Unintended Consequences…

Well it seems like my attempt to become vegitarian may well have had other negative consequences for my body. I went to the doctor this week because I thought I was having issues with anxiety. Mostly I was feeling a pressure in my chest that made it feel like I could not breathe. Given that I am on immune suppressant drugs and the fact that my hemoglobin was somewhat low at the last blood test she mused about whether I was experience air hunger again. This had happened to me before and it is very unpleasant. Although we did conclude that with everything going on in my life in the last year being anxious wouldn’t be unexpected.

In hindsight I think she may have been correct. Also, I had not been eating beef for months which is very high in iron. I have eaten beef several times in the last 10 days, almost daily in fact. I am feeling better – no more discomfort in my chest. So perhaps she was right. I had another blood test yesterday to see where we are at with regard to my hemoglobin count.

update

Well it has been a bit since I posted…mostly because I have been in agony. It would appear that there is way too much fibre in a vegetarian diet for me right now. I am not giving up but I am going to have to ramp it back, a lot. I am guessing that my colon is still not sufficiently healed from colitis to allow me to consume the fibre. I am going to wait a couple of weeks and start again…but very, very slowly.

I decided to eat roast beef or pork today…

So, off I went to the grocery store…thinking about how good that pork chop or slab of roast beef was going to be. I went to the meat section and I looked at the roasts. They had a decent prime rib there (which, in my opinion, if you are going to eat roast beef it might as well be the best) and it looked ok…but it really didn’t do it for me. Off, I go down the row because afterall I am sure what I really want is a pork chop. I get to the pork chops and they look ok too…but, I don’t really want that either. So, I walk away after grabbing a package of hot dogs for Deb.

Then the usual dilemma starts – what will I have for dinner. I can’t really eat beans for a couple of days so that is out. Then I see a huge zuchinni and I think that would be really good in soup. So I buy it. Then I look at the other squash and remember that I want to make a butternut squash soup…so, in that goes. Oh, and I love spaghetti squash. Then I decide to have tofu stroganoff for dinner, I grabbed some refried beans and wholewheat tortillas for burritos later in the week. The only meat I left with was the stuff for Deb.

I think for me making changes has to do with giving myself persmission to have whatever it is I am trying to reduce or get out of my life. It worked when I quit smoking. I walked around with cigarettes for 2 weeks and told myself I could have one in 5 minutes if the withdrawl was still as bad. It never was. So now I have a week of veggie dinners planned and stuff purchased. I feel good.

All of this is not to say that I have completely given up meat. I did have a subway sub with meat yeserday and some bacon. But I have certainly reduced the amount and frequency a great deal. Progress!!!

Too many chickpeas…

Well, I think I have eaten too many chickpeas over the last 2 days. I have had channa masala two days in a row and apparently that is too much fibre for my intetinal tract at the moment. Suffice it to say I am in extreme pain today and have been since I got up. Sigh. I guess I will put the leftovers in the freezer and find something less fibrous for dinner.

Dinner tonight

Was out of this world it was so good. Please try the recipes! Wow!

Channa Masala and Vegetable Rice

Here are the recipes for tonight’s dinner. The recipes came from a former co-worker of mine. This is different from standard curries from India. Rozmina is from North Africa.

Channa Masala and Vegetable Rice

1 tablespoon of oil

1 can chickpeas

1 chopped onion

1 chopped tomato

1 tsp of tomato paste (I omit this)

1 tsp of ground garlic

1 tsp of ground ginger

1-2 green chilles (I omit or use a small amt of green chille chutney)

fresh cilantro

I tsp of dried fenugreek or methi leaves

Salt

¼ tsp of turmeric

1 tsp of garam masala

1 tsp of cumin seeds

1. Heat oil in a heavy bottom panned. Add in the cumin seeds and chopped green chilles and fry for a bit.
2. Add ginger and garlic and cook for a minute.
3. Add chopped onions and when the onions are golden brown add in the chopped tomato and tomato paste and the rest of the spices with salt.
4. Let it cook for a while until the oil separates.
5. Add the can of chickpeas and let it cook.
6. Add in one cup of hot water and bring it to a boil.
7. Lower heat and let it cook for a few more minutes.
8. Last, add the coriander leaves and dried methi leaves.

Serve with Naan or rice.

Vegetable Rice

1 cup of rice

1 tsp of cumin seeds

2-3 whole cloves

2 cardamoms

1 cinnamon stick

Whole peppercorns

Salt

1 tsp of oil

1 chopped onion

Handful of spinach

½ cup of frozen peas

1. Heat oil in the pan and add in cumin seeds and all the whole spices until it sputters.
2. Add in chopped onion and let it cook well.
3. Add in the salt and frozen peas and cook for a minute.
4. Add 1 ½ cups of water and bring to a boil.
5. Add the rice and let it cook on high until the rice is ¾ of the way cooked.
6. Add the spinach leaves.
7. Lower heat and cover pan and let it cook
8. The rice will be ready in about 5 minutes.

You can use any vegetable in this rice i.e. carrots, green beans, zucchini, cauliflower, mushrooms, broccoli. You can also add in raisins and almonds.

Moving along…

Well I am back on track. No meat for three days. My partner offered me a chicken ball and I told her if I was going to eat meat it was certainly not going to be a chicken ball!!! Blah! Didn’t like them before can’t imagine eating one now. Now pork ribs…that is another story!

I have made potato soup again. I am not the only one who likes it thankfully. I am hoping to make channa masala soon (curried chickpeas) and will post the recipe for all who are interested.

Success and relapse…

Well after not having meat for about 10 days I have had some meat the last 2 days. I chalk it up to the heat. It is just too damned hot to think of other things to eat. Mostly my meat has been in the form of sandwiches that are quick and easy and cool. I will back to the new ‘normal’ tomorrow.

Something is happening in my brain…

I no longer really think about eating meat (well except for bacon). It has been a little over a week since I last had meat (it was bacon). I actually let a grocery store chicken come into the house without eating any of the skin (my favourite part). I am not sure what is going on but something has shifted.

So, what have I been eating? I have had some prawns (they are good for me as they don’t promote inflammation and they have omega 3s in them), potato soup, veggie lasagna, hummus, cucuumbers in yogurt with dill, eggplant caponata twice, veggie sub, veggie pizza, nachos. So quite varied. I intend to make daal this week – although if it gets as hot as they say I think I will just go somewhere and die.

Eggplant Caponata

I just made the most wonderful eggplant dish. It is so full of flavour!! Go here for the recipe. I think this will quick become a staple here!