I went vegan for February.
I decided to eat vegan in February. No real reason, partly because I overindulged on rich food over Christmas and New Year and partly just to see if I could. I don't eat a lot of meat - I was pescatarian for years because I didn't like factory farming, and what meat I do eat now is free range. Before it started I gave myself two exception days: my brother's birthday which was a cheese and wine evening and a Valentine's meal out. I had trouble eating vegan on a work trip to Germany so had a bit of cheese and a bit of fish then.
So, how has it been?
- I've been hungry a lot, more so at the beginning whilst my body was adjusting to the new diet
- I've missed texture: vegan food seems to be a lot of splodge - nice splodge, I like a good curry / chilli or whatnot, but splodge nonetheless, I'd like something to chew on. I don't really go for fake meat products but I did have some veggie sausages last night.
- I haven't really cooked as many new things as I had hoped at the beginning
- I think I possibly have been eating more veggies.
- I think I've eaten more carbs - more bread, rice, pasta; I've been buying good bread though - am quite addicted to spelt/rye sourdough now
- I've definitely eaten more sugar - jam on toast, sugar in coffee
- Talking of coffee, soya lattes have saved me when I just couldn't face another herbal or black tea (and I love herbal tea) but I do need to have sugar if the soya milk is unsweetened. I MISS TEA WITH MILK
- I am oddly not missing cheese. Or even yoghurt. This is surprising.
- I've gone through two jars of peanut butter. In one short month.
- I've also had a lot of chickpeas: chickpea, chard/kale and squash soup and stews and whatnot. And of course hummous.
- I haven't eaten pastries or cakes or chocolate or any of those kind of things. Though lots of biscuits are dairy free so it hasn't been all pudding free.
- I haven't been strict, strict, vegan, I've still been drinking wine without worrying if it's vegan
- it can be really hard to eat vegan when out and about, almost all the veggie options in sandwich shops are cheese,even the falafal ones seem often to have a creamy dressing. And the vegetarian sushi often has egg. Ditto in restaurants and pubs. Jacket potato with beans is a saviour in a pub.
I don't know whether I feel healthier or not for it. I think the excessive carb consumption has made me feel a bit weighed down at times. And I don't like the fact I've been turning to sugar, even buying sweets and (once or twice) a soft fizzy drink. And I don't normally even like soft fizzy drinks.
I'm not going to continue it into March (I've given up chocolate for Lent) but as I'll be in Hong Kong for much of March and Hong Kong vegetarian food is generally dairy free as well, I intend to seek out more of the veggie places there.
George Herbert on Lent
Here's George Herbert on Lent via the ever brilliant Maggi Dawn. Do click on the link, it's worth reading the whole thing.
"Welcome dear feast of Lent: who loves not thee,
He loves not Temperance, or Authority,
But is compos’d of passion."
It is well documented that I love Lent so it's always exciting to see that I'm not alone. But how interesting to see it here described as a feast, not something normally associate with Lent. To see temperance and submission (quiet at the back) and controlling of our passions as something to feast on, to do with abundance, for surely we will be the better for such feasting.
Lenten Hymnody
Plenteous grace with thee is found,
grace to cover all my sin;
let the healing streams abound,
make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art,
freely let me take of thee:
spring thou up within my heart,
rise to all eternity.
Jesus, lover of my soul, Charles Wesley, 1740
Lenten Hymnody
Thou, O Christ, art all I want;
mor than all in thee I find;
raise the fallen, cheer the faint,
heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is thy Name;
I am all unrighteousness;
false and full of sin I am;
thou art full of truth and grace.
Jesus, lover of my soul, Charles Wesley, 1740
Lenten Hymnody
Other refuge have I none,
hangs my helpless soul on thee;
leave, ah! leave me not alone,
still support and comfort me!
All my trust on thee is stayed;
all my help from thee I bring;
cover my defenseless head
with the shadow of thy wing.
Jesus, lover of my soul, Charles Wesley, 1740
Lenten Hymnody
Jesus, Lover of my soul,
let me to thy bosom fly,
while the nearer waters roll,
while the tempest still is high:
hide me, O my Savior, hide,
till the storm of life be past;
safe into the haven guide,
O receive my soul at last.
Jesus, lover of my soul, Charles Wesley, 1740
An Accidentally Good Stir Fry
Continuing the vegan theme, I knocked this up with stuff I had in the fridge and it turned out to be rather good, so I suppose I should save it for posterity. Simple stuff, but the proportions were right so worth recording.
Smoked Tofu, Celery & Broccoli Stir Fry
Heat vegetable oil in a wok and add
2 spring onions, chopped into small pieces
2 cloves garlic, bashed and chopped
knob of ginger, chopped fine
Stir about till beginning to colour then add
2 celery stalks, chopped diagonally into bite size pieces
handful of broccoli florets cut small
Stir about a bit, add a little bit of water, a decent dash of soy sauce and Chinkiang vinegar. Pop a lid on and leave to steam for a minute or two. Then add
handful smoked tofu, chopped into quite small pieces.
Stir away till tofu is warmed through. Veggies should be cooked but retain their crunch.
Serves two with rice or one greedy person (ie me) without rice.
Labels: broccoli, recipe, tofu
