Soy far, soy good.

Vegetarian's Intermission

Thu, 09 Aug 2012 03:51:38 -0400

Soo…
This blog has taken a u turn.

What started out as an experiment in veganism has now turned into an all out MEAT FEST.

Yes, I caved, after 9 years of pescitarianism, I’m eating meat like some sort of commoner.

Early this year, I was faced with an all you can eat buffet filled with meat, away from the judgmental eyes of my fellow vegetarian/pescitarians.

I was left to run wild! Free! Which ironically is not what my tandoori chicken got to do a few hours before I demolished it. By the end of the night, I had essentially eaten a tasting platter of Old Macdonalds farm. I walked away from that buffet with the meat sweats, filled with an equal sense of shame, pride and indigestion.

I know what you’re thinking, “you gave up on your morals so you could see what the big fuss is about duck?”
Well no. I have always thought eating meat is just fine, I just don’t support the quantity in which people (over)consume it leading to the way it’s raised (and the impact on the environment).

But meat me in the middle here guys, over the past 9 years, my environmental impact has been reasonable low. I catch public transport, don’t use disposable water bottles, and if it’s yellow I let it mellow. A year of eating a little bit of meat …is like maybe a …size 3 carbon foot print.

I guess this blog will now be an outsiders view into the world of carnivores. I’ll be like Louis Theroux!

And by the way, duck really is worth the hype..

Photo

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 04:55:57 -0400

If other blogs can do this post, I can too. (click through for...

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 06:38:00 -0400

If other blogs can do this post, I can too.

(click through for slightly higher resolution scan)

Photo

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 06:07:17 -0400

see, eating healthy can be cheap!

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 07:04:43 -0400

see, eating healthy can be cheap!

KEEP CUP! KEEP CUP!

Mon, 23 May 2011 08:19:30 -0400

http://www.keepcup.com.au

My rules about sharing dairy products

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 20:03:58 -0400

It’s done! I win! I have (sort of) successfully completed a month of being (basically) vegan! I’m...

Sun, 03 Apr 2011 05:19:47 -0400

It’s done! I win!

I have (sort of) successfully completed a month of being (basically) vegan!

I’m not going to lie, this past month has been tough, the most challenging test of my self-control I’ve faced…ever? I was initially very enthusiastic about experimenting with new recipes and products and having a perfectly planned, and nutritionally complete diet. That enthusiasm faded, FAST. I very quickly got into the frame of mind that I just had to survive a month being vegan, and that the repetition of the same 3 dishes was quite acceptable. That’s the main reason I stopped forcing you to read about my daily intake, but also because I suddenly felt VERY EXPOSED.

Economical

I had always heard that eating a vegan diet was very cheap, but my experience wasn’t as such. The best vegan cheese, ‘Cheezly’ is $12. TWELVE DOLLARS. It was enough for maybe ONE pizza. I bought a $5 variety instead ($5 on sale) and couldn’t have more than a slice of it, blergh. I was also drinking soy lattes on average, 4 times a week, and 50cents extra for soy milk, I spent a total of $8 extra. Ok, I kind of thought it would be more than that. Maybe it’ll look more shocking if I write it like ……$8 EXTRA, ON SOY MILK, IN A MONTH.

Social

I have a fellow pescitarian with whom I usually share meals with when we go out. Luckily, she was still nice enough to share vegan dishes with me, but I definitely felt a little bit guilty. I also felt a bit guilty when the restaurant choice was based on MY dietary requirements.

In terms of talking about my ‘new vegan lifestyle’, it was interesting at first, but I did eventually get sick of explaining to everyone why I was having a lettuce sandwich and not some sort of delicious egg salad and cheese filling. I guess im quite used to having to justify my food choices every time I share a meal with someone new, so in that way, it wasn’t such a change.

What does bother me is that people feel they have the right to question my choices and my ethics, yet I can’t question theirs. Am I allowed to ask people why they eat such unhealthy food or eat so much meat? NOPE! Or if I did, it would be quite rude.

Emotional

I did have some days when I was in a bad mood and just wanted to make something easy, delicious and comforting. And sometimes, when you’re tired, you’re really not in the mood to figure out how to turn tofu into fish and chips.

It was also sort of depressing knowing that realistically; I could only do my shopping in a few of the aisles in the supermarket. Though I normally only shop from a few aisles, that’s out of CHOICE.

Physical

I only lost about 1kg over the month (I think). Normally I eat quite a low fat diet, and while being vegan, my energy consumption definitely reduced due to the exclusion of yoghurt, cheese etc. I do anticipate I’ll regain that weight and more (FML) as I attempt to make up for a month of deprivation.

After doing this challenge, I have a new found respect for vegans. No longer will I tease them and taunt them while I drink a chocolate milkshake and dance around in leather heels, but I will acknowledge and admire their absolute dedication to their lifestyle.

So where to from here?

I unfortunately can’t see myself being vegan. As I mentioned initially, I used to be a pescitarian (basically vegetarian, but still ate seafood). Having completed the challenge, a vegetarian diet looks like a walk in the park. So from here, I will attempt to give up eating seafood, so I can finally lecture people about a vegetarian lifestyle without being a hypocrite (obviously, my only reason).

To everyone who has been following this blog, I thank you! I am genuinely surprised to find out just how many of you have been reading it, and I’m quite honestly flattered! I think I will continue with this blog, with my general musings on food, of course, accompanied by wonky drawings.

Yours truly,

The tempehrary vegan.

I will write a summary this weekend about my 30 days of being...

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 06:47:43 -0400

I will write a summary this weekend about my 30 days of being vegan, patience grasshopper.

For those who are interested, this is an out of focus photo of...

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 05:44:20 -0400

For those who are interested, this is an out of focus photo of the soy ‘beef’ mince I use. It is an absolute lifesaver, as I can still have burritos, spag bol, shepherd’s pie, meat pies etc without getting close to any animal flesh!

This was about $2 something, from an Asian grocer, though I’m not sure about the exact details, you’ll have to ask my mother about that.

Using the mince is as simple as rehydrating it in water/stock, but I usually just add it straight to the dish. E.g. if I’m making a pasta sauce, I’ll cook a can of pureed tomatoes, add some extra water to the pan then sprinkle in the soy mince so it can soak up some of the flayvaaaa.

Susie: hey I got you some vegan grapes!

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 23:58:39 -0400

Susie: hey I got you some vegan grapes!
Me: oh...thanks..

This makes up for all the pathetic excuses for ‘coffee...

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 22:41:02 -0400

This makes up for all the pathetic excuses for ‘coffee foam’ art I’ve been getting lately. Attention baristas: vegans also appreciate a few swirlies in their lattes

Photo

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 06:30:14 -0400

Photo

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 05:35:55 -0400

Some…interesting sources of iron

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 06:38:00 -0400

Some…interesting sources of iron

Based on the book ‘Becoming Vegan’ - Davis &...

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 04:56:14 -0400

Based on the book ‘Becoming Vegan’ - Davis & Melina

Photo

Sat, 26 Mar 2011 04:08:01 -0400

I squealed when my housemate handed these to me. ‘Becoming...

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 04:31:40 -0400

I squealed when my housemate handed these to me.

‘Becoming Vegan’ - I’ve only had a flick through, but I think it is a must read for anyone wanting to become vegan, I really wish I had the time to read it all! It goes through why people become vegan, all of the macro/micro nutrients and how to meet requirements with a vegan diet and heaps of other topics. It gives enough scientific detail so the information doesn’t loose its meaning, yet still very approachable for non-science folk out there. Sort of wish I had read this BEFORE the challenge…

‘Veganomicon’- vegan cookbook with over 250 recipes, including WAFFLES! Though it unfortunately doesn’t have many photos in it, so doesn’t multifunction as food porn. The cover is pretty great though?

In hindsight, I should have invested in some more support materials through this ‘journey’. If you look, there are plenty of substitute recipes out there, for basically everything. There are so many foods I’ve been meaning to try making, but once I get to the supermarket, my memory feels like it’s been cleared and I’m suddenly clueless as to what to cook.

A lesson I’m definitely learning, which I’m sure is the case with any diet which takes a bit more thinking,is that PLANNING AHEAD IS KEY. On a normal diet, you could easily walk around the supermarket, find some inspiration, grab a few items and make something that can pass as dinner. But while I’ve been vegan, I’ve been sort of disheartened by the fact I can only ‘safely’ walk through a few isles in the supermarket where I can confidently pull things from the shelf. I think the only way is to know before hand what exactly you’re going to cook and what you need.

I think I’ll buy one of those weekly meal planner note pad thingos. Any excuse for stationery, right?

Vegandeep, OUT.

:O

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 01:37:05 -0400

And don’t worry, I’m just as embarrassed by that...

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 06:44:38 -0400

And don’t worry, I’m just as embarrassed by that latte glass as you are.