Gorgeouses, Can You Handle This?

I don’t think you can handle this, Gorgeouses. Can you? Want to prove me wrong? Huh? Huh? Are ya SCAAAARED? Because I dare you. I dare you to try going vegetarian for a week. Think you can handle it? I don’t think you can handle it….

So, can you handle this? Can you take the VEGGIE CHALLENGE? This is a DARE, Gorgeouses. ARE YOU GAME? OR, are ya scaaaaaared?! Bock buck buck buck buck BOCK buck buck buck buck (that’s my effort to sound like a CHICKEN!!!).

Even if you don’t do the whole week, this plan — devised by my city’s very own The Toronto Vegetarian Society — is full of great tips and recipes for incorporating more plant-based meals in your (and your family’s) diet. You might find you even LIKE eating this way. If you’re lucky, like me, you might notice your skin take on a new glow, or you’re less congested, you feel lighter, more balanced and more compassionate….!

Here’s an example of a day on the diet:

Breakfast
• Whole-grain cereal with your choice of milk, sprinkled with dried or fresh fruit.
• Calcium-fortified orange juice.

Lunch
• Avocado slices with sprouts or lettuce on whole-grain bread, grape or cherry tomatoes.
• Cantaloupe chunks drizzled with fresh lime juice.

Dinner
Chinese stir-fry over brown rice: toss in tofu chunks, broccoli, pea pods, and bok choy.

Snack
Dried figs.

Mmmm…. FIGS. Love! I may stay away from those figs because they’re high in sugar and HIGHLY addictive. But, they’re also high in calcium and iron and other good stuff.

You know, I’ve been researching vegan weight-loss diets, like Dr. Fuhrman’s well-known Eat to Live diet and various macrobiotic diets. But, they’re all so dang restrictive. And, the vegan diet’s restrictive enough — especially if you’ve been a CHEESE lover all your life, like I was…. So, I’m excited about this Veggie Challenge. It’s realistic. It’s simple. And, it’s not restrictive or rigid. As long as I keep the sugar and cheaty snacking to a minimum, I should lose weight on it! (Especially with my new TURBO JAM DVD!)

Bah bye, diet full of peanut butter on bagels! Hello BALANCE and VARIETY…and DELICIOUS.

I’ll keep you posted on how the recipes are, etc.. So, you in? Or, are you too chicken to give up the chicken for ONE WEEK? (Or, even just one DAY a week?)

LOVE!
xo Haley-O

Lindsey January 1st, 2009 at 9:08 pm

I could do it! I’ll start once I’ve finished the leftover spaghetti in the fridge. It was yummy!! :)

celticbuffy January 1st, 2009 at 9:29 pm

I was planning to already. I’m working my way through “Skinny Bitch” and am rapidly losing my desire to eat lots of things I’ve loved to eat before!

celticbuffys last blog post..Holiday Tradition

Nadine January 2nd, 2009 at 2:46 pm

I can! I can! We did a vegan week, and loved it. We didn’t turn into vegans (or vegetarians) but we try to eat vegan at least 3 times a week or so.

Nadines last blog post..Happy New Year & why Google scares me

Emma January 3rd, 2009 at 5:06 pm

I’m checking it out to see if we can do it. We normally eat veggie at least once a week, so why not a full week and see how it goes…

Emmas last blog post..Three

Multi-Tasking Mommy January 4th, 2009 at 10:30 am

Um, yes, I could definitely do it. Would I have a typical vegetarian diet while doing it though? Probably not! I’d have a lot of pasta, I’m sure. If I liked beans and legumes, tofu, etc. I’d be a much better fit to a vegetarian’s diet. I may join the challenge though, we’ll see!
SciFi Dad on the other hand….now he’d protest for sure!!!

Multi-Tasking Mommys last blog post..My Dream Christmas Tree

porter January 5th, 2009 at 12:55 am

Oh yeah, I (we…my entire family…well except our dog) could totally do it for a week. We won’t be able to do it until next week though because I’ve already done my weeks meal planning and shopped for it all. What if I do two weeks and start next week????

LAVENDULA January 5th, 2009 at 1:40 pm

hey Haley nice to see the challenge here! i’m going to see if anyone in my family will try it out!

Marie-Christine January 5th, 2009 at 1:59 pm

Shoot! I have already gone grocery shopping for the week! And I just had meat for lunch :P But this is a great challenge!!!!

About half my meals are already vegetarian. But I love the idea of trying this vegetarian thing for real for one week. Maybe I could do it next week. But this week I’ll make an effort to reduce my meat intake to the minimum. Tonight is sushi! Yay! (oh, does fish count as meat?????? I hope not…)

Marie-Christine January 5th, 2009 at 2:31 pm

Shoot! -once again…
I knew fishies were animals but for some reason I thought they were not considered as meat… but apparently (according to the internet!) they are… :(
So I guess I’m just gonna do that challenge next week because right now, my fridge is packed with fish :) One of my resolution for 2009 was to eat more fish, oups! haha!! But i still think I need to keep this resolution, since fish is so healthy and cheap too!!!

Oh well! :P

Ernesta January 5th, 2009 at 2:51 pm

I’ll definitely try it out since I need more ideas for feeding my 2 year old – he is a committed vegan! So different from the rest of us in the family!

Heather January 5th, 2009 at 9:00 pm

How vegetarian do you want Haley ? Can I still have milk? Eggs? Fish? I can easily give up the fish for a week. I can also give up eggs. but I’m not sure about giving up things that contain eggs. So give me the scoop on the rules and I’m in!

Haley-O January 12th, 2009 at 1:18 am

Nope! No egg, no dairy, no fish (so many people forget that fish are living beings, too). When you sign up for the challenge, they tell you all the rules. But, seriously, do whatever you can. Even if that means eating less animal products without getting obsessive about it. you know? It’s not about being obsessive. It’s about everyone making a difference (even if small). THANK YOU!!! :) xo