weigh-in #44. grocery haul.

So, today was my weigh-in. It wasn’t pretty. I knew it was going to be horrible, I have been eating horrendously. I have a habit of being perfect, and on point with calories and food decisions up until dinner and blow it all on high calorie binges. This showed in the scale with around a 4 pound gain.

Yep.

I’m not happy about it, I’m not excited. I am ashamed and saddened by it. But, life goes on and this is just a bump in the journey. I’m taking it one day at a time trying to turn it around, and I think that’s all I can do. I’ve also been doing things that I know motivate me. The one thing I can not let myself do is blame myself, to the point I worsen the damage. This is not the end of the world, it’s a gentle nudge to tell me to try harder.

I went to Whole Foods to stock up on things for the fridge. I haven’t really done a proper shop since I’ve come back (I was out of peanut butter and I didn’t even know it) and this was a good start with lots of things that are not only healthy, but have helped keep me in check in the past. I figured a good old grocery haul in image form would be fun, and lighten up the mood in this post.

• Califia Farms unsweetened almond milk
• Califia Farms vanilla almond milk <~ These were still on sale! So excited
• Tofutti sour cream
• Earth Balance

• Bulk popcorn kernels
• 365 ketchup
• 365 crunchy peanut butter
• Mediterranean leek and onion crackers
• Oasis roasted red pepper hummus
• Field Roast meatloaf
• Bulk nutritional yeast

• Grape tomatoes
• Snap/sugar peas
• Baby carrots
• Gala apples
• Cauliflower

I have a lot of pantry items to use and still have some kale and mushrooms from a previous trip, but this I know will help me start getting into a better routine and prepare better meals, along with healthier snacks.

Also, the splurge of the day goes to:

Isn’t she pretty? I loooove glass water bottles (not the price…) and I couldn’t resist because of the size (a whole 22 ounces) and the top. I have a smaller one of the Life Factory bottles with just the screw on top. I love it. It’s durable, the glass is so much easier to clean (and doesn’t start to do that weird scratching/cloudiness that bugs me) and I use it at work all the time. My only problem was the top. I need a water bottle that is a covered top (for safety reasons in the shop), but sometimes I don’t have two free hands so the top was always a nuisance. I think this is going to be the winner in all of my issues with the added bonus of a strap and more ounces. One of the things I’m pushing towards is drinking my water. Now I can leave this one at work, and take my old one home.

vegetarian tasting fair. vegan jerky. anxiety.

Today I headed over to Rainbow Blossom, a local chain of grocery stores much like Whole Foods and Earth Fare. I wanted to see what samples were out and maybe pick up some things while I’m there. I don’t normally shop there because it is a little too expensive (especially since the store has four locations, not just one) but they do carry some fun stuff, so when I have extra money I go there.

I got a bunch of leaflets, and even stopped at the Louisville Vegetarian Initiative booth. So, I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned more than once on this blog but I have some can-be-severe social anxiety. If I’m in a situation I don’t know the proper procedure to follow, or if I have to come up with a conversation on the spot (say at a party or a bar) I get super nervous. I’ve been wanting to go to some of their events for a while now, but the lack of courage to do it has prevented me to. By I did stop and at least talk a little bit at the booth, which was a huge step for me. I got some fun stickers and a cute button. I also picked up a compassionate guide (well, I got two…somehow). I think one of my goals in the next couple of months is to muster up the courage to go to one of their events. They go to restaurants a lot, and I think it would be fun to go and meet some new people that aren’t at work or friends of people from work.

I also went to the fair for one goal in mind: to sample some of Morels the Vegan Butcher’s new flavor of vegan jerky: Maple Siracha. It is everything I had hoped and more. I can’t wait till it goes on sale for real. It was fantastic. I’ve been following the company since they were just a vegan food truck here in town. They’ve since stopped the truck, and have turned into a catering/retail company. Other than the jerky, they have vegan wraps (the philly cheeze steak wrap is awesome) and can be found locally here in Louisville at Rainbow Blossom and Heine Brothers Cafe. You are in luck if you don’t live here, though. Not only can you buy the jerky online he’s been starting to sell to lots of states. Also, VeganCuts has a deal on them right now. So check them out, who knows you might see the product in a store near you. I 100% support everything they do, and am glad that they are growing as fast as they are. I just wish the jerky wasn’t so tasty that I can eat a full bag in one sitting.

I got a few things while there, some of Morel’s other jerky, some kale chips I sampled and loved (they were expensive, like most, but $2 off so I figured I would get it while there), and some Pure Food onion rings. I’ve tried their ranch zuchini chips in my Conscious Box and they were awesome. I’m going to figure out a fun recipe for them. Maybe vegan green bean casserole?

All-in-all I tasted some yummy food and got to try some new brands so it was worthwhile. I’m glad I went. Maybe next time one of these type events happen I’ll have the nerve to take more pictures!

Accidental Vegetarian

I don’t know how I did it, but I ended up spending the day eating nothing but veggies, and I liked it!

Back when I was in middle school I stopped eating red meat and pork. I kept it up until I went back to college in 2003. I even spent a year without chicken, which I’m suprised I was able to last as long. By that time I had been toying with the idea of eating whatever again, and the lack of really any variety in terms of non-meat products in the school cafeteria sealed the deal. I didn’t stop eating the meat because of animal rights (although it did have a small effect), I did it more for the health benefits.

Ever since then I’ve been wanting to go back to that diet. I don’t think I could ever become fully vegetarian, although I would love it if I could. Now, along with the health benefits of that diet/lifestyle, I also am seriously considering it more for the animal reasons. Funny how things change!

I’ve always been into almost everything vegetarian, which is why I don’t understand why I haven’t tried to do it again. I love meat substitutes (and regularly have them in place of the real thing), tofu, almost any veggie, and am obsessed with all things vegetarian when I go out to eat (especially if they have portabella mushrooms, I’m addicted to those things!).

Today I was lazy after an early morning trip to the post office to pick up a package, I didn’t feel like making a real meal. I ended up grabbing a couple of granola bars, pumpkin pie yogurt, some more granola w/pumpkin seeds, clementines, bananas, and an apple. I have a stash of pretezels at work that I incoporated into the meal. I know it wasn’t the best nutritionally well-rounded, but it could have been a whole lot worse. I thought I would get hungry because of the lack of protein, but it really was just the right amount. Then tonight I ended up eating a Boca spicky chikin patty with some potato rounds. So good!

I’ve been noticing that I have been accidently having vegetarian days a lot, and I like it. Hopefully I’ll continue it until finally I’m letting go of red meat completely!