WIAW My First Day as a Vegan

When I agreed to eat a vegan diet for the month of January, I quite frankly thought I’d have a really easy time with it. I am already a vegetarian, rarely drink milk, and only have eggs on occasion. Cheese, however, is a staple in my daily diet. Cutting it out is really hard, even only a few days in! Maybe it is hardest at first, since my body is still craving what it is used to, but it is humbling to admit that I might struggle with this challenge almost as much as my dad! Thanks to Jenn at Peas and Crayons, here is a glimpse into my first day of vegan food!

Breakfast: 9:45am

I had to start the New Year right with a big bowl of oatmeal! Even after my 30 flavors of oatmeal, there are still more combinations to enjoy for breakfast! (The oatmeal project that begin months ago is finally complete – check it out!) I kept it pretty simple with almond butter and dates stirred into oats cooked in water and almond milk. Enjoyed with some coffee in my new French press – it was a great start to the morning (and year!).

Lunch: 2pm

I planned on going to the afternoon service at my church, but read the email announcing a single service right after breakfast. I flew out of my house and managed to make it on time for the sermon! After catching up with Boston friends I hadn’t seen in a few weeks, I headed home hungry for lunch. I sauteed some colored peppers, onion, and snap peas, and then rolled them up with some hummus on a tortilla. Lunch was finished with an unpictured clementine, as well as a handful of mixed nuts gobbled before my run.

Dinner: 7pm

This is where the no cheese thing got tough! I layered some polenta and roasted eggplant together and topped that with some bruschetta and Balsamic vinegar. It was good, but I missed the Parmesan cheese I would usually add!

Dessert: 8pm

I had a “baked” apple with cinnamon for dessert and planned to call it a night. However, hunger struck when I was watching TV late into the night, and so I snacked on a handful of granola and some raisins and nuts. Without Greek yogurt and cheese as protein staples in my diet, I need to make sure I am eating enough protein throughout the day to prevent nightly snack attacks!

Besides missing cheese, I am really excited to continue to experiment with vegan cooking over the next month. Already, I have been more mindful of incorporating more veggies into my meals, since you can never have too much of the green stuff!

Question: Do you have any diet-related New Years Resolutions?

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