DAY 40.

HAPPY EASTER!!!!!

The Lent season is over and for 40 days I have not consumed meat, meat products or bi-products. And honestly I have not felt better. (let’s just forget those two tacos I consumed at Galt, lol. Because Sundays didn’t count and I still ate vegan on Sundays :)) This was a good change for me because although I didn’t eat a lot of red meat to begin with, I never really thought about where my food came from. Having to check food labels and making sure that what I was eating wasn’t processed with fish, milk, or eggs, I really became more aware of where I was getting my food.

Also, it was a great way to explore with different kinds of food. I became more open-minded about vegetable-based foods and eating other foods that could replace the protein I wasn’t getting. I already loved tofu but now... I REALLY love it! :) I made so many dishes with tofu and also tofu-based products. Soy became my best friend!

It was a nice change and I actually felt good after eating a meal, knowing that I was consuming more nutrients and less cholesterol. I also have more of an understanding for people who choose to live a vegan lifestyle. It really is a great way to live. Now I can’t promise I won’t ever eat meat again, but I do know for sure that I have found a new way of eating and will definitely be living a vegan lifestyle, if even only partially. :)

RECAP: Here are a few things that I found ESSENTIAL when I started my vegan diet. Hopefully, if you ever choose to live a vegan lifestyle or even just eat vegan, this list will help you out.

1. SOYMILK:

Whether it's chocolate, vanilla, sweetened or plain, this is great for baking, cooking, eating with cereal or just drinking plain!

2. SOY YOGURT:

This was basically my sour cream substitute. I used this for baked potatoes, tacos, falafels, etc. It really came in handy!! You can also eat it plain and add a little agave to sweeten it up or eat it with fruit in a parfait.

3. HUMMUS:

This was my go-to snack! I always had hummus on hand and I tried a lot of different flavors and loved them all! Great with pita chips, crackers or pretzels. I also used hummus to make vegan quesadillas.

4. TOFUTTI:

Tofutti cream cheese saved me in the breakfast department because I ate it with my bagels, on toast, with fruit, with jam/peanut butter... it just came in handy! And I have NO idea what everyone is talking about... it tastes like cream cheese to me!!

5. BROCCOLI:

Vegan or not, broccoli is ALWAYS a staple at my house. I roast it, steam it, boil it, make into soup, cook tempura broccoli, eat it raw in a salad, eat it with pasta... the possibilities are endless.

6. EARTH BALANCE:

This was a good butter replacement. I used it baking, for toast, to sautee, in my baked potato, for everything! And it tastes just like butter.

7. TOFU:

You can grill it, fry it, add it to veggies, eat it plain, turn it into a sandwich, use silken tofu for baking... it's AMAZING the different ways you can use tofu in a dish!

LASTLY: Ready-to-serve meals from Trader Joe's and Whole Foods saved me A LOT of time when I was planning what to eat. It was a great life-lesson and really changed the way I will eat from now on. I might not always choose the vegan options, but I will DEFINITELY be consuming less meat and animal products. Thanks to all of you who helped me out during this time! It was great to get everyone's tips on a vegan lifestyle!!