Trash - a side effect of going vegan

In our pre-vegan family days we used the garbage service once a week. It comes twice, but only during heavy yard work days did we ever need it. Now we use it every 3 times, but sometimes that's just to keep the smell down, not because the can is full. It puzzles both my husband and me as to why we our trash has gone down so significantly. Even adding in yard work days doesn't increase that need very much.

Now I wish I paid per pick-up, I could get rewarded for being a little greener.

Crazy Cravings

Do you have crazy pregnancy cravings? Heard of some from friends? How about avoidances?

Through my last three prenancies I have had an aversion to sugar and ice cream. This one is proving to be no different, right down to the ice cream part - meaning I can't even have non-diary versions. The one very odd part I'm finding is my aversion to wheat. Can't do it. Can't eat my homemade bread or rolls. I can't eat a slice of white bread unless it's a sandwich, and limited to one at that.

This wheat thing has made me switch gears and focus on lots of brown rice, quinoa, and grinding barley into flour for pancakes instead of wheat. It leaves me puzzled though, why no wheat?

Mormon Composer Meets Hanukkah - That's Unique!

Senator Orrin Hatch wrote a Hanukkah song. Hip Hop style. It's catchy and so unique, I had to share.

Check out the NYTimes article. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/09/us/politics/09hanukkah.html?_r=2&partner=rss&emc=rss
Then the video on TabletMag.com
Watch the Video

Pregnancy can do some very strange things.

I have been craving pizza every day for weeks. I've purchased a Kashi vegan one (unfortuntely our local Walmart stocked one that expired 3 months ago - they were good to give a refund), and Trader Joe's one (which is good by the way) but all to no avail. Cheese-less doesn't cut it. I can't stand vegan soy cheese either, so I don't dare make my own and watch it go down the drain.

That craving got so strong I finally decided to brace myself for digestion misery. I stopped at Costco with the fam and treated us all to pizza. The kids were estatic. I can't blame them, pizza was one of my all-time favorite foods; I ate it at least 3 times a week in high school. Rather than just order a cheese pizza I really wanted to give in to my craving and get a pepperoni, which is exactly what I did. Good move! Did you know that pepperoni has less cheese than a cheese pizza, I know that seems like a no brainer, yet it is a detail I forgot. It was divine. I knew my limit though. After a slice and a half I traded the remainder with my daughter for the crust of her slice she was nibbling at.

All night I expected misery, I woke myself up a few times expecting it, it never came.

How? All I can thing of are a combination of 2 solutions. I've been drinking a vegan greens drink everyday since Thanksgiving that supplies lactase. I also think that this little baby needed some nurishment from it and rewarded me for supplying it. Hooray!

My First Thanksgiving - Vegan

I had high hopes for Thanksgiving. Then morning sickness set in and that was the end. I bombed out. We attended a dinner with extended family. I didn't follow the one rule I've heard vegan's have: eat before going out to eat. I know the hostess was aware of my diet and hoped for the best. Well, she remembered the no meat thing, but it stopped there. I stuck with stuffing and mashed potatoes (vegetables were a little scarce considering the number of attendees), but my homemade vegan pumpkin pie was a little too flavorful and the option to tone it down was Cool Whip. I wanted to be courteous and try a bite (and I mean only a spoonful) of marshmallow Jello salad a cousin made, which of course was yummy but had sour cream and Cool Whip. It all added up to a terrible 24 hour tummy trauma. Not the best for someone who wants to go home, nap for 2 hours, then get back up and hit Black Friday at the stroke of midnight. Alas, it happened. I did learn one lesson. There is no way on earth I can blow it again on Christmas Eve at my mother-in-law's. I can't be doubled over in pain on Christmas Day!

The silliest thing is I purchased a tofurky roast to cook and eat before hand. As of today, that roast is still in the freezer...Guess it will be a New Year's Sunday dinner. I should be about over nausea by then.