So of course like everyone else my new years resolution was to eat healthier. That's right, even us nutrition people get out of groove sometimes especially during the holidays! So for my resolution, instead of the traditional restrictive diet where I don't get to eat anything fun, my boyfriend Ben and I decided we'd stick to a strict vegan diet for the whole month of January. Now going into this I planned to go longer than a month, but I decided to just stay vegetarian while integrating vegan meals as much as possible!
Starting off I was a bit nervous about trying the vegan diet because growing up I was always a SUPER picky eater. I never liked to try new things and vegetables were definitely not the name of the game. Since I went into nutrition, I've been pushing myself to get out of my comfort zone and try new foods, especially knowing the side effects of eating my typical carbohydrate-dense protein-lacking diet so trying this diet was the cherry on top of my cake of exploration.
We kept it simple making basic recipes for the first few days. Toast with peanut butter, pasta with lentils. vegan baked goods, and my favourite... Ritz crackers. Obviously we couldn't live off of that so I dug out my cookbook and went to work. We ventured into black bean recipes and trying things like tofu and tempeh. We made black bean tacos about 30 times over the course of the month and honestly they got better every single time. Another favourite... smoothie bowls. Smoothie bowls of every colour with all the fruits and so much kale. And I actually learned to love vegan chili and made that about every other week as well.
So coming out of my first month, I honestly wish I could keep going because it made me feel absolutely amazing! My bloat was completely gone within a couple days and I felt energized and refreshed. My mental health started to get better and I was just generally feeling happier! Going into it weight was not a goal for me but it was definitely an added little bonus to see myself slimming down a little bit. It is definitely possible to stick to a vegan diet on a budget, and it was so helpful doing it with someone so we could buy the same groceries but after the month was up, Ben decided not to continue and I just couldn't keep it up. But honestly, just cutting out meat has made me feel so much better and I don't see myself going back.
Check out some of the recipes we've been trying!
Here is a photo of those AMAZING black bean tacos! Want the recipe??
3/4 cup strained and rinsed black beans
3/4 cup salsa
1/2 cup frozen corn
1/2 cup beyond meat (OPTIONAL)
1 onion (or as much as you'd like)
1/2 red bell pepper
2 tsp taco seasoning
In a large skillet, heat onions and peppers on medium heat for 5 minutes or until onions are cooked. Add in beans, corn, salsa, beyond meat if using, and taco seasoning and cook for another 5 minutes then remove from heat and set for 5 mins.
Choose whatever toppings you like.. we use vegan sour cream, vegan cheese, and avocado or guac! Enjoy on either a wrap or hard taco shell.. both taste great!
Vegan Chilli: Pretty straight forward... add whatever you've got in the fridge!
TIP: Try adding lentils for extra protein on top of the kidney beans!!
What I use:
1 zucchini
1 1/2 butternut squash
1 red pepper (or whatever peppers I have)
1/2 medium onion
About 5 small mushrooms chopped
3 cloves garlic
2 cans red kidney beans
1/2 can diced tomatoes
2 jars of tomato sauce (I typically use one thats garlic/basil flavoured)
1/4 cup dried lentils
Optional: 1/2 cup rice (this one has it but I prefer without!)
Chop all the veggies however you like and cook in oil on medium heat in the pot until soft and golden. Add in the rest of the ingredients and simmer for about an hour on medium low until lentils and squash are soft.
And of course... our beloved pancakes!
I made these pancakes using a recipe I found on the internet then modified them to my liking.
All I use is...
1 cup flour (gluten-free for Ben but you could use an oat flour or whole wheat for added health benefits!)
2 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
1 cup almond milk (or you choice of plant-based milk)
1/2 tsp salt (or just a pinch!)
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon (this gives it the rich golden colour and AMAZING flavour!)
Then I top them off with vegan butter and some syrup and whatever fruits I'm feeling that day!
Another thing I was worried about was chocolate and sweets! I have a HUGE sweet tooth and am one of those people that can't go a day without having something sweet to curve my craving! Even if it's just a bite of a chocolate bar or a handful of chocolate chips... lately I've been obsessed with those Brookside chocolates with the wine berries in the middle... YUM. But sadly I can't eat those anymore so of course I had to find something else to fit there. While I have been actually okay not having my chocolate every day since these meals have been so filling, I did find an awesome recipe for vegan chocolate chip cookies that my niece helped me make and they are seriously the softest and fluffiest cookies I've ever made! I got this recipe from Liv B's cookbook.. "Vegan on a Budget" and let me tell you... you need them. They totally satisfy my chocolate cravings and they're rich so I eat one and I'm good to go. Definitely not the healthiest recipe but we all need to enjoy a little treat now and then!
Don't they just look amazing?! So soft and gooey and delicious. Here's the recipe!
1/2 cup vegan margarine (or coconut oil if you'd prefer)
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 plant-based milk
1 tsp vanilla
1-1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 and cook for 9-11 minutes or until slightly golden. NOTE: When I made these I didn't actually have vegan chocolate chips so instead I used a 90% cocoa chocolate bar (didn't contain milk!) and chopped it up into little pieces which is why the cookies are extra chocolatey in the photo... but honestly I liked them that way!)
I hope you get a chance to try a few of these and maybe even try out the vegan diet for yourselves! If you're interested in integrating plant based foods into your regular diet stay tuned for posts to come on plant based proteins, meat alternatives, dairy alternatives, and lots of delicious recipes!
♡
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