Eating Pizza....NOT the Vegan Kind

A few weeks ago I ate a slice of cheese pizza from a local spot.
 
After feeling awful about myself…. I ate another slice. And another. And one more.
 
You know how some people reach for wine when they have a bad day or when life isn’t going so well? My drug of choice is food.

Sometimes this is my crappy reality.

I’m not proud of it, but I made a vow to myself that I will be more open with you about my journey…the good, the bad and definitely the ugly.
 
These days, I’m working on embracing my progress and trying not to beat myself up for not being perfect. I’m a work in progress.
 
Is this your life, too?
 
I wanted to give you this audio I recorded a little while ago (about 15 minutes long) with tips on how to deal with a vegan slump.
 
>>> What to do if you fall off a vegan journey audio <<<
 

Points I made in the audio:

*Make a decision to go vegan, then come up with a plan-Research, use cookbooks, etc

*Connect with other vegans on and offline

*Be open to experimenting with new recipes

*Baby step your way to more vegan meals

*DON'T beat yourself up

Sometimes we have setbacks, but in my experience the journey tends to be like that!

Dust yourself off and try again!

Thanks for reading. Please share your own experiences in the comments.

I Don’t Feel Like Cooking. Is This Your Struggle Too?

My confession.... I really enjoy cooking but don’t usually feel like cooking.
 
Can you relate to this?
 
Sometimes I miss the mindless days of throwing fish sticks in the oven and boxed macaroni and cheese on the stove…without considering factory farming and how crappy food affects our bodies.
 
 I miss the days of not knowing or caring. The life of ignorance.
 
I know you can relate to this.
 
The thing is, you have to cook (even if just a little bit) to make it work in this lifestyle for the long haul.
 
This is why I think most of us (notice I said US) don’t feel like we can do this long-term. It feels like too much damn work.
 
As overwhelming as it may feel, if you want to start or continue a vegan journey, you must have some sort-of meal plan.
 
If you’re not in the mood to cook 7 vegan dinners for the week, aim for 3 and double the hell out of those recipes…. especially soup.

Soup recipe here. Here’s another one.
 
Stir-fry is quick and easy, too.
 
Make one with Field Roast sausage, red bell peppers, onion, garlic, seasoning and serve with rice.
 
Make another one with broccoli, mushrooms, scallions, ginger, soy sauce and more rice.
 
Double (and triple) recipe portions to keep you on track and to save time and money.
 
Sometimes it gets hard in these vegan streets!
 
Don’t give up! (I’m speaking to myself just as much as I’m talking to you-believe that!)

Tiny Grocery Haul & A Confession

I have a confession to make... 

I'm a bit of a food snob.  I do nearly all my shopping at Wegmans, where I can get fancy vegan meat alternatives, organic store brand food at a fraction of the price & vegan snacks not found in most grocery stores.

I'm really working on eating more whole foods and making a vegan lifestyle more obtainable for other families.  I know a lot of people don't live near Wegmans, Whole Foods & Trader Joe's, so I want to focus more on every day ingredients in future recipes.  I want to show that vegan family meals can be accessible, delicious and affordable.

In the most simplest terms, vegan meals are truly just vegetables, fruit, grains, legumes, nuts & seeds.  All of those items can be found in the most basic grocery store.  

I'm having second thoughts about whether or no the Schmidt bread is vegan.  The ingredients looked ok but potato bread typically isn't vegan, so....

I did some light shopping at Food Lion last week to check out their options. I was surprised at how many plant-based items they have outside of the produce department.  I was disappointed they didn't have tempeh or vegetable broth (can you believe no vegetable broth?) but I did see tofu, Tofurky vegan sausage (I don't usually buy this brand), and pre-packaged vegan entrees. I spent $28 on all the items above.

I'm not aiming for perfection but I know eating more whole foods will save us money and encourage more families to experiment with vegan meals.

Be Gentle with Yourself-Healthy Eating Journey

I was inspired to record a short vlog about buying Oreos again, after going about a month without eating them. 

I'm really learning not be so hard on myself and to love and embrace my healthy food journey.  Food shouldn't be associated with stress or pain and I'm learning to be gentle with myself.  

I saw this picture on That ARThletic Girl's Tumblr that was right on time!   I hope this video & picture inspires you to be more gentle in your own food journey. Baby steps are okay!

Instead of saying "no more junk food" say "I'm going to eat more leafy greens, drink fresh juice and blend smoothies." 

Vegan DOUBTS

When it comes to eating out, being a vegan can be such a hassle. I'm not interested in going back to the SAD diet but sometimes when I go out to eat, I feel so restricted.

I typically review a restaurant's menu online before leaving the house, only to find that there are no obvious vegan choices for me.  I enjoy dining out and spending time with my family, and sometimes I would much rather eat the cake at a birthday party than sit in the corner like a weirdo.

Do you think these feelings are normal?

I vlogged a bit more about it in the video below...

On a brighter note, we dined at Red Robin the other night and there were several vegan options on the menu for me to enjoy.

The boys also had a great time!

Do you have second thoughts about your plant-based lifestyle? 

Subscribe to my YouTube channel for more vlogs and cooking videos.