I went vegan for a full day. I seek out a healthy lifestyle and try to adhere to it as much as possible everyday. Although I am not fully vegan (yet), I love the way I feel physically and mentally when I live the vegan lifestyle. I went vegan for a day and wanted to show you how easy it really is to do! Having tasted meat and eaten it my whole life, I was surprised to find this project wasn't nearly as hard as one would think. I normally do not eat meat throughout the week because I simply do not want it. I like feta cheese on my salads and cheese in general so that - that would be difficult to stick to if I were fully vegan. I had fun with this and will show you the foods I ate in a day. I prepared everything myself and did not order in once. The best part is, eating fully vegan allows you to eat as much fruits and veggies as you want! There truly is no limit. There is a societal fear of fruit and the natural sugars they possess but I do not believe it is harmful at all. Of course, eat everything in moderation but if you want 5 servings of fruit in a day, there is nothing wrong with that. If anything, it will do you a world of good. Eat until you are satisfied, not stuffed and be sure to pack in the fruits and veggies. Check out the menu below for my vegan creations.
breakfast
For breakfast I always try and keep it light. I never have the biggest appetite first thing in the morning anyways. On a normal day, I opt for fresh fruit for breakfast. I chose to go with a smoothie bowl, today. Smoothie bowls are incredibly delicious and you can make them however you please. I make these often and they are always fully vegan. The base consists of frozen fruit: bananas, mango, coconut, berries and/or a Sambazon pack. Sambazon harvests the purest açaí and puts them in these convenient little packs made perfect for smoothie or smoothie bowl prepping. I also add some superfoods to the base: spirulina, barley juice grass powder, ashwagandha, cbd oil and/or Atlantic dulse. It is really easy to incorporate these into smoothies and smoothie bowls because they aren't necessarily nutrients you would get on a daily basis. The health benefits of superfoods are astronomical and you will certainly feel better physically and mentally. I try and have fun with the toppings. Mango, sliced banana, kiwi, melon, coconut flakes, coconut yogurt, granola, hemp or chia seeds - the options are endless. Each smoothie bowl is different and the ingredients depend on what I am in the mood for that day. Check out my Mermaid Magic Smoothie Bowls recipe and make them for yourself.
lunch
I usually have a salad for lunch everyday. Sometimes, I'll have something with it like sushi, pasta or a sandwich. But, for the most part, I simply have a salad. I love vegetables and I pile them on heavy in my salads. I prefer a darker green base like kale, spinach or mesclun. I will then usually add tomatoes, carrots, cucumber, peppers broccoli and/or cauliflower. I sometimes add quinoa or another type of grain. Hummus, oil and apple cider vinegar or balsamic vinegar all make great condiments as well. To the left, I had a kale salad with a Dr. Praegers California Veggie Burger and a dollop of Hope hummus. With kale as the base, I added avocado, shredded carrot, shredded broccoli, shredded cauliflower, sliced cucumber, apple cider vinegar and avocado oil. I made enough to last the rest of the week. This is normally how I eat so maybe this whole vegan business isn't so bad?
snacks
I love snacking on grapes and berries. Fresh fruit is my go-to when I need a quick and healthy snack. I love mango, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, watermelon, kiwi and apples. I love most fruits and try to incorporate a lot of them into my daily diet. Today I snacked on green and red grapes and some blackberries. You can also snack on veggies like carrots, cucumber, tomatoes or basically any vegetable you are in the mood to eat. There are tons of vegan snacks available nowadays, too. There are vegan crackers, breads and sweet and savory snacks available at most grocery stores. It has certainly gotten easier to live a vegan lifestyle.
dinner
I have fun with dinner every time I cook. Since this whole day was vegan inspired I wanted to choose something filling and delicious - something you would never know was vegan! I have made Vegan Crunchwrap Supremes before but I found this recipe for a vegan Thai coconut soup that I had to try. I love curry and I frequently visit or order from Sage, a Thai restaurant in my neighborhood. This soup was so easy to make and required minimal ingredients. It was so delicious, I truly couldn't believe it was vegan.
So, I normally live a healthy lifestyle daily but going vegan is perhaps the best thing you could do for your health. I believe you should eat when you are hungry - don't force your meals. But also try and have several small meals a day. When you cut out meat and dairy, you leave room for more fruits and vegetables. You can still get protein eating plant-based, too. Vegetables like kale and spinach surprisingly have protein. Seeds, beans and legumes are full of protein. I suggest still taking a multivitamin because with any diet, you will not be able to absorb all the nutrients you need, daily. As for beverages, always drink water. I try and drink at least 64 ounces a day. I drink water and tea daily and nothing else. Staying hydrated is essential to your health - whether you are vegan or not. I will continue to lead a healthy lifestyle and slowly but surely, start eliminating meat and all dairy from my diet. In the meantime, I will continue to indulge in cheese and meat occasionally. I think once you put your mind to it, leading a fully vegan lifestyle is easily doable. Check out my Youtube video where I show you my vegan day - live this Sunday!
