After a week or so of eating traditional English breakfasts (aka “fry-ups”) and fish and chips, I’m feeling a bit, as the Brits might say, out of sorts.
Basically for the last two weeks, the foods closest to produce I have consumed have been orange juice, tomato ketchup, and fried onions and mushrooms…not exactly the ideal diet.
I’m feelin’ the shame. And the sluggishness. And a little bitterness at the injustice of being an adult, who is thus expected to eat vegetables.
In an effort to get reacquainted with a plant-heavy diet, I will be consuming only vegan meals starting Monday, for three days. No, I do not intend to go vegan permanently. No, I am not doing this in hopes of losing weight (though that would be a welcomed bonus), I am doing it to remind myself what real foods look and taste like.
I’m not going to be a pasta-eating, sugar-worshipping vegan, either. I’m consulting the experts:
Here’s the plan:
Monday
Breakfast: Pumpkin oat bran (inspired by Peas and Thank You, page 43)
Lunch: Thai crunch salad (from Peas and Thank You, page 82)
Dinner: White bean quinoa burgers (inspired by Andrea’s veggie burgers) wrapped in romaine with sweet potato fries
Tuesday
Breakfast: Green smoothie
Lunch: Salad leftovers of some sort
Dinner: Brown rice with black beans (from Annie’s Eats) with green salad
Wednesday
Breakfast: Green smoothie
Lunch: Black bean and tomato soup (from Skinny Bitch Ultimate Everyday Cookbook, page 99) with green salad
Dinner: Barley mushroom pilaf with roast broccoli
I tried to choose recipes that allowed me to maximize my ingredients (black beans, fresh cilantro, salads), so nothing is wasted.
Snacks will be fruit and veggies and maybe some hummus. I’m going to try to nix desserts and wine, but Hubs is asking me to make some chocolate chip cookies, so we’ll see about that. I might make some Super-Charge Me! Cookies and pass them off as junk food.
If the meals are interesting enough, I might blog about them along the way.
What are your favorite vegan recipes?
{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
What a great idea! I’d definitely be doing the exact same thing.
My favorite vegan recipe is corn chowder made with sweet potato and roasted corn using coconut milk and curry. Thick and creamy for crisp fall weather.
Oh that sounds delicious!
I think my favorite vegan recipes are the ones that “just so happen to be” vegan as opposed to ones I make purposefully trying to be vegan. For example, a veggie thai curry with coconut milk, or black bean burgers with a side of sweet potato fries, or veggies chili- all meals I love that just happen to be vegan.
Good point. I do enjoy many “accidentally vegan” meals! Do you have a good veggie chili recipe? I’ve experimented so many times but I haven’t found one I really love.
I do have one somewhere that I tried and really liked. I’ll try to dig it up for you!
blog about them along the way! do it!!!
my fav vegan recipes are refried beans with veggies, gliding calm tofu, tofu stir fries, vegetarian chili, vegan cookies with nuts, oats, and dried fruit……..etc
LOVE YOU. this sounds like a fun experiment!
Gliding calm tofu!! How could I forget?!
Ooooh I want to try the white bean & quinoa burger recipe! I recently (loosely) stopped eating any animal proteins except seafood and it feels great not looking at the corpse of a poor little chicken or cow. Can’t wait to see how it goes for you.
Just posted about the veggie burger! How are you finding pescatarianism? Do you eat dairy?
Lara! How did I not know about your blog?!
Anyway, good luck with your 3 day vegan experiment. I can tell you first hand Mame Pea’s book will help you with delicious recipes 😉
i wind up eating vegan a lot, but i know that i could never actually do it – too many limits!
that said, here’s my favorite recipe, for vegan african stew:
http://theactorsdiet.wordpress.com/2011/05/16/i-dreamed-of-africa/
Thanks Lynn! The stew looks great!
J’adore!
You are such a fierce bitch, and all healthy and balanced.
And PS my fave vegan dish is Snobby Joes or Sweet Potato and Black Bean Chili, both Veganomicon (I think)
I love you. That is all.
So orange juice, tomato ketchup, and fried onions and mushrooms do not count as vegetables? Are you sure? 😉
I love that you are doing this experiment, and I’d love to see how it goes…
I’m so happy to be a part of your experiment. I expect major feedback 🙂
in our household we are fans of Mama Peas summer succotash quesadillas with nacho mmm sauce.
I think I remember seeing a chili recipe on Emily @daily garnish or on Ashley @edible perspective.
Good luck I am trying to focus on a plant based diet this week as well.
Thanks Stacy, I’ll search around for that chili recipe. I’m always looking for a good one. How goes the workouts? I have yoga tomorrow…
I love the idea of white bean and quinoa burgers, cannot wait to read a recap of your vegan 3 day adventure.
How’s it going? I’m going to be adding more vegan meals as well, I know all to well the sluggishness you speak of. I’ve become more patient with myself, so instead of going the ‘I’m going vegan! All vegan! Vegan vegan vegan!’ route (usually followed by the ‘cheese! cheese! cheese!’ route…), I’m slowly building a repertoire and habits that are vegan. Slow and steady wins the race (and there is no race! ha!).
Can’t wait to hear how you’re doing!
I love what you have planned for the week. Sometimes it’s nice just to have a fresh start with eating to get you back on track.
The blog, Where’s the Beach has lots of vegetarian and vegan meals that always look amazing.
Thanks, I’ll definitely check it out!
despite being healthy (and vegan), my hubby LOVES the super charge me cookies. they’re not like regular tollhouse cookies, but they’re delicious. just make sure you do lots of chocolate chips 🙂
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