We are soon approaching the end of Veganuary! Three weeks in and Veganuary is easier than ever: I’ve hit my stride, I haven’t second-guessed anything or slipped up once this week (apart from my Dad forgetting to use my Oatly milk in a cup of tea!) and cravings have been at an all-time minimum.
The only thing I’ve struggled with is how to take some nice photos of my food! But I’m blaming winter and it’s lack of natural light for that…
Here’s how I’ve got on with week three of Veganuary. – and you can read about week two here.
DAY FIFTEEN – TUESDAY
85 calories under budget.
Today I felt like I started the week off right (sort of, since Monday I was in London). I had granola with yoghurt for breakfast and let me tell you, since finding this granola from Home Bargains, my life has changed! I’ve tried granola/oats so many times before and always found them rank but I’ve finally found some I like. At 175 calories per serving, it’s super healthy and fills me up too. It has definitely become my breakfast go-to. For lunch, I had a delicious vegan mozzarella, sundried tomatoes and basil panini from the pantry on my estate: I’ve been super impressed with their vegan options lately! Finally, for dinner, I had my garlic Asian chicken which also served as leftovers for the following day.
DAY SIXTEEN – WEDNESDAY
156 calories under budget.
On Wednesday, my offerings were simple. I had vegan chocolate balls cereal for breakfast (a personal favourite: vegan or otherwise) and my vegan garlic Asian chicken. For lunch, I had a cheese and onion sandwich and for snacks, Tesco’s own brand tortilla chips. With 156 calories left in my budget, I’m starting to feel the more positive effects of veganism again; I’m not as hungry and eating healthier snacks when I am.
DAY SEVENTEEN – THURSDAY
66 calories under budget.
Thursday saw me have granola and yoghurt for breakfast and another mozzarella, sundried tomatoes and basil panini for lunch! I did tell myself I would bring my own lunches to work all month but the panini didn’t cost more than £3 so I didn’t mind as much! For dinner, it took a while to make but damn were they delicious: my kale stuffed mushrooms. I almost forgot how good they tasted and wondered just why it took me so long to make them again.
DAY EIGHTEEN – FRIDAY
277 calories under budget.
Friday was a bit of a treat day for me! I started the morning with cereal and then a simple cheese and onion sandwich, but for dinner went all out with Sainsbury’s sweet potato katsu curry for dinner, since I couldn’t have my usual Friday night curry! It was delicious as always but I soon realized just how many calories it is – a whopping 688! I mean don’t get me wrong, I’m still going to have them, but perhaps only on a special occasion or as an occasional treat…
DAY NINETEEN – SATURDAY
112 calories over budget.
Saturday was a lazy day for me = a very lazy day. I had a lovely lay in and breakfast in bed (cereal) once I managed to prise myself out of my covers, and a simple serving of mushrooms on toast for lunch, using the leftover mushrooms from Thursday. For dinner, I made fried chorizo and halloumi burger with garlic ciabatta and chips. I love this burger through and through but the ‘halloumi’ was just way too cheesy for me. I had tried it once before and remember it being cheesy but not that cheesy – still, you live and you learn. Perhaps next time I’ll try it with a different cheese alternative.
DAY TWENTY – SUNDAY
264 calories under budget.
Sunday was another relaxed day for me and I didn’t eat much – I skipped breakfast because Dad was doing a roast for an early dinner – but of course I had a Linda McCartney pie in place of the chicken. Not my favourite pie, but I haven’t found anywhere local that serves Fry’s Family Food’s pies yet, so it did the job. For supper, I had avocado on toasted sourdough bread – delicious! – and some onion rings (the crisps that is).
DAY TWENTY ONE – MONDAY
Today was my long day at work so I tried to stock up with as many snacks as I could. I had a filling granola yoghurt for breakfast and a cheese and onion sandwich for lunch (I really need to mix up my lunch options!) and a pear, with avocado on sourdough bread for a snack later on this evening.
This week was an easy one, I have really found my way with eating vegan this week. I haven’t had many cravings (apart from the occasional McDonalds and a celebratory pizza when this is all over), and haven’t even batted an eyelid at the difference in the milk I use in tea (it just tastes the same for me now). It’s got me thinking about the future and whether or not I will stay vegan. At this moment in time, I’m thinking about carrying on to be flexitarian (yes, that is a thing), in which I will be vegan in the week then only eat meat on the weekend or on the odd occasion like if I go for a meal out in the week or such (but substitute this so I have an extra vegan day at the weekend in this case). It’s something I don’t want to think too much into or put pressure on myself for, but I know making as much effort where I can will make a huge difference.
Are you doing Veganuary or are you tempted? Let me know!
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