I've had a lot of people ask this, and no, this was not done to lose weight or try to be healthy. I already eat pretty well and like my veggies. My weight did not change or fluctuate in any drastic way one way or another. So if you are going to try this, don't expect to drop all of that winter weight in time for bikini season.
For the entire month I followed a diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, grain and oats, and meat substitutes such as tofu, tvp, and other magical meat replacements in the vegetarian and vegan world. I ate no meat, no fish, and no animal byproducts, with the exception to eggs and dairy. I missed out on wing nights, Super Bowl Chili, bacon, caesars, and snacking on cheeseburgers and other delicious late night snacks.
It certainly wasn't an easy feat at initially: My first shift at work I had to work a Hockey game with half-price wings. I wanted them so bad and I was stuck eating a salad with dressing, starved. Working at a bar was a challenge in itself. Besides veggie burgers, fries and salads, I was left wanting a lot of the time. I had to get the help (an patience!) of my kitchen staff to find ways to feed me. They were awesome, but they are already pushing this month to be "Meat March" to make up for all the veggie mods I sent their way.
This challenge gave me a rude awakening of my "H-anger". Personally, if I don't eat, I get grumpy, tired and a less than pleasant person to be around. I had to have food ready to go, dining-out options available (and researched), and mini snacks at hand too keep my nom-rage at bay. As a omnivore, I forgot the nutrients and energy that meat easily gave to me. By taking that out, I had to not only keep myself fed, but also make sure I was keeping my energy and nutrients balanced to maintain my own sanity.
Once I got into the swing of things, it was incredible the options I found to keep myself fed. There are salads, soups, and amazing meals with fake meats and substitutes for the usual meals I would eat. I had fake chicken an waffles, fake steak, fish, burgers, and so many things that I not only LOVED, but also could easily mistake for the real thing. Restaurants like Hogtown Vegan and Clintons in Toronto have AMAZING veggie an vegan options.
A few things I found in the veggie world that I liked:
Tofu - seriously, it can be done and I kind of know how to cook it now
Almond milk - I had NO idea!! It even tastes good in my tea.
TVP - looks kind of like dense, soggy sourdough, but it can sate like ANYTHING!
Mock-aroni and Cheese - HOW IS THERE NO DAIRY??!??
Mock chicken - I think I may like it better than the real thing
There were a few things I didn't like, of course. I noticed a big use of turmeric, which I'm still trying to get a taste for. For example, I like tofu scrambled, but sometimes the flavour of that spice is too much for me. Also, even though I tried it, there is absolutely no substitution for Caesars. I tried a vegan one, and it just tasted like tomato juice in sheeps clothing.
What I found, after these 28 days, was it was only semi difficult to be vegetarian. I've found that now it's more difficult to eat meat again. Since I have completed this challenge,mi have eaten little to no meat. Any time I have tried to eat meat, it either upset my stomach, tasted boring, greasy, or gross, or I'd just rather have its veggie alter-ego. I did factor in the fact that my body had changed since I started this; I have to get my body used to the different proteins, flavours, and textures again. However, even after all that, I'd rather the substitute.
Except for bacon. That shit still rules.
In the end, I feel I have found a new respect for food. I completely forgot the magic and science that goes behind making food and the different flavours that can come up if you just try. I can't say that I'm going to stick to this diet, as I do still like to eat the occasional BLT, but I have definitely changed my palate and how I will be going about my diet.
Now on to the next month: play ideas. Let's see how that one goes.
-janeovision
