Day 5: Vicki Goes Vegan

Let's ignore what I had for dinner last night and focus on my breakfast and lunch:

Breakfast

• Espresso (always vegan - but this is a cheat because I never use cream or milk in my coffee. However, you can use Rich's Non-Dairy Creamer if you're looking for a vegan creamer).
• All Natural So Delicious Soy Yogurt, raspberry flavor. They've got a great line-up of flavors and you're not missing a thing when compared to "regular" yogurt.

Lunch

• BLT: Bread, Lightlife Smart Bacon, Vegenaise, lettuce, tomato.
• Water - it's important to drink loads of water no matter what diet/eating lifestyle you choose and I'm lucky that I love water. It really adds to the healthy feeling I get from watching what I eat.

OK, so can we all agree that I've taken major steps this week and therefore keep what I had for dinner between you and me? Thanks :)

Day 4: Vicki Goes Vegan

My lunch yesterday was fab! I took Carrie's advice and got a little more creative, while still using up my leftovers (those bags of slaw last forever!). Check out my Vegan Nachos:





Now just don't ask about my dinner - I went out to an Italian restaurant and it was impossible to find something vegan. Well, more accurately, it was impossible once I smelled everyone else's food to find something vegan on the menu that looked appealing. I'm finding that when I eat at home it's not that hard to control - just only have vegan products on hand and then you'll be fine. But in a restaurant? That was too much for me to bear. Oh well, we can't all be perfect. But I'm trying!

Day 3: Vicki Goes Vegan

Well, not much exciting to report but at least I stuck with it! Not one to waste leftovers, I had hummus and crackers for lunch, then a soy burger and cole slaw for dinner. Jealous? Vegan AND leftovers. But actually, it was all quite good, and again, easier than I thought it would be. Granted, it's only been 3 days but that's not too bad!

Day 2: Vicki Goes Vegan

I had already planned a girl's night happy hour at my house for Tuesday so I was a little worried about how that would coincide with my Vicki Goes Vegan plan. But I realized this was a great opportunity to get rid of all the stuff in my house I shouldn't be eating! Let my friends sleep with the guilt of cheesy goodness. Mmm, cheese. Yummy cheese. Oh crap. Getting sidetracked.

So, I offloaded some of my dairy products into Crab Rangoon Dip and Striped Cheese Triangles while I happily dipped orange and green peppers into some fabulous hummus. Just please don't tell me wine isn't vegan!

Day 1: Vicki Goes Vegan

I thought this challenge was going to be hard but so far it's been alright. Very easy for me to say, though, since it's only been a few hours! By the end of the week you might catch me in the corner unwrapping sticks of butter and eating them like candy bars, but for now I feel like I've found some healthy alternatives to meat and dairy.

I highlighted these two recipes on the FunnyScoop blog as part of our FunnySpoon Challenge:

Teriyaki Salmon Burgers



Yogurt Poppy Slaw



It was easier than I thought to go vegan - I just substituted the following ingredients in the recipes:

MorningStar Farms Grillers Vegan Burger

Silk Plain Soy Yogurt

Vegenaise Vegan Mayonnaise

Delish! I really didn't feel like I was missing out on anything, plus I got that "feel-good" feeling that I was being more eco-friendly and eating a little healthier. (Plus I was thinking this is "what Ellen would eat" and got a little excited that she might give me a gold star or a pat on the back. Fingers crossed!)