This is my first “report” on my month as a vegan.
So far I have really enjoyed it and I have already learned so much about food…and people!
Going vegan is not as massive a stretch for me as what it would be for many other people. I was vegetarian for a couple of years, and I am very conscientious about healthy food and humane animal products. I already refuse to buy anything but organic eggs, chicken & cheese, and I extend that all other meat when I can afford it. I am increasingly avoiding pork due to nutritional &
animal welfare concerns.
I am a try-hard foodie and I love to cook, so the first obvious appeal of this challenge was to stretch my capabilities in the kitchen and try some new dishes I might not have otherwise.
This week I have used all my own recipes, and I will share them with you (soon). I have purchased a vegan cookbook though, and I am sure I’ll be reaching for it in the very near future!
The reaction of others has been interesting to say the least. I thought I was doing this for myself but I am blown away at how many people are varying from fascinated to appalled to bemused to highly opinionated about my temporary food choices.
I’ve been on repeat all week with people who, looking around my face with cautious intrigue like I’m some weird science experiment , poke and prod me with questions about the logistics, the health, the food itself, and heaven forbid, what I’m depriving my poor partner of whilst the main cook of the house goes off on this crazy grain nibbling rampage, as if they expect to next see me crouching in a field with a hunk of grass hanging out of mouth, having abandoned home to live with a family of rabbits.
Already I am exhausted on behalf of permanent vegans who must have these conversations with omnivores on a regular basis! It is turning into a bit of social intrigue project for me, to be exposed to how foreign eating naturally is to people! I’m tilting my head back at them in the same confusion in which they are looking at me!
So, to avoid clogging up the call centre, here are my responses to
this week's FAQs:
Where will you get all your calcium from?
Broccoli, bok choy, cabbage, spinach, tofu, tempeh, sardines*, salmon*, brazil nuts, almond, sesame seeds, tahini.
(*Not me this month, but you can)
Where do you get your iron from?
Almonds, edamame (soybeans), lentils, spinach, quinoa, tofu, tempeh, prunes, chickpeas, lima beans, pinto beans, tahini, beetroot leaves, kidney beans, potato, peas, raisins, watermelon, bok choy, brussel sprouts, apricots, bulgur.
Where do you get your protein from?
Just about any kind of nut, legumes, beans, tofu, tempeh, baked beans on toast, soy products, peanut butter, Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP), quinoa, sunflower seeds, whole wheat bread, brown rice, broccoli, potato, mushrooms, seitan.
What do you actually eat?!
Week One Menu:
Monday
Breakfast: Avocado & tomato on grain toast
Lunch: Garden salad
Snacks & drinks: Apple, mixed nuts, banana, rosehip & ginger tea, chamomile tea
Dinner: Potato & broccoli cakes with a spicy tomato & lentil sauce
+ garlic bread
Tuesday
Breakfast: Banana & berry smoothie
Lunch: Left over dinner
Snacks & drinks: Date & coconut rolls, popcorn
Dinner: Falafels w homemade tabouleh & salad
Wednesday
Breakfast: Porridge w cinnamon, brown sugar & raisins
Lunch: Left over dinner
Snacks & drinks: Carmen’s muesli bar (a little cheat, it had honey in it), Mandarin, mixed nuts, Rosehip & ginger tea, Little Creatures Pale Ale
Dinner: Vegetable samosas (my friend’s Mum’s recipe – I wont publish it because even though I like my version, I know I don't do it justice) w sweet chilli dipping sauce & salad
Thursday
Breakfast: Banana & berry smoothie
Lunch: More samosas
Snacks & drinks: mandarin, mixed nuts
Dinner: Zuchini, pea & mint soup
+ garlic croutons
Friday
Breakfast: Banana & berry smoothie
Lunch: Left over dinner
Snacks & drinks: Muesli bar, mixed nuts, long black coffee, rosehip & ginger tea, popcorn, chilli potato chips
Dinner: Marinated tofu & salad rice paper rolls w hoisin & chilli sauce
Saturday
Breakfast: Multigrain toast w cashew butter & celery
Lunch: Salad sandwich on multigrain w avocado
Snacks & drinks: mixed nuts, fresh juice from juice bar
Dinner: Vege Fajitas w homemade tortillas, rice & refried beans
Sunday
Breakfast: Long black coffee, multigrain toast w avocado & tomato
Lunch: 3 different salads, beans & bread (provided at a seminar I attended)
Snacks & drinks: fruit, roobis tea
Dinner: Tofu & vegetable stir fry
Do you take supplements?/You’re taking supplements, right?/Well, just make sure you take some supplements!
It is different in every individual case. I was taking iron supplements before I started this diet as I have been borderline with iron. However, based on my past experience, I was in fact iron deficient before I went vegetarian six years ago. Not long into my vegetarian diet, my iron levels actually increased and remained healthy for quite some time. So I empirically know that a lack of meat in my diet wont send me down a rapid shute straight to anaemia. I am continuing on the supplements I have as I would if I were still eating meat. I am not taking any other supplement.
How do you live vegan when you live with a die-heard meat-eater?
My partner and I have had several interesting and positive conversations about this challenge. I am not “inflicting” it on him by any means. To start, he gets a good meat fix at lunch everyday.
When I plan a meal I also think of how I can incorporate some meat into it for him, if he wants it. I did add some bacon into his soup the other night, and some chicken into his fajitas, which he was very grateful for!
For the first couple of meals he was more than happy to have them as they were, and I have to say I am very lucky to have such an open-minded partner who is happy to have the occasional vegetarian meal, and more so trusts me to make a delicious meal sans animal anything.
One of the most frustrating conversations I can have is with someone who just cannot comprehend the possibility of an enjoyable meal without meat. There is a massive misconception out there that food can’t be exciting and satisfying unless meat is involved. Men, in particular, are downright convinced they will keel over and die if there’s no meat on their plate at night. I’m sorry, but it is simply ignorant, misinformed, narrow-minded and buying into the...
Marketing of Meat
Of all people, my meat-loving man was the person who posed to reflect on just how successful the Beef, Lamb & Pork industries have been in convincing the mainstream that we simply cannot get vital nutrients such as iron and protein from anywhere but their products. That’s not facts people – That’s marketing.
Take a closer look at what is being fed to you, to influence you what you feed your family. You might just discover a whole new world of culinary pleasure that rocks your world, and makes you, and the world a little bit healthier!
I’m not attempting to preach anything, and I'm a lover of variety. I know why people don't want to give up meat and dairy, nor have time to care about the ingredients list when it's cheap and the kids are screaming. I'm just discussing my observations and insights. I am of course a meat eater and the end of the month I will be back eating meat, but even in doing so, I will be ensuring my products are fresh, local, humane and organic wherever possible.
If you want help on how to find humane animal products check out this resource from RSPCA.
Week One wrap-up
I am thoroughly enjoying this little adventure so far. It seems to have a positive domino effect in ways such as; because the food isn’t heavy, whilst it does fill me up, I’m burning it off quicker, making me hungrier more often. Whilst some people probably see this as reason enough not to take this route, it have forced me into eating smaller meals more often which is a very healthy way to refuel.
I have lost 3 kilos already. Don’t be alarmed, this probably also because I haven’t been drinking as much as I would normally. The lighter meals mean that when I have had a beer it has gone straight to my head and I’ve opted out of the second. So it is having a very healthy effect on my lifestyle overall.
I am sleeping much better and feeling a lot more alert and positive. I mostly feel proud and strong within myself for challenging myself and sticking with it (so far!)
Yes, I know I’m only one week in. Perhaps next week I’ll just fill the page with big growls and incoherent rants about cheeseburgers, but for now, I’m happily rolling with it.
Catch ya next week.
Please donate to RSCPA QLD if you so feel the urge!
Thank you for reading :)
This week’s blog was brought to you by the top donator for the week: Miss Mallory Peak!
Bloody generous and all round top chick.
Thank you so much!
