30 Day Vegetarian Experiment: Dining Out/Ordering In

(Pictured: Vegetable Samosa)

Dining out was a different experience. On Friday we met friends at a Vietnamese-Thai fusion restaurant. I should have tons of vegetable options right? Well, not so much. Due to my history of breast cancer, I do not eat tofu or edamame. I do not care for eggs so that eliminates most stir-fry rice dishes. I did find some lovely vegetable Samosas and ordered stir-fried vegetables (in this case pepper and onions) with brown rice. I had to be a bit more thoughtful in my ordering, but in the end, I could finds a few satisfying dishes.

Sabotage

I guess it was going to happen. After a week of vegetarian meals, my husband says he started craving Texas BBQ. To be fair, I still made some dinners with meat for him, even if I ate a salad. He decided we needed to go to Heims BBQ for lunch. For those not acquainted with this institution, Heim is home to some of the best BBQ in the state. "Surely you can eat meat for this one meal? You are not really a vegetarian after all. You can just choose to eat meat for this meal and go back to being a vegetarian for the rest of the month." Of course my husband is correct. I can simply choose to eat meat. However, I have set a goal. Consciously abstaining from meat allows me focus on including more fruits, vegetables and whole grains into my diet. Sure, it is just my own little experiment, but once I made a commitment, I need to follow through, right? So what can the vegetarian get at Heim BBQ? Nothing green except a pickle. I was able to order a side of green chili mac and cheese. A big calorie splurge but tasty and my husband's attempts to derail my experiment failed!

(Heim BBQ)

Once again the family conspires against me. Sunday was my daughter's 22nd birthday. As a lover of all things Asian, she requested First Chinese BBQ. Another meat lover's paradise. On the birthday menu: Mongolian Beef, Pork and noodles, sun-fried shrimp, steamed rice. Again, the question is "Why not just take a day off?" I must say this living with carnivores is becoming a bit onerous. At this point my answer is the same as any mom "It's just because I say so."

First Chinese BBQ

Once again, I prevailed. What is perfectly cooked pork and beef with balanced sauces compared with a kale, beet and goat cheese salad? How many more days do I have left now?

Comments

30 Day Vegetarian Experiment: Done!!

Texas Caviar I made it through the 30 days with only one minor glitch (See S outhern Courtesy vs Scientific Method ). All in all it was not too bad. I believe it was harder on my family than me. When I announced I would resume eating meat on Valentine's Day there was a collective cry of "Thank God!" Now you can cook normally again. Keep in mind that I have been making delish vegetarian meals and that I made no attempt to stop them from eating meat. I live in a house of adults more than capable of making or ordering out their own meat. I am no psychiatrist but I play one as mom. Maybe what we eat as a family becomes a fundamental element of ritual that when eliminated creates a sense of loss. Gathering to eat is only one element of the ritual, sharing a common meal is another. When the family is eating once dish and I eat another, maybe there is a sense that I am rejecting some part of our family. ...

The 30 Day Vegetarian Experiment: Eggplant Parmesan

Although I just made my first post today, this is actually my fourth day as vegetarian. I started on a Friday, which is particularly problematic because that is our take-out night. I opted for a nice quinoa, beet and goat cheese chopped salad with olive oil and balsamic instead of my typical chicken, pineapple curry. Not a bad trade really. So far the biggest difference I have noticed is a lack of cravings. In only a few days, I do not seem to have the swings between craving sweet and salty foods. I also stay seem to stay full a little longer. Sunday is family meal night so I made Eggplant Parmesan. This recipe will feed four or two with leftovers. I do not fry my eggplant. I dredge it in a little olive oil and breadcrumbs and then bake the eggplant pieces until they are lightly browned on each side. I find that eggplant is like a sponge and will soak up way to much ...

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If anyone is looking to remodel in the future, the first step is to create an idea folder. The second is to talk to a professional--Interior Designer. The web is filled with sites which are filled with pictures. One of the best I have found is www.houzz.com. It is very well organized. You can look by room or space and style. Say you want to find a modern kitchen. Just click modern and kitchen. Could not be easier. The site even allows you to create an idea folder by project. The second suggestion: "Talk to a professional." At the risk of being a cheerleader for my own profession, let me say we are trained to manipulate space and create spaces that reflect your vision. If this is not philosophy of your designer, find another. Oh, and someone with a "flair" but no training is not a designer. Believe me, you will save as much money as you pay us and come out with a better...

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