Exploits of a Vegan Wannabe

Here are some quick food updates from earlier posts along with an idea for your next evening “in” with friends.  First, updates on some of the items I promised to try and share more.

Daiya cheese:

The review I did earlier (5/21) of Daiya cheese was on the Cheddar, which I really like. I like the texture and the flavor. It has added to the dishes that we have used it in or on. We just recently tried the mozzarella and I do not like it at all. I don’t really understand how the melted texture can be SO different from that of the cheddar, but it is. The melted mozz had an off-putting mouth feel while not offering any tasty benefits.  In case you are yet to try either and are put in the position of staring at the fridge section wondering which one to try….go for the cheddar.

Chia Seeds:

The last time we talked about Chia seeds I told you I was willing to give anything that amazingly healthy a try for a week or so. Since then, I have put them in our smoothies nearly every day. They have the strangest texture…like micro tapioca. They are like poppy seeds that actually “pop” in your mouth. Think Pop Rocks without the sugar or stained tongue.

The interesting part is that since I have added them every morning like a medicine man…I now feel afraid not to. If Sandy suggests we have toast instead of our Green Smoothie with its Chia infusion I look at her as if she just suggested we eat Chloe. I don’t consider myself a fanatical person but why turn your back on Omega 3’s  that are so easy to consume and digest? I can’t prove that they are adding anything miraculous to our diet, but what I can prove is that I feel amazing and energized. That’s enough for me.

Next, a planned evening with friends that is really making me believe that we can change the world one meal, one evening at a time.

This is the craziest thing….I decided that tonight was, Mind Expanding Movie Night. On Monday I sent our circle of friends an Evite to join us for veggie pizza, a movie and discussion. I told them all that we were watching the documentary Food Inc.,  asked them to bring $5 for pizza and their beverage of choice.

I didn’t know what to expect for attendance. It is a week night and do people really want to see this type of movie at the home of the neophyte vegans, blathering on and on about how sensational it is to be dairy free? I don’t know? I would like to think so but who knows?

So here is the (maybe not so) crazy part……tons of our people are joining us for Mind Expanding Movie Night. We need a bigger living room to accommodate all of the attendees.  My sister, our neighbors, my aunt. We are stunned and SO excited that people we love and admire want to share an evening enjoying veggie pizza and spirited discussion at our house.

We will have avid hunters, meatatarians of the most ingrained kind and the veg curious represented. I am looking forward to a passionate and stimulating discussion after the movie. Plus I bought Sour Patch Kids. Yum.

I will tell you all about it tomorrow. Have a delicious day.

Tags: chia seeds, compassionate eating, dairy free, Food inc. Daiya cheese, going veg, trying vegan, trying vegetarian, vegan, vegan challenge, vegan experience, vegan products, vegan wannabe