End of 3 months Vegetarian

Well, people still ask me how this whole vegetarian thing is going. And I say...really well. 1. Especially with spring in the air (and fruits and veggies coming up) - I love the fresh foods. 2. I messed up once this month...really I just didn't want to tell a friend I wasn't eating what she made me. So, I wasn't rude and had baked sandwiches (ham) and pizza dip. She later said she would have wanted to know, but it was ok. Next time I'll know. 3. I love salmon and ahi tuna! 4. I miss meat. 5. January 11 - please come quickly!

2 months down

The past few weeks have been easy on the vegetarian front.
I went to a "down home" restaurant and ate around the ham pieces in my green beans. So, I know there was some ham spit in there, but I didn't eat any of it. Man, I wanted to give in to the fried chicken or the chicken n dumplings, but I didn't!
I've been eating more easy convenient foods: veggies subs, cheese quesadillas, frozen lean cuisine pizzas, frozen veggies - I've just been so busy!
I am thankful that Spring is almost here because that means more farmers markets and lovely fresh veggies! :) Can't wait.
Has it been hard? Yes. But, I think to myself - less than 10 months to go! :) I love meat, but this has been good for me to practice self-control!

Fail #2

Well...I failed again, but it was noted that it was out of omission rather than commission! :)
But really it was out of eating when I really shouldn't be eating just to eat, and not thinking about what I was eating.
I was visiting a friend and her daughter made Totino's Pizza Rolls - Triple Pepperoni. I just didn't know it was Triple Pepperoni when I ate them.
But, as soon as we realized, I said Fail 2 - and moved on with life.
Rest of this meatless journey is going fairly well. It is very easy to eat at restaurants. Last night I went to Elmo's Diner in Durham and was recommended to try the Greek Grilled Cheese - so good. Cheddar, feta, cuks, toms, warm pita with a sauce. Yum!
So...here we go again! :) I wonder how many fails I will have in 2011 - hopefully only 2!

Meatless - 1 month down

11 to go!
I've enjoyed my month of being meatless. I've eaten more seafood, eggs, yogurt, and grains than before. I still need to be more healthy in my choices - but seriously - celebration meal of one month down: mussels and apple brie pizza.
Can it get any better?
I've only missed meat twice and both of those times were when I was at a function and couldn't do much about it.
But, other than that - 11 months to go till I can eat BBQ or a Cuban sandwich at a new shop in Durham, or celebrating with Firebirds or Angus Barn...

Meatless Recipe: Black Bean and Sweet Potato Soup

Since my staff meeting consisted of BBQ yesterday (which I ate a roll, cole slaw, and banana pudding), I wanted to come home and make something warm and satisfying. This did it. My precious Momma sent me this recipe and I finally got around to trying it.
Sorry for the lack of pictures, I was starting to feel sick and I got to speak last night, so I wasn't in the mood to snap photos

EVOO
3 medium sweet potatoes - cubed small
1 onion, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
1 jalapeno, seeded and diced
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 T chili powder
1 tsp cumin
3/4 tsp red pepper
3 cups vegetable broth
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can fire roasted diced tomatoes - do NOT drain

cilantro and lime to finish

Saute all up to seasonings for about 4 minutes, then add seasonings, saute over medium heat for another 6-8 minutes. Add in everything else and simmer (covered) until the sweet potatoes are done. Shouldn't take more than 20 minutes for the whole thing (key is cubing your potatoes small).

Bowl up and top with cilantro and lime.

SO GOOD!

Weekend Eats

Yummy weekend, even if meatless!

Main attractions were a pbj with a family. She had made us chicken salad - but this friend gladly changed mine for a pbj - I got to also partake of pringles and apples with this dear friend and her family. Sweet times.

Super Bowl 45: the only thing I couldn't eat were the hot dogs and the pigs in a blanket. Those are so yummy. But you know - there is always next Super Bowl! :)

Oh, the Caribou Veggie Daybreaker - best fast food veggie sandwich I've had! So good - and good conversation about vegetarianism with the drive-thru guy. Thanks Caribou drive-thru guy!

This week will include the end of month one!

365:25 - MOES

Thursdays are my day off, so here we go:

Soaked oats with kefir and milk, banana, and peanut butter
Moes unanimous decision (vegie taco)
Cobbleston from Panera
yogurt, apple, granola for dinner
popcorn while I read Big Sur Bakery Cookbook

365.24 - Capistranos

More fish tacos.

Publix breakfast bread with Trader Joes pb (love)
Chobani pom yogurt with gingersnap granola from Whole Foods
(A daylight donut might have been squeezed in there with moving chairs at the office)
carrots and red-fat pita chips and hummus
fish tacos/beans/rice/chips/guac from Cafe Capistrano in Cary. Out in the middle of no where. Guac is some of the best stuff on the face of the earth.

I don't think I'll have any fishy tacos tomorrow- but you never know! :)

And I finished making my first round of homemade kefir. Trying some tomorrow in yogurt!

365.23 - College Hoops

Finally, I have my peanut butter stash re-supplied from Trader Joes and had some during college hoops and NCIS tonight.

Panera and Publix breakfast bread at a staff meeting
Fruit
2 fish tacos and chips
Clif Z bar (smores)
banana
small pink lady with Trader Joes unsalted crunchy. Nothing like it! :)

365.22 - Quatro!

Here we go, starting the 4th week.

Cinnamon Raisin toast from panera with homemade berry jelly
fish taco, chips, and black beans from my fave mexican place
spicy crab and salmon sushi
wendy's small frosty

Good Monday worth of eats.
It is getting easier to do this. But, still have to be in the process of saying no.
And I am so excited because I get to go grocery shopping tomorrow! :) I don't know if I've been this excited in a while because I've not been in a while when I've had money in the bank! :)

365. wknd

I have been computerless for the wknd, so I'll just do a quick recap!

Subway veggie sub

Blueberry Cream Cheese French Toast

Chikfila - minus the chik - boring sandwich in a boxed lunch, just take the chicken out

Al-Amir in Columbia - damascus bread, hummus, and mujadra (that was yummy)

Yoghut

Panera

Easy no meat weekend.

Photo: Blueberry breakfast by my friend Christina, January 29, 2011

365.18 - Leftovers and Cookies

Vegetarian is easy when you just eat leftovers from the day before. There are many yummy places to eat in Durham - I could never get tired of eating in that city!

raisin nut bran with skim milk

herbal tea (3 glasses of it, iced)

oatmeal raisin cookie

leftover pizza from Vivace

skinny tall caramel macchiato

hummus and chips leftover from beyu

Hour on the elliptical made me hungry - just snuck some kettle corn and a few almonds

Photo: Toast with herbed roasted garlic white bean spread at Vivace, North Hills, Raleigh - 26 Jan 2011

365.17: TriRestaurant Week

It is restaurant week here in the Triangle. Only means good eats for good prices.

baked oatmeal (finished it off, now I'll have to go back to something else!)

Lunch was at Vivace in Raleigh in the North Hills area - (hint: upscale everything). 15$ got you an appetizer, main, and dessert.

Spinach Salad

Roasted garlic, goat cheese, red onion, pear thin crust pizza

cappucino panna cotta with rasperry puree and biscotti

Dinner was at Beyu Caffe in the Five Points area of Durham. Great local food, jazz, wifi spot. I had the dip platter (spinach gruyere cheese dip and hummus with pita)

little spanish rice to taste and some chocolate

Good stuff. Love being in the Triangle for food!

Photo: Mussels in white wine sauce with linguine (my friend had that, so good, Vivace)

365.16 - Jersey Boys

Jersey Mike's is hands down my favorite chain sub place. Unfortunately they are one of the most expensive and high caloric ones - but their bread, none of the others touch it!

baked oatmeal
banana
3/4 regular whole wheat veggie sub from Jersey Mike's
bag of baked sour cream and cheddar ruffles
small bowl of rice krispies and raw oats with milk
orange

Love to Jersey Mike's!
Today was really easy. Love veggie sub!

365.15: Chipotle

Today may have been the first day I wasn't satisfied without meat (but I think that is where I went for lunch)

baked oatmeal with milk
banana
chipotle with a friend: salad with black beans, salsas, cheese, grilled pepppers, and we split guac and chips.
I thought to myself, man, I would really love some of their chicken or pork...but I didn't give in!
1 piece panera cinnamon raisin bread w tsp pb
carrots
2 rice thins

elliptical and oblique were good for me tonight too. And lots of water. Gotta do whatcha gotta do for those skinny jeans, pencil skirts, and speaking engagements!

365.14 - Two Weeks Notice

No, I'm not talking about the Sandra Bullock/Hugh Grant movie...but I've done this for 2 weeks now and have 50 go to!

Its not that bad, really.

baked oatmeal

skinny peppermint latter at Bux with a dear friend

banana

lean cuisine roasted veggie pizza

5 rice thins (like rice cakes, but much better for you and thinner, and fewer calories) w a tsp of pb

1 cup popcorn

chobani pineapple greek yogurt with 2 T steel cut oats (raw), craisins, cinnamon chips and agave nectar

carrots and mustard

Some yoga to end my day and we'll call it a good one - complete with 4 hour nap!

And reading David Tanis' A Platter of Figs - such a great cookbook (will go on amazon list)

Photo: tomatoes at home in the fall (not as good as summer) - November 2010

365.12 - Coconut Love

Saturday was easy for me - and I'm thankful for an easy day!

Baked oatmeal with milk

banana

orange

2 T walnuts

1/2 cup pumpkin lentil soup

2 pieces panera cinnamon raisin bread w pb (this is so yummy, might I add)

3 egg white omelette (another one of my cheap go to high protein low-calorie meals)

1 cup mixed veggies (carrots, edemame, water chestnuts, broccoli - one of my fave blends)

3 carrots with mustard - another fave

espresso macchiato

shared portion of a coconut tres leche cake from Amelia's in Durham

Photo: The Salsa sampler platter at Coyote Kitchen in Boone, NC taken November 2010

365.12: Strike One

Not even two weeks in...strike one.

I had lunch at a friend's house and she served a delicious vegetable soup that her mom made. Had small chunks of ham in it and it was made with ham stock. I wasn't going to be rude. And so I ate it, only had one chunk of ham, I tried to pick around the rest.

I learned from a friend in Louisville (her daughter is vegetarian) that her daughter wasn't allowed to be rude in her vegetarian lifestyle. So...I wasn't going to be rude.

chocolate chip bagel w honey walnut cream cheese

said veggie soup w cheese, crackers, veggies, 2 small (cottage cheese instead of butter) chocolate chip cookies

orange

3/4 cup whole wheat rotini mushroom pasta (all gone, sad thing about good leftovers)

1 cup low fat ice cream

1 mini york peppermint patty

almonds

So, I had some ham stock. I can only control what I can control and not be rude. Go me!

Photo: Falafel wrap at the International Festival in Raleigh, October 2010

365.11 - Therapy

30 hours of therapy for me. For the price of a dinner and a tank of gas.

Frosted mini-wheats with a friend for breakfast

Weight Watchers chocolate chip cookie bar

Caramel Macchiato - skim

Panera Cobblestone Muffin (first one ever, pretty good, would be better if they would warm it up)

Red Rocks Greek Salad with salmon

1/2 oreo cheesecake.

The salmon salad was much better than the cheesecake. So good! And fresh after two days of not so good eating - but vegetarian!

Photo: Chattanooga Cupcake in Chat, TN - March 2010

365.10 - Overwhelming Dyy

And sometimes, when it is, I turn to chocolate! I usually don't. But I did today. But, I didn't turn to meat.

Fresh and Frootie's Baked Oatmeal (I would nix the coconut and decrease the amount of nutmeg, but other than that it is good - I am going to play with it though)

Toppings: milk and cool whip

Fun story: I went downtstairs to our staff kitchen because there was pasta down there. Yes! Free lunch. Took a bite of the pasta, warmed it up, (only had a noodle), got back up to my office and realized it had meat. So, I'm learning to think before I eat and make vegetarian decisions.

So, I ate what I brought: Lean Cuisine Spinach Mushroom pizza

Boulder Canyon Salt and Pepper chips

2 snack bags of trail mix

salad, pear wine, 2 breadsticks, and the new pear, gorgonzola, and shrimp pasta at Olive Garden. It was good, but a little sweet for my liking

Popcorn

Chocolate intake: about 30 m&ms, a mini butterfinger, and 2.5 squares of swiss dark chocolate.

Photo: Bean Traders in Durham, NC in May 2010

365.9: Ice Cream for Dinner

Some days at work, you don't get a full real meal in but you just snack, and today that was it. But, once I got off work: the gym was crowded, there were no parking spaces in Harris Teeter, and I didn't know what I wanted for dinner: so I went with.... (but at least I couldn't stop at CFA or Wendy's and get fast food because of the whole reason for this blog!)

Publix breakfast bread with pb and milk

Banana

Cheese and crackers, chex mix and 1/2 apple at staff meeting

1 slice cheese pizza leftovers (do you know that a cheese slice from Little Caesar's is only 180 calories)

1 snack bag of heart healthy nuts (260 calories and full of healthy fats)

cherries

1/2 square of Swiss dark chocolate (my friend just went there and brought me some back)

1 serving cup of low-fat mint chocolate chip ice cream, half apple, cool whip. Healthy dinner: I know

diet dr. pepper

Now for some writing and circuit training. Gotta stay up. well, maybe not.

Photo: Fried calamari at Niko's in Chattanooga March 2010

365.8 - Eating out, making good choices

Happy Monday. Happy MLK Day! I ate very healthy and easily vegetarian today, so it was a good day!

Publix breakfast bread with peanut butter

Skim milk

Greek salad w/o dressing

3 pita wedges

tuna salad (without the whole wheat bread it came with) (this was all at Zoe's Kitchen. I liked it, but nothing spectacular. I like Panera better - SHOCK!

orange

1/2 Meditteranean veggie sandwich

1/2 Thai Chicken salad (new at Panera, minus the chicken) - sooooo yummy

apple

cherries

pretzels

I have to be up late tonight working, so I'll probably grab some more cherries or some raw almonds about midnight.

The elliptical and kettlebell are my friends today.

Photo: Summer sauteed squash that I took for lunch one day in May 2010

365.7 = One Week Down, 51 to go

So, I've made it through my first week. Not as tough as I thought it would be, just takes choices - and isn't everything we put in our mouths about choices!

Publix bread breakfast with pb

Skim milk

Banana

1/2 Clif Z Bar (for kids)

My fave mexican (cheap) place in Raleigh: Salsa Fresh: grilled veggie burrito (no rice, cheese, or burrito), - so just black beans, grilled peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream - very good.

chips/salsa

Caribou: blueberry almond oatmeal, 1/2 apple

So, its been a pretty good day. Had great conversations about The Kind Diet and Clean Food - both which have been on my Amazon wish list for forever, but I just haven't bought. Must reads.

Here's to week 2! Bring it!

Photo: House salad at Lilly's pizza at Five Points in Raleigh.

365.6: Party night "Say No to Pepperoni!"

Wow - long day, but good.
Taekwon-robics is always a good way to get my blood pumping first thing on a Saturday morning!

Publix breakfast bread slice with Trader Joe's crunchy unsalted pb
Banana
spinach salad (just leaves) with mushroom whole wheat rotini pasta on it
10 cherries
1/2 Z Clif Bar (kid's granola bar)
1/2 apple with pb
2 slices cheese pizza (thin crust Little Caesar's) - had some college girls over tonight to watch Little Women
1/3 garlic croissant (they really were yummy)
1 cup homemade popcorn
1/4 brownie
4 almonds

Key: just say no to pepperoni!

Photo: House salad at Anna's Pizzeria in Apex, NC taken December 2010

365.5: Easier, Hungrier

I was just hungry all day (and I ate protein), and I did an hour of yoga, so that may have had something to do with it. 5 days down, 360.25 to go! :)

blueberry bagel from my second office with honey walnut cream cheese
special K protein bar
applesauce
cocoa almonds (perfect for protein and sweet)
1/2 cup black bean corn salsa soup
Corn cake (from Macheesmo's corn bread recipe from a few days ago)
whole raw almonds
5 dried apricots
an orange
1/2 cup whole wheat mushroom pasta
1/4 apple
1/2 pear

365.4 - Sleeping In

Well, I discovered today that if you don't get out of bed and go outside till about 1130, then there is no reason to eat breakfast. That's what I get for staying at nice inn in Wilmington. You don't really wanna get up. The restaurant I was going to go to for breakfast will have to wait until next time.

chips and salsa (some of the best restaurant salsa I've ever had)

baja rolls (like mexican sushi. So good. Blackened shrimp, avocado, tomatoes, cheese). SO YUM and filling.

1/2 coconut cupcake from Coastal Cupcake (hands down the best bakery cupcake I've ever had!)

Cracker Barrel Cheese (Extra sharp cheddar, my fave)

almonds

banana

cold sweet potato fries

cherry zero.

It wasn't hard to say no to meat today because K38 had great vegetarian or seafood choices. Then dinner was on the road and when I got home because I wasn't starving for anything, really. But, was only slightly hungry.

365.3 - Making Choices

Today was easy for half, harder for the rest. But, this year is all about choices right? I ate out for both later meals today - so again, like with losing weigh, eating meatless may be easier at home. What are your thoughts? What are some favorite places to eat meatless out (not always eating spinach either).

egg white spinach cheddar omelette on sandwich thin (with mustard)

1/3 pumelo (so sad this was the end of the pumelo - so good)

cinnamon sugar bagel with crunchy pb at Brueggers

2 slices cheese pizza at I HEART NY Pizza in Wilmington. One was a white and one was spinach/fets/tomato. Both were good, thin crust, and meatless.

I have realized more and more over the last three days that this is about choices...but isn't that true for everything!

Photo: beautiful radishes at the Durham Farmer's Market taken in April 2010

365.2: Ice Day

Today, we had an ice day. So, I've sat on my couch with my roommate (both of us are writers) and we have been social networking, working, writing, laughing, and eating. Good day. It's cold outside!

1 piece Panera Cinnamon Raisin toast, with said TJ Peanut butter, banana, and cinnamon. Idea taken from Jennifer's Knack for Nutrition blog

1 piece of Macheesmo's cornbread (threw the rest out of I would have eaten it)

3/4 cup of whole wheat rotini with cream of mushroom soup, pesto, evoo, white wine

Homemade popcorn with 2 T plain m&ms

3 egg white omelette with cheddar cheese and some spinach

Baked sweet potato fries - slight tweaking.

Today has been easier and you just have to make up your mind to do it!

Photo: This summer this delicious sandwich was an avocado, tomato, egg white, and sandwich thin. Yum. Some sriracha sauce was on it too!

365.1: Here we go!

This was yesterday. I was sitting at my desk at work and asked a question "What would it take for you to go meatless for one year?" out to FB world. I got a ton of answers, most were not willing. Then, I said, you know what...go with it.

Almost like running a half marathon, or writing a book, sometimes you just gotta make up your mind to do it. And I did. And I'm doing it.

Day 1:

2 pieces Panera Cinnamon raisin toast with Trader Joe's unsalted crunchy peanut butter (my favorite)

Some mochabuttercream (as I was frosting a cake)

Banana

1/2 small sub from Jersey Mike's and took the turkey off (since they didn't order any veggie subs)

BBQ chips

Dark Mint Lindt Truffle (thank you Madalyn)

Piece of said cake (we were at a party)

1/2 Pumelo

Macheesmo's Jalepeno Cheddar Cornbread - THIS IS SO GOOD!

Happy Herbivore's Curried Pumpkin Lentil Soup

Kettle Corn and 1/2 cup hot chocolate (homemade with skim milk) during NCAA game.



Picture: Publix Breakfast Bread French Toast back in the summer with a friend. Delicious!

A New Journey

Well, here we go. Meatless for 365 days. That means no bacon, no sausage, no BBQ sandwiches, no steaks (and my brother makes a fabulous steak).

What I can eat: fish, eggs, milk, cheese. And anything else that doesn't fit into the meat category.

I am not doing this for any other reason other than I have to have a cooking challenge to spice things up a bit in my kitchen - because sometimes you just get bored.

So each day, I will post what I eat, and what the challenges were, and new recipes that I try out.

Give me some hints: what blogs do I need to look at?