Gone to the Veggies

After months and months of reading about the good and bad (mostly bad) of eating furry animals we are trying out the veggie life for a couple weeks. As always, I have the most supportive boyfriend on the planet. He's listened to me spout off information I keep absorbing and over the weekend, without hesitation, he said, "let's try this".

I'm nervous as hell. Breakfast and lunch don't feel difficult, in fact we pretty much go without meat all week with those meals. It's dinner I'm sweating bullets over. But with The Kind Diet, Whole Living.com and Cooking Light.com, I've already found a vast array of what look to be delicious recipes.

I should note that we are gearing towards the Vegan side on this trial. Every meal is built around 3 elements - grains, beans and vegetables. I'm not substituting cheese or butter yet (one thing at a time here, though I did buy Tofutti to replace sour cream) but we are going whole grains - quinoa, brown rice, cous cous, barley, oats - you get the idea.

It seems once you get all your staples, meal-making becomes inexpensive and simple. Think about what really costs you at the grocery - processed food, meat, dairy. Your produce comes mainly from your weekly farmer's markets and your beans and grains can be found at most grocers (I prefer Ellwood Thompson, Trader Joe's or Whole Foods).

I must say I'm looking forward to the detox. Plant foods are lighter and provide energy in a different way. I am sure we will experience some shifts as the heaviness of meat works its way out. Our body has been accommodating meat our entire lives so I'm hoping for a lot of patience (something I have a tendency to lack)!

By committing to a new way of eating, you are investing in your health, longevity and peace of mind, and overall enjoyment of life. By giving up meat and dairy, you withdraw your support from industries that take a toxic toll on the environment.......by not eating animals, you are reducing the needless suffering that occurs in the world, on many levels.

The Kind Diet