My hubby the carnivore

The challenge is getting harder by the day. Why? Well because, I enjoy eating meat. If the doctor told me no more red meat, fish or chicken for the rest of my life, I think I'd rather dive off the Key Bridge with a bloody fillet in my hand! I'm enjoying the tofu and the added vegetables, but preparing two meals where the aroma of grilled meat in the kitchen makes it cheating very easy.

I HAVE NOT cheated, but watching KG eat his meal while smiling with satisfaction is just breaking my heart. I know the pluses to living a 'green' lifestyle, but why can't tofu be just a bit more tasty. Two evenings ago, I pulled out pork chops from the freezer. They were breaded and baked and looked so scrumptious.

I'm trying to find some more vegetarian recipes. I just don't know if I can do another night of sauteed veggies. My FB friends have been sending me suggestions. I'm still in my research phase of this challenge.
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Day 4 -5

Breakfast - Yogurt and granola
Lunch - Hummus w/ veggies & pita chips
Dinner - Leftover couscous
Snack - an entire bag of Hanover's baked cheese curls (I couldn't help myself there!)

Temptation

There are many positives about working from home - less work interruptions, mileage savings on the SUV, lower household expenses (ie - gas), walking John & Kathryn to school, being a classroom mom, etc. The list really could go on for miles. One of the negatives of working from home - grazing opportunities.

It's harder to graze at the office. I take my lunch almost every day that I'm on campus (snacks, too) and the candy bowls don't have the goodies that I like. I focus on the tasks of the day without ever thinking about my hunger. My house, on the other hand, has everything that I like. When I'm sitting with my laptop, I'm constantly thinking about what I can snack on. It doesn't matter how busy my day is, I find myself wandering to the kitchen. I've found that having a cold drink (water, iced tea or lemonade) has helped me stay away from the 'danger zone'. I've also stocked my pantry with nuts and dried fruits.

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Day 3

Breakfast - shredded wheat with Soy Milk
Lunch - Hummus with baked Parmesan chips
Snack - McDonald's fruit & walnut salad
Dinner - Couscous w/ pine nuts, tomatoes and silken tofu

Exercise

30 Minutes of lap swimming
3.5 Mile run

I heart Soy

I have received many positive words of encouragement as day 2 of my vegetarian challenge comes to a close. While I'm not exclusively removing dairy from my diet, I will be replacing regular milk with soy milk. Kevin will wrinkle his nose in disgust, but Soy Milk really isn't too bad and the protein is important to my training. Truth be told, I really like it. I've bought Silk Soy milk from time to time (usually when I have a coupon), so I am already accustomed to the taste. Lately, I've been substituting my morning coffee creamer with Chocolate Soy and I make a delicious strawberry/blackberry shake with the Vanilla Soy. The Silk Soy company offers soy 'light', so I'm not too concerned about calories. You can't beat only 80 calories/serving.

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Day 2

Breakfast - Bite-size spinach quiche
Snack - Almonds w/ dried cherries
Lunch - Yogurt w/ granola
Dinner - Roasted potatoes (leftovers) with melted Swiss

Exercise

30 minutes of lap swimming

Can I be a vegetarian for 30 days

The few blog followers I have know that I am participating in my first triathlon this coming May. With just three months left until I plunge into Smith Mountain Lake, I've decided to make some small changes to my diet. With all my swimming, biking and running, I needed to increase my protein intake. While I love a beautifully grilled steak (medium rare, please), I've decided to live the next thirty days as a vegetarian. I will be substituting my usual proteins with soy, peanuts, legumes and more leafy green veggies. My sister is a vegetarian and she makes it look so easy, so I've stepping up to her challenge. To help me keep to this challenge, I will be chronicling my daily diet.

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Day 1

Let me just say, the first step is always the hardest. It's even harder when you've spent the night before having a four course meal at Pelana in Washington, DC. This date night with my good friend Holly, her boyfriend Tony and Kevin was a superb gastronomical experience. The gnocchi (course #2) and the braised duck with pureed peas (course #4) made waking up to this change very difficult.

Breakfast - vegetarian link sausage, small coffee cake & peaches. Coffee w/ Chocolate Soy.
Lunch - Silken tofu with broccoli
Snack - Cup of Almonds & dried cherries
Dinner - Roasted potatoes, onions, and garlic.
Dessert - Sliced Apples

Since Kevin is not participating in this challenge, meals where we dine together will continue to include steak, chicken, seafood. I will just omit those items from my plate.

At the end of this challenge, I will be leaving for a girl's weekend in Disneyworld (FL) where I will be participating in my first spring 5k.