Y is for

You!

Just a little thought to get you through today, tomorrow and always... "You are anyone you want to become.  It might take getting out of bed an hour earlier, and hitting the pillow an hour later.  It might mean being flexible with your dreams to make them a reality.  It might require a sacrifice now for gains later.  In the end, it's up to you"

Style A to Zoe - Rachel Zoe

EASTER

Happy Hippity Hoppity Easter Love Bugs! 

After mass, and throughout the whole day I ate and ate and ate...  Here's what I broke my Lenten fast with:

Just the beginning

Hot (temperature not heat) Stuff

Went to Binh Minh on Upper James and had me some vege tofu soup in coconut milk.  Extra spicy

Fresh Prince

Fresh roll of vermicelli noodles, tofu and veges.  With a side peanut sauce.  Added chilli spice to it

Filling Groovy

Tofu vege stir fry in a red (apparently the hottest option between green and yellow...wasn't hot at all) curry.  Side rice noodles.  Requested extra spicy curry.  Still added extra chilli sauce on top of it ...you can see the red blobs.  Couldn't finish this, so I look forward to going home and having my leftovers (of this and my soup) for dinner!  Num num num

Raw. Day 45.

The end is near.  Tomorrow is Easter.  Tomorrow is when we break our Lenten promise and recall the process, the sacrifice, the thoughts and feelings we had during this time.

From the get-go I knew this was going to be a challenge.  From the get-go family and friends were telling me to re-think my decision.  From the get-go I was ready...ready as I could be at least. 

As this is the last entry about raw, I feel it's best to do a wrap up.
 

What I ate:  a lot.  Even though there were soooooo many foods I wasn't able to eat, there were also soooooooooo many more I could.  Didn't really realize all the options and companies that were out there
What I drank:  Lots of water and enough smoothies that I'm ok with saying "See ya later" to the Magic Bullet (at least for a week)
What I wanted to eat/drink: I found myself yearning for cooked food more so at the end of this journey.  At stressful life moments I usually grab something caloric filled to make me feel a bit better (emotional eater I know), when stress hit me during Lent I was able to grab...fruit, and I was fine with that!

My thoughts:  I appreciate this lifestyle more now after having done this process.  I don't think I would be able to pursue this lifestyle forever, but I will try to keep up with things as often as I can.  After Easter I won't be raw, at least not on Easter Sunday, but I will continue to stay vegan...at least fro a bit!  I like this lifestyle, it's easy, it's good for me.

Energy level: 9 apples/10 apples

Stats: Lost 10 lbs...NOT all because of the raw lifestyle!  I think the raw foods and lifestyle attributes to maybe 5 lbs, the other 5 was for other reasons.  I feel good though.  AND I feel better knowing that it will be fun trying to put back some weight!

To those who traveled with me on this journey, thanks!  I will still be posting, obviously not about this topic, but still posting non-the-less.  So keep up, if you can!

Until next time, be well!

Raw. Day 43

I think I have an addiction

Still in Toronto, having me some fun with fab friends...then I eat ;)

Fresh Beach Bowl.  Red pepper, zucchini & sweet potato with avocado, sun-dried tomato, sunflower sprouts, olive oil, tamari, lemon, mixed herbs.  This was the baby bowl which is so filling.

Super Protein Salad.  Chick peas (like 2 cups worth), grape tomatoes, cucumber, tempeh & Fresh salad topper on salad greens.  Peanut Lime dressing made with peanut butter, lime, sambal oelek, coconut milk.

Wow, a new location

After work, I ate and drank the week away with a fantastic salad and fruit filled sangria.  Il Fornillo in the Entertainment district is a lovely romantic restaurant with great choices on the menu.  I would definitely like to try this place when I'm not raw vegan...

Raw. Day 42

It's almost time! I can count the days to Easter in ONE hand!

I'm in Toronto for work for a few days and I'm smack downtown ... in culinary heaven for Veganists alike.  There's Fresh on Spadina, Loving Hut also on Spadina, Fressen on Queen, countless of sushi joints in walking distance... and the list goes on.  Why Hamilton can't have more vegan options is beyond me, they can really take a page out of Toronto's food diary!

Tonight I went to Fresh on Spadina, again.  Anything you order in this restuarant, you will NOT be disappointed!

Love!

Tastey Special

Mighty greens: kale, bok choy and swiss chard with miso tahini dressing and Fresh protein boost

BBQ Burger

Bun, Patty, Rings

High-protein, house made vegan burger patter topped with BBQ sauce, quinoa onion rings, garlic mayo, napa cabbage, hot banada chillies, tomato and lettuce on a whole what bun.  Side of marinated kale slaw

Peek-a-boo!

Raw. Day 38

Naked Sprout, we meet again!  This time I had a chance to try an app, main and dessert...my tummy and taste buds were more than satisfied...and once again I came out with a doggy bag :) (in my opinion, the best type of bag out there!)

Who wouldn't want Love?

Apps: The Naked Sprout Signature Nachos - Carrot flax chips, guacamole, sunflower seed, 'refried’ beans, salsa fresco, cheesy cashew cream. 

Nachos

This was soooo filling.  There are probably 8 nachos on the plate and after 3 you will be stuffed - look at the photo, it's topped with mile high ingredients, so how couldn't you be?!  The carrot flax chip was strong and held its own flavours against the ultra strong cheesy cashew cream.  It wasn't as crispy as I'd like tortillas to be, but it still had a semi-crunch.  Couldn't really taste the 're-fried' beans which was fine sine the fresh salsa had all the taste- it was so fresh, so clean, so finger licking good.

Main:  Twisted Tacos - Soft shell carrot flax taco, guacamole, salsa fresco, sunflower taco meat
*Added side cashew sour cream



Not gonna lie, when it came on the table, I thought, that's it?  That's so small!  But after three quarters of one, I was done...  These tacos was very similar to the nachos I had earlier, but the main difference was the taco "meat" made from sprouted sunflower seeds.  These seeds were soaked for 6 hours and the texture of it was very meat-ish (from what I remember ground beef feels like) and the taste was impeccable!  The spices, although could have been hotter, was a nice change from the neutral fresh taste of the nachos.  What I didn't like was the side cashew cream.  This is way to strong of a flaour for me and it was a weird flavour at that.  It's an option to get with your dish, I would suggest opting out of it.

  

Dessert:  The best part of the meal.  Last time I was here they sold out of this cheesecake, and for good reason, it is mighty good!  Today I was finalllllly able to try the Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake - Nut crust with cashew cheese filling flavoured with carrot juice, agave,
coconut butter, cinnamon & clove

No pumpkin?

Delightful!  So satisfying!  It wasn't as light as the berry cheesecake, but it was nice and warm...in the sense that it makes you go back to warm thoughts about Thanksgiving and time around the table with family and friends. 

Another successful tummy filling expedition to the Naked Sprout!