tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224074171829015497.post9048261388027359573..comments2024-03-16T02:18:16.412-07:00Comments on Salt and Chocolate: final thoughts on the vegan thingMary Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15147791473133449106noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224074171829015497.post-46243065681166508312009-04-22T10:40:00.000-07:002009-04-22T10:40:00.000-07:00I found "Food Matters" inspiring and fascinating, ...I found "Food Matters" inspiring and fascinating, but the menus he suggested were definitely for someone without kids and a job. Everything was easy to make, sure, but there was SO MUCH of it.<br />As a working mom (who admittedly LOVES to spend time in the kitchen), I find it much easier to implement his ideas over the entire week--not make special meals for breakfast and lunch. <br />I make a pot of one kind of bean a week and use it for multiple family meals--sometimes with meat as a "condiment." I have a post detailing a week of chickpeas up at my blog right now. <br />We all eat leftovers for lunch. <br />Breakfasts are cold oatmeal with rice milk, fresh fruit in season, and dried blueberries and raisins. (This is delicious, really. I have no idea why everyone cooks their oatmeal.)<br />It wasn't until I had a child that I understood the appeal of routine and repetition. I think my old self would have run screaming at the idea of chickpeas times six! Now I realize that it buys me time to play in the mud with a two year old.Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15053755862449846355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224074171829015497.post-28170840952085178492009-04-22T06:01:00.000-07:002009-04-22T06:01:00.000-07:00I had good intentions of trying something similar-...I had good intentions of trying something similar--trying to cut out all the bread and cheese and eating a basically vegan diet, but after the first couple of weeks, I just felt soooo hungry all the time, I hated the oatmeal for breakfast (I tried microwaving it at work--yuck!) and I didn't have time to cook anything special for the week, that I gave up and went back to my old yogurt and cereal for breakfast, and either leftovers or sandwiches for lunch. I did, however, give up sugar, which was not very difficult, and having had a few sugary things since Easter, which always make me feel very ill, I think I will try to make it a long-term trend (after I eat the granola bar I brought for breakfast today!)Andreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14748454816480995214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224074171829015497.post-17686587503005564572009-04-18T09:48:00.000-07:002009-04-18T09:48:00.000-07:00I have recently cut meat out of my diet after read...I have recently cut meat out of my diet after reading about the processing business. I'd like to cut back on dairy too but we eat a lot of cheese, eggs and milk in our house. I have been chopping a lot of veggies and although it takes time I have loved every fresh tasty new recipe. I'm putting the Bittman book next on my list. I found your vegan til 6 so inspiring Mary Beth, thank you.Liahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11371103263581509702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224074171829015497.post-11393838340540374802009-04-17T19:37:00.000-07:002009-04-17T19:37:00.000-07:00I think you've got your priorities straight!
I wa...I think you've got your priorities straight!<br /><br />I was vegan for many years and I know from experience that it is tough to do. It requires a lot of planning and a lot of thought to make sure that you're getting all your nutrients. And, like you say, you can rarely eat any processed foods, which means everything has to be done by scratch.Saver Queenhttp://saverqueen.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224074171829015497.post-83808209737034649602009-04-17T09:18:00.000-07:002009-04-17T09:18:00.000-07:00I too read the Mark Bittman book and have been try...I too read the Mark Bittman book and have been trying to cut back on animal products. My husband would happily do away with all meats(mainly for environmental reasons), but I would miss them. So, he is able to eat a veggie lunch at work each day and I have been trying to make dinners w/o meat 4-5 times a week. But I do find it hard to come up with good meatless meals that my 3 and 6 year old will enjoy too. They are not fans of beans yet. I am trying and some weeks I am inspired and some weeks it is just easier to go back to the old standards that involve chicken or beef. I agree with you Mary Beth, it is important to find the balance and to spend that precious time with the kids instead of extra cooking and cleaning. It has made me more mindful of what we are eating and what I'm buying at the market though. And with prices going up and up, buying less meat has helped in keeping the grocery bill manageable. Enjoy the rest of your spring break!andreanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224074171829015497.post-80772298569841799412009-04-16T13:42:00.000-07:002009-04-16T13:42:00.000-07:00Our Green Nest--exactly! That is the point that M...Our Green Nest--exactly! That is the point that Mark Bittman was trying to make in his book--if we could all lessen the animal products that we eat it would do our environment a world of good. And I very much want to do just that--for the whole family, not just for me. Thanks for your insights!Mary Bethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15147791473133449106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224074171829015497.post-68916550643531256662009-04-16T13:38:00.000-07:002009-04-16T13:38:00.000-07:00Since it's the way we eat, we don't think much of ...Since it's the way we eat, we don't think much of it - as far as it being harder. I don't personally think it is AT ALL if it's the way your whole family eats! But yes, if you were making separate meals for yourself, I'm sure that took quite a bit of extra time every week. Awesome that you did it though and it sounds like it's made you more mindful of how many animal products you were consuming before and that you're going to lessen that, which is a great thing. If everyone would do that, our environment and country would be alot healthier!Our Green Nesthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05426519782784581649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224074171829015497.post-10097578390409998852009-04-16T12:11:00.000-07:002009-04-16T12:11:00.000-07:00I grew up on a beef farm so I am not so much into ...I grew up on a beef farm so I am not so much into a vegan thing but I agree with any diet it takes so much. Before I had the two little ones I remember (so long ago) juicing veggies for a one liter drink throughout the day, I did it every other day, wow, where did that time go, preparing and cleaning up. I am with ya, kids grow so fast, more fun to be wiht them than in the kitchen.Kellihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10161414902354928622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224074171829015497.post-76410403338979306302009-04-16T10:57:00.000-07:002009-04-16T10:57:00.000-07:00I'm glad it was a largely good experience for you....I'm glad it was a largely good experience for you. We mostly eat vegan for b'fast and lunch, although not always. Having 2 kids in a row with dairy allergies will aid in that. :) We've had lots of egg salad this week too. Gotta do something with all those colored eggs!Joyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17002360993206729015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224074171829015497.post-70370088332753388582009-04-16T10:32:00.000-07:002009-04-16T10:32:00.000-07:00Oh, yes, I do love an egg breakfast. And, yes, ab...Oh, yes, I do love an egg breakfast. And, yes, about the being hungry in the afternoons--I totally agree. I was starving and wanted dinner on the table by 5!Mary Bethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15147791473133449106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224074171829015497.post-15345839656241938262009-04-16T10:12:00.000-07:002009-04-16T10:12:00.000-07:00You are right about it being easy and being hard. ...You are right about it being easy and being hard. It is hard to keep ahead of the menu for the week, so to speak. At the same time, I guess that is the part about being more conscious and engaging with the food. Towards the end I found myself switching it up and maybe having meat for lunch and then a vegan dinner. But yesterday I had a tuna sandwich for lunch. It was the first time in weeks that I was not ravenous by 3 or 4 o'clock. It was kind of interesting the not being hungry after lunch. My hubby and I are planning to continue the plan but take Sundays off. Sometimes you just want eggs for breakfast.Nataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06450995581549548778noreply@blogger.com