Wow, it has been over a year since I stopped to get a tea refill and boy, does time fly. In November, I celebrated my 3rd year anniversary of Veganism. What a blessing in my life and health.
I was thinking of the first 4 months, my "whining" months where all I could think of was what I couldn't eat... Of who I wasn't and wouldn't be ever again. Whaaaa. Then my interest in cooking took over. Spices and herbs kicked in and new veggies introduced themselves.
Now it is my lifestyle. I replaced my "keep eating like this and you're dead" menus with "this food can actually make me better than before. I didn't loose anything but weight.
My newest news is that my Dr. Esselstyn's wife, Ann, and daughter, Jane have written a cookbook, "The How To Prevent And Reverse Heart Disease Cookbook." The photos are lickable. I have tried the gravy at Thanksgiving with the stuffed portobello mushrooms, stuffing, cranberry sauce, sweet and mashed potatoes and an apple crisp dessert. No po' me there!
Today I am making an appetizer for a party with red potatoes, cooked, cut in half with the potatoe scooped out with a melon baller and lots of veggies and nutritional yeast mixed in and the mixture put back into the shells. A little red pepper and green chive topping and voilá, a bite size delight.
I want to be like Julie in the book, Julie and Julia, where Julie sets out to fix all of Julia Childs' recipes only be both Ann and Jane.
I have been to 5 countries since I last wrote. France, Italy and Turkey guiding tours, Croatia and Slovenia for research. I carry my card of my eating plan translated into all those languages. Most of the time, the chefs went out of their way to present a spectacular meal. I am getting better at making sure I have protein. Without protein I am a car without gas parked on the side of the road.
I cannot tell you how much I appreciate family and friends who support this lifestyle change. By now, when we go out, they know what to expect. I also have a group of local heavenly bodies who share their finds and anxieties. Yup, there's some of those with all of us.
Next year I am again going to walk the Camino celebrating a 5 year anniversary of my 65th birthday. Out on the trails .. Well except today where the wind is so forceful, I'm afraid to go out. Should die down by 3 so will at least make the gym.
Best to all your efforts. Each day is new and each day is an opportunity to go for it.
