Forks Over Knives: Days 11 through 15

This past weekend Jesse and I took a random trip to Jacksonville Beach to visit with my family and enjoy some time in the sunshine. Although, I did my best to eat right I did splurge and have some meat and shrimp. As soon as I got home today, I was right back to Forks Over Knives eating. This spontaneous trip did open my eyes to how I can be more proactive and organized with food and snacks before I head out of town! So, I'm not going to beat myself up about it. I am just taking it as a lesson definitely learned and I'm going to keep on keeping on!


Day 11
Breakfast: Black bean veggie burrito and a peach
Dinner: Vegan eggplant parmesan and quinoa spaghetti
Snacks: Popcorn


Day 12
Breakfast: Ezekiel 4:9 Whole grain with almond cereal with almond milk
Dinner: Wendy's Side salad and baked potato with broccoli
Snacks: Kind Cranberry Almond Bar and a Tazo Chai Latte Tea with soy milk


Day 13
Breakfast: Waffle, banana and oatmeal
Lunch: Vegan hotdog with grapes
Dinner: Low Country Boil (shrimp, potatoes, sausage, and corn)


Day 14
Breakfast: Chicken and waffles
Dinner: Mahi Fish Tacos


Day 15
Lunch: Fried Chicken with red beans and rice
Dinner: Veggie burger, broccoli and a side salad


Life isn't always perfect, things don't always go right. Yes, its hard to be healthy and yes, I will be knocked down a few times. But I am stronger than you think and I CAN do this!!

Forks Over Knives: Days 7 through 10

It has been a busy few days and my computer battery died so I had to wait for another one to come in the mail. So here is my last few days of healthy forks over knives eating! So far I am feeling great :-)


Day 7
Breakfast: PB&J Smoothie with Soy milk
Lunch: Rice bowl with vegetables
Dinner: Chickpea Noodle Soup
Courtesy of: http://www.forksoverknives.com/chickpea-noodle-soup/
Snack: Apple Slices


Day 8
Breakfast: Burrito with tofu, black beans and veggies
                   Banana
Lunch: Black Bean Enchiladas
             Apple Slices
Dinner: Black Bean Burgers and Baked Oven Fries
Courtesy of:http://www.forksoverknives.com/sample-recipes-from-everyday-happy-herbivore/#more-3951 and
http://www.forksoverknives.com/baked-french-fries-ketchup/


Day 9
Breakfast: Banana
Lunch: Veggie Loaf with mashed potatoes, peas and corn.
Dinner: Curried Lentil Soup and braised kale and a slice of whole wheat bread
Courtesy of: http://support.pcrm.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=55861.0&dlv_id=59268
Snack: Sliced Apples


Day 10
Breakfast: Burrito with black beans and veggies
               Apple Slices
Lunch: Zucchini and Mushrooms with Marinara
           Edamame
Dinner: Vegan Eggplant Parmesan
Courtesy of: http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=405648


"One should eat to live, not live to eat" -Benjamin Franklin

Forks Over Knives: Day 6

Today, was a really busy but FUN day! I have my niece Adrienne and nephew Lil Markie for the weekend. We went to the farmer's market, splash pad and had lots of fun on the lake with Lauryn and Grayson.


Breakfast: Irish Oatmeal and a banana
Lunch: Chick-fil-A Side Salad and small fry 
Dinner: Cajun Cornbread Casserole 
Courtesy of: http://www.forksoverknives.com/cajun-cornbread-casserole/
Evening snack: Popcorn 


I'm not on a diet. I am eating healthy!

Forks Over Knives: Day 5

The weekends have always been the hardest times for me when dieting or trying to change my eating habits. Last night I went out with my family to a free concert series they do at Stonecrest Shopping Center. Before meeting my family, I ate dinner at home so I wouldn't be tempted to want to eat from one of the restaurants. I usually enjoy ice cream from Marble Slab while we are enjoying the music but last night I went to Starbucks and had a Tazo Chai Latte with Soy Milk instead! I figured that would be a healthier option and would be my reward for the week! So far so good! I am feeling wonderful :-)

Breakfast: Breakfast Burrito with tofu and black beans

                   Banana

Lunch: Zucchini Marinara

            1 cup of grapes

Dinner: Mexican Stuffed Peppers and Green Beans
Courtesy of: http://happyherbivore.com/recipe/mexican-stuffed-peppers/

Snack: Tazo Chai Latte with Soy Milk 

“In order to change we must be sick and tired of being sick and tired.”  ~Author Unknown

Forks Over Knives: Day 3 and 4

The past two days have been busy! After watching Addison yesterday, Jesse's parents took us out for our birthdays to a Japanese restaurant. I did the best that I could even with eating out! 


Day 3: Wednesday
Breakfast: Tofu Scramble with Hash browns and Veggies
                   Banana
Lunch: Vegetable and Brown rice Bowl
             Cup of Papaya
Dinner: (Japanese Steakhouse) Brown rice with mixed vegetables


Today, I went and saw my primary doctor to talk about the Forks Over Knives lifestyle and also have my blood work drawn so we know what my numbers are starting out and then we will recheck everything in 3 months. My end goal is to get off of my cholesterol and diabetic medications. I also got a new blood sugar meter so I will be able to keep a close eye on my blood sugars and send them in to her every 2 weeks to be sure my sugar levels aren't too low. 


Day 4: Thursday
Breakfast: Apples ( I had to fast for my lab work and then had some errands to run, so that held me over until lunch,)
Lunch: Leftovers; 1 cup of Moroccan bean stew with sweet potatoes and kale and 1 cup of roasted eggplant, tomatoes and onions over quinoa
Afternoon snack: 1 cup of cantaloupe
Dinner: Portobello Steak, yucca with mojo and a side salad 
Courtesy of: http://happyherbivore.com/recipe/balsamic-portobellos/
http://latinfood.about.com/od/saladsdressings/r/yuca.htm ( I used veggie broth instead of oil)
Bedtime Snack: 1 cup of watermelon 


I am feeling really good and have to say I have not had to take any acid reflux medicine since I began eating this way! 


The doctor of the future will no longer treat the human frame with drugs, but rather will cure and prevent disease with nutrition.”  ~ Thomas Edison

Forks Over Knives: Day Two

Today, was mine and Jesse's 3 year anniversary! He worked last night so when he got up this afternoon we prepped and cooked dinner for tonight. We both absolutely love to cook and it is one of our most favorite ways to spend time together so it was great being able to talk about how fast 3 years have passed and how we can't wait for many more years to come! 


I didn't sleep well last night because of some thunderstorms and Nala (my dog) freaking out about the weather so I slept in and didn't eat breakfast until about noon today that is why my lunch was pretty much just a snack and I didn't want to ruin my appetite for dinner!


Breakfast: 
Burrito with tofu and veggies
1 cup of Papaya


Lunch:
Banana


Dinner: Moroccan Bean Stew with Sweet Potatoes and Kale    
Courtesy of http://www.forksoverknives.com/moroccan-bean-stew-with-sweet-potatoes/


Bedtime Snack:
1 cup of green grapes


Dinner was absolutely delicious! It was so easy to make and can feed many. We will definitely be making this again!


He that takes medicine and neglects diet, wastes the time of his doctor. -- Ancient Chinese Proverb

Forks Over Knives: Day One

Today, I started a new chapter in my healthy lifestyle journey. I have been reading a book called Forks Over Knives that a friend told me about. The experts in Forks Over Knives advocate a whole-food, plant-based diet. The program is based on whole or minimally processed plants, primarily fruits, vegetables, whole grains, tubers, and legumes. It excludes or minimizes animal-based foods such as meat (including poultry and fish), dairy, and eggs, as well as refined foods like bleached flour, refined sugar, and oil. After reading about the number of people with serious health issues,such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and who are on many medications totally reversing their diseases, I decided that I have nothing to lose by trying The Forks Over Knives diet! 

Breakfast:

Steel cut oats with a teaspoon of cinnamon 

Banana

Lunch:

Whole wheat pasta with tomato sauce, asparagus and broccoli

Mango

Dinner:

Mixed green salad with cucumbers, tomatoes and Dairy free ranch dressing

Roasted eggplant, tomatoes, and onions over quinoa

Bedtime Snack:

Cantaloupe


I have to say that I was a little nervous about Jesse being hungry because I am so lucky as to have such a supportive man in my life that he has taken on this lifestyle change as well, but he actually let me know he was full a few hours after dinner and he didn't even eat all of his meal! I never once felt after eating all 3 meals today that I needed something else to eat. I was totally satisfied. I know today was just day one but I am excited to see what changes occur throughout this journey!

"Let food be thy medicine." Hippocrates