So my little brother really likes McDonald's, which isn't surprising, given that he's 7 and their food is basically the perfect to make your brain want more, since it has sugar, salt, and fat (the unhealthy trifecta). But I convinced him I didn't want to go there, so we went to Burger King, which I guess wasn't really a victory, but I was interested to see them marketing healthier options, like apple 'fries' and a garden salad, along with orange juice, water, and lower calorie meals. I decided to have orange juice and apple fries, which wasn't terribly satisfying, but were about the only two things I could purchase that wouldn't violate any of my rules. Technically the regular fries don't either, so I leeched some from my brother, but we can't be perfect all the time, can we?
I don't find meat terribly difficult to give up, but giving up all dairy has turned into a sport. My first choice of spaghetti sauce had parmesan cheese, so I had to pick a different marinara, which was kind of surprising. This morning I made pancakes with rice milk and bananas to replace the eggs- I think they were quite delicious. I topped them with margarine and some home-made jam.
However, I am now craving vegetables. Time to go hunting!
P.S. Corn syrup foiled my plans to have sweets, so I guess I'll have to get some sorbet or just make candy at home.
P.P.S. Fast food is terrible. I really dislike that I went to a fast food joint today, but I was at the behest of my brother. I feel like between the movie 'Super Size Me' and reading Fast Food Nation, I should never be willing to enter another fast food establishment, but man, do they get you when they convince kids to come. I feel like the toys and playplace areas need to go. Shouldn't there be some kind of regulation on advertising directly to children? At least when the product is unhealthy, anyway.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
Vegan
I know I said I would post pictures every week, but I don't have a reliable scale anymore (hooray, moving back into my parents' house!), and I don't know if just the pictures would cut it.
Anyway, I decided it would be easier and just as effective for my diet to be vegan. It's something more people understand, and often times, it's easier to find things to eat. I guess I just think it works better.
I have successfully avoided chocolate and corn syrup, which are probably the hardest things to not consume. I went to eat some crackers (honey-wheat crackers) and they had high-fructose corn syrup as one of the sweeteners.
I know most vegans don't eat honey, but I really, really like it... so I'm not sure if that will go. I need to find out more about the bee-keeping industry.
In terms of the success of the diet, I think I'm losing some weight, though it's hard to be sure. My hipbones look a little more defined, so there's that. More pictures and stats when I buy a scale.
Anyway, I decided it would be easier and just as effective for my diet to be vegan. It's something more people understand, and often times, it's easier to find things to eat. I guess I just think it works better.
I have successfully avoided chocolate and corn syrup, which are probably the hardest things to not consume. I went to eat some crackers (honey-wheat crackers) and they had high-fructose corn syrup as one of the sweeteners.
I know most vegans don't eat honey, but I really, really like it... so I'm not sure if that will go. I need to find out more about the bee-keeping industry.
In terms of the success of the diet, I think I'm losing some weight, though it's hard to be sure. My hipbones look a little more defined, so there's that. More pictures and stats when I buy a scale.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Why I'm Rethinking Ever Eating Soy
Well, that is to say, any soy that I can't verify as not being G.M.
I actually have no problem with genetic modification in theory, but Monsanto's business model of fear-mongering and monopolizing soy have made me wary of drinking soy milk, which was my staple after I could no longer digest cow's milk.
Now I've moved on to coconut milk, but it's really fatty, so I think next I'll try almond milk.
Want to read more about some of Monsanto's business tactics? This article, published in Vanity Fair, is in depth and very interesting.
All this over breakfast... I wonder what lunch will bring.
Speaking of breakfast, I kept it in line with my new plan; I had Gorilla Munch cereal with unsweetened coconut milk.
I actually have no problem with genetic modification in theory, but Monsanto's business model of fear-mongering and monopolizing soy have made me wary of drinking soy milk, which was my staple after I could no longer digest cow's milk.
Now I've moved on to coconut milk, but it's really fatty, so I think next I'll try almond milk.
Want to read more about some of Monsanto's business tactics? This article, published in Vanity Fair, is in depth and very interesting.
All this over breakfast... I wonder what lunch will bring.
Speaking of breakfast, I kept it in line with my new plan; I had Gorilla Munch cereal with unsweetened coconut milk.
Dieting
I usually don't call the choice to eliminate certain foods from my diet "dieting", but I think in this case, it might involve some weight loss, so here it goes:
I am no longer consuming caffeine- including chocolate, which kills me.
I will no longer consume dairy- mostly because I'm lactose intolerant, and partly because it's cheaper than only buying organic/free-range/eco-friendly dairy products.
I will no longer consume corn syrup, if at all possible.
I will no longer consume meats that are anything other than free-range, grass-fed, organic. This may end up in just being vegan.
Generally, I have turned a blind eye to what I know is a foul, profit driven food industry that cares little for the animal or the environment, but I'm sick of being so irresponsible. I hope my change in diet, as well as tidbits I blog about it, will help me feel healthier and create results other people can notice. To this extent, I will post pictures once a week (if I maintain this), as well as a weight.
Currently, I am 5'4", and 177.4lbs.


Also, if you'd like some good places to start to learn about why the food industry needs to change, I suggest watching Food, Inc., The Food Matrix, and reading The Omnivore's Dilemma, by Michael Pollan. This article, also by him, was one of my first experiences reading about the way agribusiness in America is run, and I was frightened, and interested. I highly recommend reading the whole thing.
I am no longer consuming caffeine- including chocolate, which kills me.
I will no longer consume dairy- mostly because I'm lactose intolerant, and partly because it's cheaper than only buying organic/free-range/eco-friendly dairy products.
I will no longer consume corn syrup, if at all possible.
I will no longer consume meats that are anything other than free-range, grass-fed, organic. This may end up in just being vegan.
Generally, I have turned a blind eye to what I know is a foul, profit driven food industry that cares little for the animal or the environment, but I'm sick of being so irresponsible. I hope my change in diet, as well as tidbits I blog about it, will help me feel healthier and create results other people can notice. To this extent, I will post pictures once a week (if I maintain this), as well as a weight.
Currently, I am 5'4", and 177.4lbs.

Also, if you'd like some good places to start to learn about why the food industry needs to change, I suggest watching Food, Inc., The Food Matrix, and reading The Omnivore's Dilemma, by Michael Pollan. This article, also by him, was one of my first experiences reading about the way agribusiness in America is run, and I was frightened, and interested. I highly recommend reading the whole thing.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Honesty
I think the key to almost any interaction is honesty.
Whether it's perceived or real, honesty is the basis for respect and trust. Clearly, real honesty is the better of those two options, and what I find absolutely tragic is that perceived honesty is trusted so much more than real honesty. It shows the decline of logic in society.
Part of why I wanted to start this blog is so that I could have a place to be honest with people, and so this is my promise to you- I will not lie. I might have an opinion, but I will do my best to make sure it is seated in facts and not hearsay.
I am always surprised when people are shocked by my want to be open and honest. It's like they've never seen it happen before.
So please- be honest with each other. It's a good kind of shock.
Whether it's perceived or real, honesty is the basis for respect and trust. Clearly, real honesty is the better of those two options, and what I find absolutely tragic is that perceived honesty is trusted so much more than real honesty. It shows the decline of logic in society.
Part of why I wanted to start this blog is so that I could have a place to be honest with people, and so this is my promise to you- I will not lie. I might have an opinion, but I will do my best to make sure it is seated in facts and not hearsay.
I am always surprised when people are shocked by my want to be open and honest. It's like they've never seen it happen before.
So please- be honest with each other. It's a good kind of shock.
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