VEGAN CHALLENGE: DAY ONE

And So the Adventure Begins...

Captains Log: My poor body has been waiting for this day. I woke up with a positive attitude this morning and tackled this challenge with gusto. I even had my introduction blog typed before breakfast!

My first day is half over already and things are going well actually. It helps that it is March Break and the kids have been keeping me busy and on my toes with craft projects,a failed slime attempt and the constant cleaning up of mysterious sticky substances, as I follow them around the house.

I knew going into this challenge that in order for me to even come close to a successful experience I would need a plan. So a few days ago, I sat down and made a list of foods and created a rough menu plan for this week. I do not want to be too strict with the food I'm eating, but have figured out the "big" meals.

I took a trip to the grocery store and bulk barn and stocked up on the typical Vegan culprits; fruits and veggies, legumes and beans, as well as healthy, high fiber cereals and of course we grabbed some almond milk to top off our shopping cart.

I don't feel hungry so far, as much as I feel the normal pangs of emotional/bored snacking drive coming over me. I have kept myself busy with the kids to combat that. I have felt a wee bit more energetic as the day wears on, and have not noticed the usual sleepiness I feel in the afternoons before my second wind picks up.

Score one for the vegan team.

Traditional Korean Beef on Rice using thinly sliced beef

I weighed myself this morning, and will do so again when this experiment is over. For dinner I made Korean Beef on Rice for the whole family. For my family, who do not wish to participate so far in this study, they had the real beef version (which is absolutely delicious I may add), while I experimented with Textured Vegetable Protein, which I found at my local Bulk Barn. It cost $0.75 for two cups of dried TVP. Both were flavorful and I did not walk away unsatisfied. I did not miss the meat much, as the TVP, when not over cooked has a ground beef type of texture. I will share the recipe I used below, with instructions on how to interchange the beef for other meatless substitutes.

Breakfast:

3/4 cup All Bran Cereal, 1/2 Almond Vanilla Milk

snack: 1/2 orange, 1/2 bell pepper sliced

Lunch: 1/2 cup Maple Beans, 2 cups popcorn

Dinner: Korean "Beef" on Rice

snack: Banana