Stepping into the world of a plant based diet.

So it's been about two weeks, since I said goodbye to meat.  It's been interesting.  I've had to learn how to cook all new meals.  Now I wouldn't say I'm a gourmet cook, but I can cook and now I'm learning to adapt old favorites into meatless favorites.  If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook you may have seen some of my food pictures.

I've become totally passionate about this new way of life.  I've been reading websites, blogs, searching recipes and reading books.  My current favorite is The Engine 2 Diet, and blog. The author Rip Esselstyn a Texas Firefighter is the son of one of Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr. one of the doctors who brings us the video and cookbook Forks over Knives. Then their is my juicing website that started it all from the movie Fat Sick and Nearly Dead.  I love the way the simply share the information, and explain the health differences in eating a plant strong diet, vs the way America eats.  It makes me think of so many people who are suffering with chronic illness, cancer, and so many other problems that the diet we all consumed have either caused or contributed too.  I just want to share it with everyone.

So what have I've been cooking.  Well all kinds of things.  Since I'm gluten intolerant I can't use the whole wheat things, so that adds an extra challenge to some things.  So I've made pizza with polenta as the crust, and a portabella mushroom as a burger and a pizza crust.  Both yummy.

I've altered a few recipes from Skinny Taste website (another favorite website) that already has great Vegan and Gluten Free recipes.  I took her recipe for Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Zucchini, and altered into a vegan recipe.  It turned out really good.  I substituted the chicken filling for her Arroz Congri (Cuban Rice and Black Beans) and added the zucchini insides in the rice.  Next up I'm going to try making her Spicy Black Bean Burgers, just have to figure out how to substitute the eggs.  It's something new all the time.

I love cooking and juicing.  So here is sample of my daily diets.
Breakfast:  Oatmeal with fruit and Almond Milk and a juice made of carrots, apples, celery, beets, and a lemon.

Lunch:  (yesterday example) Portabella Mushroom pizza.  Mushroom for the crust, pizza sauce and veggies topping it off.

Dinner: sautéed grape tomatoes, carrots, green beans, bell-pepper, and onions, on top of Quina. And a juiced green lemonade.  Kale, lemon, apple, cucumber, celery and a bit of ginger.

Dessert: was frozen banana, strawberries, and pineapple all blended together in my food processor with a bit of Almond milk and vanilla.  It's like frozen yogurt but no added sugar, and it's so good.  I take the left over and put it in Dixie cups with Popsicle sticks and they make great frozen fruit treats.

Snacks: varies, nuts, cocoa and gogi berry bars,  fruit, cut up veggies and raw revolution bars.

Also I drink at least a liter of water a day and some herb teas.

So see it's not so bad.  But the best part is I feel better, and other people can see the difference.  I've lost 8 pounds without even trying.  People are telling me how good I look.  My skin looks better, my hair is looking better.  I now walk through the grocery store untempted.  I know what effect that Stoffer's Lasagna is going to do to me, or that I'll feel sick if I eat bacon and eggs things I use to love so much.

Are there things I miss of course.  Who doesn't love pizza, and burgers.  Going to the Giant's game I won't eat my hot dog however I will partake in the Garlic Fries, even though the grease will make my stomach feel yucky.  And if I do slip off the wagon, I'll just hop back on.  It's okay, I'll probably feel the effects right away.

So yes it's a challenge, eating out is very difficult, but possible.  I've had more people tell me they could never give up their meat of choice.  But for me it's all worth it.  I don't feel sick all the time, I don't need a nap when I come home for lunch two things I thought were just how I had to live feeling that way for the rest of my life.   Now I know I don't have to I'd say it's definitely worth it.

Check in with you all later.

Carol

Wow I'm going Vegan

What your a what?  I can hear it now from many of my friends, and even some family as I have always loved meat and cheese.  Where will you get your protein?  Not from meat.  Where will you get your calcium? Not from milk or cheese.

So the dietary changes have been happening since June 1.  I found out that my daughter and I can't tolerate wheat, gluten, and dairy.  So we began a journey to find foods to replace the things we use to eat.  Luckily God has put so many people in my path to help guide me through this.

With my health issues, my chiropractor and nutrition specialist have been encouraging me to eat as clean as a diet as I can.  Then they told me I shouldn't eat eggs.  Ok so good by to some of the things I enjoy again.

Now I must say my sister Phyllis, has been talking to me about diet and health changes for years.  My mom did as well.   I can remember being a kid in 1975 and being the only kid who ate whole wheat bread (the chunky kind) fresh ground peanut butter, no sugar cereal and this stuff called carob.  There were no whole foods just teeny little health food markets run by hippies and flower children.  Mom also gave me supplements.  Not Flintstones vitamins but actual swallow the pills and don't argue.  Little did I know how ahead of the game my mom and sister were.  Both of them become vegetarians, except they ate fish, and eggs.  (There's a name for it but I don't know it)

Recently I've watched 3 documentaries.  All about how eating the right foods a micro nutrient diet (plant based diet) can heal your body.  The first was Foodmatters , Fat Sick and Nearly Dead and Forks Over Knives each one is different but yet tells and shows evidence that the way America eats is making us sick, and if we eat micro nutrient vegetable based diet our bodies heal.  My husband was most intrigued with the last two, and had decided to make the change himself.  This is something I never thought would happen.

So now we are looking up Vegan recipes, juicing at least twice a day, and weaning away our unhealthy eating habits.  I'll let you know how it goes.  My goal is to get off my 6 medications, I've already been able to leave my stomach medicine behind.  Get my physical body in healthy shape through diet and exercises, but I'm not on a diet.  Although in a few months I do want to try a 10 day juice fast but I'm still weaning and adjusting to the changes I've made so far.

So what have I given up so far, well you read about the wheat, gluten, eggs, and dairy.  I also gave up coffee and all cafine drinks, soda, and this week processed and artificial sugars.  I'm seeking wisdom in prayer and the people God is bringing into my life.  I already feel better, I have more energy, my skin is starting to change, my water retention is reducing, and I've even lost about 4 lbs.  I'm not an expert but I would encourage people to check out the videos.  I want to be healthy, I want my husband to be healthy, and I want to teach my daughter to be eat healthy and that the food she puts in her body is just as important of a decision as all the other choices she'll make in life.  Our choices today always have an affect on our future.