Here's a thing. I eat pretty healthily. "Healthy" is very loosely interpreted here. But school, commuting, procrastination (in other words, laziness), etc get in the way. I feel like in my "vegan bubble", everyone is eating so healthy, living so mindfully and then there's me, a potato. But now with the self-isolation situation, and though online schooling ain't giving e a break, I got plenty of time in my hands because I saved myself 2 hours of commute every day.
During school, I still ate vegetables, beans, tofu, grains, you know, all the good stuff. But I probably didn't eat enough. I always lose weight, unintentionally whenever I go back to school after a break. Sometimes, I even skip meals because I just can't be bothered. Don't even get me started on my sleeping schedule. It was horrific. So in short, though I ate all the healthy stuff, the eating pattern and quantity weren't doing me any good.
So with the extra time I have, I'm cooking more. Eating more interesting things. But also keeping it simple so that I wouldn't lose my sanity (not that I have much in the first place). Here's how I'm doing it.
#1: Eating more savory breakfasts: If you didn't know, well now you know, my body is 80% oatmeal. I still love oatmeal. It's quick, portable, delicious, nutritious and keeps me full till my next meal. I still eat oatmeal quite often, but more like 2 twice a week instead of every day. Sweet breakfasts like oatmeal, smoothies, PB&J, yogurt bowls, muffins are quick to grab and go. Savory breakfasts are great but they do need quite a bit of time. Now that I have time, I'm having more tofu scrambles, fancy toasts with savory toppings, breakfast bowls of potato/sweet potato, some kind of protein like BBQ tempeh, hummus, with veggies like kimchi or cabbage slaw. Making sure I have a form of carbs, fat, proteins and veggies. But if I feel like a smoothie or a bowl of oatmeal, I'd have that. No problem.
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| More of this please |
#2: Bake more: I used to be an avid baker. But everything changed once I turned vegan, not because I can't bake vegan stuff. It's just because I can't be bothered. I'm growing a sourdough starter, just like everyone else on the net. I made scones, cookies, muffins. It's therapeutic. So yup, I'm baking my emotions away
#3: Soups, stews, and warm bowls: Love me some warming and delicious food. Do I even need to say more?
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| Kale + Brown rice + a tomato-ee beany cauliflower saucy situation + nooch on top |
#4 Eating more citrus: well you probably already fed up with everyone telling you to up your vitamin C intake to boost the immune system. Before, when I buy fruit, I tend to grab something more sturdy and convenient like bananas, apples, pears. With citruses like oranges, grapefruits, clementines, you gotta peel and/or cut it. Too much work! (pls don't judge). Now I have so much time in my hands. Yeah, I'll do the peeling and cutting. No more excuses. I'm cooking more with lemons, limes, and oranges too. They add a very nice brightness to the dish so that is a win.
#5 Morning drinks: I do drink coffee on a reg. It's what got me through school. But also because of school, I didn't get to sit down and enjoy it. It was more like, chucking the coffee in my insulated bottle, a dash of plant milk, taking a sip every now and then while my professor getting me educated. Now I do tea, I do lattes, I do mocha, I do hot cacao, all the good stuff.
#5 Morning drinks: I do drink coffee on a reg. It's what got me through school. But also because of school, I didn't get to sit down and enjoy it. It was more like, chucking the coffee in my insulated bottle, a dash of plant milk, taking a sip every now and then while my professor getting me educated. Now I do tea, I do lattes, I do mocha, I do hot cacao, all the good stuff.
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