Monday, September 26, 2011

Stuffed Tomatoes

I ate this last night and really enjoyed it:

1/2 cup quinoa
1 cup veggie broth
several tomatoes depending on the size
2 tbsps cumin
2 tsps salt
1 onion diced
3 cloves of garlic mashed
1 pepper diced
1/2 cup chickpeas
1 lemon
1 handful parsley

1. Saute the onion, garlic and pepper until it gets soft then add cumin and quinoa (don't forget to rinse quinoa under cold water).
2. After 2 minutes add veggie broth and simmer covered for 15-20 minutes or until water is nearly absorbed. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees celcius. Core and seed tomatoes
3. Add chickpeas, juice of 1 lemon, and parsley(chopped finely) simmer covered for another 5 minutes
4. Stuff tomatoes with the quinoa mixture and put in the oven for 15-20 minutes.

Enjoy. This was really delicious and fairly simple to make.

Change of Direction

Okay so it has been awhile to which I must apologize however in my defense with the start of school and homework and busier work schedule I have not had a lot of extra time. The good news is I am still 100% vegan and going strong. I really don't miss meat and the only time I have tried meat while vegan it tasted nasty and made me feel sick.

The change of direction is I read an amazing article about a book called Wheat Belly. Apparently the wheat we eat today has been so drastically changed that it is making us sick and causing us to get fat. As a newly minted vegan I have relied heavily on vegan breads to get me through. However after reading this article and now listening to the audio book I have not choice but to go Gluten Free. Great so now I am the Gluten Free Vegan as if I didn't get enough jokes already.

For those of you who are interested here is a link to the article:
http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/09/20/on-the-evils-of-wheat-why-it-is-so-addictive-and-how-shunning-it-will-make-you-skinny/

I have to say this article explains a lot to me. Why as a vegan I still don't have the energy I would have expected to have.

One of the neat things about being vegan has been that it has forced me outside of my culinary box and I find that every night I am making something different for a meal. This weekend for a joke I made a vegan tofu "bacon" club sandwich. It was surprisingly great. Though I know I shouldn't eat those types of things very often it was fun and tasted exactly like a conventional club sandwich.

I am going to my parents house for Canadian Thanksgiving which is in two weeks. They are freaking out not knowing what to make me. I have just told them I will look after myself for the most part and just to make lots of salads. Though I have to say I made some awesome stuffed squashes on the weekend with quinoa, sauteed squash, onion, garlic, red pepper, spinach, chickpeas, lemon juice and parsley. It was quite good and I think Thanksgiving worthy.

I hope you all are doing well and going strong.

All the best

Jeremy

Thursday, September 22, 2011

It's Been Awhile

Sorry for not posting in awhile but my life ha been pretty crazy. I am still going strong though I did have a little bit of meat which was disgusting. I found that the texture was completely off.

I hope to post some more soon.




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Saturday, September 10, 2011

Interesting

Yesterday I went out for a boys night and still stayed vegan but it was fried (samosas). Man do I feel like crap after eating that. In order to be at my best I need to plant strong.

Today was a great day, eat some great plant strong food went to some local islands with the kids and did lots of walking.

Dinner was vegetarian sushi with the kids.

Hope you are all rockin the plant strong world!

Friday, September 9, 2011

Amy's Burrittos

Another note I tried Amy's Burrittos yesterday and they were pretty delicious.

Stalled

I am still 100% Plant Strong no ifs ands or buts however the exercise portion of this plan has not been working out. My kids have been waking me up at night and I have been exhausted during the day and just lacking the gas to get moving.

I have never been much of a consistent exerciser and so find it tough to find the time or motivation to do exercise. My schedule is pretty tightly packed during the day . The only real time I have to workout is after the kids go to sleep which is 830 which means by the time I am done working out and showered it will be 10. I then find myself too wound up to sleep before midnight.

Maybe that is the solution?

How is everyone else doing?

Sunday, September 4, 2011

September 4

Yesterday I went to a birthday party for one of my son's school friends. One of the mothers who I know well showed up with her kids. I bent down and started talking to the kids she didn't recognize me and was wondering who the stranger was talking to her kids. She couldn't get over the transformation I had gone under in the last month or so. That certainly helps with the motivation. Not that I am doing this for others but it sure doesn't hurt when you get complemented.

The other thing that was cool was I was sitting at the computer with my wife and I put on the Ted Talks with Rip and also a youtube video of Rip's dad and she then agreed to watch Forks over Knives on Netflix. She then agreed that this diet was the way to go and has agreed to join me. That is cool.

Last night for dinner we had chickpea (garbanzo), mushroom and swiss chard tacos! The tacos were raw tacos (dehydrator tacos). IT was an awesome supper and quite filling. My wife has made the point though and I agree that we need salad with every meal including meals that are salads! :-)

Hope everyone else is going plant strong!!

Friday, September 2, 2011

Day 32

Still going strong. I have been eating in a lot of restaurants with people who insist on waving meat in my face thinking it will tempt be back to the dark side but I have to be honest it is not working. I am happy with my diet and what I am eating. I like feeling young and energetic.

I have to say my workouts have not started as of yet. I have been very tired and not getting enough sleep (new bed is not working out). The forecast for this weekend is not looking like it is going to be very helpful either it is supposed to be raining not very good for biking.

Tonight's dinner is cream of cauliflower without the cream. The recipe uses almond milk. If its any good I will post the recipe, so far I think it is kind of bland but we will see after it is done simmering.

Next week is the first week of school here in Canada so my little ones are gearing up to go back. I think once we get them on track it will help me get the time I need in order to get the workouts on track.

I am still contemplating Jonny's challenge for 1 year. My debate is do I accept the challenge which in my mind means no meat at all or do what I originally planned which is once in a blue moon having some seafood on dates with my wife. Is it cheating to take the challenge and then occasionally have seafood?