Vegan Recap!

Well, after 40 days, Mike and I no longer vegan. Our little "experiment" was at times fun, interesting, and challenging, but we did it! Here are 20 things from our vegan adventure!

1. The first 2 days I had a headache... and I rarely get those because I drink like, an exuberant amount of water! Guess my body was detoxing!
2. The very first day, I noticed that I had to do a lot of "thinking" about the food I was going to eat. I couldn't just grab any ol' thing out of the pantry or fridge. Which I thought was very interesting because I feel like we should think at least a little bit, and care at least a little bit, and know at least a little bit about what we are putting in our bodies! 
3. It really wasn't as hard as I thought. Yes, I missed cheese. Like, a lot. Vegan cheese is... well... the worst! I was so saddened by that. But for the most part, it was pretty simple, even in a not-so-vegan-friendly town. 
4. In the beginning, it took a lot of planning in regards to meals, but after we became more familiar with foods that were vegan, it became easier.
5. Our local grocery store actually has more vegan-friendly options than I realized! 
6. There were a lot of meals I made that were super yummy and will for sure make again, even now that this is over! (I'll post recipes below)
7. Going out to eat was a little bit annoying in the beginning as well... especially in a town that loves meat! When going out friends, most were very gracious and sweet and wanted to make sure we were going to a place that Mike and I would be able to eat something. Mike and I quickly became knowledgeable of restaurants in town with the best salad bar or vegan options, but not necessarily advertised as "vegan" eateries. Also, it was much easier to ask to see an allergen menu to check for dairy and things like that than ask for ingredients!
8. Lots of people don't really know what veganism is...
9. Lots of people don't really care what they eat...
10. Lots of people don't really know what they eat...
11. I could be a vegan if I had to. 
12. I could definitely be a vegetarian. Who knows...
13. I never really felt that "ugh-too-full" feeling. That feeling you get when you've just eaten enough for 2 people. Yeah, that never happened, which was nice. I felt a lot lighter, and after a meal, I would be satisfied, but not overly stuffed. However, I felt like I was always eating and always hungry. BUT, I wasn't gaining any weight. In fact, I lost weight. (which was not part of the plan, so I was glad that we stopped!) But I really did feel good, ya know?
14. This might be TMI, but I was regular and felt very cleaned out every day!
15. Not all vegans/vegetarians are crazy-weirdo-hippies! (I already knew that, but to all those who think otherwise, there ya go!)
16. There really is a problem with the meat industry; how the animals are treated, but also how the meat is produced. I watched quite a few documentaries about the food production in our country, and a lot of it was appalling. Now that we can eat meat, I want to try to be more conscious of where I am buying my meat from.
17. Mike and I will still have a couple nights a week where we are eating vegetarian/vegan.
18. Cashews can be ground up to make a "ricotta" like texture for lasagna. :) Yum!
19. I wish every box of food, every restaurant, every item you could eat had a label saying "vegan" or "vegetarian". It was so funny to tell people "oh, yeah, Oreos and Lay's chips are vegan!" And them being totally surprised, because those weren't weird-hippy-people foods. I just think the labels would make vegan life a little easier! And if all restaurants had those options, that would just be so nice!
20. Vegan chocolate chip cookies don't even come close to the real thing. I tried. The real things are just too good!

Some of our faves:

• Red beans and Rice ****
• http://www.budgetbytes.com/2014/02/vegan-red-beans-rice/
• Orange French toast ***** 
• http://theveganstoner.blogspot.com/2011/03/vegan-stoners-orange-french-toast.html
• Veggie Lasagna ***** (minus the Daiya cheese!)
• http://86lemons.com/vegan-lasagna/
• Slow cooker lentil chili ****
• http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/slow-cooker-lentil-chili/
• Kale and Quinoa Minestrone ***** (probably my favorite)
• http://www.cookingclassy.com/2014/02/kale-quinoa-minestrone-vegan-gluten-free/
• Sloppy Black bean Joes ****
• http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/special-dietary-needs/sloppy-black-bean-joes/
• Curried Gnocchi with roasted veggies **** (could use rice instead of gnocchi)
• http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/special-dietary-needs/curried-gnocchi-with-roasted-veggies/
• Black bean avocado enchiladas ****
• http://www.thegardengrazer.com/2014/07/black-bean-avocado-enchiladas.html
• Classic apple crisp (sub vegan butter) ****
• http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/desserts/classic-apple-crisp/

So there ya go! I'd challenge you to try vegan, or even vegetarian diet for a short time. It was a fun adventure! I was a little sad that it was over, but then I thought: CHEESE! :)

happily eating cheese,

lisa

Ready or not, here goes VEGAN!

So Mike and I are going to do a vegan diet until September...

This should be interesting... actually, I went to the store yesterday and already felt healthier! ;)

I'm sure most of you already know what a vegan is, but incase you don't, basically a vegan doesn't eat any animal byproduct- including meat, milk, eggs, cheese, etc. Some vegans don't even eat honey... but that's just crazy. I LOVE cheese so this will be an adventure- a whole new world has been opened up to me about vegan cheese, which seems weird, but it'll have to do for now.

We aren't going vegan because we think animals need equal rights or anything, although I do care how they are treated, but that's not our reason (don't worry, you won't see us protesting the local KFC anytime soon). Pretty much we just want a little challenge and to eat healthier. I'm curious how I'll feel- if I'll have more energy, better skin, sleep better, etc. So over the next month and a half, I'll try to post some of the recipes I make for us.

I am a little apprehensive about the possibilities of going out to eat with friends, or having friends invite us over for dinner... so just know that we still do want to go out to eat with you (just might have to stick to a salad or something) and we do still want to come over, we just might not eat much, or you can come over to our place for dinner! We won't be hermits/snobs/those crazy diet people I promise!

If you are a vegan and have any recipes to share, please do!

vegan for now,
lisa

cast out fear

I have this fear. This fear that people will reject me, or not like me, or like other people more than me. This fear that I need to earn people's love to stay in their good graces. This fear that causes me to believe lies about others and lies about myself, sometimes even lies about my Savior.

No one wants to live in fear. I believe fear is not something that was in God's original plan. There was no fear in the garden of Eden. Adam and Eve were naked and unashamed. They didn't have any reason to fear or distrust the other until sin entered the picture and they felt like they had to cover themselves with fig leaves.

But before sin, there was no fear. And the Lord says in His word that there is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear. 1 John 4:18 I believe the word of God to be true, and I believe these words, but do I live like I do?

Sadly, no. Sometimes, maybe. But more often than not, this fear of rejection sits in the back of my mind, sometimes dictating my decisions, my motives, my thoughts, without me even realizing it is there.

But go back to that verse for a second... perfect love casts out fear. The only love I know out there that is perfect is that of God the Father and His Son, Jesus. His love is perfect. His love will never reject me. I am His for eternity. I never have to worry about being in or out of His good graces because where my sin increased, His grace abounded all the more. Romans 5:20. Because His grace is sufficient for me. 2 Corinthians 12:9. And because it is BY His grace that I have been saved, through faith. Ephesians 2:8.

So you see, I have no "real" reason for these fears. Nothing that any person can do or say to me will ever change how Jesus feels about me. And His opinion is all that matters, in this life and the next. Because I am convinced, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39.

I want to encourage you with this truth. Because I know I am not the only one who struggles and wrestles with this. Jesus Christ loves you. And He wants to have an intimate relationship with you. And though I struggle with these things, I can have peace.

These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. John 14:27

For this, I have Jesus.
lisa