I told myself that I would use this week off to get back on track - eating vegan and going to the gym regularly. I even went all out on Sunday and ordered like 6 things at Chilango's with Steve - the "last meal". I mean, we did climb up a lighthouse (which was much, much scarier than expected and left my thighs feeling much, much burn the next day) so I felt I deserved some calories - plus, I never try anything new at Chilango's (rest assured, we did order fish tacos, too). In all seriousness, that lighthouse climb probably didn't even work off the growler of Comma we split at the beach. I was actually terribly craving Taco Bell, pizza, sushi, pork roll, and McDonald's fries all day, so I'd say I did pretty well regardless.
On Monday, I woke up before my 9:00 AM alarm, refreshed and totally ready to start the day. I had two things scheduled: 1) Fingerprints for a volunteer position, 2) Physical therapy at a new place and then Briele and I planned to make mimosas and spend the day reading Of Mice and Men outside in preparation for the show next weekend. However, the weather was so nice and I was in such a good mood, I decided we should also have a gigantic (healthy, vegan) picnic at the lake. I was sure that I would get at least somewhat of a workout in at physical therapy.
No. I did no work whatsoever. Normally, I'd say it was great...I got treated with heat, an ultrasound, and a laser, and that was it. There was no time to work out before the picnic.
Okay, maybe I would go to the gym after the picnic. Besides our champagne, cleverly designed as ginger ale (am I going to go to jail for this?), some fruit salad, hummus, and carrots that I already had, Whole Foods provided us with a delicious feast: pasta and roasted vegetables, garlic and lemon olives (OMG), golden sesame tofu (kinda boring), fresh salsa, tortilla chips, and pretzel sticks. We ate and drank and read in the sunshine until our bladders forced us to go back to my house. At that point, there was no turning back from my gluttony. The gym was a lost cause but Quick Check wasn't. I ended up eating two Entenmann's apple pies and two Reese's peanut butter eggs before bed. My vegan diet went out the window and my stomach acid went up my esophagus - hence the 4 AM Alka Seltzer.
Now it's just after noon and although I'm dressed for it, I still can't bring myself to go to the gym. First, I felt that I didn't have enough energy so I made coffee and breakfast. Now, I feel like my allergies and the rain are just zapping me of all drive.
Now it's 4:36 PM, my apartment is a wreck (there is legit dirt on the floor from a basil plant - just planted! - that blew over), I have an unfinished TV pilot typed up on Google Drive, and I've made two successful meals. I guess if I share the recipes, I will feel somewhat successful today, even if I do go over my calorie limit (WHATEVER. I'm on "vacation" and as long as the food I eat is clean, healthy, and vegan, I DON'T CARE!)
Breakfast: Tofu Ranchero (improvised, but based on a recipe I posted here)
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| New garlic press and citrus squeezer! |
After about 3 minutes, I added the tofu - this time I used half a brick (I'm still calling it that) of Nature's Promise extra firm tofu, rinsed, dried, and cut into small cubes.
At 8 or 9 minutes in, I added three quartered Campari tomatoes (because that was all that I had left). At the 10-minute mark, I added the same spice mixture as last time: a teaspoon of cumin, 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme, 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric, 1/2 teaspoon pink Himalayan salt, 1 1/2 tablespoons water. I also added 1/8 cup nutritional yeast, 1/8 cup Whole Foods fresh medium salsa, and black pepper. I let this cook for 5 more minutes, and then I stirred in half of a sliced avocado.
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| I'm so professional, throwing slop on a paper plate |
This might look gross, but it was soooooo delicious. The cumin made it taste like there was legit ground meat involved, and the texture could have fooled me, too. In all, this came out to nearly 500 calories, but those are healthy calories, and it kept me full for quite a while.
Lunch: Lentil & Quinoa Tacos (adapted from this Simple Veganista recipe)
For this very easy meal, I boiled 2 1/2 cups of water along with 3/4 cup red lentils (rinsed) and 1/2 cup quinoa (also rinsed). Once this reached the boiling point, I added a mixture of the following:
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon pink salt
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
(this reminds me that I also got to use my Pampered Chef adjustable measuring spoons today!)
I stirred that all together (and boy, did it smell good), turned the heat down to low, covered the pot, and let it simmer for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, I prepped for the next steps by washing and slicing a scallion and preparing the dressing:
- 1/4 cup tahini (which means I got to use my new Pampered Chef can opener!)
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tablespoon lemon
- Pinch of pink salt
- Pinch of dried parsley
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
When the 20 minutes were up, I added the sliced scallion and a tablespoon of dried parsley to the pot and removed it from the heat. I let that sit for 10 more minutes.
I used all of this goodness to make 3 tacos. I reluctantly purchased corn tortillas, which I hate, because all of the flour tortillas in the grocery store listed about 50 ingredients, 45 of which were unpronounceable. I'm pleased to say that I enjoyed my La Banderita white corn tortillas, which I topped with about 1/3 cup of lentil-quinoa mix, some organic mixed baby greens, a little sliced avocado, and a drizzle of tahini dressing.
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| No time to worry about presentation |
In all, the lentil-quinoa mixture should be enough for 6 servings. After eating 3, coupled with my big breakfast and two servings of coffee, I'm about 100 calories over my limit today...and that's only with 2 healthy meals. I'm trying to fill up on water, but realistically, it's not bedtime yet and I really want wine.
This has been the most boring day ever.
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