Today marks Day 3 of my 30 day (potentially longer) vegan adventure. I've got some thoughts thus far. Some of these thoughts will require follow up advice, so, feel free to share if you've got it! I'm open to all the suggestions and help I can get.
1. I'm hungry. A LOT. It's a different kind of hungry though. I suspect it's because I'm not getting enough protein and iron, so I need to work on that. What I plan to do is analyze my diet and make sure I'm getting the proper nutrients (and those I got as an omnivore). The vast majority of what I'm eating now is fruit and veggies. Should I add more grains and meat alternatives?
2. Eating only vegan foods requires more planning ahead. Exhibit A: Didn't eat dinner last night, went to a comedy club that had typical bar food, but only one vegan option. Result? Baked french fries for dinner (and wine)! They were good though! Exhibit B: Lunch today. I had a babaganoush burger from a nearby restaurant. Luckily, I had a few minutes to research and find a vegan-friendly restaurant on my break. Long story short, it takes more forethought and planning ahead for meals. Not a bad thing, but something to get used to.
3. I don't like Vegan cheese alternatives. I tried a pepper jack cheese alternative and it was stinky and didn't taste good. I'm going to need to figure out a way around this. Aren't there vegan approved cheeses out there? Or any recommendations for a vegan cheese brand that closely mirrors the real cheesy deal?
4. I feel challenged - in a good way. On a more uplifting note, I feel excited, challenged and thoughtful about everything I put into my body. I like that. This helps me to think of food as fuel and not as a glutenous indulgence. Go me!
That was good to get that out. I'm going to finish up my coffee and head back to work in a few. Have a good day, everyone!
Daiya cheese is the best, because it melts and is the "cheesyest" tasting, but I do not know you will find a true replacement. I think that is the beauty of veganism, you really bring yourself back to the basics. Seeking joy in whole foods, simple foods. Plus whenever you are craving cheese just look up its ingredients which are sure to turn your stomach.... Joking (kind of).
ReplyDeleteI tried Daiya on my first day of Veganism (probably a mistake) and couldn't adjust to the taste. Since then, I haven't really had any cravings for it! I did have some cashew nut "cheese" the other evening at a restaurant and it was delicious.
ReplyDeleteNut cheeses are definitely the most realistic in terms of taste, as well as the healthiest options because they are made of food, not processed weirdness. Daiya cheese is water, oil, and starch; besides not tasting fabulous, it's nutritionally void and heavily processed. Soy, between its' phytoestorgens, phthalates, thyroid inhibitors, and anti-nutrients, is also terrible for you, and something that most vegans I know eat far too much of.
ReplyDeleteYou can experiment with simple cashew cheeses by soaking a lot of them then dividing into batches and blending with different spice mixes to see what you like best. My brand of food includes a cheesy kale chip that people often think is actual dairy- it's very possible to mimic cheese flavors with the right ingredients yourself. =)