This week, my daughter and I have eaten a mostly vegan diet. We learned how to cook tofu, which sounds disgusting, but actually wasn't terrible at all. The recipes on the package were very good. It's a little slimy, but combining it with other foods makes the slime factor less noticeable for me. We're going to try tofu lasagna or ravioli with homemade whole wheat pasta this weekend.
My daughter's a teen and rarely worries about food groups and nutrition...until now. This week she has been careful to make sure she gets the right amount of protein and calcium since that's easy to miss in a vegan diet. She's been popping out of bed with energy, rare for the teenage crowd.
I feel fantastic after only a week. I haven't been exercising much, although I've been stretching more. Next week, we add more exercise. I have a feeling I'm going to lose the pounds quickly if I stay on track. Yay!
My husband has been very supportive of our vegan initiative; however, ice cream, hot dogs, and girl scout cookies reserved for the boys have gone missing. Quite a mystery.
Huzzah. Tofu just always sounds nasty to me.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter pressured me into eating it. We seasoned it and combined it with other stuff - it just tasted like the spices we put on it.
DeleteThe best sandwich I've ever had uses tofu as its meat. I'd eat it every day if I could afford it. It's a local restaurant that, if legend is true, invented the sandwich.
ReplyDeleteIt's actually really inexpensive - only $2.50 for a family-sized brick. Funny that the restaurant is charging so much for it. My daughter and I like to eat out and reverse-engineer the dish so we can make it at home. We are food nerds.
DeleteWell then, if you're even in Knoxville, check out The Tomato Head and order the Kepner Melt. It has all sorts of stuff in it that I can't identify. Best thing ever.
DeleteWill do.
DeleteUnfortunately, I'm allergic to tofu and anything soy. Once upon a time, I was a total vegan. Now I'm a vegetarian. I will eat chicken and fish.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how you could be vegan for long with no soy. I have a mild milk allergy - I think eliminating the milk this past week is the big reason I'm feeling great.
DeleteGood for you! We use tofu now and then. Put enough sauce on it and you can make it taste like anything.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that cool? I'm sure it's disgusting unspiced.
DeleteThat's great! I've tried to get my kids to eat tofu, but they always end up sticking their nose up at it.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter is very serious about the veganism. My middle one is finally at the age where he will try things. And the small one will demand to try it if you say, "This isn't for you."
DeleteWe've been staying on it too and feeling good. I'm learning to love sauteed vegetables over whole wheat pasta. No tofu, though. Bleh.
ReplyDeleteWe found a veggie quesadilla at the local Mexican place and recreated it without cheese and used whole wheat tortillas instead of white. Spinach, mushrooms, plus whatever other vegetables you want to add, and chili powder. Works as a burrito too with black beans. Yummy.
DeleteOne of our Chinese restaurants cubes tofu and fries it. Quite tasty. It's kinda custardy. Good luck with the vegan diet.
ReplyDeleteWe cubed it, made a brown sauce, and baked it in the sauce for 30 minutes. Thanks. :)
DeleteI make broccoli and spinach burritos using tofu, which are really yummy. I haven't made them in awhile and I need to remedy that.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've ever had broccoli with spinach. That's an interesting combination.
DeleteI've always been interested in trying a vegan diet. But I love meat too much. sigh.
ReplyDeleteI think it would be a hard path to take if you love meat. My husband keeps eating the meat I've been making for my boys. I asked, "Aren't you going vegan too?" He said, "Sort of."
DeleteI bet when you add the exercise, you're going to be thrilled with the results.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I'm headed to the gym this afternoon. It's kind of exciting. I'm definitely out of my rut.
DeleteWow! I'm impressed! Changing to vegan I'd imagine is a huge difference. Good for you!
ReplyDeleteI was on a vegetarian diet for health reasons for about three years before I got married. I did it for health reasons and should have stuck with it after I got married. It's much easier since my daughter is dedicated to it too.
DeleteCongratulations! That is really great. Bonus points for you and your daughter eating tofu. I hate it, but I like beans a lot more. If a vegan diet makes you feel so good, then how can it be bad? I am so happy for you and your daughter.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Murees. :)
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