My Vegetarian Experiment, Week Two

Hi Guys!

(I forgot to blog on Sunday like I said I would).

So...I only ate meat twice in the past 12 days. Once was by accident (I forgot that Prosciutto was a meat somehow...true story) and once because my husband and I met some out of town friends at Stihl Whiskey and they have the BEST Bourbon Steak Fingers and some sort of magical Pork on Waffles. Go big or go home, right?

Aside from those little slips, I experimented with tofu and tempeh and realized that soy products just aren't my thing. Neither are a ton of beans and legumes, so I've been getting protein from eggs, cheese, nuts, fish, and quinoa, plus whatever might be found in leafy greens like Kale and Spinach, and other vegetables. I guess that technically makes me a Lacto-Ovo Pescatarian. We'll just call it a Plant Based Diet

So far, I'm enjoying being "plant based" and can say I'm finally eating like my food hero, Michael Pollan has always suggested: "Eat food, not too much, mostly plants". Oh, and I've lost two pounds which is pretty good since I'm not "dieting". I am a little bit "carb-freaked out" since I am naturally eating more carbs than typical. But they all come from plants, nuts and seeds (quinoa is a seed), and the occasional corn tortilla or rice pasta (I'm still off wheat),so I'm trying to get over it.

How does it feel going from an almost pure meat based diet to a plant based one? It was confusing the first few days and I had to track my nutrients (macro and micro) to make sure I was getting the right stuff. It has definitely gotten easier and I feel healthier. I always enjoy new recipes and challenges so that part is no problem. I'm hoping that maybe this will help me shed the 20 pounds I've gained and lower my blood pressure a bit!

Here's a round up of some of our favorite recipes:

This is THE best Broccoli, Cheddar and Quinoa Casserole. It's actually called "Better Broccoli Casserole", but trust me, it's the best, and here is the recipe: https://cookieandkate.com/2016/better-broccoli-casserole-recipe/

 

 

 

 

I have a pretty nasty head cold, so I made this Vegetable and Fish Stew last night and it was delish. Saute a few garlic cloves in olive oil, then add one can of Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes, one cup of White Wine, some Safron and Fennel seeds, salt and pepper, add whatever vegetables you want, plus two nice size white fish fillets. Simmer until vegetables are tender and fish flakes. There you go!

 

 

Leftover Quinoa makes a great addition to salads and you can get really creative - make it a roasted vegetable kind of salad with parmesan, or a fruity tropical one with goat cheese! I boil my quinoa in vegetable broth and add a Tbl of coconut oil and the juice of one lime, plus salt and pepper, to make it taste....."OK".

 

 

 

Soyrizo and Egg scramble with goat cheese, onion, cilantro and salsa has always been one of our standard meals. It fits in better than ever now.

 

 

 

 

Now THIS....THIS...was mouth watering good. Sweet potato and kale with some Tempeh (the one and only time I enjoyed Tempeh) all fried up with a drizzle of maple syrup and a sprinkle of chipotle pepper seasoning, fry an egg on top (put a bird on it!).

 

 

 

Veracruz style Red Snapper with sprouted blue corn tortillas. So good! Rob wants me to make this every week.  I used this recipe:

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/228046/veracruz-style-red-snapper/

 

 

 

 

Ok, here is where I went a little off track. Am I sorry about it? No. Will I make it again? Yes. Pear and Prosciutto Pizza with shredded mozzeralla and arugula. Use the ready made cauliflower pizza crust from Trader Joes! So good. Just prepare crust per package, add shredded cheese, sliced pears, prosciutto, more cheese, bake until melty, add arugula and enjoy!

 

 

See you next week!

 

 

I'm Back...Again...For Reals This Time!

Hola!

It's been so long that I couldn't even Google my own blog! Apparently, in the years I've been away, there have been all sorts of Fit-Something blogs created. Well, I'm happy to say that I'm the "Original" Fitwife and I'm back! Although, truth be told, I thought a name change might be in order. Perhaps "Fluffywife"? Or Midlifewifelife"? I'll have to think on that.

So, what's changed since my last sad sack blog post in 2014? Shortly after that, we made a life altering decision to move to Bend, Or! Apparently 2014 really was a life-defining year full of soul searching, reliving old wounds and then...running away from them. Ha! I continued to struggle a bit after the move, of course. It was a HUGE change and disruption to our lives. My heart broke leaving my son behind and the friends and the life we knew and loved, but it was time. The doctor told me last November when I sat in her exam room, crying for an hour and dumping all of my life's woes on her (and it was just a basic well check up), to give it two years, AT LEAST, before I could expect to feel normal again...like I'm actually home. She was right. It's been just over two years (and 20 pounds, yikes!) but I'm settled. I'm happy. I have amazing friends. I can drive in snow. Rob, Maddie, Raider and I all love the Bend Life! I'm ready to get healthy again and blog obnoxiously about it! Yay!

Sooooo....I'm a vegetarian now. Why? Well...mostly for health reasons. Remember that well check visit I mentioned above? Despite leaving a quarter of my weight in tears on the exam table, it was still too high, and so was my blood pressure. I barely escaped 'the pharmaceuticals'. I told her I'd take care of it. I have a family history of heart disease and obesity on my dad's side. I'm almost 50 and just don't want to go out like that. I also need a new WOE (I learned this means "Way of Eating" after being perplexed, thinking there was a new diet I hadn't tried) in order to kick start my new, healthy lifestyle. So, I binge watched a ton of documentaries to get me psyched. I thought about going full Vegan, but after blowing a paycheck on everything "fake dairy", I failed after just one morning of "better half" creamer in my coffee. It's not better. At all. So eggs and dairy are back on until further notice. Oh...and also...wild game. I have too many friends who hunt and fish (and share their delicious bounty at dinner parties, ranch gatherings, etc!) and I have zero problems with killing your own food, I just don't know how. An elk will feed an entire family for a year, is a much cleaner/leaner meat, had a good life and a quick death at the hands of someone who is a lot closer to, and more respectful of the animal than most people shopping for meat in grocery stores (I shake my head at people who hate hunting but eat grocery store meat, I just don't get it).

I also joined a secret sisterhood of a few like minded women. We will be holding each other accountable, tracking our progress together, encouraging each other and sweating together!

I'll blog once per week about it. You're welcome!