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The 30 Day (Almost) Vegan Challenge
Posted on Mar 03, 2011
Posted by Rob, Tom’s of Maine Brand Manager, Citizen Engagement
When I tell people I meet that I work for Tom’s, I am always surprised how many make the assumption that I’m a really healthy person. So here’s my true confession: my healthy-living habits have always been a bit… sporadic. Periods of intense healthy living tend to be followed by equally intense periods of… not-so-healthy living. When my wife came to me with the idea to eat a vegan diet for 30 days – let’s just say I was game, but skeptical about any lasting impact.
If you are one of those people who thinks “I could never be a vegan”, trust me, I know exactly what you are talking about. I love my cheeseburgers, my over-easy eggs, and my coconut ice cream. But 2010 ended in one of my unhealthy periods, and the way I felt made me realize my body just isn’t up for the punishment anymore. I felt ready to do something big to try and get back on track. I’ve also read Diet for a New America and The Omnivore’s Dilemma, and I’ve seen Food, Inc. Food is one of my biggest passions (both the cooking and the eating), but I do think a lot about the ethical and environmental implications of my eating choices.
My first surprise was our grocery bill. I expected it to be more expensive than usual, and it wasn’t. We bought a lot more fruits and vegetables, but the cost of these seemed to be offset by the fact that we weren’t buying any expensive proteins. We bought a juicer as well, an up-front investment which has steadfastly been proving its worth. Who knew I would really like a juice made of celery, kale, broccoli stems, cucumbers, romaine lettuce, ginger and pears?
The second surprise was how quickly I started to feel better. In the mornings I’ve felt especially clear headed and full of energy – and this after cutting my usual 6 cups of coffee a day down to 1. I am still allowing myself a splash of cream in that cup – the reason for the “Almost” in my post title.
There have been downsides too. I’ve noticed that my energy seems to lag in the afternoon, and for the first couple of days, I was pretty irritable (my colleagues might say, “more than usual.”) But the biggest challenge for me is that I’m finding the diet to be a lot more time consuming, both in the planning and preparation. I’m not someone who can eat salads every day and be satisfied, and I’m finding it tough to come up with vegan meals that are both satisfying and easy to make.
I’m not really sure where this will end up, but I am committed to the diet for at least 30 days. I’d love to hear from others who might have advice on how to make it through!
13 Comments
ali said...
If you want a creamy addition to your coffee and soymilk just doesn't do it for you, many companies make vegan coffee creamer. I've had soy creamer and even coconut milk creamer. They're thick like cream and even have flavors like vanilla and hazelnut. It's all about being healthy but still feeling indulgent!
on Mar 07, 2011 (12:55 PM)
Tom's of Maine said...
Hi all, it's Rob. Wow! Thanks for all the support! I have gotten a bit better about eating healthy snacks in the afternoon, and that seems to have helped. I appreciate all the suggestions. And Kimberly, you definitely got me curious... I'll check out the coconut milk ice cream!
on Mar 04, 2011 (09:44 AM)
Mike said...
I recommend what Dr. Oz reminded me about. A handful of walnuts or almonds in the middle of the afternoon really boosts my alertness and reduces my hunger. I also carry apple slices or orange slices for an additional treat. Hang in there!
on Mar 03, 2011 (05:30 PM)
Cher said...
If Food Inc. doesn't change you, read Animal Factory. We are not complete vegans, but the dairy I do buy is organic, and the eggs are free-range and organic. There are lots of good cookbooks out there! You don't have to eat salad every day!
on Mar 03, 2011 (03:54 PM)
Kimberly said...
If you love coconut ice cream, then you should go for the coconut milk ice creams. Whole Foods usually has a few and I think Trader Joe's often has the main brand. It's creamy. It's tasty. It's vegan.
on Mar 03, 2011 (03:07 PM)
Jme said...
Don't feel like you have to eat salads all the time! Make some meals with grains to satisfy you. Or include some beans/nuts in your salads.
on Mar 03, 2011 (02:25 PM)
Nancy Goodman said...
check out some of fast vegan cookbooks or Jeff Novick's Fast Food on Vegsource or DrMcDougall.com. Jeff has easy tasty recipes done in 10 minutes with few ingredients and they make a lot.
on Mar 03, 2011 (02:24 PM)
karen said...
I'm trying to incorporate more vegetarian meals into my diet. Lunches I've come up with: 1.soy protein "chicken patties" on a whole wheat english muffin, lettuce and tomatoe 2.Escarole and bean soup with a slice of crusty bread. 3.Wheatberry salad, with cranberries, walnuts and feta
on Mar 03, 2011 (02:03 PM)
Gwen said...
I think you need to incorporate more snacks to keep your energy levels up. Add more whole grains and nuts will help. Missing eggs? Try a tofu scramble with black salt (kala namak)! To cut back on $ try to shop w/season. Read "face on your plate"!
on Mar 03, 2011 (01:54 PM)
Christina said...
I applaud you on your endeavor. I'm a vegetarian who aspires to vegan-ness myself so I understand the challenges you're speaking of. I can only say at the end of the 30 days, maybe you can incorporate more vegetarian meals or vegan meals into your regular diet. I'll have been vegetarian for a year in May when I took the same challenge as you did and I don't miss meat at all now. Again, GREAT JOB!!! and best of luck.
on Mar 03, 2011 (01:48 PM)
Erica said...
I also bought a juicer and noticed the effects right away! My body went through full-throttle detox: congestion, fatigue, yellowing of eyes (liver deox), and lots of trips to the bathroom:) That was over a week ago..I feel great now!
on Mar 03, 2011 (01:41 PM)
Mary Beth King said...
I have suggested to many non salad eaters to try the Engine 2 Diet. This book has great recipes in the back that can fill you up and are full of protein. The truth is, vegan doesn't equal healthy.
on Mar 03, 2011 (01:36 PM)
Jennifer said...
When I first changed my diet it seemed like a lot of prep and planning, too, but that was because it was new to me. After you get used to the vegan diet and become more and more familiar with recipes and options, it's just as easy to prep/plan as eating omnivore. Check out some cookbooks, like "Vegan Express" for quick recipes. A lunch option I like - a loaded hummus wrap. Fill a tortilla with hummus and chopped veggies of choice. 5 minutes prep, tops. Or soup and a veg burger on whole wheat with tomato and lettuce. Whole Foods/Trader Joe's are loaded with vegan soup and veg burger options. Pop the soup and burger in the micro and you have a meal in minutes. If you have a rice cooker, you can easily cook all kinds of grains with almost no effort. Drop in waterand/or veg stock and grains, turn on - that easy. And any veggie dinner that begins with a sautéd onion and garlic and a can of organic, no salt added diced tomatoes is going to turn out GREAT. Just chop your fave veg and add to the onion/garlic/tomatoes, and you'll have a great meal in minutes. Serve over your grains and you've got a great meal. Most grains have good protein levels, too so you don't need to add tempeh or tofu, necessarily. Or you could throw in a can of your favorite organic beans, and it's meal time in 15 minutes or under. I hope this helps and you find that this is a really easy and great way to eat at the end of your 30 days! My husband and I have been vegans for 3 years now, and we started on a 30 day challenge, which became permanent. Good luck!
on Mar 12, 2011 (11:29 PM)