So, apparently I didn't read some labels when I went to the grocery store on Sunday. The Morning Glory Veggie Patties I got have not only milk, but also egg in them. All I can say is that I'm glad my goal for this month was to be 100% vegetarian and not 100% vegan because I would be down four dinners since those veggie patties are what I planned to eat this week.
I also learned that margarine has some dairy in it as well, Earth Balance does not contain dairy. While talking to a coworker today, I learned that Roots grocery store in Olney, MD has a large selection of vegan and non-dairy products at prices that beat Safeway and, of course, Whole Foods. I'll have to check it out next grocery trip...and read the labels better!
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Lost In The Supermarket
One week down eating as a vegetarian - and vegan at that. Friday I added rice back and Saturday I survived eating at a restaurant. Today, however, came the biggest challenge - grocery shopping.
Let me start with the fact that, like most people, I am on a budget. I budget between $100 - 150 every two weeks for groceries for me and my daughter. So, knowing that going in caused a bit of stress because most of the times I've gone in for healthy groceries I end up blowing my budget.
I started in the produce section, getting everything I need to make my veggie juice and lots of apples since my daughter loves them. I've decided to keep making my own juice for my breakfast to make sure I'm not eating a ton of preservatives or sodium.
The Safeway in Kensington, MD has a very small section of vegetarian products tucked in the corner of the produce section. I was very happy to find tofu on sale for $1 per container (usually $3+). My daughter also loves tofu so this is a plus for us. I also picked up some veggie patties that were on sale so I can have those while my daughter has her turkey burgers this week for dinner.
We skipped most of the staples since we have more than enough of pasta, rice and canned tomatoes and I didn't want to go over budget. Lucky for me my daughter LOVES vegetables and I had her pick out the canned (no sodium added) and frozen veggies.
So far, so good. However, there were three things that were hard - soy sauce, bread and soup.
I had wanted some soy sauce for the rice I had made and to use for flavoring when I made veggies. First, low-sodium soy sauce is really expensive - $3.50+ for a little bottle. The Safeway brand was much cheaper, but one tablespoon had 36% of my daily recommendation for sodium in it! I couldn't believe it - and neither could the woman next to me when I exclaimed at how much sodium was in it. We both ended up not getting soy sauce.
Next, I couldn't find the bread that I wanted, heart healthy with low fat and no high-fructose corn syrup. I've decided to pull out my bread maker this week and make my own bread since I have all the ingredients at home. I just hope it fits in the new sandwich holder I bought my daughter for school.
As for soup, I was craving soup on this cold winter's night and I love the Safeway brand Tomato and Basil Bisque and Butternut Squash Soup. I couldn't find the Butternut Squash, and then saw that the Tomato Basil Bisque contained Chicken Stock. Who knew? So off to the canned soup aisle we went. I've always known that canned soup is high in sodium and now I had to read labels for the stealthy chicken stock and sodium. I finally found Campbell's Select Harvest 100% Natural Healthy Request Harvest Tomato with Basil soup - and it was on sale. Which is great because, again, it would be around $3.50 per can.
This, plus breakfast and lunch stuff for my daughter, cat food and litter, cleaning sponges and a new vegetable peeler (mine didn't survive the last week of peeling) all came to $105.
All to say that, when not buying meat, eating healthy on a budget can be done.
Let me start with the fact that, like most people, I am on a budget. I budget between $100 - 150 every two weeks for groceries for me and my daughter. So, knowing that going in caused a bit of stress because most of the times I've gone in for healthy groceries I end up blowing my budget.
I started in the produce section, getting everything I need to make my veggie juice and lots of apples since my daughter loves them. I've decided to keep making my own juice for my breakfast to make sure I'm not eating a ton of preservatives or sodium.
The Safeway in Kensington, MD has a very small section of vegetarian products tucked in the corner of the produce section. I was very happy to find tofu on sale for $1 per container (usually $3+). My daughter also loves tofu so this is a plus for us. I also picked up some veggie patties that were on sale so I can have those while my daughter has her turkey burgers this week for dinner.
We skipped most of the staples since we have more than enough of pasta, rice and canned tomatoes and I didn't want to go over budget. Lucky for me my daughter LOVES vegetables and I had her pick out the canned (no sodium added) and frozen veggies.
So far, so good. However, there were three things that were hard - soy sauce, bread and soup.
I had wanted some soy sauce for the rice I had made and to use for flavoring when I made veggies. First, low-sodium soy sauce is really expensive - $3.50+ for a little bottle. The Safeway brand was much cheaper, but one tablespoon had 36% of my daily recommendation for sodium in it! I couldn't believe it - and neither could the woman next to me when I exclaimed at how much sodium was in it. We both ended up not getting soy sauce.
Next, I couldn't find the bread that I wanted, heart healthy with low fat and no high-fructose corn syrup. I've decided to pull out my bread maker this week and make my own bread since I have all the ingredients at home. I just hope it fits in the new sandwich holder I bought my daughter for school.
As for soup, I was craving soup on this cold winter's night and I love the Safeway brand Tomato and Basil Bisque and Butternut Squash Soup. I couldn't find the Butternut Squash, and then saw that the Tomato Basil Bisque contained Chicken Stock. Who knew? So off to the canned soup aisle we went. I've always known that canned soup is high in sodium and now I had to read labels for the stealthy chicken stock and sodium. I finally found Campbell's Select Harvest 100% Natural Healthy Request Harvest Tomato with Basil soup - and it was on sale. Which is great because, again, it would be around $3.50 per can.
This, plus breakfast and lunch stuff for my daughter, cat food and litter, cleaning sponges and a new vegetable peeler (mine didn't survive the last week of peeling) all came to $105.
All to say that, when not buying meat, eating healthy on a budget can be done.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
That Was Such An Epic Fail
So, yeah, unplugging on my vacation didn't happen. I lasted two days, if that. I think it's actually easier to not go online when you are in your element - or where you can't get any cell reception. So, unplugged vacation and no Facebook for a week are still on the "to-do" list.
Where that was a failure, I am working on a few things that I think will not be a failure. For the last 3.5 Days - after I enjoyed a fun New Year's Eve out on the town in Baltimore and followed that with a McDonald's Big Mac meal - I've been eating a combination of steamed or raw veggies and veggie juice that I've made myself (and black coffee since I need SOME vice).
Let me tell you that making juice without a juicer is a long process! I peel the cucumbers and carrots. Cut them up (as well as celery, tomatoes and an apple) and blend them in the blender. Then I use a strainer to get most of the pulp out. Then I have enough for breakfast and dinner.
I do feel healthy, however I've been suffering from insomnia and my skin is breaking out - yay for getting the toxins out of my body, right? I also have had cravings, but mostly for salt and rice. I miss those seaweed and rice snacks I used to eat in Okinawa. Now back on topic, this will last until Friday and then I'm going to get some rice! The rest of January will be spent as a vegetarian (#9 on the 101 in 1,001 list) - even on my birthday on the 13th.
So, here is what's going on as a result of this task:
Where that was a failure, I am working on a few things that I think will not be a failure. For the last 3.5 Days - after I enjoyed a fun New Year's Eve out on the town in Baltimore and followed that with a McDonald's Big Mac meal - I've been eating a combination of steamed or raw veggies and veggie juice that I've made myself (and black coffee since I need SOME vice).
Let me tell you that making juice without a juicer is a long process! I peel the cucumbers and carrots. Cut them up (as well as celery, tomatoes and an apple) and blend them in the blender. Then I use a strainer to get most of the pulp out. Then I have enough for breakfast and dinner.
I do feel healthy, however I've been suffering from insomnia and my skin is breaking out - yay for getting the toxins out of my body, right? I also have had cravings, but mostly for salt and rice. I miss those seaweed and rice snacks I used to eat in Okinawa. Now back on topic, this will last until Friday and then I'm going to get some rice! The rest of January will be spent as a vegetarian (#9 on the 101 in 1,001 list) - even on my birthday on the 13th.
So, here is what's going on as a result of this task:
- #9. Eat vegetarian for a month (3/30)
- #8. Drink eight glasses of water every day for a week (3/7)
- #3. No fast food for a month (3/30)
I still can't believe how much easier it is to say no to all the sweets, pizza and Popeyes I've been faced with the past 3.5 days compared to trying to unplug for a week. Easier to take care of the body than the mind, it seems.
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