So at the beginning of this month I decided to start a new healthy eating challenge. It's a little strange, a lot of fun and very amusing. Everyday I decided I would keep to a specific dietary restriction; this is how it started.
Meatless Mondays
Free Food Tuesdays
Gluten Free Wednesdays
Half and Half Thursdays
Trans Fat Free Fridays
Salad Saturdays
Vegan Sundays
It's been an interesting experience to say the least, the first couple of days were fine but I was starting to have a hard time as I got to gluten free Wednesdays. I found myself scouring everything in my apartment with a nutritional label. You would be very surprised what has some kind of wheat in it and what doesn't. Most processed foods dropped right off radar for me. I found a whole new section of the super market; it was filled with new and yummy things like: gluten free cookies, rice pastas, gluten free mac and goat cheese and waffles. (Yes people I said gluten free waffles, apple cinnamon in fact.)
Photo courtesy of: Tracy and Katie's Kitchen
Half and half thursdays was easier than expected, half the day was one thing and half the day was something else. Usually it's vegetarian breakfast and lunch, gluten free snacks and trans fat free or big salad dinner.
Vegan sundays posed a whole new problem I didn't know existed. I had no idea what was considered vegan, and how many apparent variations of vegan there were. I decided to go with the generalized form: no meat, dairy or byproducts of any kind from animals. I found lots of yummy vegan treats at my local campus store oddly enough, but I suppose it's because this is an environmental school and the percentage of vegan/vegetarians is probably triple that of any other university.
Photo Courtesy of: http://www.medicinenet.com
The project has been fun, i've cut my meat consumption in half (Maybe more). I also dropped off most of the overly processed and boxed/canned foods I ate. My fridge is now filled with apples, soy milk, strawberry soy yogurt and vegetables. I buy more organic food, fresh food, rice and whole grain. I snack on carrots, gluten free cookies, and vegan sweet potato chips as well.
This project is changing my outlook on food, but it is not without fault. I get stuck when I go out with the boyfriend and stare at a menu wondering what has no trans fat, what is gluten free or vegan. Sometimes I crave things I cannot eat on specific days and longingly stare at them and think about cheating. Because the truth is that no one would know, but I would. And for some reason that bothers me more than other people judging me about my choices. So far so good, I've found alternative snacks to curb the cravings.
Explaining the project is a bit of a chore, I'm usually greeted with "Why?" Which is the most aggravating question of them all. Why do I need a reason to change my diet and try something new? Why do other people care that I would rather munch on granola than junk food. I am doing this because I want to, I want to be a healthier person and change my view on the super market. Rather going and buying pre-made or just add water food I now cruise the isles seeing the possibilities of tomatoes, cauliflower and bison. (Yes bison, but that's for another post!)
Also, Wednesdays are now 10pm zumba days! My roomie and I decided it would be fun! And boy can I tell you that it was a work out! She wants to lose some weight and get in shape for Aruba this summer, I want to tone up and slim down a bit. :D We also are trying to pick another day to go do some weight training and cardio. There is a spectacular campus gym we go to that I'm going to miss when I graduate in a year. But for now, we will utilize it to the fullest!
I'll post more recipes and updates soon! I'm blogging for two of my classes which is strange but fun. But I won't let it affect this, because this is my blog (and I love it) I've also got a horse show this saturday so I probably won't be cooking but I should be baking some homemade banana walnut maple bread (My own amazing creation) if all goes well.
Hope everyone had a Happy Valentines Day, Single Awareness day and All the Candy is On Sale the Next Day Day.
Song of the post: Whatever we heard at zumba because that bump bump beat is stuck in my head! @_@ I'm going back to country music.
Eat well, remember to laugh at yourself and shake your booty! (Usually while laughing at yourself and your roomie)
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