Animal Crackers.........

One of my coworkers saw me snacking on some animal crackers and asked me if Its OK for a vegetarian to eat animal crackers...... LOL,

Been awhile since I had a chance to post again, Working 60 hours a week, sleeping 5 hours a day and getting about an hour workout in each day. Plus all the cooking me and my wife have been doing.

We went to a company outing yesterday and I maintained my vegetarian diet as best I could I did eat some beans and I am not sure if they had any pork fat in them? I did not see any but it was probably used in the cooking process. I did not eat any meat I just waited till I got home and had some chili my wife made.

Because of our busy schedules we do use some of the Morning Star and Veggie fresh products. I try and keep them to a small part of my diet but it's tough to maintain without using some prepared foods. This week we used the Morning Star hot and spice sausage in a pasta sauce. I am making BBQ meatball's tomorrow with the Veggie Fresh.

This week we have a ratatouille, eggplant parmigiana, chili, bbq meatballs, and spaghetti sauce for whatever pasta we want.

Even with all this food we still have not tried seitan or tofu I am going to try them at some point but have not done it yet.

So still eating well and staying full. Probably eating too much! its been a tough week lots of hours working and not enough working out. At least not for me.

I'm not sure why but it just amazes me at the responses I get when I tell someone I'm a vegetarian now. Remember I'm no little guy. Still hitting the scale at 240lbs. I did drop a couple pounds then it came back to haunt me... So back to my original though of people's responses. I either get oh the hell with that I like meat too much or a stare of amazement and a comment like "well you still eat chicken or fish right!" NO! its still meat! LOL. Or I get someone saying "I'm a Vegetarian" in a flamboyant fashion" Just like everything with me I really don't care what people think if they don't like it too damn bad.

Its Sunday morning I just got home a little while ago from work and I am trying a new recipe. of course it uses lentils which take 45 minutes too cook. I will update on how they come out later.

here is the recipe I am making

INGREDIENTS

• • 1 c dry lentils, well rinsed
  • 2 1/2 c water
  • 1/2 t salt
  • 1 T olive oil
  • 1/2 medium onion, diced
  • 1 medium carrot, diced
  • 1/2 t pepper
  • 1 t soy sauce, optional
  • 3/4 c rolled oats, finely ground
  • 3/4 c bread crumbs

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Drag groups or instructions to sort

INSTRUCTIONS

• 1. Place the lentils, water, and salt in saucepan, bring to a boil, lower heat, cover, and simmer for about 45 minutes, until water is nearly gone and lentils are very soft, with splitting skins.
  2. Sauté the onion and carrot in oil until soft, about 5 minutes.
  3. Mix the lentils, onions, carrots, pepper, and optional soy sauce in the large bowl, then mix in the ground oats and bread crumbs.
  4. While still warm, form the lentil mixture into patties, which can now be frozen, refrigerated (for up to 5 days), or cooked immediately.
  5. Cooking (2 possibilities):
  6. In a frying pan, heat a bit of oil, place a burger on top, and fry until brown, 1-2 minutes. Repeat on other side and serve.
  7. In a 400º oven, bake the burgers on a greased baking sheet until light brown, about 15 minutes.

4th week

Going into week 4 now and still maintaining the Vegetarian lifestyle. Yesterday July 4th we went to a friends house as we do every 4th of July. We have a cookout and go to the fireworks. The only difference this year was that I'm a Vegetarian and no one else that goes is. Since we have been doing this for 10 years now and these are really close friends I brought some veggie burgers and had those for my lunch.

However I did cheat on my diet!! Not the vegetarian side but my calories went through the roof since I snacked on chips, cookies, and desert which was a slice of cheesecake and a slice of Boston creme pie. Luckily for me I did a 19.5 mile bike ride followed by a 2.25 mile run before going to the cookout.

Today I tried a portabella mushroom burger that I marinated in soy sauce. It was ok but not my favorite. What I did enjoy later this afternoon was I had some leftover eggplant that I breaded and baked. I turned it into an eggplant sandwich on a deli slim bread and a dab of BBQ sauce.

We also made a 15 bean pasta salad and a ziti bake with summer veggies. As well as more eggplant parm, corn chowder and a vegetable minestrone soup. To back up a bit Sunday I made a Sheppard pie using TVP as the "MEAT" replacement and we all ate it! My fridge is full of food cooked and prepped and we just take what we want each night.

Don't get me wrong the prep is a bit more than eating deli meats and regular meats but I feel good, My workouts are getting back to normal with the exception of the recent spike in humidity that is tearing me apart.

Sheppard Pie with TVP recipe.

2.5 cups water

2 cups TVP

1 Tbsp soy sauce

1 Tbsp EVOO

1 Can of corn (or fresh, or frozen)

BBQ sauce (optional)

Spices to taste

Potato's (sweet or regular)

1/2 stick butter (Promise), milk, salt and pepper for potato

Peel, cut up and boil potato I did not count but probably used a lb or so. Mash with beater and add salt pepper, butter and milk till smooth

I used a large skillet and heated up the water on medium, add oil and soy sauce, stir in the TVP and let it reconstitute continually stirring, once most of the water was absorbed I added the can corn (drained). I let it cook on medium for another 2 or 3 minutes. I added spices like italian,cayenne, onion, garlic.

Once TVP is cooked place in the bottom of a casserole dish, Then smooth out, I added some BBQ sauce at this point. place spoonfulls of mashed potato on top and smooth out with a scraper or other smooth cooking utensile large spoon etc...

Bake at 350 till top starts to turn light brown on the edges. serve warm and enjoy!!

July 1st is here

edited to add tomorrow is the start of the TDF, I'm pretty psyched!!!!

So going into week 3 with no real issues, still working on new recipes and meals for the whole family. My workouts have been pretty strong so far. I feel good my weight is staying the same for now and hoping to nudge it down some more as the weeks go on. I really thought this was going to be a lot harder than it is. it does take more time in the kitchen but that's ok. My only real problems have been having the time to prepare food ahead of time for work. We've been managing so far by doing most of our cooking on our days off and making enough of each meal to last a few days. this weekend we are making a baked ziti with summer vegetables, corn chowder, eggplant parmesan, and a meatless Sheppard's pie.

Sunday is our long run day or its supposed to be! Monday the 4th I am hoping to get an early morning bike ride in before going to a friends house for a cookout and 4th of July fireworks. I am planning on bringing some food for the cookout as well to keep from eating burgers and dogs.

So far this week me and Tami have logged 12 correction 15 miles running and I've biked 38 miles. If my shoulder would recover I can get back into the weight room soon too.

For any other runners or endurance athletes reading this invest in "the stick" from running warehouse or perform better dot com and use it twice a day on sore muscles! seems to help a lot with recovery.

Thanks for reading.

So much more food!

So tomorrow will be two weeks without meat. I do not miss it one bit. Me and my wife have created some great food and some not so great food! :) Lentils are becoming a big hit when made into meatloaf or burgers. Chickpeas are also becoming an ingredient that we like to use in different recipes. Some of our favorites for the whole family have been TVP taco's, Lentil meatloaf, lentil burgers, Spinach and cheese Empanadas (tonight's dinner). Tami is also making soups like a vegetable minestrone with Veggie Fresh Farms "meatballs" and she also made a delicious corn chowder!

My workouts are going good, I logged a 7 mile run Sunday with Tami and I'm planning to do a 20 mile bike ride later today!

One thing we have realized is that its just as easy if not easier to eat too much food being a vegetarian as it is eating meat. I am down 3 or 4 pounds since I started this almost 2 weeks ago but this is also partly because my leg is feeling better and I am able to log more miles again. before my left leg started hurting I was logging 20 - 25 miles a week. When my leg started hurting I cut that in half.

For some of the other vegetarians out there here is a couple of my resources and apps I use to assist me in my daily food planning

www.nomeatathlete.com

www.vegweb.com

http://markbittman.com/ (has an Iphone app as well)

www.pepperplate.com

www.mynetdiary.com (Iphone app and website)

Shawn

One week today!

So today is one full week without meat. Its been good. Fathers day my mom and dad came down for a small cookout. I made everyone hamburgers and hot dogs. I made myself two veggie burgers and had some veggies and pasta for sides. I can say I was tempted to grab a burger or hot dog but I was able to hold back.

My workouts are about the same. Saturday me and my wife Tami biked 19 miles, then before my parents came over Sunday we ran 6 miles, Monday I biked 21 miles and then this morning we ran another 4 miles.

I am keeping my calories about the same occasionally going slightly over from making new recipes and testing foods. My weight is dropping slightly for now. My goal is to drop another 15 - 20 pounds. while maintaining a minimum of .5 grams of protein per pound of lean mass. I am trying to consume between 120 - 140 grams of protein per day.

going to relax today and keep trying new recipes. Last night I made spinach and cheese stuffed empanada's. I made bean burgers this morning with garbanzo beans. I have black beans cooking now for my next attempt at a burger. I am also going to try a lentil meatloaf.

Shawn

Still going strong.

So I started to go vegetarian on Tuesday. It is now Sunday morning I have not had anything with meat so far. I do not miss it and feel just fine. I have been eating a bit too much on the carbohydrate side but still working out my meals. For work I took things like an egg and cheese omelet, a pre-cooked sweet potato, our homemade vegetable minestrone soup, some fig newton for a snack and fruit. I also used a protein powder with some milk to bring up my protein for now.

I have been trying to make things from TVP that my whole family would like and up until last night I had not been very successful with it. I was trying to make either meatballs or hamburger style patties and they just did not come out well. Yesterday morning I tried a small amount as a Taco Meat and we all ate it. Last night I made a full meal of it as a taco meat and we all enjoyed it.

I have found that a company called "Veggie Patch" makes "meatballs" and other items Like "chicken nuggets" and "spinach bites" that are all organic and vegetarian they taste really good. Well we have not tried the "chicken Bites" yet but the "meatballs" and "Spinach Bites" are very good.

We also tried some tofu made "lunch meat" and "hot dogs" those did not taste good or work for us. I also tried a different brand "veggie Burger" that was made out of Veggies not TVP and it was not very good.

So far things are good. Most people think I'm a bit insane for doing this but I don't care! Today may be a challenge as we are having my parents come over for a small cookout, burgers and dogs will be on the grill, I'm prepared for not having any! I have some veggie burgers in the freezer, we also will have pasta salads and corn on the cob to eat.

Shawn