chicago vegan experiment

1 month goal achieved

noreply@blogger.com (A Kucharski) — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 04:56:00 +0000

I have won the bet - i have made it as vegan for a month. But my adventure into paying close attention to our food wont stop here. Stay tuned.

Carnival

noreply@blogger.com (A Kucharski) — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 00:42:00 +0000

GOING VEGAN AFTER CARNIVAL?

Did you know that Carnival actually means - without meat? Thats the root of the word:

[Italian carnevale, from Old Italian carnelevare, Shrovetide : carne, meat (from Latin car, carn-; see sker-1 in Indo-European roots) + levare, to remove (from Latin levre, to raise; see legwh- in Indo-European roots).]
Etymology:
Italian carnevale, alteration of earlier carnelevare, literally, removal of meat, from carne flesh (from Latin carn-, caro) + levare to remove, from Latin, to raise
Date:
1549

Although the festival has roots in pegan roman holidays it has been turned to a pre-lent "last feast" party before giving something up.

Since I already gave meat up... what am I going to give up now?

Super vegan Chilli for Super Bowl!

noreply@blogger.com (A Kucharski) — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 21:06:00 +0000

Another tough weekend for an ex meat lover turning vegan. After years of loving, making and eating chilly on superbowl weekend I was faced with a prospect of experiencing the day without sampling the seasonal favorite. To make things worse, my brother has been hosting the "Slavek annual Chili cook off" contest.

My luck turned when I got to the party and realized that Kathleen Cimbala, slavek's girlfriend - and also a fellow vegan - prepared a special Vegan Chili!

It was AMAZINGLY good! With six chili's on the stove and crock pots, some meat lovers were not even tasting it. However after encouraging them to taste it they were amazed how good it was. I myself found it to be delicious. It had just enough spice, and the meat substitute was so good, the meat lovers were unable to distinguish the tofu flavor texture from real meat!

Thanks Kathleen! Vegan chili cookers of the world unite (and send me your recipes ).

Vegan Diet and Weight Loss

noreply@blogger.com (A Kucharski) — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 22:05:00 +0000

It looks like after a little over two weeks I have actually gone down in weight, more or less about 4-5 pounds.

(Mon 179 lb)
(Tue 178 lb)
(Wed 179 lb)
(Thu 178 lb)
(Fri 178 lb)
(Sat 177 lb)

Yes, i suppose my wife may have a point about me being obsessive with my weight. On the other hand, i always have liked numbers.

I thought about this a little more today and here is why i think this may be:
- Vegan food is just not that good. Now of course there are LOTS of delicious vegan meals that will beat a carnivorous meal any day. But realistically, how often do you eat those meals (can i say Bacon anyone?). The snacking on nuts, vegetables and fruits just doesn't add up as much. And you don't have the kill instinct to go after your meal till there is nothing left like you may when you see a bloody steak on your plate.
- Vegan food is not as accessible: its not like you can pull into a McDonnalds and order a vegan burger. Most snack crap in the stores have animal products
- Vegan food fills you up with less calories. Ok, this is anecdotal, (someone must have done research on this) but it seems true first hand.

Vegan French Onion Soup

noreply@blogger.com (PapaLo) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:28:00 +0000

For all the Vegan supporters (and non-supporters) out there who would like to try a slurp of vegan delight!

Vegan French Onion Soup

1 large onion
4 cups Vegg broth
1/4 cup soy sauce

Caramelize the onion in a large soup pot. Once the onions are light brownish in color add 4 cups vegg broth and 1/4 cup soy sauce. Cook until onions are soft then top with a slice of bread and some soy cheese!

Simple, fast, easy, cheap... What more could one ask for?!

The 247 lb Vegan - NFL Tony Gonzales story in Wall Street Journal is confusing and pointless

noreply@blogger.com (A Kucharski) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 19:41:00 +0000

Not sure what this story by Reed Albergotti is mean to convey. Is it that Tony Gonzales tried to be vegan and failed because he wasn't getting what he needed in his diet? Or is it a half ass glorification of veganizm? The only virtue I can see coming out of this story is that it brings some awareness to the cult. I wonder if my colleagues will have something to say about that.

Here is an excerpt:

The 247 lb. Vegan
NFL star Tony Gonzalez is out to answer a question: Can a football player live entirely on plants?
By REED ALBERGOTTI
January 25, 2008; Page W1

The protein-rich bounty of the football training table is supposed to grow the biggest and strongest athletes in professional sports. Kansas City Chiefs tight-end Tony Gonzalez was afraid it was going to kill him. "It's the Catch-22," says Mr. Gonzalez, 31. "Am I going to be unhealthy and play football? Or be healthy and get out of the league?"
[Tony Gonzalez]
Kansas City Chiefs tight-end Tony Gonzalez

So last year, on the eve of the biggest season of his career, Mr. Gonzalez embarked on a diet resolution that smacked head-on with gridiron gospel as old as the leather helmet. He decided to try going vegan.

One Week of Veganism!

noreply@blogger.com (A Kucharski) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 19:29:00 +0000

I have completed one week of being a vegan. I am actually a little happy with this accomplishment... going from an all life cheeze and meat lover to a vegan cold turkey is not so bad.

Some experiences and changes I have noticed:
- during a workout in the first three days of my vegan diet I did notice a lack of energy
- enjoying restaurants is starting to be a little difficult, especially as I still crave cheese and meat
- i am snacking a lot more
- i don't seem to ever have the post meal coma or lack of energy i had in the past

The weight is staying steady at 180.

For my diet last couple of days...

Thursday:

BREAKFAST
- Larabar - love this, more on this later

LUNCH
- Wishbone - veggie burger - pretty awful

DINNER
- Leftovers from my vegan cooking

Friday:
BREAKFAST
- Larabar - love this, more on this later

LUNCH
- Pasta with red sauce in the Seras Tower pasta place - pretty bland and boring

DINNER
- Trader Joe's veggie burgers - awesome!

Saturday:
BREAKFAST
- Nuts - boring

LUNCH
- Sola - not a lot of selection, i had the breakfast burrito with half of the ingridients, still not so bad

DINNER
- 611 Bin wine Cafe - French onion soup (not as good as lauras), french fries, tampura green beans and sorbet. All and all totally not satisfying - and what I mean by that is that I wish I wasn't a vegan when dining there last night because my experience would have been much better if i wasnt.

Still standing

noreply@blogger.com (A Kucharski) — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 04:59:00 +0000

Despite Anne's clever post - and my Wife's arguments - the fact is that I am still VEGAN!

Yes, it was a stupid mistake to buy HONEY tea. I stopped myself from drinking it immediately after i realized it contained honey. Why else would I bring a FULL bottle back to the office?

This is reaching a boiling point - the stupid honey is not allowed in a vegan diet is so stupid in of itself, what is the reason? They process of gathering and creating honey doesn't hurt any animals, it actually helps the environment. Besides, honey is delicious.

Very frustrating.

Sorry, boss

noreply@blogger.com (2bluegarbagecans) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 19:36:00 +0000

You know, I actually have to challenge today's "vegan" lunch (that I am SURE Andy will post). My challenge, although I wasn't there to see what he had for lunch, I did see what he bought to drink.

My question is: Was it an honest mistake to buy this tea....and not know that it had honey in it?!

Almost a week without meat

noreply@blogger.com (A Kucharski) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 06:22:00 +0000

Still hanging in there. Today I had the best vegan meal so far: Laura braught in a home made french onion soup. Yuuuuummmy. Even had soy melted cheese on top.

As an aside, here is my weight for the last five days

day 1: 182
day 2: 180
day 3: 179
day 4: 181
day 5: 179

HOpefully a downward trend and a little bit of weight loss on this vegan diet. No matter, i keep on thinking of meat. Today, I started thinking of what my first meat meal will be after this bet is over.

Final thought - i saw a "Go Vegan" bumber sticker on the way home. It made me smile.

Day Five People!

noreply@blogger.com (A Kucharski) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 00:06:00 +0000

Ok People - today is day five!

Non Vegan foods I miss the most:
- meat
- cheese
- honey
- cream in my coffee

Here is my (i am sure uninteresting) food log for yesterday:

BREAKFAST:
- almonds (this sucks as same breakfast three days in a row)
- coffee with Soy Milk (Soy milk is a very poor substitute for milk in coffee)

LUNCH:
- Dinner leftovers of pasta

DINNER:
- Super treat: Lentils with carrots and peas in a curry sauce out of a crock pot (delicious, i suppose I should post the recepie)

Cleaning out non Vegan Food

noreply@blogger.com (A Kucharski) — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 19:36:00 +0000

I am lucky to have a "support group" in the office which in the beginning of my vegan "sacrifice" had helped me out clean out all meat products in my desk:

- illegal biltong smuggled from South Africa
- Chocolate bar with bacon bits
- Harvest bars which contained honey - more on honey later.

Thanks Anne:

anne.bustamante (1/22/2008 12:02:52 PM): so, Andy, what were you doing at Whole Foods so early?
anne.bustamante (1/22/2008 12:03:00 PM): buying meat?
anne.bustamante (1/22/2008 12:03:05 PM): drinking beer?
Andrew Kucharski (1/22/2008 12:03:29 PM): let me tell u, it wasnt easy... i instinctivly started going for the czeese
Andrew Kucharski (1/22/2008 12:03:45 PM): luckily i held back... good thing i have free will
Andrew Kucharski (1/22/2008 12:03:49 PM):
Andrew Kucharski (1/22/2008 12:03:54 PM): ... i was buying coffee
anne.bustamante (1/22/2008 12:04:16 PM): so, today is day 5! great job, boss!
anne.bustamante (1/22/2008 12:04:36 PM): (i owe Max a $1)
Andrew Kucharski (1/22/2008 12:04:46 PM): http://chicagoveganexperiment.blogspot.com/
anne.bustamante (1/22/2008 12:06:48 PM): i LOVE this!
anne.bustamante (1/22/2008 12:07:38 PM): surprised that you didnt mention the desk raid first thing in the morning....and the confiscated dried meat and luna bars. tsk tsk, you make it sound sooooo easy!

First three days of veganizm

noreply@blogger.com (A Kucharski) — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 05:30:00 +0000

I am precisely three days into being a Vegan. As far as I know I have so far not broken any vegan rules (actually, is there a vegan bylaw?).

I am lucky to have a very supportive crowd. My colleague Laura is the best vegan resource and seems to be a big fan so far. My wife is constantly pointing out things I cant eat - I will win that bed, regardless of how many meals she ruins for me.

So here is where we stand on meals so far:

DAY 1
BREAKFAST:
Vegan funnel cake - Laura broght to office, great start - so far its EASY!

LUNCH:
Falafel sandwich - I freaked out a bit because I thought tahini was sour cream but now I know better. EASY!

DINNER:
Hummus plate at a bar - this was a bit tough as I was meeting some friends for drinks and the only vegan option was this. All in all not a bad first day.

DAY 2
BREAKFAST:
Almonds - not great

LUNCH:
Bean Burger at News Cafe with fries - FRIES!!! What a savior!

DINNER:
Pizza - this was tough, we had to go through a while substitution routine. The waitress was great though and very supportive. Luckily this was a shi-shi pizza place - Crust.

DAY 3
BREAKFAST:
Flex Bar at Starbucks (Mara is challanging this - Note to self, need to check the ingredients to make sure its vegan, at the time I assumed all bread is vegan).

LUNCH
Potato Chips - this kind of sucked

DINNER
Home made tomato basil sauce with pasta and Swiss Curd - very good!

===

So far I dont think I have broken any laws. My allowance in the bet is that I have to knowingly stay vegan, accidents will not count against me - based on the honor system.

I have some surprises (more on that later) and I certainly have been reading the labels a lot more carefully.

Going Vegan for a Month

noreply@blogger.com (A Kucharski) — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 05:12:00 +0000

I have been leading a perfectly happy meat loving life up to three days ago. There was nothing wrong with me, I finished a 50 mile run under 11 hours two months ago, I was on vacation two weeks ago and I feel great.

I love meat, cheese and eggs. Ohh, and honey, I love honey. I also like veggies, but a nice juicy slab of some red meat once in a while is fantastic. I love to barbeque, I love a medium rare (on the rare side) fillet mignon... I could go on and on.

I grew up in a very carnivorous household. I was brought up eating open faced ham sandwiches with generous slather of butter underneath. My wife, my family and most of my friends are carnivores.

Then, while sitting in the beautiful Mont Rochel vinyard, while sipping red wine and biting down on some prosciutto I asked my wife if she thought I could last as a vegetarian. She laughed at me. I bated her to raise the stakes by throwing in "being vegan for a month"! Now there was a challenge!

I took the bet and the adventure started three days ago - on the 17th. I had so underestimated this cult of veganizm that the entire adventure is become extremly interesting. Last night at dinner a friend suggested I blog my trials and tribulations. I have taken her up on this I hope that it will last longer than a week (I will not be taking any more challanges on).