What I ate again

Yesterday was the first time in about 2 months that I ate under my allotted calories for the day.

Breakfast : Starbucks banana bread, Iced caramel macchiato with almond milk – 670 calories

Lunch: White bean and feta salad, banana – 560 calories

Dinner: potatoes, brussels sprouts, fruit bar – 390 calories

Snack: Lean Cuisine Parmesan Crusted Fish, fudgescicle – 380 calories

Total calories ate for the day: 2000

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What I ate

What I ate today as someone new to the Vegetarian eating plan.

Breakfast: Almond dairy-free peach yogurt, 1 banana, oatmeal – 700 calories

Lunch: Couscous curried with almonds and cranberries, broccoli and cheese Steamers, Simply Nature Mango Fruit bar – 320 calories

Dinner: Seasonal mixed fruit, Amy’s Mattar Paneer, fudgecicle – 510 calories

Snacks: Veggie Snack Tray (tomatoes, snap peas, carrots), roasted garlic hummus, Roasted Garlic and Herb Baked Pita Chips, dried fruit – 925 calories

Notes: that yogurt alternative was not very good, it didn’t taste anything like greek yogurt which is what I am accustomed to eating, I have 3 more cups of that stuff, I hope the other flavors are better.

What’s killing us

Tonight I’m watching the documentaries; ‘Forks over Knives‘ and “What the Health” on Netflix.

Although they have their critics, I highly suggest these films for people who are meat/poultry/dairy/egg eaters.

Among other things, these documentaries explain;

1. that dairy has strong links to asthma and mucus production, both of which I have currently. I’m reducing all my dairy consumption, no yogurt, no ice cream, less butter, way less cheese because I would like to clear up my sinus issues which I have had since I was about 15 years old. The doctors said my sinus issues (chronic sinusitis) are caused by a deviated septum which can be corrected with surgery, but that’s confusing cause how does a deviated septum CREATE mucus? I understand that the mucus doesn’t drain properly with a deviated septum but it can’t CREATE the mucus in the first place. I believe that is caused by dairy. Keep in mind I haven’t drank milk in over a year, but I have been eating yogurt, and turkey egg & cheese croissants, and milk shakes, and boba tea and ranch dressing on my salad. All containing dairy.
2. why eating animal protein causes cancer and heart disease and why drinking milk CAUSES calcium deficiency contrary to what we’ve been taught.
3. The leading source of sodium in the American diet is CHICKEN, even ‘all natural’ chicken is injected with sodium. Similar to cigarettes, CHICKEN is full of carcinogens.
4. Even fish have estrogenic and cancer promoting properties. Depending on the fish it’s high in cholesterol like salmon or a mercury sponge. Farmed fish are no healthier either.
5. The dairy industry (butter/milk and milk products) have made a concerted effort to confuse the consumer into thinking saturated fat is ok. They funded studies with an outcome favorable to their agenda.
6. Companies like Kraft, Dannon, Oscar Mayer, Tyson, KFC and more—which sell processed foods high in fat, sodium or sugar like mac and cheese, hot dogs and flavored yogurt—are sponsors of the American Diabetes Association, American Cancer Society, Susan B. Komen, and may have a financial stake in diet recommendations by health groups.
7. A whole foods / plant based diet reverses heart and cancer conditions and decreases risks for a host of other illnesses such as inflammation, high blood pressure and diabetes.

Vegan is the goal

I don’t think I could go Vegan immediately, but this guy makes a compelling argument for it. I have to get to a point where I’m even comfortable eating vegetables. I love certain fruits.

I do eat ice-cream, cheese and butter on my veggies.

I can go without honey, eggs and animal milk.

I love yogurt but I can get a yogurt alternative easily, wal-mart sells Silk yogurt alternative.

I love blue cheese and ranch dressing on my salad. Wal-Mart doesn’t even sell a vegetable tray without ranch dressing.

It’s crazy how dependent we are on dairy in one form or another.

I wish I could find a ethical dairy farm that doesn’t rape the cows, tear the calf away from it’s mother or pump the cow for milk till pus comes out. I

t’s hard to find prepackaged microwaveable vegetables that don’t have any dairy on them.

I only like pumpkin in my pie and that has eggs in it as do most baked pies and cakes. Check out Gary’s website: http://adaptt.org/veganism/ethics.html

 

Transitioning to Vegetarian

OK I finalized my weekly shopping by picking up my groceries from Wal-Mart today.

Wanted to post this in case anyone else is similar to me and don’t want to cook or meal prep, but would like to transition to vegetarian on a budget.

I ordered from WalMart online groceries and use their pickup service, my total came to $97 for about 9 days of food. I don’t search for the cheapest, I just search for what fits in my budget of $70-100 per week for 1 person. The only thing I bought that requires cooking on a stove is the couscous, it cooks within 5 minutes. I don’t think I would re-purchase it.

Someone on the Vegetarian Facebook group said Parmesan is not vegetarian, it’s made with animal rennets. I looked it up and Amy’s meals even with parmesan do not have animal rennets. This article states “many brands in the U.S. use vegetable rennet in place of animals’ stomach linings”

One thing I would do differently is maybe order less items with cheese and butter, even though most say “lightly sauced”, also I’m unfamiliar with the size of things when ordering online and the hummus I ordered is so small, I’ll probably eat it all in 1-2 days.

I ordered some black eyed peas and the ingredients online do not show that it has meat in it but I just looked at the ingredients and it has pork broth in it. I can’t eat that crap. It cost less than $1 so not even sure it’s worth taking it back. I left it in the trunk of my car.

Also, I have about 5 days worth of hot pockets,with meat in them, still in my freezer. I need to eat them all, I won’t waste them and they are taking up too much room in the freezer. So if you follow me on MyFitnessPal, that is why I am still eating those.

This is my grocery list:

• Green Giant Steamers Lightly Sauced Baby Brussels Sprouts & Butter Sauce

  Green Giant Vegetable Broccoli & Three Cheese Sauce Family Size

• Bananas

• Del Monte Fruit & Chia Pear In Blackberry Flavored Chia,
• Del Monte Fruit Refreshers Grapefruit & Oranges in Pomegranate Water,
• Cantaloupe Spears
• Athenos Baked Pita Chips Roasted Garlic & Herb,
• Stacy’s® Parmesan Garlic & Herb Pita Chips 7.33 oz. Bag
• Wholly Guacamole 6 100 Calorie Snack Packs All Natural In Classic Guacamole,
• Gluten Free Madagascar Vanilla, Almonds, Pecans Protein & Fiber Oatmeal Pouch, 1.76 oz, 6 pack
• Quaker Select Starts Instant Oatmeal, Cranberry Almond, 6 Packets
• Quaker Select Starts Instant Oatmeal, Banana Nut, 6 Packets
• Sam’s Choice Frozen Burrito Bowl, Fajita Vegetable, 12.5 oz
• UNCLE BEN’S Ready Rice: Jambalaya, 8.5oz
• Margaret Holmes Hoppin’ John With Black-Eyed Peas, Tomatoes, Onions And Jalapeños,
• UNCLE BEN’S Ready Rice: Red Beans & Rice, 8.5oz
• Green Giant Veggie Tots Sweet Potato & Cauliflower, 16 oz
• Sam’s Choice Curried Couscous With Almonds & Cranberries, 7 oz
• Smart Ones® Delicious Mexican Flavors Santa Fe Rice & Beans 9 oz. Box
• Marketside Cherry Almond Gorgonzola Chopped Salad Kit, 13.6 oz
• OREO DS ORG PRTY SZ
• Healthy Choice Power Bowls White Bean & Feta Salad, 9.9 Ounce
• Pineapple Spears, 10 oz
• Amy’s Organic Black Bean Chili, 14.7 oz
• Steamables Sweet Potatoes, 1.5 lb Bag
• Healthy Choice Simply Stemers Creamy Spinach & Tomato Linguini, 9 ounces
• Amy’s Indian Mattar Paneer, 10.0 OZ
• Amy’s Bowls Tortilla Casserole & Black Beans, 9.5 OZ
• Amy’s Kitchen Mexican Casserole Bowl
• Hummustir: Experience Fresh Organic Hummus. Mediterranean style, lemon & garlic. 7oz
• Healthy Choice Simply Steamers Chana Masala, 9.25 OZ
• Green Giant Steamers Tuscan Seasoned Broccoli, 11 oz
• Green Giant Steamers Garden Vegetable Medley, 12 oz
• Green Giant Steamers Mediterranean Blend, 11oz
• Green Giant Steamers Broccoli, Carrots, Cauliflower & Cheese Sauce,

   

  

  

  

  

  

  

How Anxiety affects my diet

I’ve had clinical depression over 20 years, I’m not sure how long I’ve had anxiety and I was diagnosed bi-polar in 2011. Thru the years I have developed a lot of habits and phobias to deal with my depression and anxiety.

As this website explains “Major clinical depression interferes with a person’s ability to cope with daily stresses and obligations, often rendering an individual unable to function effectively in their everyday life, including work and family activities.”

Depression and anxiety affects every tiny part of my life, in ways people would never even think of.

First of all, it’s a stretch for me to even get out of bed. Self care is the most difficult for me; taking showers, brushing hair and teeth, eating, washing clothes, its all hard. Some people don’t realize how hard daily life for some can be

Secondly, I have severe anxiety about being in the kitchen and also about cleaning dishes. I get overwhelmed so I try to avoid it at all costs. I believe that is what led me to a lifestyle of 0 cooking/ 0 meal prep. I eat all pre-packaged food, the only dishes I use is a fork and spoon and occasionally a plate or bowl but I try to use the same ones over and over so as not to accumulate a lot of dishes to be cleaned. I try to limit the amount of time I’m in the kitchen to less than 5 minutes per day.

Now this is all coming to a head.

My mom wants me to wash dishes more. My mom cooks and dirties a lot of dishes on a daily basis and she wants me to contribute to cleaning them. I think I should do it, my mom helps me in a lot of ways every day. I have wanted to help out in this way and I get horrible anxiety about it. I have actually stood over the kitchen sink with the dirty dishes and stood frozen, unable to move,  trying to talk myself into cleaning the kitchen. I get so much anxiety I have to go sit down in my bedroom.

I called my sister about this last night cause I was having a panic attack over it. My sister said she actually had the same anxiety over being in the kitchen cooking and cleaning but she attributed hers to not wanting to subscribe to traditional female roles. She said maybe I was panicking because I had went out of my way to avoid making dirty dishes and yet in the end I have to clean dishes anyway. I think that is the major part of it.

My sister suggested I #1 – try to figure out why I have this anxiety and #2 when I need to clean the kitchen bring something to distract me. So I am going to try that, I am going to try to clean the kitchen once a week and bring my laptop and watch my Youtube vlogs at the same time. Hopefully that will help.

I’ve been working with my therapist on this other anxiety issue, which is overeating at night. I don’t know why I have anxiety at night, but it causes me to overeat terribly. Like TERRIBLY. I eat thousands of calories at night. I wake up in the middle of the night just to eat whatever junk I can find, even peanuts, crackers, dates, anything I can just pop in my mouth. It’s awful. We are working on that.

Depression and anxiety affects me in multiple other ways too, but this is just some of how it affects my diet.

Day 1- Vegetarian Groceries

I ordered my main vegetables and fruit and groceries online at Wal-Mart today, cost $97.00. I can’t pick it up till tomorrow.

Today I did venture out to some of the other places people on the Vegan and Vegetarian Facebook groups suggested.

At Aldi’s I got 3 boxes of non dairy real fruit bars , fruit and nut trail mix, fig bars, sweet and salty nut granola bars. Total : $18

At Target I got these Artichoke and Parmesan Swirls, which I had for lunch today, they cost $4.49 and were very good but also very high calorie (600 for the box): 

At Target I also bought – Smoked Gouda Mac N Cheese, Butternut squash and Sage ravioli,  a couple of meatless burritos (they have seitan in them), thai green curry, total $21

At Dollar Tree I picked up 2 packs of almond cookies, a frozen lemonade cup and a cinnamon roll with icing in the fridge section – total $4

Total $43 for a lot of snacks and some food. Plus the $97 I spent at walmart comes out to $140, that’s double my allotted weekly grocery budget so hopefully this stuff lasts almost 2 weeks.