{"id":1250,"date":"2020-04-08T23:44:29","date_gmt":"2020-04-09T05:44:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/modernfimily.com\/?p=1250"},"modified":"2020-12-09T23:39:51","modified_gmt":"2020-12-10T06:39:51","slug":"februarys-challenge-a-month-being-a-vegetarian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/modernfimily.com\/februarys-challenge-a-month-being-a-vegetarian\/","title":{"rendered":"February’s Challenge: A Month Being a Vegetarian"},"content":{"rendered":"

We seem to be starting out the year with a few made up monthly challenges taking place.\u00a0 In January, we did a social media detox<\/a> (which we would high recommend) and for February we decided to do a 30 day vegetarian challenge. I also have a year long challenge of reading 48 books (4 books per month average) in the works too.\u00a0 We’re a bit delayed publishing this post in March because well, this thing called coronavirus popped up that was worth talking about…<\/p>\n

Why Vegetarian?<\/h2>\n

We watched The Game Changers<\/a> documentary back in January and there was one scene in particular that struck us.\u00a0 Efficient blood flow is critical for athletes, as blood delivers oxygen and nutrients to our muscles. The Game Changers shows a blood test done on three NFL players after eating one meat-based meal compared to one plant-based meal, and the visual difference in blood thickness is shocking (see below). Eating animal products also constricts blood vessels up to 40%, whereas plant foods contain healthy nitrates that signal our blood vessels to open.<\/p>\n

Screen shot from \u201cThe Game Changers\u201d Documentary on Netflix<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The film was filled with many other power scenes and stats but that one in particular got to the both of us.\u00a0 As (past\/recovering\/wannabe) athletes, it was interesting to see a plant based film based entirely on high performing athletes.\u00a0 It was really well done and we’d highly recommend it.\u00a0 We recognize most documentaries tend to err on one side of the equation but this was really well done and thought provoking.<\/p>\n

We both love dairy products too much to do a completely vegan challenge (just yet) so we set out a goal to do a 30 day vegetarian challenge, meaning milk, cheese, eggs, etc. were allowed.\u00a0 I drink my coffee 90% milk\/10% espresso, who doesn’t like cheese, and eggs are such an easy and simple way to get protein.\u00a0 We’re not ready to part with any of these yet.<\/p>\n

The results are in, how did we do?<\/h2>\n

Now that the month is over, let’s jump to the chase.\u00a0 We failed. And the reason is SO LAME.<\/p>\n

Let me explain.<\/p>\n

In the middle of the month, I had our quarterly team meeting to attend and it’s always catered.\u00a0\u00a0This time the guys on shift decided to order a crap done of food from Popeye’s Chicken.\u00a0 So in come boxes upon boxes of fried chicken along with fries, onion rings, mac’n’cheese, biscuits, and apple pie.\u00a0 (Talk about heart attack in a meal…) I get in line to make up a plate and put 3 chicken tenders and a drum stick on my plate along with some mac.\u00a0 And I eat it all.<\/p>\n

A few hours later on the way home from work I thought to myself “Oh no!! I just ate chicken!! What?!?!”\u00a0 Hours had literally gone by before I had even realized what I had done.\u00a0 In the moment I was not thinking about it AT ALL.\u00a0 Not once did I register that I was eating chicken when I wasn’t supposed to be.\u00a0 I told Nic and her response was basically “How??”.\u00a0 I have no clue how it never hit me in the moment.\u00a0 Naturally, we then felt deflated from such a silly move.<\/p>\n

Nic was feeling a bit jealous (not sure if that is the right word?) that I got to eat chicken and she didn’t.\u00a0 So after asking for our amazing local Korean Crispy Fried Chicken a few nights in a row I finally caved and agreed to getting a half order (what feeds our family of 3) as long as we stuck to the vegetarian kick for the rest of the month.\u00a0 It was heavenly, as it always is (Finn ate two whole pieces).\u00a0 This has been our go-to place whenever we decide to eat out since it opened last fall.<\/p>\n

So there you have it, I ate chicken twice and Nic ate chicken once during our challenge. Fail fail fail.\u00a0 So we are 1 and 1 with our challenges so far this year.<\/p>\n

What did we learn?<\/h2>\n

I could totally see myself being a vegetarian.\u00a0 I used to be one for a few years when I was a teenager.\u00a0 Prior to this challenge, we were eating mostly vegetarian breakfasts and lunches and then eating meat ~4 times a week at supper.\u00a0 This challenge made us look up other recipes which was a nice change but it also meant more thinking which is tough for parents with a toddler whose brains are already fried due to lack of sleep and we don’t want one more thing to have to think about (I know, cry us a river).\u00a0 But our taste buds definitely appreciated the change of scenery!<\/p>\n

Surprisingly, we ended up spending more money on groceries this month than we normally spend each month.\u00a0 I think a big part of this has to do with the fact that we have a deep freeze filled to the top with frozen meat we’ve purchased when there are crazy meat sales.\u00a0 Not being able to make something with this already stocked meat meant we were purchasing more overall groceries this month to supplement the main part of many of our dishes.\u00a0 I’m sure if we didn’t have the deep freeze stash the numbers wouldn’t look as odd.<\/p>\n

What did we eat?<\/h2>\n

Here are some examples of food we ate more of this month that we typically don’t eat as often:<\/p>\n