I hesitated writing this post.
I don’t like to make statements like “I’m a vegan now” and then within 45 days of my “new lifestyle choice” eat an entire rotisserie chicken with my bare hands while standing over the kitchen sink. But I did. So here we are.
It’s not that I didn’t enjoy being vegan, I actually really did. I even convinced a few friends and family members to give the veggie lifestyle a try. I watched documentaries about going vegetarian/vegan and was appalled at the animal cruelty that happens every single day in the US. I was also inspired by all of the health benefits of eating a plant based diet. I have loved the effects that being dairy/meat free has had on my stomach, concentration and mental clarity, and overall well-being. I wasn’t planning on being vegan forever, but thought I would last a long time, much longer than a mere month and a half.
What ultimately made me drive to the grocery store, buy a chicken, and eat it like a starving orphan was mostly my lack of protein consumption. I don’t eat tofu or other soy-heavy products and lately I have noticed a slight allergic type reaction when I eat beans. Not anything serious, my asthma and throat are not effected, but my skin is. I get itchy and uncomfortable. So there I was eating 5 zucchinis, 2 squashes, and an onion every single day. Every. Single. Day.
I couldn’t take it anymore. I was hungry. Not just “I could probably eat a large cheeseburger right now” hungry, but “I will kill anybody who gets in my way of a cheeseburger and will use him as a topping on my steaming, meaty pile of ground, hand-packed, cheese smothered beef” hungry.
Since the whole rotisserie chicken episode, I have not been devouring meat quite as savagely- I’ll eat meat a few times a week and sometimes even use utensils. I am really happy that I went vegan for a month and a half because I feel like it hit a “reset” button in my belly and my taste buds! I now crave veggies all the time, and I still eat a ton of vegan meals. I’ve only eaten dairy a few times in the past few weeks, also. My cravings are very different than they were before going vegan. For example, last night for dinner I had a bowl of rice topped with 7 large, steamed beets. I squeezed a lemon on top and was absolutely in heaven with my bizarre concoction. Someone watching me eat it would have probably thought I was eating the world’s most delicious ice cream. Liking weird food combinations- that is what going vegan did to me.
I don’t regret being vegan for 45 days and I don’t regret quitting it either. Mainly, I’m happy to now know a really easy way to drop a few pounds and reset my “innards” in order to get me feeling great! I know I will definitely be doing more 30-day vegan sprints in my future.
The Other Courtney 
I totally did this with a rotisserie chicken when I was pregnant with my daughter (not saying you’re pregnant, that’s just when I (first) ate an entire chicken with my bare hands). I’d been vegetarian for seven years, but I just couldn’t resist the concentrated protein source. It was a remarkably specific craving, and it made me feel so much better.
This post of yours is timely for me…I’m kind of glad I didn’t see it before I declared my vegan intentions on my blog yesterday. Of course, I’d been doing the mostly-vegan thing (lots and lots of plants, eggs once a week, meat about once or twice a month) for a year before I mentioned it publicly. I have a history of making bold declarations and then shifting position, so I tried my best to safeguard against it this time. Besides, I’m just a wishy-washy vegan: I know I’ll eat eggs (and probably even meat) again.
My diet is roughly ninety percent vegetable based, frozen, unprocessed, low sodium with my choice of herbs. But I still eat chicken, turkey, and the occaisional beef. I could stand over the sink and devour a steak like you did your chicken, but I try to limit it, make it a weekend treat.
Tim
That is so great, ninety percent!? I would like to build back up to that, too. It’s so good for you. How long have you been eating that way?
MmMMmMM steak. A juicy New York Strip is my weakness- you are right though, it should be a weekend treat!
I’ve eaten like this off and on for ten years or so. In the beginning it was for weight control, later on to help control blood pressure. I’ve done it long enough that the food I prepare actually tastes good…to me. But I am telling you, I am not a reformed anything. There is not a food on legs or that has fins or gills that I don’t love. I just can’t have it the way I want to have it.
Tim
I know what you mean. I talked to a man a few months ago who ate a plant-based diet and when I asked why, he said to control his blood pressure and pre-diabetic state. His doctor had him eat vegan for a few months and at his checkup, he was SO much better. No need for medication anymore. That blew my mind and made me realize how important it is to incorporate more plants into my diet.
Thanks for sharing!! It’s nice to see people doing things for their health even though it may not be a first choice. Hmm I posted a ratatouille dish on my blog awhile ago that you may like, it is my favorite veggie recipe EVER! Here it is in case you’re interested!
Ingredients:
2 large onions, cut in half and sliced
4 small zucchini, sliced
3 small yellow squash, sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 large red bell peppers, diced
Fresh bunch of Asparagus, cut up
3 celery stalks, diced
1 large can (28 oz) of petite diced tomatoes
1 can (14.5 oz) fire roasted tomatoes
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (I used dried)
drizzle of olive oil
red pepper flakes, to spice it up
Directions:
Layer half the vegetables in a large crock pot in the following order: onion, squash, zucchini, garlic, red peppers, celery, asparagus, tomatoes.
Next sprinkle half the basil, oregano, sugar, parsley, salt and pepper on the veggies.
Dot with half of the tomato paste.
Repeat layering process with remaining vegetables, spices and tomato paste.
Drizzle with olive oil.
Cover and cook on LOW for 7 to 9 hours.
Place in serving bowl and sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Refrigerate to store.
May freeze up to 6 weeks.
I am not sure why they tell you the order in which to layer the veggies, I didn’t follow it exactly and it turned out just fine. I just put the tomato paste and olive oil on the very top 😀
**crockpot recipe
Hey thanks. Believe it or not, eating the things that are healthy and making them taste good are really hard. This one looks really good and I will definitely give it a try. I have already copied and pasted it into a saved file.
Tim
Even thinking about vegetables makes me sad. Idk how you lasted THAT long!!!
hahah not a vegetable eater at all?? Maybe that is a blog post you can challenge yourself to write- try a plant based diet for a few meals? 😉
Pingback: A Week of Simple Food – Becoming a Minimalist
Pingback: Tastes like chicken « bluedeckshoe.com
This made me laugh as well — the chicken thing just might be genetic — I’ve done that too!
I’ve never gone “vegan” — I once fasted for 6 hours though 🙂 I sure hope your skin clears up well, sweetheart. But know you are one of those people who doesn’t need make-up to be stunningly beautiful — really! I can’t wait to “walk you down the isle” in a short month and dance with you at the wedding!!! Love, Dad
Ahhh yes, I have a feeling I may have gotten my bringing habits from you, sweet father haha! Fasting for 6 hours- WOW! You should write a book about it, sounds intense. 😀
Thank you so much for your encouragement and prayer throughout all of this, it means more than you know. What a history we have dealing with my skin issues, huh? Regardless, you always make me feel beautiful no matter what. Love you pops.
That beet concoction sounds amazing!!!!
hahah glad you can appreciate it. That’s why we’re sisters. ❤
I’ve never tried going vegan. Vegetarian, yes. But then I don’t eat a lot of meat anyway. Looks like it worked out pretty well for you
It was definitely an experience! I am thankful that it got rid of my complete addiction to cheese. I was eating it several times a day in large quantities haha! It was a serious problem. Now I have only had it once in the past few weeks and I’m not obsessing over it anymore. I would do the vegan thing again in a heartbeat, in fact I know I will!
Eating vegetarian often takes a bit more planning at times…but it is not as hard as people think *smiles*. Eating vegan is definately harder … but again, depending where you live, a little planning will get you there *smiles*
Ok…first off, I am not vegan…nor vegetarian…but I eat little meat … sometimes.
Protein can often be one of the things that can be hard to get in abundance if you are not careful yes. Also, iron. (hopefully this is not TMI for some … but when we have our periods…our iron levels go low … that is when the burger craving is high. At those times…just before…a week before perhaps….eat lots of green things…especially brocolli nod nods.)
Vitamins are hard to get too .. you can get enough though food itself…but even I find I need supplements and multivitamins.
Oh … protein…a GOOD source is quinoa..mmmmmmmm. And since soy products might be causing rash for you … you can try eggplant or greek yogurt nod nods. Wait…. do those have lots of vitamin E??? I do not know about that part of it.
Ok … I am being rambly now …
Meat is not bad too … a burger now and then … or pizza…nods.
But … I too wished there had been a video of the rotisserie chicken carnage.
Good advice! I do like quinoa a lot, I need to eat more of that! The Vitamin E issue is definitely one I’m struggling with as far as veggies go right now. I’ve avoided eggplant for a long time (it makes me itch) and broccoli is high in E too. But I do love me some Greek yogurt!! Until this eczema flare is over though, I’m avoiding all dairy. hahah some days I SERIOUSLY wish I could just have an IV feeding tube. It would be so much easier than trying to navigate my way to a “safe” meal.
Maybe there will be a round two of the chicken carnage and I will definitely photograph that one 🙂
Every little bit counts. If you decide to go this way again, or even just vegetarian, I would try to do some meal planning to make sure you get enough protein and such.
Agreed, meal planning definitely helps. I was trying to but with 2 jobs it was so hard. My DREAM would be to work part-time and then be able to cook amazing, healthy, fresh meals and keep a clean house. A girl can dream.
Uh wow, that’s not a lot of sources of protein. Why no soy?
I’ve never felt good after eating/drinking soy products so I try to not do it a lot. They make me feel really bloated!
Well that would do it then! That’s too bad 😦
where is the video of the chicken devouring episode? 😉
oh I love beets, and lemon juice on rice is good.
a vegan diet is hard, and not always the best. Protein is important, many veggies have lots, many don’t. Beans are a great super food, but if you have troubles with them, a vegan diet may be lots harder.
so a strange question. how is your face doing? oh, and when is the wedding? Is there a date set?
Ahhh no video unfortunately! But trust me, it’s not pretty.
I know I was hoping to eat a can of beans every day in order to keep my protein up!! But it just was not happening. I started to become really slugglish and lethargic and I knew I needed some protein.
The face is definitely doing better, thanks for asking. It is still going through some flares, like the past three days have been good then this morning was TERRIBLE and now it’s looking okay again. The cold weather is definitely not helping, I feel like all of my skin is trying to fall off so it can start fresh. SO ready for this to be over, hopefully soon. And the wedding is March 9th…as in 29 days away! EEK! I’m excited but unfortunately this whole face issue has really put a damper on how excited I am for the big day. I just want to feel better, and not being able to wear makeup yet worries me. Praying every day for continued healing so I can feel beautiful and comfortable and not in pain on my wedding day.
Ohh…do not let things rain on your parade. I KNOW ….believe me … I know how important this day is. And whether or not it goes off without a hitch…whether you are stressed about it THAT day even … 10 yrs from that date, on your anniversary … you will think back on it with fond memories. If it goes perfect … if the tent falls and everything gets rained on. I promise… you will look back on it and smile.
*sends you calm and healing thoughts anyway*
Bahahahahahahahahahaha!!! This made me laugh SO hard!!!! That rice and beets sounds disgusting to me but hey to each her own! I have to read this again, seriously made me laugh out loud!
LOl I know the rice and beets is a little weird- but seirouslly? SO GOOD. I’ve been daydreaming about it since I ate it, as if it were the most amazing gourmet meal ever. SO weird. The vegan thing definitely altered my taste buds as to what an *amazing* meal is, lol.