Goodies!

Veggie Party Reminders!

Don't forget that we are having a party next Tuesday, during Senior Project!

Mrs. Hiatt, please come join us!

If you have people that can come (ex: Mrs. Lomans' husband) bring them!

I will be bringing a vegan casserole with fake chicken, rice, water chestnuts, and peas (in other words, heaven mixed into a casserole). I will also be bringing some Veggie Booty snacks and Endangered Species dark and milk chocolate bars. Mrs. Loman is brining vegan banana bread. Mrs. Hiatt is going to try to make something fishy. Courtney and Micheal are going to bring drinks(no milk). I also need someone to bring plates and silverware, but there might be some in the school somewhere. Yay! I'm excited! It's going to be yummy!

P.S. Micheal and Courtney-I'm interviewing you on Tuesday before the party

Mrs. Loman and Mrs. Hiatt- I'm interviewing you Thursday during class

Thank you! You guys are awesome!

The finish line is in sight!

Imagine this:

it's later than 12:01 a.m. this coming Sunday.

What will you eat first?

--elly

Animal Cruelty

There are a few things I need to say to defend myself. First of all, this is a vegetarian blog and project, so there might be some offending things on here to non-vegetarians. I'm not trying to promote vegetaranism, I'm just looking up some different interesting views with animal cruelty. The video I posted is NOT from PETA, it is from goveg.com. Here are my points about the video:
-Not all slaughterhouses are like this
-The cows in this video are NOT treated right
-Show cows are obviously treated much differently than dairy and ranch cows
-Even though they are just going to be killed, it needs to be done with some humanity
-The cow in the video being slaughtered was not having muscle spasms, it was still living
-Cows are gentle, beautiful animals that deserve much more than what is shown in the video
-I didn't make this video, but I do support it's message

There are more videos on goveg.com about animal rights for almost every animal: cows, pigs, chickens, and ducks. They're very interesting. However, you don't have to watch them. I recommend not watching them if you don't support animal rights. Thank you.......Katie

HOWDY STRANGERS, from the lost boy!!!

Hey everyone it has been a while hasn't it? I mean heck where does time get too in this world. I am finally on again. I have a few things to say. First I watched the movie, and I would like to comment on it. Katie, I am not going to lie about anything to the extent of my knowledge. It is true that at the slaughterhouses that cattle are not treated as pets. The job of the slaughter house is to slaughter cattle, and therefore you shouldn't expect anything cheery about a place like it. I mean for example, should humans that are in accidents or are failing due to age or illness go to the hospitals happy they are about to die? And if the doctor knows that you are going to die is he suppose to be happy when he says it? I know that these are the things that you want to hear but its the facts; cattle do die and the facilities aren't always keeping the best interest of the animals in mind. It is in this aspect that I agree with PETA. That is when I got into the business I learned a great deal about the "most human" slaughter houses around here. I raise my cattle as pets; they all have names, get bathes, get clipped, treats, and the most love I can give them, but I do realize that just like people there comes a day when we can't keep them. I feel that the video you found was also a bit bias. I mean you got it off of a pro-vegetarian website. I know that I would be happy to work with the rest of the industry and set up more reliable slaughter house that are as kind to the pets I raise. I think that it is fair to state that, no in the entire world can make someone be kinderly hearted to all things in this world. I think that you are being very narrow minded (no offense) when you are deciding the reputation of all cattle businesses when you only have a small percentage of the entire industry. I hope that I haven't offended you because that isn't my point. I wish that you could just be as opened minded to the contrasting side as I have this past month. I am tired and going to bed, so I will talk later; again Katie I didn't mean to offend you at all. SEE YA!!!

Michael Wiseman

Sexy Vegetarian of the Week

Sexy Vegetarian of the Week

Kristen Bell

*Katie Eastman

What is Veganism?

Robbie and I were at Duane's Market the other day and we ran into an old friend named Daric. We sat outside the store and reminisced about old times and updated each other on our lives. This vegetarian project came up, and Robbie informed him that we were now vegan--at least for the month of October. We showed him that the chips we had just purchased were vegan because they contained no animal products. Daric contradicted us and said that that's not true veganism.

We asked for an explanation. He said that he understood veganism (true veganism, that is) to be the lifestyle in which an adherent does not partake of any animal products (true enough so far), and who eats in a way that doesn't interfere at all with nature. For example, my definition of veganism says that if I want an apple, I go to a store/market, etc. and purchase one. Daric said that this isn't true veganism because the apple in the store has been subjected to the very human process of being picked, packed, and shipped. He said that he understood that vegans won't pluck an apple off a tree but rather will wait for the apple to fall in its own good time. (In the sense that the apple wasn't ready to be eaten until it fell from the tree.) The vegan then could pick it up off the ground and be on her/his merry way. If that's what true veganism is, then we've definitely not been following it!

So, what do you think? What is veganism?

--elly

Boise Trip

Last weekend my family and I went to Boise to catch a Steelheads game. We were staying downtown, so we decided to try one of the nearby restaurants. It took quite a bit of walking to find a vegan-friendly restaurant (if indeed such a thing exists); we ended up at P.F. Chang's Chinese Restaurant. I had only been there one other time previous to the said weekend and LOVED everything on the table.

However, last weekend as we perused the menu, there were a few items that were indeed vegetarian, but not all of them were vegan. Robbie and I decided on the tofu lettuce wraps and spring rolls. This was my first experience with tofu. (I bought a package at Fred Meyer when we first started this experiment, but it sits unopened in my fridge at home.) I can't say that I'm a tofu fan. The texture gave me the heeby jeebies! Just thinking about it now is sending waves of grodyness running down my spine.

Anyway, the next morning after the game, we checked out of our hotel, hopped in the car, and headed to the Pantry Restaurant where I used to wait tables while in college. What I remember from working the early morning shift at the Pantry were the wonderfully delicious breakfasts that they would serve. The place hadn't changed even though twelve/thirteen years had gone by since my last visit. Only the tablecloths looked different. The breakfasts that littered other people's tables were so tempting, I nearly found myself licking others' plates clean.

As I read the menu and realized, yep, my only option is oatmeal, I thought to myself, if Robbie says he wants to cheat just this one time, I'm going to agree to it. Luckily for me (I guess), we stuck to our guns and stayed on our diet.

Then we headed to the Old Idaho Penitentiary to show our girls what happens to people who don't listen to their parents. Then we headed home where the temptation was not so strong.

--elly

One Week Remains

So, only one week remains in our month-long experiment.

Here are some of my personal observations:

1. For the most part, this has been easier to handle than I originally thought it would be.
2. Even though I still feel deprived, I really don't miss taboo foods as much as I thought I would.
3. My energy/excitement level was very high at the beginning of the month but it has been waning. I think that's because the newness is wearing off and it's becoming more of a lifestyle than an experiment.
4. The food items I'm wanting the most are not the ones I thought I would miss. For instance, I've really been pining for ranch dressing and sour cream, but I don't miss meat at all.
5. I wouldn't mind continuing on with this veganism in the next month, but I do want to be able to indulge from time to time--especially when I'm on vacation or out with my family.

--elly

Nationals

Hey people in Idaho,

So my time in indianapolis is going ok. I am having a great time here with all of our activities. Its sorta hard when I am not eating meat. I am getting sick and tired of stupid salad. I used to love salad but I plan on spending the next few months salad free. And I can't order anything else because we eat at a lot of fast food.

Also, I watched that video Katie. I am not being rude but that video is a bunch of crap. They make sure that the cow is dead before they skin it. The cow will move because of muscle spasms. They will shoot the cow in the head then cut the throat to drain the blood out. I believe PETA has made this video look like the cattle industry is bad but seriously how are you supposed to kill animals. Also, it doesn't hurt the cattle that much when they take the horns off. Its bad for some cattle to keep the horns on them. Katie all I am saying is make sure your facts are right.

Courtney

Interview Questions #2

Interview Questions with Kim Brackett

Overview of Kim: Kim Brackett, now 36 years old, was raised on a ranch in Wyoming. She married her husband and they now have 4 kids and live on their own ranch in 3 Creek.

1. What do you think of vegetarians? To all their own. I respect their decision.

2. What do you think of PETA? I strongly disagree with PETA. They are extremists out to obliterate my business.

3. Have you ever been offended by a vegetarian? No. I do beef samplings and vegetarians have turned me down, but never rudely.

4. What is your favorite food? Sirloin medium-rare steak with rice and roasted asparagus.

5. Does your family hunt or fish? We fish, but don't hunt; just shoot coyotes around our property.

6. Do you think there is a bigger purpose for animals on this earth than to be eaten? I belive that a lot of animals can be pets, but my family is Christian and we believe that God put animals on the earth for food.

7. How many vegetarians do you know? Definetely less than 10.

8. What do you think about the growing population of vegetarians in the world? I think many of them are teenagers following the style and I'm worried about the younger kids not getting enough iron.

9. Why do you think vegetarians become vegetarians? Mostly for dietary and ethical reasons.

10. What do you think vegetarians eat? Beans, legumes, nuts, tofu, fruits, veggies, and grains.

This interview was completed and posted by Katie Eastman

Cow Cruelty

I found this on goveg.com. Click on the attached link; it should go to a page with a video on cows and information there. This is particularly for Micheal. Tell me what you think. I almost started crying when I watched the video, so I'm warning you, it's pretty graphic.


http://www.goveg.com/factoryFarming_cows.asp

-Katie

Sexy Vegetarian of the Week

Sexy Vegetarian of the Week

My favorite, I'd have to say :)

'Tis the lovely Anthony Kiedis, lead singer of the RHCPs

Boise Bound

Today, my family and I are heading to Boise to take in a Steelheads hockey game. None of us has ever seen a live hockey game, so we're all excited!

In the midst of getting ready to leave, Robbie told me that he wants to cheat today because he knows that we're going to be surrounded by new restaurants that will all be offering delicious delicacies. I told him that there is no way we're cheating this far into it: we'll just have to order items that we would never normally choose.

I'll keep y'all posted on our progress and maybe will even include some photos from our trip.

Interview Questions #1

Interview Questions with Marisa Eastman-Community Vegetarian

Overview of Marisa: Marisa Eastman, now 51 years old, has lived in Castleford all her life. She has been a Spanish, Band, Drama, and Music Appreciation teacher at various schools in the Magic Valley. She is now working a part-time job as a psychologist. She is married to Glenn Eastman and has two daughters; Lisa and Katie Eastman.

1. How long have you been a vegetarian? Since 1994; 15 years

2. Why are you a vegetarian? Because I don't believe that animal's purpose is to feed man. I think we began as plant-eaters in evolution. Animal products are full of fat, hormones, and dangerous unknown ingredients. We don't need meat for protein.

3. Is it hard living in this area as a vegetarian? Yes; there are no vegetarian restaraunts, and when you go out to eat there are few choices. There are only a couple places to buy vegetarian groceries, and it's expensive. People in this area don't understand vegetarianism.

4. Has someone ever offended you about your diet? While teaching at Castleford, I was harassed by a parent who thought I was preaching vegetarianism to all the kids in my band class.

5. What are your feelings on the way cattle are raised? It's cruel and it's a major source of pollution. It's changed the entire way of life in this area because of the smell, increased light pollution, and increased truck traffic. Animals aren't meant to be raised the way they are.

6. What do you think of PETA? I think it's great. We need an organization like that to bring to people's attention animal cruelty in our society.

7. How do you get your protein? I eat lots of soy products and nuts.

8. What do you think non-vegetarians think of you? That I'm dumb. Most people don't understand why I'm vegetarian.

9. What is the worst experience you have ever experienced as a vegetarian? I was on a trip in Paris. I was ordering what I thought was vegetarian, and instead, I was served what I'm pretty sure was horse meat and it made me violently ill for three days. That is definetely the worst part about being vegetarian: eating out.

10. What is your favorite food? A traditional vegetarian Thanksgiving meal: Tofurky, mushroom gravy, and vegetarian stuffing.

This interview was completed and posted by Katie Eastman

Steak =(

Wow. I haven't been on here for a long time. Well last night I almost cried well not really but I was drooling. My parents made steaks and they forgot again that I am a vegetarian. They made me a steak and I was so tempted to eat it. Right now it is sitting in my fridge and I have to see it every time I open the fridge. It sucks. My brother teased me the whole time over dinner when he was eating his steak. I had broccoli and potatoes to eat instead.

I can't believe that we are only half way through this month. It seems like this month is going on forever. Oh well I guess.

Court

My Interviews

So, I thought I would remind all of you that I will be interviewing people very soon. Here are my scheduled dates:

My Mom ( A psychologist/vegetarian) : Thursday, Oct. 15th

Kim Brackett ( Owner of cattle ranch/ meat-eater) : Tuesday, Oct. 20th

These two interview should be interesting. Of course, I already know what to expect from my mom, but I don't even know Mrs. Brackett. Mrs. Clark recommended her to me and I also recently found out she's on the school board. She starting laughing when I asked her if I could interview her about vegetarians. She seems very nice, and I hope she doesn't think I'm going to ambush her with freaky PETA accusations. I'm also going to be interviewing my little experiments in the beginning of November during Senior Project hour:

Courtney and Micheal (Lacto and/or Ovo Vegetarians) : Tuesday, Nov. 3rd

Mrs. Loman and Mrs. Hiatt ( Vegan and Pescatarian) : Thursday, Nov. 5th

I'll post another blog once the interviews are completed!

P.S. Remember: You're making cows all over the world happy :)

Katie Eastman

VEGAN Rum and Chocolate Cheesecake

PREP TIME
30 Min
COOK TIME
1 Hr 15 Min
READY IN
3 Hrs


Servings

US
METRIC
INGREDIENTS
1 cup ground almonds
1 cup whole wheat flour
2/3 cup margarine

2 (12 ounce) packages firm tofu
1 1/2 cups demerara sugar
7 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup sunflower seed oil
1/2 cup soy milk
1/4 cup dark rum
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C.) In a medium bowl, combine ground almonds and whole wheat flour. Cut in margarine until a dough is formed. Press dough into the bottom and half-way up the sides of a 9 inch springform pan.
In a blender or food processor, crumble the tofu. Add sugar, cocoa, oil, soy milk, rum and vanilla. Process until smooth and creamy. Pour filling into crust.
Bake in the preheated oven for 75 minutes, or until filling is set. Allow to cool on a rack and then chill thoroughly in refrigerator before attempting to remove from the pan.

Katie Eastman

Sexy Vegetarian of the Week

Sexy Vegetarian of the Week

Courtesy of Katie Eastman

-I didn't forget about you, boys.

Yummy Vegan Banana Bread

TURN THIS:

INTO THIS:

I love banana bread, and because I purchased too many bananas at the beginning of the month, I had five that were becoming the consistency of toothpaste. I found this recipe at www.savvyvegetarian.com

Of course, I made the vegan version. I baked it a little too long, but other than the blackened bottom, it was really delicious!

Banana Bread Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups unbleached white flour
• OR: 1 cup Unbl + 1/2 c. wh. wheat flour
• 3 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1 tsp ginger
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 3 over-ripe bananas (should equal at least 1 1/2 cup of mashed banana)
• 1/3 c unbleached cane sugar
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

AND

• Vegan Version:
• 2 Tblsp cornstarch + 2 Tbsp lemon juice + 2 Tbsp water
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil

OR

• Vegetarian Version:
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 2 eggs

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
2. Oil a medium size bread pan
3. Chop & measure the walnuts
4. Measure & mix the dry ingredients except for sugar
5. Add the chopped nuts
6. Mix the wet ingredients, including the banana, plus the sugar. Use a blender, blender stick or food processor. If you don't have one of those, mash the bananas, then whisk in the other wet ingredients and sugar
7. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry, and mix lightly with just a few strokes
8. Spoon the mixture evenly into the oiled pan
9. Bake for 45 min, middle of the oven, until browned & firm to the touch
10. Cool on a rack in the pan for 5 minutes, then turn out to finish cooling
11. Cool for at least half an hour before slicing. Banana bread tastes better completely cooled, if you can wait that long!

--elly

Courtney, Michael, and Katie: where are you? (**echo, echo, echo**) It's been quite a while since we've heard from you!

Label Libel?

Just because an item is vegan friendly doesn't necessarily mean that it's healthy. Take one of my newest purchases: Sour Supreme. I found this beauty in Fred Meyer. Thinking about how much better my very dry baked potatoes would be with a little simu-sour cream, I decided to give it a shot. However, I didn't take the time to read the ingredient list; I just saw the words "Dairy Free", "No Milk", and "Buttermilk Free".



I returned home and was poised to dollup some said sour-something-or-other on my piping hot potato when I took a moment to read the ingredients:

The second ingredient is partially hydrogenated soybean oil!

The first three ingredients in regular sour cream are milk, cream, and whey.

I don't know about you, but I'd rather have natural products than factory-fabricated fats!

Become a label reader!

Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail

So, once again I've forgotten to pack my lunch to take with me to school. Luckily, another vegetarian on staff just so happened to bring some leftover vegan chili to school today--enough to share!

One important aspect I'm recognizing is this: if I don't start making more conscientious decisions as far as being prepared before I race out the front door, I may be setting myself up for failure.

Note to self: GET ORGANIZED!

--elly

Dad and I during dinner

So tonight my dad and I were home alone for awhile, so he decided to make an easy dinner. He made a slice of ham and eggs and hashbrowns. It sucked not eating what he was eating. It smelt so good and it was hard to resist. He offered me some, forgetting that I was a vegetarian. He groaned when I told him that I couldn't. It made me laugh because I used to do that when people said they couldn't eat things. Katie I now understand what you have to go through and I will never say anything ever again about you being a vegetarian. =)

Breakfast most days isn't that bad for me. I usually grab a glass of milk or a banana and I am fine. When eating at lunch it isn't that hard for me. I usually don't eat much anyways so I am not having a problem with that. Dinner is the only time I have some trouble. I usually eat with my parents and and our family is a meat eating family. I have been eating a lot of yogart for dinner.
Courtney

Sexy Vegetarian of the Week

Sexy Vegetarian of The Week

Courtesy of Katie Eastman :)

Lesson to be learned: Good looking men make good choices! Go Veg!

I go out wokkin' after midnight . . .

Tonight will be my second dinner-out experience. Robbie had a dentist appointment this afternoon in Twin Falls, so the kids and I are going to meet him for dinner. Instead of poor planning and ending up at a vegan-unfriendly restaurant like Pancho Villa's (as Silvia so pointedly made clear), we've put a bit more thought into our decision for today. We're meeting at Wok-n-Grill, where a diner can select veggies, noodles, assorted sauces (and meat for all you carnivores) to give to the grill master; then s/he grills everything to a lovely perfection.

Just thinking about it is making my cavernous stomach go wild! Erin's vegan chili was excellent for today's lunch, but I will definitely have to start packing an afternoon fruit snack to tide me over.

Where is Mrs. Hiatt?

Calling Mrs. Hiatt!
We all want to hear from you!

So you think you want to hear from me, I can't believe how OK I am on this program. Pretty regular for me. I would say the only problem is that my husband hates fish. He is moving out the 15th of October (really he is going hunting). That will be great for both of us. I will get to fish up the house and he won't complain.
So far all is going very well. I can eat milk products, eggs and fish. Yesterday Rex cooked a huge chunk of meat and really I did not miss it at all. I had already cut out most red meats so I don't miss it. I do on the other hand miss chicken, it does not smell like fish! Ha. The hardest part for me was going out to dinner with the family and being the only one who ordered fish so I couldn't eat family style. (Sharing what they ordered that was red meatalishes.)
I have noticed that fish is expensive, hard to find really fresh stuff in the middle of Idaho, it does not hold up very well, and it sure stinks up the house. I have not been very hungry but I always supplement my food with nuts. Tonight I think I will have shrimp. Hang in there you all! Hasta Mrs. Hiatt

Wow! This blog is amazing! It's provided me with so much information! Out of all of you, I have to say that Mrs. Loman is doing the best. Micheal sounds like he's about to commit suicide, and I'm a bit concerned. But! Don't give up! Mrs. Hiatt definetely has it the easiest out of all of us. I'm very happy that you all are getting a piece of the vegetarian life. I bet Courtney understands now why it's so annoying when people constantly nag you about why you are vegetarian. Courtney, just blame it on me. I'm Dr. Frankenstein, and i must say, I have created quite a lovely monster. I was very excited to read about Mrs. Loman's encounter at the Mexican restaraunt. Welcome to my world! However, your situation sounds a lot worse, because of having to find something with no milk or eggs. Here's my advice to you:
Micheal: Get some vitamin supplements. Get some protein shakes to boost your energy and immune system. You're a big boy and your body is pissed at you. It wants meat! Don't give in. No more Dorito chips. Like I said, I'm watching you.
Mrs. Hiatt: If you want some fish, remember, I'm in great supply. If you want to learn more about the way fish are processed, come to me, and I'll give you the dirty scoop on Clear Springs.
Courtney: Don't give in to people judging you. Just remind them that this experiment is not permanent, but it is fun!
Mrs. Loman: Keep it up! As you visit different restaraunts, let me know about your service. Also, I don't know how much you cook at home, but I have TONS of realllllly yummy vegetarian and vegan recipes if you want to get the whole family in on this.

Moscow trip

So my trip to Moscow was kinda interesting. I was teased a lot for being a vegetarian by Mr. Wells and the other students that went. I laughed with them but inside I grumbled to myself. They ate meat in front of me and taunted me the whole time. It sucked. Also, some of the people up there didn't understand why I was doing it. They were a little shocked at first that I didn't eat meat. Then I told them the scenario and they understood a little bit better.

I really wanted to eat meat. I never realized also how much things have eggs in it. The only kind of dressing that I could find that doesn't have eggs in it , is Italian Dressing. Also, most desserts have eggs in it. I think oreos don't have any eggs in them. I think its a good thing that I love salad. It would be hard for me if I didn't like it. Although, I like ranch so that kinda sucks. Italian Dressing is alright but I don't prefer it.

I am actually kinda enjoying this. Its hard, but I like a good challenge. =) In the future you can always say now that you were a vegetarian for a little while. Who knows one of us might stay a vegetarian for the rest of our lives. . . maybe. Doing this might make us all healthier, you never know. Below are some facts I found out. . .

Is soy protein a complete protein?

Yes. The U.S. Department of Agriculture grades protein quality using a system called the Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acids Score (PDCAAS). Soy protein has a PDCAAS score of 1.0, which means it is equivalent to animal protein.

If you follow a vegan diet, you may need to find alternatives for eggs and dairy products. Try these suggestions when meal planning or cooking:

• Milk. Drink fortified soymilk, rice milk or almond milk in place of cow's milk.
• Butter. When sauteing, use olive oil, water, vegetable broth, wine or fat-free cooking spray instead of butter. In baked goods, use canola oil.
• Cheese. Use soy cheese or nutritional yeast flakes, which are available in health food stores.
• Eggs. In baked goods, try commercial egg replacers — a dry product made mostly of potato starch. Or you can use the following to replace one egg: 1/4 cup whipped tofu or 1 tablespoon milled flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons of water. For an egg-free omelet use tofu instead of eggs.

http://www.vegetariansareevil.com/
Go to this site and look at the evil vegetarians. >) Adolf Hitler was a vegetarian.

Things I Miss Most

(In no particular order)







--by Elly Loman

What can I say

Hello everyone it is me, Michael (the boy who loves meat), and this is what I have to say. I have been a ovo veggie lover for three days now, and the side effects are hitting hard. I am feeling myself getting skinnier every day, and today I got sick. I have had a headache, a slight fever, low energy and been very droopy. I feel that I am not getting the nutrients I need. I now that this sounds very silly but, I think that is time to switch to a lacto ovo. I need to have something that my body is use to, until I can wean myself off of it, for this project. We will discuss it as a class I guess on Tuesday.

On a happier note you will all be happy to know that I haven't had anything that is out of my bounds. I had to cook for a rodeo today, and the hamburgers that lay in front of me; oh my god they looked delicious,but I held it together and didn't have one bite. (This cleared showed that I am getting help from a higher power =).) I was so proud of what I was able to accomplish.

The reason that I think that I need to change to a lacto ovo is the fact that i don't really like eggs. Haha I just don't like eggs unless I have them cooked the right way; such as, scrambled, poched, or hard boiled. I will talk about this more in class.

Michael Wiseman

P.S. I had a tofu dog and realized two things. First, they stink worse that a baby's poopy diper. And on the second note, the are disgusting. I had to force myself to keep them down. Tofu= nastiness.

¡Arriba with Pancho Villa!

Last night, my husband (also a three-day practicing Vegan) and I went on a double date to Pancho Villa's Mexican Restaurant in Jackpot, Nevada. Now, normally, Robbie and I would sit down, scarf down an entire basket (or two) of chips and then stuff ourselves with plates heaped with refried beans, rice, melted cheese, and an assortment of meats and vegetables. Then we'd spend the rest of the evening groaning and moaning about how uncomfortable we had made ourselves.

Last night was a wee bit different.

We were dining with my sister Adriana (who has decided to give being a lacto-ovo vegetarian a try) and her husband Brad. They immediately dug into the chips as soon as they were delivered to the table. Robbie and I decided to wait until we knew for sure that they weren't made with lard. We asked our waitress as she delivered our waters, and sure enough, lard chips they were! I was so proud of us: we didn't even have a nibble of them!

We scoured the menu, (see for yourself: http://www.ameristar.com/Files/CP_PanchoVillaMenu.pdf ) trying to find something that was vegan-esque. Not an easy task. The only thing we saw was guacamole fresco; however, served with the lard chips, there went that idea! We asked the waitress a variety of questions about how the meals were prepared: were the beans made with lard? is your rice cooked in lard? what about your tortillas? if we order this, can you leave out the cheese? She patiently answered our questions, although I'm pretty sure I saw some annoyance cross her face.

As I finished my order and as she began to take my sister's order, my husband leaned over and said, "You sound like a real snob when you order." I was taken aback: I asked him what I had done that was so bad. He explained that he didn't necessarily mean that I sounded like a snob, but that anyone who orders like that sounds like a snob. But in my defense, I asked him how else a person is to know how things are prepared unless s/he asks.

Katie has vented about similar situations that she's encountered in her travels and during meals out. Some companies/restaurants claim to be vegetarian friendly but turn out not to be, or some feign interest in accommodating her needs but then fail miserably . . . and without apology.

Short story long, Robbie and I were able to enjoy a nice evening away from home and even though we felt a little deprived (especially as my brother-in-law would announce each of his non-vegan bites, being sure that we watching with saliva-dripping desire) we were able to stay on course and had a surprisingly delicious meal.

Robbie had a bean burrito (minus the cheese) and black beans. I had a spinach and mushroom enchilada minus all cheese and sauce, served with black beans. When the server brought out my meal, I said "That looks pretty good." But, realistically, my plate looked like someone had scooped pond scum out of the canal, wrapped a tortilla around it and plopped it next to a pile of . . . well, you get the picture.

So, unless the server was wrong/lying about the flour tortillas being lard-free, we're doing great! My energy level is good, and I'm still excited about the program.

Grocery Shopping!

A few of the interesting items I purchased yesterday. A few firsts for me.

One of those items was Dave's Killer Bread:


--Elly

FOR THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING . . . A-HEM, MICHAEL!

Try not to limit yourself so much at mealtimes. An apple for breakfast?? Of course you're ready to crack! Why not try something a little more substantive . . . like . . . scrambled eggs with toast and jam? Or how about hash browns (cooked in olive oil, of course) with a side of eggs and toast? Doesn't that sound a lot better than an apple?


Some lunch ideas: Fried rice with scrambled eggs! Salad with a boiled egg or two! Vegetarian chili and a grilled potato (great with vegenaise, I might add!)



And for dinner: egg salad sandwich (made with vegenaise, of course!), vegetable stir fry served over a bed of rice or noodles . . . the possibilities exist! Go explore!

Day One-Here We Go

I am so excitied we started this! Yeah right you all got it right; I am cracking first. I need meat, or milk, or cheese, or something. This is driving me mad. I have been cranky all day. I had an apple for breakfast and gucamole for lunch and a bowl of pasta for dinner. I am not sure but I think that I might have to switch to lacto-ovo, because I am dying!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(That's right I cracked first and Mrs. Loman and Courtney are free to do so now!!!)

Michael Wiseman (who loves meat, and really is craving a steak with cheese. Oh I love philly cheese steak sandwiches)

THE FIRST DAY!!!

Agh!! So I haven't had that much problem with the meat, yet. =) Although I love cady corn! Its one of the best things in the month of October, but I can't eat it.... sad I know. =( There are egg whites in it. There are milk products in it so haha for the people who can't have milk products. hee hee.

I had the best hamburger yesterday after school. I savored every bit of it. Sorry Katie.

Court