The Adventure...Week 2

It's been a great week. Full of hills and valleys for this lady who cares deeply about the brokenness in this old, sinful world, but God is faithful. I enjoyed a few days in PA with my sister, niece and daughter. And yet still I managed to enjoy my birthday present to myself: plant foods all the way.

Sunday:

Raspberry Chia Pudding with Tru-whip

Vegan Chili, Salad with Italian dressing

We had a fellowship lunch.

I took chili flavored with beef for my main dish,

then had a vegan version for myself. The dessert I took was compliant with my bd gift to myself.

At a bd party for my mother in the PM, I asked my sister-in-law to leave a
pretzel for me not dipped in butter, which she graciously did. I also enjoyed veggies
(there were more on the plate before I remembered to shoot a photo for the blog)
and a little fresh fruit.

Monday:

Grapefruit/spinach salad. YUM!

Corn and Limas 

I have tried, over the past few years, to eat only when hungry. So far, that means for me that I do not eat in the AM til about 11:00. It seems to work for me. It doesn't work this way for every one and I am not in any way saying it should. I just try to follow Dr. Fuhrman's recommendation to eat only when hungry. So that means I eat about 2 meals a day, with maybe a smallish snack/meal. Just thought I'd add that in case you wonder where my 'breakfast' is. And to me, anymore, all plant food is food for any meal. I am not a 'must have eggs/pancakes/granola for breakfast' gal, especially since I went plant-based.

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday

 are not as documented because I 

was out of town with my sister.

Spinach and grapefruit salad made a yummy addition to
toasted 'sprouted wheat' bagels with almond cheese
for breakfast in the hotel.

 I tried to take some pictures, but well, 

I didn't succeed

 in it all the way. 

I was wowed to come  home and see I had lost a pound,

 even tho I ate bagels, a bread bowl with chili and a veggie sub from Subway. 

My super awesome big sis
made me some super awesome
whole grain bread bowls to go
with the vegan chili I brought.

Not a food related picture, I know, but I couldn't resist adding it
because this is what I saw much of Tues, Wed and Thurs. 

Friday:

I enjoyed a green smoothie with
ginger kombucha for breakfast

Here's a current favorite green smoothie recipe:

(makes 2 quarts, plenty to share!)

1 can Thai kitchen coconut milk 

2 T orange juice concentrate

3/4 avocado 

(I freeze them in fourths)

Fill the 8 cup blender jar with greens

(not packed tho)

add a cup or two of water

Blend smooth.

Add 2 cup frozen mango

2 c frozen pineapple

(I would also add some blueberries

if I have them)

Blend smooth.

Refrigerate for up to three days.

One of my favorite meals 

is mashed potatoes 

a few oven fries. Yesterday I was not very hungry.

topped with 

cucumber/tomato salad. 

It made a fabulous lunch 

this day after cleaning 

the house, thanks to 

leftover mashed potatoes

already in the fridge.

Saturday:

Well, today was a day to be sickish. I guess I need a day of rest. Here's what I had today, kind of leftover from yesterday. I will crawl into bed for a nap and enjoy quiet.

mashed potatoes and tomato/cuke salad

green smoothie with
ginger kombucha

I am enjoying eating this way.

I find I have great energy,

don't struggle with any

of that phlegm that

is soon present if I eat 

dairy,

and certainly do 

not lack for 

interesting and wonderful foods to eat!

I close with a quote:

As I enjoy my birthday gift to myself

(eating plants for one full year),

I find it an amazing journey, even tho

I'm just one week into it.

I do this to cross it off my 'bucket list'

but also to honor my dad who is

doing a doctor-prescribed plant-based diet

for his cancer,

and to show others how fun it can be

to eat food from the Garden.

Love and blessings to all,

Marcia

The Adventure: Week One

If you recall, I shared in this post my birthday present to my self: eating only plants from my 40th birthday til my 41st birthday. As I passed the Great Divide between the thirties and the forties this week, I have begun my adventure as well. So far, it's working great. As I promised to document my journey with photos, I've been trying to remember to take pictures of what I've been eating.

I kicked off the adventure with a breakfast green juice
mixed with ginger kombucha, thanks to my dear friend,
Marie who juiced it for me.

a beautiful edible arrangement,
thanks to my sisters!

On my birthday, I was surprised by two of my sisters-in-law who chose to make the day about me! They took me out to P. F. Chang's for lunch and I enjoyed having great options on the menu for my adventure.

sharing 'good girl moonshine' to celebrate 40 yrs for me

Coconut stir-fried veggies with a bit of fried rice,
courtesy of P.F. Chang's and my sisters 

Green bean crispers,  not a treat to eat every day
because of the oil, but enjoyed on my birthday
from P.F. Chang's

My sweet daughter, Brenna made me
a Starbucks copycat lemon cake for my birthday cake
I enjoyed it with coconut vanilla chia pudding

Vanilla Chia Pudding

1 can Thai Kitchen unsweetened coconut milk

1 can soy milk or milk of choice

Aunt Cia's green smoothies were
ordered for breakfast before they
started their trek home to PA

then there was the 2 slices of whole wheat bread
that I ate with some Earth Balance on the morning after
my bd. I mean, who can pass that up if someone bakes
it specially for you?!

2 T maple syrup or sweetener of choice

1 T vanilla extract 

pinch salt

scant 1/2 c white chia seeds

Mix all together except seeds. Sprinkle seeds as  you 

slowly whisk them in. Cover and refrigerate four hours 

or overnite.

then there was a bd party to go to 1 1/2 hr away
I made it work by packing some soup for on the way home.

I finished up the week by eating 'lightly fried'
 potatoes with guacamole for Saturday brunch.

and later in the day, some more birthday cake.

I know that I will add

more greens to my

diet as the normal

in the weeks to come.

This week was not quite 

normal, with birthday 

celebrations, etc

but I made it work

and I do not plan

to stress out about

raw versus cooked

veggies,

starch versus non starch,

etc.

I plan to on a normal basis

set up my plate so that

there is a good mix of

raw veggies,

steamed veggies,

healthy starches

(we're not talking donuts here!)

nuts, seeds, etc.

So far, I'm having a grand time.

Of course, it would be tempting

to dive into the beef flavored chili

the family will be having tomorrow at fellowship lunch, but

I made my own version for me with crumbled tofu in it. 

Stay tuned for pics next week.

PS
This was a three day post.
Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

PSS
This adventure has also received a new reason to do it:
in honor of my dad who has cancer and is doing a
doctor-prescribed plant-based diet as part of the
healing process for that.