It has been almost one month since I started my “Year of Living Without” project. I chose to live without meat (except fish and eggs) for one month to see what happened. Honestly, this has not been as difficult as I expected it to be, and I have actually really enjoyed it! I’ve learned how to cook salmon (for some reason, I was always afraid to cook fish… not sure why) and to make tofu so that it actually tastes like the tofu you get at a restaurant (thank you, youtube).
One downfall I’ve noticed about this project is that, if I’m not careful, I can end up eating lots of really unhealthy things, like refined carbs. It is easier to reach for a soft pretzel or bagel or white pasta instead of taking the time to concoct a nutritious meat substitute. I am learning, though! As always in my life, planning is key. I’m trying at least one new vegetarian recipe per week with excellent results so far. My kids actually ate the spinach/cheese/egg casserole I made last week! I let them help me make it, which I think encouraged them to want to try it. It’s the most spinach I’ve seen voluntarily go down their gullets since, well, forever.
I do miss meat occasionally, though. I will admit that my veggie pizza tastes a little bland when I see my kids woofing down pepperoni. I’ve learned the art of adding hot sauce (of which there is an amazing variety in the local grocery store!) to add flavor.
I’m not sure if my cholesterol is going down or if I am truly in any way healthier as a result of this experiment, but I am trying something new and I am learning, which is always exciting to me.
So where do I go from here? What is my next month’s experiment in living without? As much as this one scares me, I think I might dub October “A Month Without Sugar.” Yikes! My brain immediately fast-forwards to that glorious night of October 31st, when I surreptitiously raid my kids’ orange pumpkins after they go to bed in a sugar-induced Halloween candy coma. They never seem to notice that the supply of Snickers bars is significantly lower the next morning… 😉
However, maybe once I live for one month without sugar, I won’t crave it anymore. Also, if all else fails, November 1st will be the start of my next new month and I will be able to indulge myself in a little sugar by then, anyway. Wish me luck!
2 Responses
You can do it! You are right about the duration… it is very doable for almost any type of experiment. And good luck with your filing project! It was one of the best things I did when I minimized the house… I can find any paper now.
This is a really good idea–living one month without x item. The duration is long enough to make one serious about the effort, but short enough to see the light at the end. I may try this out with sugar when I get brave enough!