I learned many lessons during Vegan Week — and the most important one had nothing to do with food. Or, let me clarify — it had nothing to do with eating food.
In order to shop, cook and ensure that all my meals were animal product-free, I planned my meals for the week. I went through cookbooks, online recipes, blogs and more to come up with ideas, crafted a shopping list, and followed the plan to the T.
And I was the happiest I’ve been in a long time.
So, even though I’m back to eating animal products, I’m still planning meals. Here’s how this week looked:
- Sunday: Yuca Empanadas with Plantain-Black Been Filling, Sauteed Squash
- Monday: Beef Stew
- Tuesday: Split Pea Daal, Roti, Roasted Cauliflower (no picture, sniff sniff)
- Wednesday: Sweet and Spicy Pork Chops, Oat Groat Pilaf, Steamed Bok Choy
- Thursday: Pepin Potatoes, Braised Carrots and Fennel
- Friday: General Tao’s Tofu, Steamed Veggies
It’s more work up front, but a LOT less stress through the week. And, unfortunately, I’m not one of those people that can just throw things in a pot and make it come out delicious. I live with one of those people. But I’m a recipe girl.
On the exercise front…um, yeah. I have set my alarm for 5am every day since Monday. And I have woken up, turned the alarm off and gone back to sleep. Every day since Monday.
A girl needs her post-half marathon rest, right? 
I don’t feel too bad. I have another race in January, so I’m going to get back to normal training on Saturday.
What’s your best source for healthy recipes? The Web? Cookbooks? Family recipes?
Mmmm! Sunday's dinner looked YUMMY!!! I'm going to have to try that!
Although I love my cookbooks, I have found some of my favorite recipes on the internet, especially from healthy living blogs.
Everything looks amazing. Do you think that you save money?
I am one of those people who can throw a pot of something together and it taste yummy. I also use the internet for possible recipes and tweak them to what will work for me. I love everything super spicey…lucky for me my hubby does too ha h
I used to be good a planning meals, but lately I just wing it. Although I prefer planning it out, but I am pretty good a creating a meal without a recipe. But I love to read through cookbooks for inspiration.
I like meal planning because then I don't eat unhealthy food and it usually means leftovers for lunch or another dinner.
It must be tasty…
It must be tasty…