VEGAN CHALLENGE: DAY 3

Thai Pineapple Quinoa Salad

AM The house is sick, so I care less about food than I normally do. Going into Day 3, I don't feel particularly excited about todays food options. I don't have the energy to come up with anything spectacular for breakfast or lunch so leftovers are on the menu but have a new recipe planned for dinner; Thai inspired Spicy Pineapple Quinoa Salad. I hope I can taste it by then. ~groan~

I will say this; I don't know if I can contribute this to all the high fiber foods I have been eating, or maybe my time of the month is coming, but I feel very bloated. I have bombarded my body with a lot of change the last few days, so I am hoping that things will settle down by the end of the week.

I have felt much more energized the last few days. Which is a blessing since I'm going to need all the energy I've got to nurse this house back into shape.

PM Update:

The Spicy Pineapple Quinoa Salad was delicious!

It started out pretty spicy for my taste buds, so I just added a little more water. But if you like a sweet and spicy sauce that will go with just about anything you would ever want to dip, this is your sauce. It's so versatile, works great with chicken nuggets (both meat and non meat varieties) and I would imagine would be an awesome Chinese sauce too for spring rolls and the like.

I think this simple salad would work great as a side dish at any BBQ, meat oriented or not, and tonight it took center stage on my plate, (although I did round my plate out with some McCain french fries (Shhhhhh....it's vegan!)

Quinoa was the star of this show, and is an awesome complete protein option for vegetarians and vegans. It is high in fiber, Vitamin C, magnesium and is chalk full of the nine essential amino acids the body needs. It is relatively flavorless which means it absorbs basically any flavor you can dream up, making it perfect for this salad. You can substitute quinoa for grains and rice in any dish, and quinoa can also pump up your morning nutritional quotient by being added in with your hot cereal at Breakfast!

The sauce is so easy to put together, and a little goes a long way, so taste as you go along before adding too much and not being able to go back!

I can honestly say that so far I am really enjoying the new recipes and food I've made this week and haven't missed the "meat" at all. Dairy hasn't really been an issue either, but snacking still remains a problem. I have had to stop myself from grabbing a pudding cup a few times today (I am aware I snack like a toddler, when in Rome...).

Going into Day Four more confidently, the idea of a meatless and dairy-free day doesn't seem as mysterious and daunting to me anymore.

Do you have any vegan main meal ideas you think I should give a go? I need all the help I can get! Sound off below!

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