Don't Tell My Grandmother

It's Tuesday - Congratulations, you made it through Monday.

Don't tell my grandmother, but I'm starting a 30-Day Vegan Challenge on January 1st.  People tend to go vegan for a handful of reasons:

• Save the animals.
• Save the environment.
• Lose weight.
• Lower Cholesterol 
• Pretty much any health reason

Why am I?  Because Robert got me this:

Happy Birthday!

There is a handful of possible reasons why he got me this book:

• He knew I would enjoy reading it.  It's quite informative.
• I'm always trying new vegan dishes.  Add to my repertoire.
• He knew I would take up this challenge and he can watch me conquer or fail.
• He subconsciously wants to do this too.
• There are recipes in this book that I will try and he knows he'll be asked to taste test.

Whatever the reason, it's awesome.  I don't know many girls who get excited, a little teary-eyed, or whose heart flutters over a 30-Day Vegan Challenge book, but I did.  Well-played Jones. well-played.

I Digress.

I am taking up this challenge for that word alone: Challenge.  I have no need to lose weight.  My cholesterol and blood-pressure are superb.  I don't have the "Save the Animals" passion.  The environment is the environment, and I can't change it alone.

Please note I'm only going vegan with food.  I'm not going to start using baking soda as deodorant or anything.

I enjoy a good challenge or 12.  Something a little different and some change are always welcome.  It keeps me on my toes.  I'm using my Pinterest to stock up on good recipes: Check Me Out 

The other day I made Peanut Butter Chocolate Pillows and they are delicious.  I also made vegan mac n' cheese: not so good.  The mac n' cheese only tastes good when eaten with my paprika, sesame chicken.  That's not going to work.  So I've got some work to do.  I pretty much need to stock up on black beans, chickpeas, quinoa, maybe some lentils.  I make a pretty amazing vegan pizza that I could easily eat for 30 days, but I want variety.

All this said, I am excited.  That is lame, but if you know me you know it's the little things in life that excite me and make me happy.  I'm going to somewhat document my eating experiences during these 30 days.  All I ask from my closest friends is support and the following:

• Don't make fun of me.
• Don't tempt me with chicken because it's a weakness of mine.
• Don't eat Wing Stop around me.
• Don't use ranch dressing in excess around me.
• Don't wave a Philadelphia Roll in my face.  
• Do not eat at Rudy's or let me know that you have eaten at Rudy's.
• Don't ask me to make you anything unless you expect it to be vegan.

That's not too much to ask.

January 31, 2012 - mark you calendars - we're going to Outback.