I have eaten several animal foods this week: some salmon with real egg mayonnaise for breakfast on Thursday, a taste of sausage and sauerkraut on Tuesday evening, and a host of things today, including coffee cake and poached eggs.
I have decided to continue eating mostly vegan through the Lenten season. I feel this is a life-affirming decision because I want to have more time to let my body discover what this way of eating is like; because I have interrupted the pattern in a major way today, I look forward to more weeks of sustained plant-based food.
But I will continue eating whatever on Sundays. That's just how it goes. Also, I'm traveling this week. I have no idea what that's going to look like, but I plan to go with the flow and enjoy my food, whatever it is.
I am noticing:
mood and emotions: I have felt a little sad to be "off" my plan today. I could have gone vegan at lunch. The menu was groundnut stew with a lot of accompaniments. The stew, though, looked so good, and the beef was grown by the farmers who served it to me at their table....I did start the day with a delicious green smoothie, using Heather's recipe, including kale.
On Saturday I attended a gathering where ice cream cake was served. It was no problem for me to decline a piece. That amazes me. I felt great saying no. I was enjoying myself and had zero emotional need to eat the cake, as well as zero physical desire. Coming from me, that's pretty curious.
chewing and digestion: haven't had as many raw vegetables this week as the previous week, and I miss that. I am noticing that I'm enjoying straight-up plain vegetables (sans dressing or tahini or whatever) more than I thought I would, on the occasions when I eat things plain. Strange as it seems to me, I need to eat more fiber this week ;).
cravings: I seem to crave what Heather suggests. Last week she mentioned salmon, and I couldn't get it out of my mind. I baked some for Joel and decided I had to eat just a little. It was sooooooo good.
This way of eating does not exclude chocolate. That is the only thing I crave regularly. I have been eating chocolate chips every day and basically feeling good about that. Perhaps I will try going without sometime this week.
biggest challenge: This one is no surprise. It's getting my food ready while also cooking for the family. We are all eating some of the same things: quinoa this week, some of the vegetables and fruits, but I'm also making food just for them--not complicated stuff, but things that still take time to make.
greatest accomplishment: I would say that one was going to a brunch and turning down the ice cream cake. That is just so unlike me. And I felt so good doing it. Very curious indeed. I am enjoying my current weight, too. Without so much as trying I suppose I've lost a couple pounds. That's a pleasure, because my favorite vintage skirt fits just right, and it's been too tight around the waist since I bought it a year ago.
next week I plan to: get through the week. My toddler and I are going on a trip to Indiana to attend an exciting conference. I'm planning on letting go and enjoying the ride.
No comments:
Post a Comment