(Vegan) Plant Based Whole Foods for Lent

 

Herbivore Snacks for my office...not necessarily whole foods, but still pretty healthy!

 

Hi everyone! Erin and I decided to eat plant-based, whole foods (vegan) for Lent. After three days, how am I doing?

I started in the middle of the week with no food in my house and no plans. Big mistake! It’s harder eat plant-based in restaurants than when I’m cooking.

I cannot remember what I ordered or from where. It was good, but maybe not the best thing for my stomach

I don’t like the word “vegan” and neither do most people I know…or most servers.

I went on date night with Mike on Thursday night to one of our favorite restaurants, Cask. We ate at the bar because the wait for a table was an hour. The menu is vegetarian friendly, but not as vegan friendly. Also, my stomach was upset so I asked for steamed vegetables on a plate. The bartender was confused at first, but kindly asked the manager who checked with the kitchen. I got a plate of steamed spinach, green beans, asparagus, and carrots. Perfect! They only charged us for a side of vegetables ($6) and Mike left a big tip. The sad thing is, I was embarrassed for being picky the whole time. That’s definitely something I’ll have to work on.

Friday, I survived my first work lunch at Pampano. The server was helpful and after a few of my questions (are the plantains fried in oil or butter?), she informed me they had vegetarian/vegan enchiladas available though they were not on the menu. Score! They were yummy. I wish more restaurants had secret vegan options! My boss and coworker were supportive, and we had a few laughs. I wonder if the boss will invite me to lunch again before Easter?

Stone Ground Oatmeal takes forever to cook!

 Today, I got an order from Fresh Direct full of vegetables, fruits and other plant-based snacks. I have a few meals planned out and I’m hoping this week will be a little easier. This morning, I already went to the gym (first time in 3 weeks), ate a bowl of oatmeal, and blueberry oatmeal muffins just came out of the oven. As soon as they are cool enough, I plan to spread on some peanut butter eat them! They smell so good! Unlike me–definitely hitting the shower after muffins. Then hopefully cooking some more!

I cannot wait to devour these!

I hope your Saturday is going well. See you again soon!

Did you give anything up (or add anything) for Lent? Any tips for going vegan, or being a less difficult customer at restaurants? 

 

From Cover to Cover

Hi everyone! It’s been great getting back to the blog and sharing with all of you! I just want to take a moment to tell you about our new page, “Be a Guest Blogger” (in the column on the right). If you haven’t already, check it out. Erin and I would love to hear from you!

As some of you know, I was an English major in college. When I was a kid or in high school, I loved finding a good book and reading it for hours. I think I read some books (Harriet the Spy, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Little Women, Where the Red Fern Grows are the first to come to mind but there are many more!) from cover to cover in hours or a couple of days. I was so engrossed in the narrative of some stories, I forgot to eat. I hid under the covers with a flashlight reading past bedtime. Were you like that too? Do you remember that feeling?

Mike's bookshelf on the left, my bookshelf on the right. Now, we both read mostly ebooks.

When I’m stressed, I try to think of activities or routines which I found calming or distracting in the past. I’ve mentioned cooking, exercising, yarn crafting, and meditating. Recently, I rediscovered my joy in reading. I read Jane Eyre, then The Guernesy Literary and Potato Peel Society, then Olive Kitteridge and now Wench.

For the longest time, I only read at night before bed or occasionally on the subway. Now, I read at lunch instead of working straight through and always on the train. In a way, I feel like a kid again: I’m lost in an imaginary world. So what if my standards for writing, character development, and plot are a little higher. It used to frustrate me so much when I read poorly written books that I became disengaged from my love of reading. But now, it is such a comfort and a joy to lose myself not only in imaginary lives, but the art of good writing. I get many of my book recommendations from friends and NPR.

If you too are looking to rekindle your love for reading I strongly recommend The Guernesy Literary and Potato Peel Society it is a beautifully written celebration of books, words, and the love of reading.

If you’re feeling stressed, anxious or unbalanced, I recommend looking back to the things which made you happy as a kid. I’m not one for nostalgia or the idealization of Childhood. I do think, however, I often had a better understanding of what I wanted–what made me happy when I was younger. That is, before I allowed too many expectations and bad habits to cloud my perception of happiness. Like Erin said, scheduling time for the things that make you happy is just as important as house chores and work.

What books did you get lost in as a child? What books have you read lately which are just as engrossing?