Soy Division.

Ok, i'm still laughing at that one.

Vegan. Pf, i would never go vegan. Steak, amiright?

After yet another frustrating doctors visit i went to lunch with my mom. I didn't have anything crazy, nothing that had previously set off an episode(what i'm going to call my vomiting episodes from here on out). About five minutes after finishing i had one of the worst episodes i've had since this all started. I started crying in the middle of a bathroom stall in New Seasons and i just prayed for some type of answer.

As i walked out to the car i just kept praying, pleading for anything. Something that i had thought a lot about came to mind. My friend Jason has been vegan for quite some time and we had a lot of talks about why he went vegan and how much he enjoyed it. (Don't worry, i scoffed at the time as well) At this point, i literally was up for trying everything. I was exhausted of always getting sick and how horrible i felt after. I was tired of constantly feeling nauseas and i swear, if one more doctor asked me if there was a chance i was pregnant i was going to deck them.

I messaged Jason and we started talking about his whole-food plan-based diet. What did he eat? How did he sustain it while in college? What was a normal day for him like? Jason became my vegan guru.

As i researched more into a vegan plant-based diet i realized that there was SO much more to it than i thought. Did you know that Pinterest has numerous recipes? DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN MAKE CHEESE FROM CASHEWS? (Yes, Jacob, i know its not really cheese, but work with me.) And sweet potatoes...don't even get me started on how vesatile they are!

So, i went shopping. I dived into the vegetable section and i'm not sure i'm the same person who went in.


I experimented so much that first week. I was always texting Jason what i was trying out. 

Here are some of my favourites from that first week:

Baked Sweet Potatoes with sauteed onions and garlic. Sometimes i added pecans for texture

Tandoori Sauce that was to die for. It also got me banned from ever using cumin, curry, or turmeric in the house again. I regret nothing. It was delicious. I just put that sauce over a bunch of veggies and some jasmine rice and i was in love. I would use half the salt it says though. 

For breakfast i stuck with steel cut oats made with coconut milk. On top i drizzled a little of honey, pecans, and fresh mango was my favourite. Any fruit i had at the moment worked perfectly. 


The rice cooker is my favourite- IT CAN MAKE ANYTHING. Steel cut oats? Check. Lentils and Bulgar weat? Aww yeah. Rice? Duh. 


Hummus. Ohhhhh hummus. I'm working on my ballad that expresses my love for hummus. Hummus is what helped me get through that first week and a half. Hummus and carrots, hummus and peppers, hummus and hummus. Garlic hummus from Mama Selmas kitchen is hands down the best hummus i've ever had in my life. 

I just started throwing together some vegetables in a little olive oil and salt, pop 'em in at 420 degrees F and let 'em cook for about 20 minutes. Heck, throw on any seasoning you really want. Throw them over some quinoa and boom, solid amazing flavorful dinner. 



The funny part is that I went through phases. For a couple of days I was eating mini sweet peppers like it was my day job...then it was carrots...and then it seemed like every meal i made had onions in it. I experimented with what sounded good. I began to look forward to what experiments i could cook up the next day. I started getting giddy about it. 

It was hard. Oh heavens, it was hard. Believe me. The first week, torture. Even though my friend Jason told me i needed to eat more than i was used to because what i was eating wasn't as calorically dense i didn't follow that advice. Then i heard his voice in the back of my head and started to really listen to my body and how much it needed. That torture didn't last. Sure, sometimes its hard when i go out with friends. Sure, some days aren't perfect- i had crepes over the weekend because that's what was being made for breakfast. And during a 12 hour roadtrip i had a scone and a nutter butter. 

Here is the thing, my body reacts to that in a way it didn't before.  It didn't taste as good as it used to. Sure, the first bite was nice, but it wasn't the same as it used to be. I don't crave processed food like i used to. They make you feel so sick if you haven't had them in awhile. My stomach was not happy with me. Right now, i'm craving red peppers and am probably going to indulge in that.  

And you know what, i'm still excited! I'm excited to become a master at vegan sauces...after i fix my food processor from my last attempt. I'm excited to freaking figure out how to cook tofu...because right now i feel like a 3 year old with a chefs hat. Also, my vegan friends are the coolest. They help me and get excited with me. They have helped me be a lot more human in this journey. Heck yeah steak still smells good, yeah sometimes they have ice cream, and none of us are perfect.  I'm excited to experiment with flavors that i've never even dreamed of, vegetables i used to be scared of, and fruits from all over the world.  

My first time inside Trader Joes after i decided to eat a vegan diet was like a kid in a candy store. "DAD THEY HAVE VEGAN BUTTER." "DAD, THIS CHEESE IS MADE OF SOY" "DAD. DAAAAD. THIS YOGURT IS MADE OUT OF CASHEWS." Natural Groceries and New Seasons are my heaven on earth. 

And don't start me on my first plant-based restaurant. Next-Level Burger is SO good. Oh my goodness. Soooooo good. I cannot rave about them enough. 

Mod Pizza has dairy free cheese and so many veggies to load up on your pizza.



Ever since i've started i don't feel nauseas 24/7, i haven't have any episodes(except for when i tried to drink dr pepper. haha. yeah.), and it's helping other health problems i have. It's been a huge blessing. I know its not for everyone, and that's totally fine. I'm not a meat hater, i'm not anti anything...this just works for me. I love it, i honestly do. I am not in constant worry of having an episode and i have felt so much peace in my life about my health. 

Also, i love vegan jokes. They are my favourite. My family and friends have had a hay day over the vegan jokes and memes. I met a guy who did cross fit and was a vegan and i laughed and asked him which he talked about first. 

God is so good. I am so thankful for food. I am thankful for the abundance of plants He has put on this earth. I am so thankful for those who have foraged this path ahead of me. I am so thankful for the tender mercies that He has put in my life. He is truly aware of all of His children. He is aware of me, i know that without a doubt. I am so thankful for His love. I know that He has been cheering me on through all of this. 




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