Well, I can’t believe January’s challenge is already coming to an end! For those of you who might not know, for the month of January, I’ve been eating vegan—in other words, in addition to the meat products I usually abstain from as a vegetarian, I also cut dairy products and eggs out of my life this month. With the exception of a few slip-ups here and there (how did this bite of non-vegan cookie find its way into my mouth?!?), I’m proud to say that the challenge was a success!
In fact, I would say that all in all, the challenge was a lot easier than I’d anticipated. I thought that being vegan would mean constant vigilance, reading labels, and feelings of deprivation, but in actuality, after a few days of adjustment, it became almost like second nature, and by the third or fourth day, I wasn’t aware that I was eating “vegan,” I was just going about my normal, day-to-day routine.
As for the label reading, during my first few shopping trips as a vegan, I was careful to look at the labels of processed products that I sometimes buy (crackers, energy bars, baked goods, etc.). I would say that the products that I normally go for were vegan about 50% of the time, and that the ones that weren’t vegan (Kashi TLC crackers, certain Clif bars) were obviously easy to find a replacement for.
Our meals remained healthy and balanced, and in fact, I would say that the vegan challenge pushed me to step outside my normal realm of comfort and encouraged me to try new recipes (cashew sour cream, anyone?) and vegan-friendly products (vegan cheese, etc.). I would also say that the staple meals we usually turn to during the week were either already vegan (stir fry, etc.) or easy to “veganize,” (ie, pasta, but without parmesan cheese).
There were certain foods I missed, like frozen yogurt. And sure, I missed having cheese on my sandwiches and in my pasta. But, through this challenge, I became more aware of the fact that, though I missed cheese, I got over it pretty quickly. Once it wasn’t in our refrigerator, I didn’t go around thinking about it. My wraps and sandwiches tasted fine without it, and honestly, my body was probably better off without it. Although I’ll certainly go back to eating cheese now that the challenge is over, I can see it being the kind of thing I won’t keep in the house anymore. I’d like to try to limit my cheese consumption to “fancy” cheeses at parties or restaurants, rather than the string cheese and Sargento swiss I’d gotten used to throwing on my sandwiches and burgers without even thinking about it.
Doing this vegan challenge has also presented me with the opportunity to expand my thinking on animal rights and what my reasons are for being a vegetarian in the first place. Unlike people who do it for health reasons, my reasoning is fairly rooted in animal rights; because of this, I recognize the hypocrisy of not eating meat, but continuing to eat the products of animals who most likely were treated very inhumanely over the course of their (let’s face it) pretty terrible lives. Earlier in the week, I posted my dissatisfaction with Vegan-extraordinnaire Bob Torres, who argued that going vegetarian for animal rights reasons is not even going “half way” because if you still eat dairy and eggs, you’re supporting a system that is based in animal cruelty. While I disagree with this statement, an interesting point Torres made during the podcast was that eating dairy and eggs actually causes and promotes more cruelty than the slaughterhouse system, in that the cruelty involved in the dairy and egg industry is much more prolonged, whereas the cruelty in the slaughterhouse system is swift. This is an interesting point, and one that I don’t take lightly.
That being said, I do believe that every little bit counts, and right now, while I can’t commit to a 100% vegan lifestyle, I’m going to make the effort that I can to move in that direction, and I have to believe that there is some merit in that. Because I know there will be times when I eat dairy or eggs, even if only once or twice a month, I don’t think I could ever call myself a vegan, and it would be hypocritical to do so. However, I fully support the values of the vegan lifestyle, and hope that I can continue to incorporate elements of it into my own life.
In terms of health…well, I felt healthy on this challenge! But, I generally feel healthy most of the time. I felt healthy before I started the challenge, and I feel healthy now! I’ve heard people talk about the “magic” of going vegan—clear skin, renewed energy, weight loss, etc. While I noticed that my energy levels were higher and I no longer felt an “afternoon slump,” my weight didn’t change, and my skin looks pretty much the same. I also discovered that it is entirely possible to eat a diet of complete junk while still eating vegan. What I will say is that the mindfulness that the vegan diet encourages and even requires in order to stay in good health could definitely make a follower of the vegan diet more inclined towards healthy decisions. During the challenge, I felt myself concentrating more on creating meals that incorporated a variety of produce and whole foods in order to ensure that I was still meeting my nutritional needs. That said, I still ended every meal with dessert, and didn’t feel necessarily “cleansed” or “renewed” as I was hoping I might.
Several times throughout the challenge, I noted to Ryan that if we were simply going to eat every meal at home for the rest of our lives, I could see myself going full-on vegan with little challenge. However, the inconvenience that it might cause in social settings is more than I feel comfortable taking on. The challenge showed me that, while going vegan is completely doable, it does require a large amount of devotion, vigilance, and, at times (especially in social or restaurant settings) sacrifice.
In the end, the food part of this challenge was the least difficult aspect. What was truly challenging was the way that it forced me question the rationale behind my vegetarian eating and wonder if going vegetarian was enough. It’s a question that I’ll continue to explore even though the challenge has drawn to an end, which, I suppose, means that the challenge was a success.
* * *
So, looking ahead to February, what am I going to tackle for my next challenge?
My dreaded white powder addiction:
No, not that one.
This one:
They look so sweet and innocent, right? But they make me feel like this:
Time to go to sugar rehab!!!!
For the month of February, I’ll be recording my sugar intake in the hopes to eliminate as much added sugar from my diet as possible.
On average, Americans consume 20 teaspoons of added sugar a day, twice the maximum daily intake recommendation of the USDA (10 teaspoons, or roughly 40 grams).
I don’t drink soda, which is a big reason why American’s consumption of sugar is so high. In fact, looking at this blog, it might appear that I don’t eat that much added sugar at all.
But I do. Oh, I do. Much of my sugary indulgences go unphotographed on this blog—a handful of chocolate chips here, a bite of cookie there. And another bite. And another bite. This all happens around 8:00 pm, when I start jonesin’ for a sugar fix. I’m hoping that this challenge will really force me to buckle down on my sugar intake and come to terms with how much sugar I’ve been sneaking into my diet for the past couple of years.
You see, I wasn’t always a sugar-head. When I was growing up, it was a lucky week in our house when my mom would bring home Fig Newtons or graham crackers from the grocery store. But, my sister and I have both contemplated that perhaps that’s why we’re so in love with the white stuff—because our intake was so limited when we were growing up. Now that we’re adults and can buy our own food, the temptation to buy all the things we weren’t allowed to have as kids is too great. I fill my cart with cookies and chocolate, and I eat dessert after every meal, because I can. No one is here to stop me, or tell me no…even though I wish they would! Ah, irony!
The other part of this challenge that I’m very interested in is seeing the sugars that sneak their way into products that aren’t “sweet” at all—things like oats, veggie burgers, bread, crackers…basically EVERYTHING!!! My prediction for this challenge is that I’ll be shocked by the amount of sugar in pre-packaged foods, and how quickly it all adds up.
For this challenge, I’m not going to limit myself to a “set amount” of sugar each day. Obviously staying below the 40 grams mark would be ideal (and I don’t think that will be too hard?!?), but again, my goal here is to simply become aware of the sugar in my diet, and then to work on cutting it out. I’ll be recording the added sugar in all of my meals and snacks, and then tallying the total at the end of every day. I won’t be limiting fruit, nor will I record the non-added sugars in whole foods like fruits and vegetables. My hope is that once I start recording the amount of sugar I’m consuming, I’ll be able to make smarter choices and get my sugar intake down to a bare minimum, maybe even nothing?
I think this challenge will actually be harder for me than the vegan one, but that if I can master it, I’ll be able to really tell a difference in the way I feel and look. That’s what I’ve heard from other bloggers who have been able to cut out the white stuff, anyway. I’ve also heard that the first few days are rough, but that after about a week, the cravings stop altogether, and soon, things like cookies and cake seem too sweet, too rich. I’ve already mentioned my proclivity for all things rich and sweet, so I’ll be interested to see if this is true.
I made several trips to the bookstore in an attempt to find some sort of sugar-free living guide, but most of the sugar-free “diet” books that I saw relied heavily on artificial sweeteners like Splenda, and that is not at all the direction that I want to go. I have some Stevia that I’ll use from time to time, but on the whole, I’d like to get away form artificial sweeteners and learn to enjoy my food and drinks without the high level of sweetness that I think most of us have become accustomed to.
Feel free to offer thoughts, ideas, and insights about this challenge! Also, feel free to join me if you’d like!
Karla said,
January 31, 2010 @ 2:51 pm
So just to clarify, this doesn’t include natural sugars in fruit, right?
I think the idea of cutting back on added sugars is a great idea! I’m starting first by cutting back on refined sugar. The hard part for me is I love baking! Most of the time I can give it away but I have to try it to make sure it’s not disgusting.
I think this is a great challenge! I’ll definitely give it a try with you by cutting back on added sugar in traditional place (i.e. cookies, brownies, cake, etc.) although I don’t know if I’ll count the grams of sugar
Good luck!
Anna said,
January 31, 2010 @ 3:31 pm
Yeah, definitely not limiting fruit or natural sugars!!! Only added ones
I know…baked goods are my weakness too!
Heather (Where's the Beach) said,
January 31, 2010 @ 2:52 pm
Congrats on the vegan challenge. I realized that I eat mostly vegan as well, without even be conscious of it. Mostly because I try to keep my meals clean. Good luck with the next challenge!!! I guess it’ll give you an excuse to try even more new recipes at least
Heather said,
January 31, 2010 @ 3:05 pm
What a wonderful synopsis of your challenge! I love how honest you were with yourself about challenging your own beliefs and the reality of making a change. I’m with you- eating at home is one thing, eating out is another. I think you still get and provide benefits by following a vegetarian/vegan lifestyle most of the time–there’s no reason it has to be all or nothing. I’m looking forward to your sugar reducing challenge–you sound just like me on this one…I should probably try to cut mine down too
Estela @ Weekly Bite said,
January 31, 2010 @ 3:10 pm
I agree with you! I think giving up sugar would be harder than going vegan.
I try to watch my sugar intake as much as possible.. I just keep it in moderate amounts…
Have a great Sunday
theprocessofhealing said,
January 31, 2010 @ 3:32 pm
I like your thoughts on being vegan and vegetarian. I, like you, could not probably go completely vegan – i love yogurt too much. Cheese I like and enjoy, yes, but could live without. Yogurt? Not so much. I’m a semi-vegetarian. I still eat chicken and seafood but not near as much as I used to. And I think that any effort we make to cut back or even buy organic, free-range, eggs, meat, and dairy does make a difference. Just because you aren’t vegan doesn’t mean you don’t still make a difference.
As for the sugar challenge, I look forward to hearing how it goes. I have severly cut back in my sugar intake without meaning to lately. All through the holidays in nov and dec I had SO much sugar in the form of cookies, cakes, etc. that honestly, I just got sick of it. I would usually have something like that every single night. But for a while now, I just don’t want it anymore. Generally. I have a cookie or ice cream or something maybe a couple times a week now but not near what it used to be. And i’ve started to use natural sweeteners when I do sweeten things, like Agave Nectar and real Maple Syrup, instead of processed sugar and Splenda and I think it really does make a difference.
inmytummy said,
January 31, 2010 @ 3:38 pm
I’m with you on the sugar thing. I have a major sweet tooth. I also wasn’t allowed to have a lot of sugar as a kid and I wonder if that’s part of it.
Like you, I used to rely heavily on Splenda. I stopped eating it over a year ago and now find myself not paying as much attention to the sugar content of foods which isn’t that great.
Lily @ Lily's Health Pad said,
January 31, 2010 @ 3:40 pm
Interesting to hear the synopsis of your vegan challenge.
I know that I eat A LOT of added sugars. I have tried to cut down, but it’s difficult. You know, I’ve also often wondered if my sweet tooth was due to the fact that my parents limited my intake of sugary foods when I was a kid. I think feeding my children is going to be such a difficult balance! Probably more difficult than feeding myself.
Madeline - Greens and Jeans said,
January 31, 2010 @ 3:48 pm
Thanks for sharing your vegan experience! You are a brave woman for giving up sugar! I don’t go sugar crazy, but every once in awhile it is definitely necessary.
Emily said,
January 31, 2010 @ 4:15 pm
I think you have a very reasonable approach to this month’s challenge! I’m sure it will be eye-opening. I really worry about the added disguised sugars, like corn syrup and it’s many variaties. (Why does wheat bread need to be sweetend?) I also worry about the chemicals in artificial sweetners, which prompted me to give up my beloved Tab. I’m going to cop your challenge idea, and give up wine or beer for one month. (I won’t lie –it’s vanity. I want to kick start my weight loss before the two spring weddings I’m going to.)
Anna said,
January 31, 2010 @ 4:32 pm
Oooh– and I’ll see you at one of those weddings!
I need to do the alcohol challenge one month…but I keep finding reasons not to
Now you just need to start a blog to chart yoru challenge, Emo!!
lpskins said,
January 31, 2010 @ 4:24 pm
You know my, I’m a sugar addict. I am really looking forward to following you through this month journey. Congrats on completing Januarys challenge. Inspiring.
Christine said,
January 31, 2010 @ 4:34 pm
Awesome post on the vegan lifestyle. I’ve been without refined sugars for over a month now … since Christmas and rarely before that while trying to stick to occasional raw treats. It’s great, I don’t have near the mood swings or cravings I used to. This will be a tough challenge at first, but the payoff is worth it and consider only raw treats for the occasional sweet fix.
Ginger said,
January 31, 2010 @ 4:58 pm
Great job on the January challenge – it was fun trying to (sort of) do it along with you. I’m going to (sort of) try to do the sugar challenge, as well. I think processed foods will be the major culprits on this one; there’s so much sugar added to those foods. I’m going to start by cutting out the Stevia in my coffee every morning – that will be a BIG change! I’m glad you’re coming home this week because I think it will be easier for me to just eat along with you! Can’t wait to see you.
Evan Thomas said,
January 31, 2010 @ 5:38 pm
Your new challenge sounds awesome! I try to cut sugar down, and do for the most part, but it’s not as simple, especially on the go, as I’d like. Have you seen the proposed new food labels? I’m not sure if they’ve passed and will come out, or are still being planned, but they have “sugar” and “added sugars” listed separately. I think that’s genius and wish they would do that for products already because it’s so hard to know how much in yogurt is sucrose and how much lactose
Anna said,
January 31, 2010 @ 6:54 pm
Those food labels will be great!!! Of cousre, I’m sure it will take 20 years for it to actually be put into action
Erin said,
January 31, 2010 @ 5:59 pm
Your wrap-up of being vegan for a month was really interesting. I’m trying to eliminate all animal products from my diet for a month to see if some skin and stomach issues clear up but am not giving myself the title of vegan or anything… just seeing how it all works out.
The sugar issue is huge and surprising. I don’t know what my daily consumption rates but with the amount of fruit many of us eat, it’s probably higher than we realize!
Ameena said,
January 31, 2010 @ 6:05 pm
Great job on doing the vegan thing for a whole month! The sugar idea is even more admirable. I did it and feel a ton better. It was hard! But if you can do vegan for a month you can certainly quiet the sugar demons too!!
Good luck!!
Abby said,
January 31, 2010 @ 6:47 pm
Props to you for doing a vegan challenge. Im sooo glad to hear it was no QUITE as hard as you thought it would be. Personally, I dont miss any sort of meat or dairy product (if I truly did, I would consume it).
I have confidence your new challenge will be just as successful! Happy Sunday!!
Kristie said,
January 31, 2010 @ 6:55 pm
Nice wrap-up! I will really be curious as you go into this month’s challenge as I definitely have a demanding sweet tooth as well
Allison said,
January 31, 2010 @ 7:01 pm
I think my desire to overindulge in sugar is for the same reason. We NEVER had oreos or chips ahoy or cupcakes, etc. in our house growing up. The best we would have would be SnackWells (not good at all in any respect). It makes me think about how I want to raise my children in the future. Thanks for the post!
Anna said,
January 31, 2010 @ 10:43 pm
I think about this a lot too– encouraging a healthy lifestyle with my kids without becoming too much of a healthy food dictator…it will definitely be an interesting bridge to cross when the time comes.
Shelly said,
January 31, 2010 @ 7:56 pm
Sugar is so addictive to me! When I get in a sugar eating rut, I will find myself sitting at my desk in the afternoon craving chocolate chip cookies, ice cream sundae’s, AND a rootbeer float all at once.
I definitely try to limit my sugar. I try to eat as little white sugar as possible, but I do add honey to my plain greek yogurt, agave to my morning coffee, and eat the occasional energy bar or sweetened nut mix. (And of course, when I do long runs, I take gels.) That being said, I do allow myself a little bit of more conventional sweets on occasion-I had an apple caramel blossom with a scoop of vanilla Hagen-dasz last night, actually. But it’s a pretty rare treat for me.
When I first started limiting my sugar, it seriously sucked. But after a few weeks, I began to appreciate natural sources of sugar, and I find that a lot of the foods I love are still sweet- scallops, sweet potatoes, fruit and berries, beets, etc….I also love to roast veggies because it makes them naturally sweet.
Another think I have noticed is that I tend to combine my sugars with stuff that’s high in protein and fiber and that seems to help me prevent crashing in a way that eating a big sugary dessert does not. For example, my breakfast is almost always sweet- either greek yogurt with blackberries, honey and a little granola or oatmeal with fruit and nut butter and a swirl of agave syrup. My sweet snacks are usually fruit and cheese and crackers or nuts. I think this keeps my blood sugar even in a way that just eating a bunch of sugar would not.
Good luck on your challenge!
Gabriela said,
January 31, 2010 @ 8:05 pm
Very interesting post! I feel the same way about veganism. It’s my ideal diet, but I often find it too logistically difficult when I’m not at home
My house was the same way growing up, with very little sugar, and now I’m positively addicted, as well. I might have to join you on your challenge, if that’s ok
Anna said,
January 31, 2010 @ 10:42 pm
Of course!! Misery loves company, right?
theemptynutjar said,
January 31, 2010 @ 9:26 pm
This is an interesting post Anna…you always are so interesting. Its so admirable that u take on these challenges that require goals, dedication, spontanaiety, no fear….way to go!
daintyvegan said,
January 31, 2010 @ 9:52 pm
Yay! The recap I’ve been waiting for.
Loved it and it has me thinking about some things..
As for your February challenge.. I would LOVEEEEE to join you! One question: when it comes to fruit sugar and such, you aren’t counting that.. right? I think I understood it correctly but I’m not sure. Lol.
Anna said,
January 31, 2010 @ 10:41 pm
Yay!!! Please join me! Yeah, I’m not counting fruit…only added sugars!
One day? Feels like an eternity! « Dainty Vegan said,
January 31, 2010 @ 11:13 pm
[...] into challenges and things that will shake up my boringly mundane life, I’ve decided to join Anna in her February challenge to cut back on sugar intake. Although I don’t think I’m too [...]
kilax said,
February 1, 2010 @ 2:45 am
Your feelings on veganism echo mine – I feel like I eat a bigger variety of foods, and find it easy. I am happy to hear you are going to still eat vegan meals. And amen on vegan junk food – there is a lot of it! Oreos, anyone?!
I feel like I do pretty good with sugar, but feel I could do better. If I avoid processed foods, I am okay, but who can completely do that? I am excited to read about how the challenge goes!
Karin said,
February 1, 2010 @ 10:18 am
Amazing post! I loved reading about your challenge and I can definitely imagine doing one as well.
Your sugar challenge sounds interesting! To be honest, I don’t really know how much sugar I eat. There’s a lot of hidden sugar in foods that I don’t know about. Can’t wait to read more about your new challenge!
Gelareh @ Nutritious Foodie said,
February 1, 2010 @ 3:31 pm
Great post Anna. I was away from the computer most of the weekend so am now catching up with everything.
I enjoyed reading your revivew of vegan diet, I felt the same way while on my cleanse… vegan diet is easy as there are tons of options out there… but like you said I am still having a hard time with it when eating out… but am ok limiting my dairy intake at home as much as possible.
You are a brave woman for taking on the sugar challenge, but I have to admit that once you start it and find all the natural alternatives it won’t be as hard. Looking forward to reading about it through out Feb…
kara said,
February 1, 2010 @ 6:22 pm
I am so glad to see that I am not the only one that struggles with a sugar addiction! I am going to have to consider joining in as part of my dedication to a healthy eating february.
Katie O. @ Fit to Wed said,
February 2, 2010 @ 2:13 am
Very interesting and insightful recap. You are going to rock the sugar challenge! Sugar shows up in the oddest places- tonight I noticed that my muir glen organic pasta sauce had sugar in it. I never picked up on that before!