I DID IT! An entire month vegan (with a few minor exceptions).
Honestly, I really enjoy eating this way. My digestive system is functioning far better than ever before and I am finding I don’t swell/ retain water the way I used to now that I have full control over my sodium intake.
I never thought I would make it an entire month if I’m being fully honest. I love cheese and certain meats when cooked. But I realized I do not miss cooking meat and I feel far better eating plant-based “cheese” versus the original stuff.
I would like to continue eating primarily vegan. It’s a savings on my bank account as well as on the planet and it’s improved my mental health even! That being said, I do believe that my protein intake might be suffering a bit so if you have any recommendations I’m all ears!
So, what exactly have I been eating since we last spoke?
No recipe here
Just seasoned jackfruit with chopped up red peppers, pineapple chunks, and sliced avocado on a bed of rice and garnished with green onion. Simple weeknight meal. Apparently jackfruit is supposed to be one of the most sustainable meat alternatives. If you want to learn a little more on the topic, check out episode 3 of Down to Earth on Netflix.
Dairy free ice-cream
I took a look at this recipe (https://happyhealthymama.com/dairy-free-strawberry-ice-cream-no-ice-cream-maker-required.html) and then basically made it my own. I used coconut nectar instead of honey and a frozen berry mixture versus just strawberries. It was delicious. Buddha baby N1 stole half of it and my kitty tried stealing the other half.
Black Bean and Avocado Enchiladas
Portobello Mushroom Pizzas
No recipe, I just took portobello mushroom caps and added peppers, tomatoes, tofu and vegan ‘cheese’ then baked them in the oven. I’ve always loved making the non-vegan version of these. I wasn’t a huge fan of the tofu on this but I’m sure if I seasoned it properly I’d like it more.
Maca-Banana Shake
This recipe is from the book Find your true fork by Jeff Krasno (https://www.amazon.ca/Wanderlust-Find-Your-True-Fork/dp/1623369657/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=find+your+true+fork&qid=1612551865&sr=8-1) as always I’d encourage you look for this title at your local ma&pa book shop. I honestly have loved this recipe for years now. Not only is it vegan, it’s also raw. I’ve added Vega Protein Powder with Greens and hemp hearts to the recipe to make it even more nutritious. This is my go-to breakfast with a slice of toast with peanut butter or some form of fruit. It’s so delicious even Buddha Baby N1 is all over it in the morning and must have his own cup.
Naan Bread Pizza
No recipe here. I will admit this was not a fully vegan meal as the Naan bread did have buttermilk in it. But otherwise this was made with BBQ sauce, peppers, tomatoes, BBQ jackfruit, and Monterey jack style ‘cheese’.
I made another version of these this month with tomato paste cheddar style ‘cheese’ and vegan ‘pepperoni’. It was equally as delicious and definitely served my pizza craving.
‘nough said…
It’s called so delicious for a reason and my PMS cravings were very pleased with this product.
Vegan Coconut Sweet Potato Cury with Sweet Potato Noodles
This was a friend’s recommendation on my Facebook page. The recipe can be found on the Food Faith Fitness blog (https://www.foodfaithfitness.com/vegan-coconut-curry-with-sweet-potato-noodles/?fbclid=IwAR1kvXElju43uBCpC0K55B2Uour6qmGmx7C8k5cgJKJG6TZB0aWuljQpRsA).
I did make some substitutions in this recipe, I bought spiralized butternut squash so substituted that for the sweet potato noodles. I also had cauliflower on hand and not broccoli so I made that substitution as well.
This was one of my favourite meals. It was so delicious and I love knowing all the ingredients in my food.
Sweet chili stir fry
No recipe here. Just a simple whipped together meal. I definitely got into a bit of a lazy streak this month. Can you tell? haha
Part 1 of 2
Vegan takeout.
OH. MY. GOD.
Seriously, you wouldn’t even know this poutine was vegan and as a Canadian I am all about poutine. This is clearly far from healthy but it was my treat to myself for eating home-cooked meals all month long.
Part 2 of 2
Alright, so the poutine was amazing but these cauliflower wings…. SPEECHLESS!
A long-time friend of mine recommended this restaurant for the best cauliflower wings in the region and they did not disappoint.
If you want to snag some of this absolute deliciousness head over to The Vegan Hippie Chick (www.theveganhippiechick.com)
I will definitely be going back in future and cannot wait until COVID-19 is a thing of the past and I can actually eat in restaurant because it looks so nice in there and sharing a meal with a friend always amplifies the experience.
Vegan Nachos
No recipe but was craving comfort so I made a tofu crumble with chili powder seasoning, then cut up peppers, and spread that on top of tostitos chips, added vegan cheese and some thai red peppers.
*Warning: Thai red peppers are really spicy. To the point where it is ill-advised to touch your eye even after washing your hands twice and waiting like a half hour after handling them. Or, y’know, you can learn the hard way like me. No judgment.
Sweet Potato Lasagna
This was a great recipe. It is filling and delicious but doesn’t give you that heavy feeling in your stomach like after eating traditional lasagna. This picture is from before I baked it because it smelled so good that I forgot to take an ‘after’ photo.
You can find the recipe here (https://detoxinista.com/sweet-potato-lasagna/?epik=dj0yJnU9M0czb01KOHUteGVlekZVTVhtUllJc2I0QzhCZHhQa1ImcD0wJm49M0VKbEJwU1VqdmhyRGxxZEhuLUptZyZ0PUFBQUFBR0FhM3BF)
If you make it let me know your opinion. Buddha Baby N1 really enjoyed this recipe as well!
So there you have it… my month of committing to “Be Green”. I’m so grateful for your recommendations and will continue to seek additional recipes or tips.
I am definitely glad that I made this commitment to myself. I do not plan on remaining fully vegan but I do think I will maintain a fairly vegan diet. A big thing that this commitment has forced me to do is to cook from scratch far more often than I had gotten in the habit of doing. It stopped me from mindlessly grabbing food from the cupboard. I do hope to continue on with this habit of preparing my meals from scratch. Although I don’t adore meal planning and it is a lot of work, the effort is definitely worth the rewards of better functioning digestive tract and better sleep.
So that’s all from me for now.
With love,
Yoga Mama
Yoga Mama Buddha Baby 