A Veggie Week
It’s officially been one week of Vegetarian for Lent and I’ve been successful so far! I have to say it’s been fun and quite honestly, not much of a sacrifice. Maybe I should have picked chocolate for that 
But, it has taken extra thought and preparation, so that may count for something. Overall, I am enjoying eating this way. I like veggies, fruit, grains and beans. I had a few days of turkey sandwich withdrawal and almost popped a piece of chicken cutlet in my mouth (helllllooo mindless eating), but otherwise stuck to the plan. Only 39 more days!
I am also noticing what is filling and satisfying. Beans are filling, beans and veggies are filling, Bob’s 5 grain hot cereal is filling, cereal and fruit is filling. Barley is kinda filling. Barley and veggies, still kinda filling. Quinoa is super delicious, but not filling for me. I had it for dinner one night with a salad and I made Breakfast Quinoa two days in a row and I was hungry after an hour with both. Maybe, I’ll try quinoa, beans and veggies together and see how that works!
***
Wednesday was a catch-up day for me. I decided to forgo the gym in favor of yogadownload.com and some cleaning of the house.
I fit in breakfast between them – an Egg and Cheese McBagel Thin – heehee…
I tried my best to stay away from distractions (computer, phone, etc.) to get stuff done. I motored through quite a few things and felt pretty good about that!
Time ticked away and lunch was calling. The leftovers are dwindling! Sorry to bore you with one more leftover shot… Black Bean Burritos (minus the extra cheese) and Black Bean Mango Salsa…
I was feeling extra hungry, so I had two for lunch. They are on the smallish side; I used the 6 inch La Tortilla Factory tortillas (50 calories per tortilla)…
Lunch was filling, however later in the afternoon I started looking. You know, that “hmm, what’s in the cabinets…pantry…where are the chocolates hidden…why don’t we have any good junk…maybe I should go out and get some” looking.
I ended up with 2 handfuls of Reese’s Puffs Cereal (yeah, don’t ask)…
Thankfully, I forgot there was half a chocolate birthday cake left in the basement refrigerator. Yes, I have two refrigerator/freezers. It’s a requirement if you’re Italian
Since little daughter had religion class, dinner was relaxed and easy. I made Pasta and Peas for the family and something along the same lines for myself – Pasta with Chickpeas and Chard…
I sauteed swiss chard in 2 tsp. olive oil and garlic until wilted. I added chickpeas and a splash of Cholula. I served it over ditalini pasta with a sprinkle of pecorino romano cheese. Yum!
It was a dessert-ish kinda day, so I had a homemade Gingersnap. These are big daughter’s favorite and I made them as a special request for her birthday. We still had a couple left…
Um, not any more 
Total – 30 POINTS
Have a great day, everyone!
Can you believe it’s going to snow here AGAIN?!!! Aaaahhhhhh! If you’re getting some too, check out my Examiner article for some safe shoveling tips!
Do you have a special food that you request or like to eat on your birthday?
Questions? Email me! aloserforlife@gmail.com
27 comments
Lots of good eats at your house as usual. I need to find those bagel thins they look good and it would be a nice change.
Glad you are doing well with the vegetarian experiment. It does make you more mindful of what you are eating so that is a good thing.
Since I got my Invisalign aligners for straightening my teeth the mindless munching has come to a screaching hault! In fact I no longer snack because I don’t want to brush and floss in between meals. It is not a bad thing, I am losing weight!
I love chocolate so for my birthday I always have to have a chocolate dessert of some kind.
The snow just missed us!!! I’m pretty happy about that!
Congrats on a week of vegetarian. Those Reese’s Puff look good
One thought – quinoa may not be as filling to you because it is low on the glycemic index ( It’s a scale this tells how much a food makes our blood sugar rise). Barley is also low. Beans are rather high, as are most of the other whole grain options. Bananas, oranges and melons are high, berries are low. Perhaps one of the reasons you get snack attacks is because your body simply uses carbs in a most affective way- meaning it burns them fast and then it starts looking for more sooner than planned. It might be helpful to do a little research on this and try for a few days to stick to High GI foods and see if that helps you to combat the snakies.
Birthdays are always different every year. We make it the person’s choice, and it always depends on their mood.
Marisa Reply:
February 26th, 2010 at 8:48 am
Thanks, Diane. I will definitely look into that!
While Reese’s are my favorite candy in the world, I never liked Reese’s cereal! Go figure. I think giving up meat for lent was a great idea. It takes a lot more planning and thought for your meals and really gives you the time to focus on what you are putting into your mouth.
I love beans. Tthey are really filling for me. I often wonder if I could be vegetarian. I do try to go meatless at least once a week. I do notice that I feel better when I do this.
I also love Reese’s candy but the cereal never did it for me
Oops, hit enter too quickly!
As for birthday food, it changes a lot around here. This past year my very sophisticated palate was craving hot dogs and ice cream for dessert.
That gingersnap looks so good! Yum.
This might sound crazy but lightly breaded pan fried Oysters. I grew up on the Washington coast and LOVE seafood, however, now I live in the central valley. Needless to say harder to get good fresh oyster here.
bummer on the snow!! we’ve been lucky the past week or so!! stay warm & safe!
def oreo ice cream cake (my mom ALWAYS made this for birthdays when i was growing up)!!
I’m really looking forward to reading about your vegetarian journey. So far, so good!
I hear you on the snow! Ahhhh!!
I am okay with beans, but I wouldn’t want to eat them all the time. I could never be a vegetarian completely, although we do eat meatless meals fairly often.
Not sure if we have officially “met” but I’ve been lurking on your site since I found it through Janetha’s a few weeks ago. Your before and after pictures are quite impressive. Congratulations!
On my birthday I like Indian food. I like Indian food anytime but I feel like it’s okay to DEMAND it on my birthday.
Marisa Reply:
February 26th, 2010 at 8:49 am
Thanks for de-lurking and reading, Jenn!
must find those bagel thins too! 39 days to go…only yesterday did i REALLY want meat…well today too…
food that i request on my birthday is my moms 3 layer made from scratch german chocolate cake. shes 83 now, but she still can make it!!!
It doesn’t matter if I’ve just eaten or not, your food pics always make me hungry.
all of your meals look yummy!! I am still on the hunt for Quinioa, can’t find it in any stores around here.
As for meals on birthdays, it changes with all of us from year to year. My big thing on my birthday now is to have angelfood cake with fresh berries
We had just gotten some snow earlier in the week and I’m so tired of plowing my drive in my new home!! lol. Times like this, I need a husband!
I usually have my dad make me Osso Bucco (lamb shanks over angel hair pasta) for my birthday or my fav. spaghetti!! But I just had a birthday and requested good old fashioned steak, mashed potatoes and aspargus. Why you ask? B/c I’m anemic and I think I’m lacking in iron since moving out of my parents house about 4 years ago. I don’t eat as much red meat (hardly ever) and feel as though I was lacking in getting it in in other foods. So red meat it was! Luckily my dad knows how to cook healthy and there was no butter/oil used in the meal. Also the potatoes had no sour cream or butter/heavy milk/cream stuff in it. And it’s all delicious! My dad’s a fabulous cook! Me? Not so much! lol
once again, green with Bagel Thin jealousy
I cannot buy cereal anymore, it always becomes a snack..handfuls and handfuls. Just not worth it!
thank you for your kind words on Twitter today and last night!
Hi there,
I am new to your blog! Your before/after pictures are inspiring. You are so beautiful!
I do not even remember the last time I really celebrated my birthday…how terrible.
I usually just cook, like any other day. I do not have a favorite food and love most foods, so I am happy to just eat. My MIL always makes a cake for me though, usually a lemon one. I eat plenty of chocolate otherwise (I am Swiss 
).
Marisa Reply:
February 26th, 2010 at 8:51 am
Thanks for your nice words, Health Foodie!
I <3 quinoa but I tend to beef it up with mushrooms, peppers, spinach or any other veggies – I saute them and then add to the quinoa with a dash of soy sauce. So so yummy and more filling that way.
Hey! I just found your blog and I LOVE IT! I recently discovered the power of letting go of the diet mentality and moving into intuitive eating. I follow WW for some guidelines but really try to listen to my body. I love your blog and am off to read through old posts!
Marisa Reply:
February 26th, 2010 at 8:51 am
Thank you so much, Stephanie!
I’m glad you enjoy this way of eating. Everything looks delicious as always! I do eat very little meat at this point and do find that I have to plan a bit more to do it right…
I’m so glad you’re going vegetarian for Lent, because I’m going vegetarian forever and I need recipes, haha. It’s been two weeks for me, but I’m getting in a bit of a rut! I’m NOT a fan of quinoa. I don’t really like it, and I’d much rather have rice or bulgur than quinoa.
Marisa, I’ve been reading your posts about going veggie for Lent and I’m so impressed! It seems like you’ve hardly struggled at all and really transitioned so easily! Funny how you craved the chicken cutlet, normally my cravings are carb-related, but I bet if I went without meat for a couple weeks I’d be craving chicken, too!
Funny that you ask about birthday food…my birthday is coming up and my mom has been asking me for weeks what I want! I just can’t decide–lasagna? Prime rib? Enchiladas? Oh, the choices! One thing I know for sure: German Chocolate Cake!