I survived! I should have a tee shirt made! Even though I am
completely committed to my new plant based life style, I was worried I might
have a minor setback, after all I was going to be surrounded for the first time
in months, by all the food I once loved and enjoyed all in one place all at the
same time. Talk about sensory overload!
A Type A Vegan: Since making the
transition I have limited myself to eating at home or taking my home cooked
food with me, if I do eat out, I select the restaurants in advance making
certain they have vegan options and since I am a creature of habit, I have
spots that I frequent often.
The Turkey’s are coming, the turkeys
are coming! As some minor anxiety loomed, I did a little research, during
my discussions with people that were like me, former meat eaters, now Vegan or
Vegetarian, some admitted they failed the first time they were stuck in a meat
- a - thon. Others said all that meat did not tempt them at all. For me it was
a mixture of success and challenge. Let’s start with the positive; being only
about 8 months into this process I must say I was pretty proud of myself. I was
not tempted at all to taste or eat the meats that surrounded me, in fact a
funny and unexpected thing happened to me, I became a little nauseous from the
smell of the cooking meat and had to step out for a while. The former meat
eating Christine would have been salivating!
Now the confession: I did have a
desire to "chew" something meat like (if that makes any sense) so my
husband was ready, he made some baked fish and shrimp just in case I did want
something else. When I first made the transition to a plant based lifestyle, I
kept fish around as a part of my diet, then, when I was ready, I cut the
umbilical cord. It was comforting to know it was there for me if I needed to
turn to it. And, I found that I did so, I had a small serving of fish and a few
shrimp on my Thanksgiving plate. The remainder of my plate consisted of wild
rice and many assorted yummy veggie options.
There's something different: Ah the post Thanksgiving bloat! I must
say, I did not miss that Thanksgiving bloat that often results after the big
eat and, I was still awake long after everyone else fell into the deep, deep tryptophan induced slumber. :)
Success! I successfully avoided
all the sugar loaded desserts and drinks, instead opting for my own stash of
vegan baked goods and treats and sticking to water as my drink of choice. I
also made sure I got my work out in and I juiced the morning and afternoon
before dinner was served, so I was full and ate less. I don't drink alcohol so
that was a non issue for me. Because all of the people I was surrounded by were
well aware of my new lifestyle and why I adopted it, they are very supportive.
In fact there was quite a bit of concern for my comfort (were there enough
"Christine friendly" options no veggies cooked with meats etc.) and I
appreciated that. Ultimately, I was very proud of the way I handled my first
Thanksgiving as a Vegan. Bring on Christmas dinner, I am so ready! :)
How about you? Are you a new or
seasoned Vegan/Vegetarian? How did you handle your very first Thanksgiving?
What advice would you give me the next time I am tempted to reach for the fish
as a pacifier? Leave your response in the comments; I would love to hear from
you.
