I CHEATED on.....

So, I cheated on Vegan-anuary!!

I started off January absolutely confident that I would be able to eat Vegan the entire month, for every meal, without an issue as I described as my intention in Vegan-uary post earlier this month..... and MOSTLY I was able to.

BUT...I feel compelled it is only appropriate that I update my readers on my progress....and 'admit' that I willingly cheated a few times.

My NEW FAVORITE post dinner sweet dessert
~ Medjool Dates found at Trader Joe's ~
2 or 3 of these post dinner helps settle my sweet tooth

For many of you who have been working with new years resolutions of eating healthy or losing a little extra poundage or even just working towards a specific goal of going to bed earlier or meditating ab few minutes every day....you know as well as I do, how very easy it is to fall off the wagon, especially with so many distractions of our daily lives or special events.

I'm quite spoiled...my husband is the primary chef in the house...and he truly enjoys cooking Vegan (check out his little spot in the blog world, Nonchalant Vegan), so it was quite easy to eat Vegan at home. But where it became a bit of a CHOICE... to choose to cheat really boiled down to when I did not plan and prepare:

• Dinner at a not 'Vegan' friendly restaurant --> I chose to eat a vegetarian option with no cheese or egg product - but was cooked with milk

• Breakfast at a local 'fancy' greasy spoon type restaurant....I chose a vegetarian omelet (& I have to admit it was quite eggcellefancy! 

• Blue Cheese Stuffed Olives in a delicious cocktail at a post work happy hour. Although, I could have easily chosen a glass of wine, there was something special about choosing to indulge in moderation.

What I learned this month:

• Prepare - PREPARE - prepare in advance
• Look at restaurant menus
• Prepare shopping lists for meals
• Shop often to have fresh ingredients on hand
• Especially plan for special events, dinner parties, after hours with co-workers - there are the type of events I found myself challenged most.

• Make a hearty BIG pot full of a Vegan dinner 
• We mostly made soups & stews
• Make a few extra servings so you can have several meals as leftovers to take for lunch
• Bonus - we found many of our meals actually tasted more flavorful the next day

• Willing to make the kitchen your date venue
• As my hubby was the mastermind in the kitchen, I was willingly his 3rd & 4th chopping and slicing ingredients

• Choose to 'cheat'
• In moderation
• For the right reasons - meaning you've put thought to your options
• Choose the least 'evil' on your list of 'evils' (ex - i chose vegetarian omelet as a healthier option than waffles or pancakes)

• Give yourself a pat on the back for all of your efforts 

• Consider your body is a temple and deserves the BEST

• Choose to eat the BEST foods at every opportunity --> You DESERVE IT

• Consider your approach to your perspective (what you can have vs what you cannot have)- engage in what you love & enjoy

• Mind over Cravings (unless of course it's blue cheese stuffed olives) :)

• Trader Joe's! If you have a Trader Joe near you...check them out, they have tone of Vegan options and they share a list of Vegan products on their website you can print & peruse in their store.