tv watching documentaries, browsing websites and downloading books onto my Kindle, I have come to the conclusion that for a plant-based weight loss program, Dr. John McDougall has the right program for me.  His plan consists of unlimited veggies, whole foods, good starches, and a generous amount of fruit.  What he doesn't allow is fat, oil, animal products of any kind, and processed food is seriously discouraged.  This sounds strict, I know, but I'm going to give it a go and see what happens. Honestly, I started the "diet" yesterday and have already lost half a pound. 

Now, you all know me. There are a couple of things I really enjoy that I'm not willing to give up: coffee and my beloved chardonnay. I'm hoping I can still achieve success with these small "cheats." We shall see.

Thanks for bearing with me as I muddle through this stuff, would love to hear input from you all, especially if you're, or ever have been,  a McDougaller.

Have a Beautiful Day,

Rapunzel

 

Restaurant Round-Up: The Good, the Bad and the Dowright Ugly

As you know, Beren and I do quite a bit of traveling and socializing in our day to day life.  His current job requires him to be in various parts of the state and if we're not in our own home(s), we dine out.  Since making the pledge to go Vegan, eating out has been a challenge, to say the least.  Veg options are limited, and they are often carb and fat-laden when available. I've been giving myself some leeway, allowing cheese if I can't find anything dairy-free, but I'm not thrilled about it.  With the current trend toward a plant-based diet, I would think that more eating establishments would get on the ball!

Below are a few examples of good experiences I've had, such as the vegetarian and mostly-vegan food truck, Veggie Xpress.

Kali in front of the fabulous Veggie Xpress!

Cubanita Wrap

And the "naked" pizza Capone's Flickerlite was more than happy to prepare for me.

Whole Wheat Veggie Pizza, sans cheese

and then there's our beloved Ocean Deck where Beren and I often visit for cocktails and gorgeous beach view.  In the past I've been able to order a mahi salad or shrimp but now that I'm not eating seafood, I'm pretty much screwed at this place.  Unless I want a plain salad or fried, greasy appetizers, I'm going hungry.  I indulged in a few bites of nachos and then Beren was gracious enough to share his chicken salad with me, taking all of the poultry for himself.

Nachos, chili on the side

The Hard Rock Cafe has a veggie burger on the menu, but I wasn't willing to spend $13.00 for it at that time. They did, however, gift Beren with a free ice cream sundae on his birthday.

At Captain Hiram's in Sebastian, FL, there was not one single vegan-friendly appetizer or entree! I inquired about other options not listed on the menu, would have been happy with a baked potato, but nope. I was left to fill up on bread and salad.  Not fun, or healthy.

So, what's a veg to do when dining out? First, plan ahead.  Most restaurant's menus are online, allowing you to peruse and plan to your heart's content. If not, call them! I'd heard that a local pizza joint was vegan-friendly, using soy cheese, but before I drove over I called ahead. Guess what? They're no longer doing so. That saved me a trip and some dollars.  I also found a website and app that will alert me to veg-friendly restaurants and stores in the area, Happy Cow has become my new best friend!

I've also been doing a lot of cooking (stay tuned for a post on that) and think that a picnic basket and cooler may be a permanent fixture in our car.  I don't want to be caught unprepared, forced to eat fried garbage for the "experience" of dining out.

I'd love some input from seasoned vegans out there!

Have a Beauty-Full Day,

Reading Up

 

After watching Forks Over Knives the other night, I am even more sold on this plant-based diet.  If you haven't watched this film yet, I highly recommend that you do so. I thought I was fairly well educated on nutrition and health but I learned so much more about more, especially in regards to heart disease!

Yesterday I hit our local library to gather more research, grabbed the McDougall book and cookbook as well as Vegan Planet.  All are chock-full of recipes which I'll be sharing soon!



Last night Beren and I went to a Mexican restaurant for dinner. Since I planned ahead and browsed the menu beforehand, I knew that they had some vegetarian options...





I decided on the veggie fajitas and am so glad I did as they were delicious! I ignored the refried beans and rice that accompanied the meal, found that half of this order was more than enough for me.

I realize I haven't given a weigh-in lately and honestly, there's not much to tell. I've been hovering between 175 and 176 for a while now, hoping that with these new dietary changes I'll see the scale moving again.

Off to read some more...

P.S. as my dear friend Blue Orchid reminded me, there are a zillion calories in margaritas..sigh..which I why I rarely imbibe... now & then, though, an indulgence is called for.

Have a Beauty-Full Day,

Veg-ing in the Outback

As a handfasting gift, one of Beren's friends so very kindly presented us with an Outback Steakhouse gift card.  You all know how much my sweetie loves anything deep fried (groan) and definitely enjoys his meat-and-potatoes, so a meal at a steak house, especially in the land of the Bloomin' Onion, is perfect for him! His newly-vegan bride who's also trying to lose weight..not so much.  However, we wanted a (cheap) night out so I figured I'd give it a go.

Before heading out to dinner, I did my research.  After perusing several websites and blogs, I discovered that Outback's vegan options are very limited. No surprise there, just disappointment.  Not wanting to settle for a plain baked potato and salad, I decided to follow a dear friend's advice.  Kiki said, "I'm a vegan, but socially I'm a vegetarian because I don't want to be a pain in the ass."

So, I went to the restaurant, enjoyed some good brown bread and a glass of wine before the meal, then asked our waitress about vegetarian options.  She was incredibly helpful, told me that the chef would be more than happy to accommodate me in any way possible, that if I were vegan they would hold the cheese on any of the salads, add grilled veggies to the pasta, etc.  I settled on the Fettuccine Parmesan with grilled veggies.  Though I felt a bit guilty consuming dairy and more fat & calories than I should, I feel like I made a decent choice.  It's not a religion and I'm not going to make myself crazy over it, just doing the best I can. (full disclosure: I did have a few bite's of Beren's bloomin' onion)



This morning I'm planning a nice long beach walk to work off some of those calories, stay tuned for pics and a Meat Free Monday recipe later on!

Have a Beauty-Full Day,

Breaking the Fast

 

We hear it all the time, Breakfast is the Most Important Meal of the Day.  No problem convincing me as I happen to love the morning meal, as long as I'm the one preparing it.  I'm not a big going-out-to-breakfast kind of girl, think one can really get into trouble with those temping hot stacks and sweet rolls, not to mention a staple here in South Florida: the giant bagel! I'd prefer to avoid all of that and just lounge about in my nightie, sipping coffee and nibbling on my own AM concoctions.

As I mentioned yesterday, after a long carnivorous absence, I'm returning to my vegetarian lifestyle and even playing with Veganism.  Suddenly eggs are abhorrent to me, certainly limits breakfast options! Digging around in the frozen section of the grocery store, I came across this meal from one of my favorite companies, Amy's. I figured this would be a good way to try out egg alternatives. I popped this baby into the microwave this morning and settled down with a fresh cup of java. Oh, my goodness! After ooh-ing and ahh-ing over each mouthful, I had to run to my computer and post a review.  This dish is hearty, am sure it will easily hold me over til lunchtime, and the flavors and consistency are perfection! I would definitely enjoy this several mornings a week and look forward to trying more egg substitutes. 

Note: this meal is is a bit higher than I normally "spend" on breakfast but since it's so filling, healthy & delicious, it's definitely worth the 8 Points Plus.

Have a Beauty-Full Day,