Weekend munches

This weekend, because my energy levels are so fantastic, I started running again. The first morning I picked to start was saturday, the ground looked so slippy but it was great. The only people I met were two dog walkers in Ormeau Park. It was a beautiful sunny morning and the sky was blushing pink. I was out again today, early again, but it was another stunning morning, and being down in Aghagallon, I didn't meet a soul, 4 cars passed me in 5km. After both runs, I breakfasted on big fruity smoothies. On saturday, mine was courtesy of Zumo in Castlecourt- a Tahiti Spice (mango, passionfruit pear and ginger). I LOVELOVELOVE ginger, especially in smoothies. My circulation likes it too. Today I had more ginger, this time pineapple and melon and some flax seed. Today I also had a Trek bar with my smoothie:

You can buy them and the Nakd bars from the company's website: Natural Balance Foods. They're vegan, raw, gluten- and sugar- free and the Trek bars have 11g of protein per bar. I got mine in Sainsburys and found the Nakd Coco Loco bars in Tesco. I had the Mixed Berry, it was amazing! Kept me full until 3pm. I had some soup, and then got hungry around 7, and made some veg and noodles:

I boiled some Brown rice udon noodles (two bundles) and then a few minutes before they were done I chucked in some shredded spring (collard) greens, frozen soya beans and carrot sticks. I dressed them with a big tablespoon each of peanut butter, soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, sesame seeds, marmalade and then about 2cm of ginger finely chopped, a clove of garlic and a teaspoon of dried chilli flakes. I stirred this through everything after mixing it thoroughly (the peanut butter takes a bit of beating to cooperate). It was delish! Especially with extra heat in the form of Tabasco. A nice way to finish the weekend.

Oh, and I now have an allotment- as of saturday. The location is stunning, the soil is beautiful sandy loamy stuff (apparently it was once a beach!), the site is south facing and we have access to a polytunnel and a big shed full of tools. Eamonn and I will be weeding it out next saturday, pictures will be posted. Then I have to decide what to put in!

Friday dinner

My fridge is practically bare and it's been a busy week. I threw a few things together and amazingly it worked. On the rice- I'm head over heels with short grain brown rice, so much nicer than ordinary brown rice, and I'm trying to cut out processed wheat staples like bread and pasta- I think it's another sore tummy factor (along with sugar). Rice really is the best carb for sore tummies.

Cook some short grain brown rice (I get mine in The Nutmeg on Lombard Street) and add in some greens towards the end (as my fridge was empty, I chucked in some frozen green beans)

1 block of Cauldron tofu

1 tbsp hemp oil (or groundnut or rapeseed)

2 tbsp tamari shoyu (soy sauce)

2 tbsp apple cider or rice vinegar

1 tsp blackstrap molasses

1 tsp syrup from stem ginger jar

1 lump stem ginger, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, chopped

1/2 tsp hot crushed chillis

1 tbsp sesame seeds

1/2 fresh pineapple, cut into chunks

Mix together everything except the hemp oil and tofu.

Slice up the tofu and fry at a high temp, then turn over. Turn down the heat, add the pineapple to the pan, pour over the sauce, it will bubble up and coat everything in lovely fragrant stickiness. Serve over the rice and greens. This would be even better with lots of pak choi, spinach or kale and some crunchy lotus root. But as I said, empty fridge:( Shopping tomorrow!

I've also realised this week that the only breakfast that keeps me full up until lunch is smoothie. Mine always have a tablespoon of ground flaxseed. I ran out of bananas mid-week so I was downing smoothies with half a melon in the glass- let me tell you there were no sneaky morning naps on my keyboard this week! I was alive, alert, awake enthusiastic! This vegan thing has given me a new lease of life. It's like you get more life force because you're not stealing someone else's...:)

Vegan for two weeks

It is going so well. The background is I'm food-mad, vegetarian, philosophy makes me think a lot (duh) and dairy was making me sick. No brainer really.

Cooking tasty food hasn't been an issue at all. We've had delicious salads, stew, hummus, oat milk smoothies, peanut butter toast, chocolate wacky cake and marmalade flapjack.

I still haven't worked out good alternative to wool that's dressy ( I don't mind wearing fleece at the weekends and around the house). I sit most of the day in work and my circulation isn't great so I like to dress in warm clothes but that look dressy. I think I'll email my Vegan Pledge mentor to see what she thinks.

My boyfriend has been veganising with me and also feels so much healthier and alert. It's great!

In tandem with going vegan I've given up the pill as I don't want to be on it forever and I've already been taking it on and off for 7 years. I'm hoping going vegan and taking chasteberry tincture and a B vitamin complex will help with the cramps.

Aside from the vegan thing, my weight had been creeping up a bit recently and I had been trying to eat less fat and smaller portions. Nothing really happened until I went vegan, I've lost 3.5kg in two weeks. I think it's more to do with eating food that kept me fuller longer, my chronic dairy-induced constipation clearing up and having more energy so doing more exercise. Another 2.5kg and I'll be at my ideal. Once that happens the plan is to make sure I don't lose any more but also do more exercise to keep my muscles busy.