My meat-free 40 days and 40 nights...
So I've been rather naughty, as I'm already 5 odd days into my meat-free lent, but I'm only just up and running online. Despite my laziness, I figure I should still start at the beginning, and explain why this signed-up meat-eater has decided to give up yummy animal flesh...
It all started with an anniversary dinner (5 years of happy dating, thanks for asking), and a fair bit of booze. Without thinking, I chose a fully vegetarian meal from all the delicious options on the menu at the Moon and Sixpence in Bath (which has apparently since closed down - a real shame). Before I knew it, I had challenged myself to a meat-free 2 months, which swiftly became a meat-free lent (which frankly seemed more manageable).
As Ash Wednesday drew closer I actually started getting nervous.. I really enjoy meat; there's nothing more delicious than a juicy medium-rare steak - the buttery blood oozing onto the chips, it's pretty much the only time a soggy chip is acceptable, and it's wonderful. My signature dishes are lasagne and spag bol, I find it incredibly rewarding to rustle up a succulent chicken curry from scratch, and who doesn't crave a bacon sarnie with a hangover?
My family have always been a meat-and-two-veg kind of family, and the prospect of basing my meals around something other than meat was oddly daunting. Luckily, I also love fish, cheese, mushrooms and puy lentils, so I was pretty confident my taste-buds and health wouldn't suffer. Plus I was encouraged by my pescatarian Auntie, who has faith I can do it!
I set myself 1 ground rule:
- I will not buy meat to cook and prepare for myself for the duration of lent (this is carefully worded as I knew I had a dinner party coming up with a very meaty menu and I didn't want to put the host out by demanding veggie options!)
As someone who loves to cook, I'm also excited to experiment with new recipes and expand my dinner repertoire, so I intend to try a completely new recipe a week. Success stories will be posted up here, in case anyone else fancies giving them a whirl.
And that's about it, I'm curious as to whether a meat-free diet will affect my well-being, my mood, my weight, and my wallet. I'm not particularly up for revealing my weight on here, but my BMI is 22.6 - I'm interested to see whether that will change. I also hope I'll spend slightly less money on food each week. Meat is pretty expensive these days, will substituting it for fish / cheese save me money?
So, here I am: my name is Ellen, and I'm Veggie-Curious!
It all started with an anniversary dinner (5 years of happy dating, thanks for asking), and a fair bit of booze. Without thinking, I chose a fully vegetarian meal from all the delicious options on the menu at the Moon and Sixpence in Bath (which has apparently since closed down - a real shame). Before I knew it, I had challenged myself to a meat-free 2 months, which swiftly became a meat-free lent (which frankly seemed more manageable).
As Ash Wednesday drew closer I actually started getting nervous.. I really enjoy meat; there's nothing more delicious than a juicy medium-rare steak - the buttery blood oozing onto the chips, it's pretty much the only time a soggy chip is acceptable, and it's wonderful. My signature dishes are lasagne and spag bol, I find it incredibly rewarding to rustle up a succulent chicken curry from scratch, and who doesn't crave a bacon sarnie with a hangover?
My family have always been a meat-and-two-veg kind of family, and the prospect of basing my meals around something other than meat was oddly daunting. Luckily, I also love fish, cheese, mushrooms and puy lentils, so I was pretty confident my taste-buds and health wouldn't suffer. Plus I was encouraged by my pescatarian Auntie, who has faith I can do it!
I set myself 1 ground rule:
- I will not buy meat to cook and prepare for myself for the duration of lent (this is carefully worded as I knew I had a dinner party coming up with a very meaty menu and I didn't want to put the host out by demanding veggie options!)
As someone who loves to cook, I'm also excited to experiment with new recipes and expand my dinner repertoire, so I intend to try a completely new recipe a week. Success stories will be posted up here, in case anyone else fancies giving them a whirl.
And that's about it, I'm curious as to whether a meat-free diet will affect my well-being, my mood, my weight, and my wallet. I'm not particularly up for revealing my weight on here, but my BMI is 22.6 - I'm interested to see whether that will change. I also hope I'll spend slightly less money on food each week. Meat is pretty expensive these days, will substituting it for fish / cheese save me money?
So, here I am: my name is Ellen, and I'm Veggie-Curious!
Labels: Experiment, Food, Lent, Meat, Pescatarian, Vegetarian
posted by Keldo at
07:47
2 Comments:
I think if you stick with vegetarianism for long enough the thought of blood dripping from meat will make you feel queasy rather than salivate and you won't miss meat at all. Or at least that's what happened to me. A veggie lasagne or spag-bol with lots of fresh chunky mushrooms and courgettes is just as yummy as a meaty one. If you really crave a bacon sandwich maybe you could try some fried halloumi? It's not really the same but it's at least chewy and unhealthy like meat :)
I have to admit I'm finding it quite hard at the moment, and I'm dreading my first bacon-free hangover (due Saturday!) Thanks for the support btw, any other suggestions are more than welcome.
Ellen.
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