We are probably pretty typical Mennonite eaters. As in, eggs with bacon or scrapple for breakfast, casseroles with cheese on top, meat and potatoes type of folk.
Well, if you read my previous blog post you know that we are house sitting for an older couple for two months.
“Don’t bring any food!” they said. “Just eat ours! We have lots!”
What they failed to mention was that they are vegans.
I knew they ate healthy and used whole grains and such, but vegan?
We’re talking no meat, eggs, milk or milk products in the entire house!
Help!
We have been eating Borscht and sweet potato bisque and lots of nuts, and something called bean roast which is pretty much beans and vegetables in a paste.
Instead of butter on our bread, we use almond butter with hemp seed or cashew butter, or something called pumpkin seed spread which is green. I don’t think I want to know what all is in it.
I never knew you could make cheese out of almonds. (The almond feta cheese is actually quite tasty) And for the first time in my life I made almond milk.
Very time consuming. Jasmine won’t drink it, so we are rationing the last bit of good old cows milk that we brought with us for her bottles.
I don’t think we’re going to keep eating vegan the entire two months, in fact I know we won’t. We are getting tired of eating nuts and grains like squirrels and will probably be headed to the store for milk, eggs, and meat in the next day or two.
The vegan diet is very high in carbs and I honestly miss protein. I leave a meal feeling overly full, but not satisfied. Maybe it’s simply because I’m pregnant, because Andy doesn’t feel that way, he’s just tired of eating weird food.
According to the people here, meat and eggs are very bad for you.
Hmmm…
When it comes to health there are so many opinions about what is good for you versus what will make you get heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure etc.
We will all die sometime, and while I want to do the best I can for my family, I would rather die happy than worry my whole life over whether or not I am eating right.
My personal opinion is that worrying over your health affects your health negatively. So find a diet that is right for you and live joyfully!
May I make a suggestion? There are more options than 1. Eating what you want and dying happy and 2. Worrying that you’re eating wrong and dying miserable. There’s also 3. Eating what you want and living miserable and 4. Choosing what you’ll eat based on how it makes you feel later and growing to like it, and living quite happily, especially considering what you can do because of your choices. (I have a brother in law who eats vegan food. He seems to enjoy his life and food as much as the next guy and he also runs 50k trail runs for a hobby. ) And of course there are many more options. Like 5. Generally trying to eat healthy, ( not vegan) but shamelessly splurging when with friends. ( That would be me. I feel terrible physically afterwards, but it sure is fun at the moment!) Have fun eating cheese and steak again!
Good point, Julie! I was simply saying that everyone needs to find their own diet and learn to love it. For us, a vegan lifestyle did not make us feel good later, nor did we enjoy the food. Therefore for us, meat and potatoes is a better option.
Thanks for your input! I love the part about splurging when with friends! 🙂