I should probably not be a vegetarian.
So, every year I decide to give something up for Lent. I'm not Catholic. I'm an atheist. I like the way self-depravation makes you appreciate things, and I enjoy the break in routine. It's a new experience every year. Also, I know I have minor addictions, like caffeine, so giving those up for a stretch is good for my health. This year I chose to go somewhat extreme and give up meat for the duration. My cholesterol is a bit high and I thought it would help.
The catch is, of course, because of my intestinal problems, I cannot ingest more than three grams of fiber a day. The vast majority of vegetarian dishes are, shockingly, high in vegetable content and therefore high in fiber.
The general healthiness of my eating has actually gone down as I discover that candy and pastries are almost always meat-free. :D
Still, there are things I can eat that are not meat and low in fiber. Like rice. Mushrooms. Tofu. Potatoes without the skins. Miso soup (avoiding the seaweed and the onions). Cheese pizza. Cheese sticks. Various deep-fried bread bits. I even ordered sushi the other night - avocado roll. NOM NOM and juuuust under what I can eat.
The fried dough and pastry and cheese faction is not going to help my cholesterol, so today I made myself a salad for lunch. ReasieSalad is a carefully arranged thing.
Today's salad:
Diced mushroom
Diced cucumber meat (no skin, no seeds - that takes a while but I'm getting good at it)
Diced tomato
Tofu chunks
Parmesan cheese
I'll let you know how it is after lunch. ;)
The catch is, of course, because of my intestinal problems, I cannot ingest more than three grams of fiber a day. The vast majority of vegetarian dishes are, shockingly, high in vegetable content and therefore high in fiber.
The general healthiness of my eating has actually gone down as I discover that candy and pastries are almost always meat-free. :D
Still, there are things I can eat that are not meat and low in fiber. Like rice. Mushrooms. Tofu. Potatoes without the skins. Miso soup (avoiding the seaweed and the onions). Cheese pizza. Cheese sticks. Various deep-fried bread bits. I even ordered sushi the other night - avocado roll. NOM NOM and juuuust under what I can eat.
The fried dough and pastry and cheese faction is not going to help my cholesterol, so today I made myself a salad for lunch. ReasieSalad is a carefully arranged thing.
Today's salad:
Diced mushroom
Diced cucumber meat (no skin, no seeds - that takes a while but I'm getting good at it)
Diced tomato
Tofu chunks
Parmesan cheese
I'll let you know how it is after lunch. ;)