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

Beginning Day 2

SO I'm Up and a bit excited my wife is all for us going to a more vegetarian type of diet. As I said I may still have some chicken in my diet for awhile till I work in all the substitutes. I made the eggplant Parmesan last night expecting to take the leftovers to work. Well no leftovers we ate every bit of it. Me, my wife and youngest son ate the whole thing. I am going out later today to try and find TVP to try and make some meatballs. I bought a pre-made version By "Veggie Patch" which are all organic and non processed.

On another note I am also trying to eliminate as much processed foods as I can. Unfortunately at work this will be much more difficult so I may not have much choice but to eat things like pretzels, cheese, and whole wheat bread.

I picked up two cookbooks at the library "The Vegetarian Kitchen" and a Healthy cook book which my wife took to work to look at during her lunch break.

So eggs and cheese again for breakfast then a few errands and hopefully a run this afternoon. I go back to work tomorrow night which will be the biggest hurdle to overcome.

Shawn

DAY 1

So I am trying to turn a new corner in life. I have lost a lot of weight over the past 2 years and continue to run, bike and lift weights. Now I am trying to take meat out of my diet. This will be a difficult task for me as I have grown up eating beef and chicken.

I am going to start slowly and work meat out of my diet over time. today is DAY 1. I am not going full Vegetarian and don't think I'll ever go Vegan but I am going to make a serious effort to take as much meat out of my diet as I can. Hopefully I will be able to go Vegetarian eventually.

SO far DAY 1 has gone well, Breakfast was a 3 egg omelet with Mexican cheese. I then went for a 20 mile bike ride. when I got home I cooked two Morning Star grillers with deli slim bread and two pieces of corn on the cob.

I am planning to make a baked eggplant parmigiana for dinner with a small side of pasta. I will have some fruit for my snacks and hopefully not be hungry after.

here is the recipe I am going to use for the eggplant but I peel all the skin.

http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/eatingwells_eggplant_parmesan.html

Thanks

for reading

Shawn