I do not eat animal products.
I do not wear leather.

I used to snicker at people like me when I was younger.
I’ve turned into someone many would find silly and annoying.
Because my not-eating meat is a reminder that things are NOT okay in the world.

I don’t preach my veganism to anyone — not even my kids.
I just put it out there so that people realize they have a choice in all this.

The cruelty to animals (on farms and beyond) in this world is beyond mind-boggling and beyond disturbing. Some people can handle it. They can stuff it in some pocket in the back of their mind and forget all about it.

I can’t.

Every time I cook chicken for my children, I feel it in my heart. I see packages of meat in the supermarket and I feel sick with sorrow. I can’t drink milk or eat eggs without knowing where they’re from.

It’s hard.

And, so I’ve decided. I’m no longer a vegetarian. I’m a vegan. All the way.

Please enjoy this blog as one of your sources for vegetarian recipes. So you can incorporate more vegetarian meals into your diet — thereby saving more animals. I do cook meals with poultry, eggs and dairy for my children, and I will continue to include them here.

Why aren’t my children vegan, too? Because I can’t make this choice for them, or for my husband. I respect everyone’s freedom to choose — to choose their causes and the foods they eat. It’s an individual choice.

I do make sure that I buy free-range eggs, organic milk and chicken and turkey (when possible and affordable) that’s hormone and antibiotic free and that are, preferably, from a smaller farm. I gently encourage you to do the same.

I also encourage everyone to thank the animals (before meals) for giving their lives for our nourishment…. A little respect can go a long way in your own eating experience.

May all the animals on this earth find comfort tonight….

Love, Haley-O

It’s not just about weight. But it’s a goal: 10 pounds by my birthday — September 10. Yup. It’s time. I’m ready. Time to SHED the baby weight once and for all. And, I can do it.

I CAN DO IT!

I’ve been kind of SEMI trying to lose the weight all this time. With a chai here, a blueberry muffin there, a second helping of pasta here, and that extra spoonful of almond butter THERE (ON. MY. THIGHS).

BUT, ever since the Meditation Workshop I went to last week, I WANT TO CHANGE. And, it’s not ACTUALLY about the weight.

I’ve started to make drastic changes to my diet. While I continue to cook chicken and DEFROST ready-made meat meals for my family — always organic, by the way — I’ve gone strictly vegetarian, with the addition of organic, free-range, eggs and organic yogurt when I feel I need it. Because I DO need some dairy and eggs in my diet, or I start to feel faint. Maybe this will change. Not sure. For now, being a strict vegetarian means really listening to my body and what it needs. God knows, yoga helps with that!

That said, this week in the country has been quite challenging. I’m supposed to be eating wholesome foods: tons of fruits and vegetables, nuts and legumes…. While the fam’s barbecuing hot dogs and hamburgers, I’m struggling to find something, ANYTHING, organic or at least wholesome to eat.

So, I’ve ended up eating a lot of candy — something I gave up a long time ago — for lack of FOOD. Not good.

But, today, we FINALLY went shopping at the neighbouring town’s grocery store. The only organic thing they had was Bob’s Red Mill grains (LOVE)….

…which goes to show that Bob is EVERYWHERE….

I also managed to find some brown rice pasta, some canned chickpeas, tomato sauce…. So, while the fam had their chicken and salad and COOKIES, I stayed strong and enjoyed a lovely pasta dish with chickpeas, tomato sauce and freshly grated parmesan cheese, and the lovely salad filled with local fresh veggies. Not perfect. But, better than candy.

Anyway, my meditation instructor suggested I eat clean in order to get the most out of my body — including losing this pregnancy weight. Absolutely clean. Fruits and veggies are to make up a greater-than-ever part of my diet.

The thing with this whole-foods diet is that I can’t use food as a crutch anymore. So, in one day, all these emotions are coming up. It’s all so very RAW (PUN!). And, I actually have to, erm, DEAL with them. Instead of eating to deal with them (as I now notice I’ve been doing!), I’ve been swimming lengths in the pool, walking, practicing yoga, and journal writing, and meditating when I can (even if it’s just for 5 minutes in the car!). It all helps.

It really is amazing how tightly intertwined food and emotion are for me…. It’s crazy. But, it’s beautiful to learn this here, and now, in the country — isolated from my life in the city….

Just some thoughts. Not editing this because I’m in the country and lazing and relaxing the brain.

What do you think?

As I talked at length about at Cheaty Monkey, I’ve finally realized that, after two pregnancies, I’ve let myself go. AND, I’m making the commitment NOW to put myself back together again — kind of like “Humpty Dumpty,” but the soldiers are hott and Humpty’s 1000x skinnier in the end.

Anyway, I’m using this space, at least today, to figure out what I need to do tomorrow, when I start my new diet FOR REALS.

So, NEW binder is open.

Let’s figure this out together….

Breakfast: LORI’S SHAKE TO GO (totally yum….)

Lunch: Ezekiel bread, Wild salmon (canned), Mayo, veggies.

Snack: STARBUCKS CHAI TEA LATTE Raspberries, Cottage Cheese, Walnuts.

Dinner: 1/2 cup quinoa, 2 eggs, veggies….

Snack: Rye crackers, almond butter, lowfat cheese.

Exercise: Yoga, Dusk Walk.

Ugh, ugh, UGH…. NOT FUN. But, I’ll get used to it…. I’m motivated now. Time to get GORJ!

And, yeah, it’s hard, and PLAIN, and rigorous. But, I have 35 pounds to lose. When those pounds are GONZO, I’ll slowly incorporate more of everything into the diet.

Still thinking about poultry…. I think I need it in my diet — if not because the vegetarian version of this diet is RUTHLESS and because vegetarianism takes mayjah planning to do right. Sigh, will go to ORGANIC butcher for free-range poultry….