End of my month

Tomorrow marks the end of my 1 month vegan trail period. I have made the decision to continue on with it though..I love how I feel to much to give this up. I recently read a interesting quote regarding be amazing benefits of being vegan on Steve Pavina's blog: "People who eat animals often regard my diet as being (outside looking in), while ironically I regard their lifestyle as being far more deprived (inside looking out). I love it.

This past weekend, my last free weekend before work, I went to Chicago with my dad. I have never really been there to tour the city except for the Workout in the Park last year. We just went for the hell of it and ended up going to to some sweet festivals. We first went to the Taste of Chicago, which is known for hundreds of local restaurants providing samples of their specialties. Then later we went to a green fest which advertised having all vegetarian/vegan food...buut false advertisements lured me in..and there was no rabbit food to be eaten =[ There was sweet music and lovely people watching though!

kids break dancing in the street

Besides the major let down at the green fest, Dad and I were able to find a great place for lunch the following day. Flat Top Grill is a create your own stir fry restaurant in downtown Chicago. You start by choosing rice (white/brown) or noodles. Then you select any and all the veggies you would like to fit into your bowl. Next, your server helps to create the perfect sauce. I chose a black bean and garlic, soy sauce, and peanut sauce mix. Then you can choose all the meat you want in a different bowl-- for vegetarians/vegans, they offer tofu, seitan, quorn (mushroom meat), bbq vegetable tempeh, and curry pakora (soy protein). Finally, you have the option to make your bowl a soup or lettuce wraps. Mine was very green:


Overall, I realized traveling + vegan = stress..so I plan on staying close for a while now.

Day 21..and feeling better than ever!

So I officially suck at blogging. I have been vegan for 3 weeks now and have only blogged about it one time. Well things have been going great! I feel awesome..so much energy all the time and I feel like my skin is more hydrated..this could also be that its been so hot out so I've been drinking water non stop. In fact, I feel so amazing that I'm seriously considering sticking with veganism for another month. The only time I have really had problems was last week. I took a week-long road trip through Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, DC, Virginia, West Virginia, and Michigan. Finding vegan options while sight seeing..not the easiest thing I've ever done. Hersey, PA was no doubt the hardest. A milk chocolate laboratory; I was able to create my own chocolate bar....and then not be able to eat it! =[ Then, eating lunch there, I had a terrible salad with more onions than lettuce on it. If it wasnt for the beans I brought on the trip..I would have eaten shitty salads for a week. Well that may be an exaggeration. I found a vegan mexican restaurant in Lancaster, PA had a great black bean burger from Cincinnati at a vegan/ raw food restaurant called Loving Cafe and devoured both an edamame taco and a portabella mushroom taco at Tios Mexican Cafe in Ann Arbor, Michigan. But now, my traveling adventures have ended and I am home eating normal.

Today, I decided I should probably do some grocery shopping. Oh Trader Joes...how I adore your many aisles of delicious grocery options. I was starving at 10:45 when I went so I thought I should just get a little snack to hold me over until lunch. So I came across a Pure Bar.

It is certified organic, gluten free, raw and vegan. It also has a full serving of fruit, a source of organic protein, rich in omega-3s and a good source of fiber. I was in chocolate heaven..and I dont really care much for sweets. I recommend trying this out if you ever come across the Pure bar. There are also 5 other flavors: Wildberry, Trial Mix, Cranberry Orange, Cherry Cashew, and Apple Cinnamon. I can't wait to go back and buy a full box of them. Also, there is a coupon you can print out for them on their website.

More to come soon!

Vegetarian to Vegan

Today I start my my month long vegan venture. Good bye sushi and eggs =[ Actually, I am going to be fine. I found an ice cream place yesterday, Rita's, that has dairy free italian ice which makes summer much more enjoyable now.

After actually thinking about what I will be eating and...not eating throughout the month, I realized bread will be a problem. I don't normally eat a lot of bread since I don't make sandwhiches really, but I do eat PB toast pretty much as my go-to everything meal. Drunk snack, breakfast, lunch, treat..and I can't imagine my life without it. I was down in the Clintonville area and decided to stop by the Clintonville Community Market. I found multiple bread options that were vegan. I decided upon Ezekial sprouted 100% whole grain bread. It is located in the freezer section of the natural departments in many grocery stores. It is made from sprouted whole grains and is a flourless, organic, complete source of protein. It tastes amazing so I definitely recommend it!


I ate some for my first official vegan meal this morning. Delish!