They have eggs and milk in THAT?!

For the last few years i have toyed back and forth with trying out a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle. I hate thinking about the way the animals that will eventually become our food are kept. So, its just been easier not to think about it, and not think about the horrible life that they live before ultimately being slaughtered and becoming a cheap 99 cent cheese burger. For meat prices to be affordable corners have to be cut, and unfortunately its with the animal, and ultimately OUR health.

I'm a picky eater, i always have been, but especially about meat. And again, its often easier not to think about it, OR LOOK AT IT, to get me over the intrusive thoughts that start pouring in. I love to cook, i really do, but doing anything with meat always just makes me feel nauseous. The other night i was cutting chicken and as always i took off the skin, then the fat, then the cartilage piece that holds the breasts together, then i cut off any little piece of blood and veins and anything that reminds me of how my body is held together inside. Eventually i give up on the veins and go back in my little "I love fried meat" bubble to forget about all the veins that are still there.

But whats left? Not much actual meat to be eaten. It drives Dave nuts over how much meat i always throw out, and as someone who really is bothered by the inhumane treatment of these very animals i end up feeling like i am contributing to the waste of these lives. And i am.

So, I'm just going to stop. For 2 weeks anyway, and give eating Vegan a real go. I'm going to give it 2 weeks and see how i feel. A few of my girlfriends have become vegan for the last 9 months....and they look AMAZING! Both of them have lost a bunch of weight, tell me that they have so much more energy and just feel so good. I've decided to try it, and at the very least this will give me the chance to actually learn how to cook things like lentils, beans, tofu and all those foods that have always intimidated me (and that i have never had!)

Today was day one, and also conveniently our grocery shopping day. We had absolutely nothing in the house for breakfast that would work....so i just had a granola bar while the kids and Dave ate eggs. It was over a 90 min shopping trip where i looked at hundreds of labels and have come to the conclusion that there is eggs and milk in EVERYTHING! Seriously, even in the frozen veggie section there was not one veggie package that did not have one or both ingredients. Why the hell is there milk in frozen green bean almondine?! I of course also learned that the granola bar i had for breakfast had milk and eggs in it too - Fail # 1.

I really want to do this right, so i would appreciate any advice or thoughts on how to eat a healthy balanced Vegan diet. I'm already taking a multivitamin, and I'm especially concerned about getting enough calcium and vitamin D, as I'm breastfeeding. I'm really trying to avoid just eating pasta and red sauce for the next 2 weeks, so i'll be posting my meal menu every day to help keep me accountable. I'd love your feedback!
Thanks, Erin

Day 1

Breakfast: Mocha Granola Bar* had milk and eggs in it.
Snack: Craisins
Lunch: Avacado and carrot sushi rolls. They were from market basket though, big mistake, and were pretty bad. Had 3 of them. Also ate Edamame....was still starving and had a big peanut butter sandwich.
Snack
Dinner