LOL If my mom read that title I’d be in so much trouble…and how funny is it that at 35 I still think about what my mom would think about a post title. 
Seriously, this is about the book I read and how it affected me. To be honest, I didn’t even know what the book was about except that I’d heard a lot of people talking about it. I was at the store, saw it and bought it. Seriously did NOT know what I was getting in to. It’s a fast read, super fast — as in I read the whole thing in a couple hours. While making Turkey meatloaf. Which actually kind of grossed me out.
Except for a brief time in high school I’ve always been a meat eater. But, truthfully, I never really LIKED meat. I just ate it. I also don’t like milk, but I drink it. It’s what I was told I had to do, so I did it. This is the first time I’ve seriously tracked food (as in tracked all the nutritional aspects of my food not just “points”) so it’s the first time I was able to see that I could get enough protein without eating meat. The book was more of a right place, right time situation than a “OMG, are you serious I can’t eat meat” situation. As someone mentioned in my comments it made veganism doable.
So, I’ve cut out meat. I watch my protein intake and it’s at or above my recommended daily needs. I’ve also cut out milk. I didn’t really like either so I’m not eating them. Honestly, I feel better without them (and the pounds really did drop fast after dropping them) so that’s where I’m at. The downside is that I’m starting to get a little grossed out by the site of meat. I had the Food Network on tonight and actually gagged when they showed a steak. I also passed on a BBQ over the weekend because they were having Steak and Chicken (and I knew the other options weren’t going to be something healthy) because I didn’t feel like bringing my own food and I had no desire to eat Steak and/or Chicken.
That’s where I’m at today. If tomorrow I decide I want a steak, I’ll eat one. If not, then I won’t. I am still adding cheese to some of my food but that’s because I want it. I’m not, nor will I ever deprive myself of things I want. That’s a guaranteed ticket to failure. The biggest fun for me is seeing how I am able to make my favorite dishes without meat and realizing that I don’t miss it at all.
Which brings me to two recipes that I had today that ROCKED and I wanted to share.
Chickpea Tacos
Makes 6 at approximately 100 calories each.
Saute 1 can of chickpeas with taco seasonings (I use a jar that’s literally called taco seasoning because I’m too cheap to buy the little packets).
Heat corn tortillas until warm
Make your tacos, I put cheese on the warmed tortilla, then some lettuce and taco sauce then 1/6 of the chickpea mixtures on each taco.
Super out of this world yummy. I was going to take a picture to share but was too busy eating them. Sorry.
Banana Heaven
Yes, I realize you’re probably sick of hearing me talk about my banana dessert. Well, it was good before but I changed it a bit and it’s now OMG DELICIOUS. So, I have to share the updated version. (FYI, it’s yummy, gooey, sweet, and delicious and 285 calories)
Preheat oven to 325F. Put one Banana split in half in the middle of an aluminum foil square. Spread 2 Tbls of natural peanut butter on the sliced part of the banana. Sprinkle 1 tsp of cinnamon sugar mixture on the peanut butter (I wasn’t sure about this but, trust me, it’s worth it). Make an envelope of the foil with the peanut butter sides of the banana together then drop 30 semi-sweet chocolate chips evenly (very important that they are even ) across the split in the banana shoving them down into the peanut butter. Seal the envelope and bake for 5 minutes.
Be careful when you take it out of the oven…I put mine on a place because I like to eat things on a plate rather than straight from the foil.
It was good cold and without the cinnamon but it is OMG delicious heated with the cinnamon.
BTW…thanks for the book recommendations…I’ll look into those.
Tuesday calories: 1,310
19 August 2009, 4:15 AM
Your banana heaven sounds heavenly!
Sweety On A Diet´s last blog ..Delicious and simple carrot salad
19 August 2009, 4:22 AM
Hmm, I’ve never thought of baking a banana before – if I had chocolate chips I would make this tonight, but as soon as I get some I am making this. It sounds delicious, thanks for the recipe(s)
Mia´s last blog ..chocolate-covered ratatouille.
19 August 2009, 12:58 PM
I’ve veg*n too. I would prefer to be vegan, for so many reasons I may need to devote a few posts in my own blog to, but am repeatedly lured to the dark side my things like cottage cheese, and eggbeaters. And why, oh why, does parmesan have to be dairy?!?! Also, I completely agree with not being a slave to a label. Do what works for you, WHEN it works for you!
Karena´s last blog ..wednesday weigh in