Early Bird Special

in Vegan For A Day

Good evening!  I’m posting dinner quite early, but that’s because I think I’m going to sleep very soon (if you can believe it!).  I am so tired, and I am running 18.0 miles tomorrow as part of marathon training.  I need to get to sleep STAT.

 

First things first….

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Today I got into graduate school!  :)  I have been taking night classes in an attempt to gain entrance into USC’s Physical Therapy program, and I am happy to announce I earned one of the 18 coveted spots today.  I am not entirely sure what my game plan is right now because of the book, but it’s nice to know that all my hard work over the last 6 months have been rewarded.  :)  Yay! (You can read more about my grad school application process in this post, and yes, we are moving in the summer).

 

Secondly, I did this huge Operation Beautiful note in a parking lot this afternoon (I was bored):

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Thirdly, I also took this really cute picture of James.  My, my – what big ears you have!

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By the way, I’ve been keeping the puppy page updated!  🙂

 

Fourthly (OK, I’ll stop now), Blogger Vegan 4 A Day was a success!  As in, I did not give in to my 4 PM cravings to inhale an entire pint of coffee ice cream.  :)  No, really – in all seriousness, here are my thoughts on being vegan for today:

 

  • In many ways, it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be in terms of finding things to eat.  I think it would’ve been harder if I was a meat-eater and was transforming my entire diet, but going from vegetarian to vegan (for just one day) wasn’t bad at all.
  • In other ways, I felt like I was on a diet in the sense that “not” being able to eat something made me seriously want to eat it SO BADLY.  Now, I do not think veganism is a diet, of course.  It’s a serious lifestyle choice.  However, because I just agreed to do it for fun and didn’t actually have the desire to give up eggs and dairy, I was tempted.  This, my friends, is exactly why “diets” do not work in real life.  Restricting yourself from anything (when you secretly still want to eat it) is going to backfire.  I’m fine with restricting myself from meat because 99% of the time I don’t secretly want it.  However, I will probably have ice cream for breakfast tomorrow.  :) 
  • I realize that I should not judge veganism on one day.  I think I would probably have to do it for a full week to understand how it would impact my life and energy levels.
  • Vegan 4 A Day taught me that I don’t need milk as much as I thought I did.  I liked using almond and rice milk in lieu of milk, and I think I’m going to make that change permanently.  It’s an easy way that I can reduce the amount of dairy I eat.

 

So, I am proud to say that I am going to try to choose non-dairy alternatives over regular cow’s milk from now on, when practical!  :)  But seriously, I love my yogurt, cheese, ice cream, etc. and don’t plan on giving that up anytime soon. 

 

Thanks to Katy and Michelle for doing Vegan Week.  I learned a lot, and I hope other people did, too!

 

Here are my vegan eats for the afternoon:

 

I snacked on Grape Nuts (my granola wasn’t vegan!) and Rice Milk:

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A Clementine:

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Pita Chips:

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Dinner was homemade Butternut Squash and Carrot soup, which was so easy to make!

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I just boiled peeled and chopped butternut squash and carrots until they were soft, and then blended the veggies with organic vegetable broth.  Tada!

 

I’m also going to have a bagel with PB (vegan!) before bed. 

 

Going to get a little bit of work done, and afterwards, I’m prepping for my run and hitting the hay!  I’m also going to walk the dogs down to the chin-up bar and try to bang out 3 chin-ups.  :)  Have a good night!

{ 76 comments }

 

  • Kara November 19, 2009, 6:25 pm

    “In other ways, I felt like I was on a diet in the sense that “not” being able to eat something made me seriously want to eat it SO BADLY.”

    This was EXACTLY my problem today!! All I wanted was meat and cheese and milk and eggs, even though I never crave these things on a typical day. I think I should maybe try going vegan for a day gradually; first going veggie for a few days, then slowly cutting out dairy, eggs and other animal products.

    Good luck with 18 miles tomorrow, and congrats on graduate school! 😀

  • Sarah @ See Sarah Eat November 19, 2009, 6:26 pm

    I think it’s great that you are going to use milk alternatives. Good luck on your run tomorrow and congrats on getting into grad school!

    My best friend calls me “Early Bird Special” or EBS for short (because I go to bed at like 9 every night) so that title made me chuckle 😉

  • Evan Thomas November 19, 2009, 6:28 pm

    Congrats on grad school! Bet you can sleep well with that out of the way.
    I so agree that today has felt a little bit like a “diet”. I hate having a craving for something and not being able to satisfy it when it’s completely healthy and reasonable but one day has never hurt. I just wish I had prepared better or went grocery shopping today where I could have got some of my vegan favorites like snickerdoodle purely decadent soy ice cream

  • Angela (Oh She Glows) November 19, 2009, 6:32 pm

    Awesome recap! I’m proud of you 🙂 You did great. The ice cream cravings were really bad for me at first because I used to eat it like 5 times a week!

  • Sally November 19, 2009, 6:32 pm

    Congratulations on getting into graduate school! I have to admit, I’m a little jealous. I am also applying for entry in fall 2010 but I just got my applications in this week and I’m not supposed to start hearing anything back until January.
    Good luck with the chin-ups!

  • legalstyle November 19, 2009, 6:33 pm

    congratulations on the grad school acceptance, caitlin! very interesting reading your thoughts on being vegan for the day… I often deal with the same mental and ethical dilemmas that you do regarding dairy/no dairy/organic dairy, so I was glad to see it so carefully articulated here.

  • Estela @ Weekly Bite November 19, 2009, 6:36 pm

    congrats on getting into grad school! So exciting!

  • Ann-Margaret November 19, 2009, 6:37 pm

    Congrats on grad school! I might be biased, but I think the University of South Carolina is the best school ever!! I graduated from Carolina in 2003 and loved every minute of my 4 years there. My blood truly runs garnet!!!

  • lori November 19, 2009, 6:38 pm

    Hi, I have been a vegetarian for 19/20 years now. I don’t drink milk except added to my coffee – that is it, oh and added to cereal, or little bits for receipes, but I have not drank a glass of milk in 11 years. Do you find the taste that much different, or are your rice and soy milks just sweeter? I think I may jump over, like you – that is a good idea.

    • caitlin November 19, 2009, 6:39 pm

      the plain and unsweet almond breeze is really similar in tasting to milk.

  • Michelle@eatingjourney November 19, 2009, 6:39 pm

    Congrats on getting in. That’s a HUGE accomplishment. Thanks for your thoughts…I can’t wait to process what I am thinking once the week is over.

  • Gab* November 19, 2009, 6:39 pm

    Congrats on grad school!!

    I think I could be vegetarian but I couldn’t do vegan, but good luck to those that can!!

  • Marissa November 19, 2009, 6:41 pm

    Congrats on getting into USC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Samantha November 19, 2009, 6:44 pm

    Congratulations on your acceptance to USC’s Physical Therapy program! Between that and your book, you’re full of accomplishments lately! It’s very inspiring, and I wish you the best. I hope you enjoy South Carolina when you move in the summer. My husband and I just moved to Charleston, and we are loving how gorgeous it is. I bet you’d love running in the downtown area (if you ever had the opportunity to visit it).

  • Anne November 19, 2009, 6:45 pm

    Congrats on grad school, that is so exciting!

  • susan November 19, 2009, 6:45 pm

    congrats on grad school!!!!
    even though i looked right at the picture of your envelope, when you said “USC” i panicked… OH NO, THE USC TROJANS? she can’t be a trojan!! (as in University of Southern California Trojans)
    but, DUH… south carolina!
    at least i dont have any USC trojan issues! hahaha

  • Laura November 19, 2009, 6:46 pm

    Congratulations on grad school! I think you’ll love Columbia, it’s a great town, and University of SC is the BEST!

  • Ali@ Food, FItness, Fashion November 19, 2009, 6:48 pm

    Congrats on Grad School!!!! That is super. Thanks for sharing your thought on going vegan for a day. Very interesting! I don’t think I could give up diary either…i love yogurt far too much. Have a good night’s sleep and enjoy your super long run tomorrow!!!!

  • Jenna November 19, 2009, 6:48 pm

    congrats on going vegan for the day!
    jenna

  • Morgan November 19, 2009, 6:50 pm

    Congrats on grad school!

  • Jessica November 19, 2009, 6:59 pm

    YOUR MOVING TO SC….I live in the city of columbia, it is an amazing place to live and you are going to love being a GAMECOCK…

    what can i say my heart bleeds garnet and black.

  • sunsetrun November 19, 2009, 7:04 pm

    Congrats on grad school!… Good luck with the move South Carolina its amazing, you will love it!!

  • Christina November 19, 2009, 7:11 pm

    Congratulations on Grad School! So exciting!!!

  • Mrs. Myers @ Eat Move Write November 19, 2009, 7:19 pm

    Congrats Congrats! I jumped up and down when I read you got into USC (University of Southern California – I live in SoCal) before I realized that you were probably talking about South CAROLINA. Booooooooo Caitlin. lol. Just kidding. That’s awesome for you!

    • susan November 19, 2009, 7:21 pm

      i’m not the only one that did it… haha

  • Marisa (Trim The Fat) November 19, 2009, 7:21 pm

    Congrats on USC!

    I had a great time being vegan today! I love experimenting with new foods!

  • Rebecca November 19, 2009, 7:21 pm

    Congrats on grad school!

    Here’s a suggestion for using non-dairy milk in coffee. I grew up only using half and half in my coffee, but once I started living on my own I tried to consolidate and just use the vanilla soymilk that I eat with my cereal.

    To keep the milk from separating, while my coffee is steeping (I’m a French Press girl) I pour my amount of soymilk into my mug first. When the coffee has steeped, it all mixes in very nicely and, for whatever reason, doesn’t separate! It’s a different taste, but I’ve found that using vanilla flavor causes me to put less sugar in my coffee, which is a good thing!

  • Jessie (Vegan-minded) November 19, 2009, 7:23 pm

    Wow, congrats on getting into grad school! It is going to be quite an exciting change, especially moving to SC. I’m glad you enjoyed being vegan for the day. I think it’s great that you are trying to give up real milk now. 🙂

  • Sammi November 19, 2009, 7:32 pm

    Congratulations on getting into USC! South Carolina is beautiful!

    • Sammi November 19, 2009, 7:33 pm

      LOL Wow.. I mean California!

      • Sammi November 19, 2009, 7:33 pm

        nevermind.. im an idiot today.

        • Anna November 19, 2009, 7:40 pm

          Hehe – I did the exact opposite – I assumed Southern California (CA biased over here), until I saw the comments and then got this puzzled look on my face and said “why are people talking about South Carolina?… OHHHHHH” So, I think between the two of us we even it all out! Congratulations Caitlin!

  • Trish (GirlatGym) November 19, 2009, 7:40 pm

    Big congrats on grad school!!! YAY!!! That is just awesome. I wish you the very best with it.

    I almost went to grad school for PT. I worked in the PT dept. of a major hospital in Boston and was thinking of going. But I decided against it. For one thing – they told me I would have to carve up a cadaver. Ahhhh!!! No!!!!

    I just decided to pursue what had turned out to be a better path for me – journalism.

    And I never drink cow’s milk anymore. I am an almond milk girl all the way. Love it!!!

  • simpledaisy November 19, 2009, 7:41 pm

    YEAH for you getttng into graduate school!!! You must be so proud of yourself?!!?
    Good luck on your 18 miler~

  • Sarah @ The Foodie Diaries November 19, 2009, 7:54 pm

    Congrats on grad school! That’s so exciting–whatever you decide to do with it!

    I had many of the same thoughts you did about vegan for a day… though I’m not quite at dinner yet… so we’ll see 🙂

  • Cynthia (It All Changes) November 19, 2009, 8:06 pm

    Yeah for Grad School!

    James looks adorable. I love smaller dogs with big ears 🙂

  • Anne Marie@New Weigh of Life November 19, 2009, 8:12 pm

    Congrats on grad school-it’s so exciting!!

  • Nicci@NiftyEats November 19, 2009, 8:14 pm

    Glad to hear Day 1 went well. I did Vegan Thursdays for a month…wasn’t bad.

  • Lauren November 19, 2009, 8:20 pm

    Congrats Caitlin! Has anyone told you how amazing you are lately? Because YOU ARE!!! 🙂

    So proud of you! Good luck tomorrow.

    Night!

  • Janna November 19, 2009, 8:24 pm

    Wow CONGRATS! Thats so amazing!

    I’ve been vegan today too. Definitely not as hard when you’re already veggie.

    Yay for almond and rice milk. You’ll learn to love em!

  • Erica November 19, 2009, 8:27 pm

    CONGRATS ON GRAD SCHOOL!!!! Keep me in the loop as to what you decide to do. If you come up to SC, maybe we can meet up!

  • whitney November 19, 2009, 8:34 pm

    congrats on getting into grad school i’m sure it feels amazing! The GRE’s are really tough and I am not sure if I have ever been more scared of a test in my life. SC is a great school and has a great program!

  • Erin November 19, 2009, 8:38 pm

    Congrats on getting into grad school! 🙂

    I linked to this post in my blog today — you summed up my thoughts on mindful eating so well.

    http://postcards-from-the-world.blogspot.com/2009/11/blogger-vegan-4-day.html

  • katie November 19, 2009, 8:40 pm

    Congratulations Caitlin!!! So proud of you. Hard work really does pay off!

  • Katy November 19, 2009, 8:55 pm

    First things first: You rock. For so many reasons, not the least of which is the grad school and book news. You inspire me so much.

    And, I hope you know how much I appreciate your support, and the support of the entire blogging community. As always, I think that anything that helps us think more about our eating is good, whether it’s a vegan diet or not.

  • Morgan @ Life After Bagels November 19, 2009, 8:57 pm

    Congratulations on getting into grad school! You might have the craziest year ever on your hands for 2010!

  • Teacherwoman November 19, 2009, 9:03 pm

    Way to go on being Vegan for a day! You rock. BTW, I love those “Stacy’s Pita Chips”… I remember when they first came out, the company sent me a box to try…. I am guessing since my name is Stacy. LOL

  • Jessica @ How Sweet It Is November 19, 2009, 9:04 pm

    Your soup looks delish. Good luck on the run!

  • Justy2003 November 19, 2009, 9:07 pm

    Congrats on getting accepted into a program! My fiance is in PT school and I know it can definitely be competitive to get into a program! That’s so exciting!

  • Deva (Voracious Vorilee) November 19, 2009, 9:07 pm

    Congratulations on getting into grad school! I am so excited for you 🙂 I am sure that you are super excited too and will do GREAT!

  • Kristie Lynn November 19, 2009, 9:14 pm

    Congrats on the grad school admission letter! Can’t wait to see what this upcoming year will hold for you 🙂

  • Karla November 19, 2009, 9:20 pm

    Congratulations on getting into grad school!
    As a current grad student, I can tell you it’s very challenging but rewarding. Good luck, no matter what you decide to do!

  • Joelle (The Pancake Girl) November 19, 2009, 9:36 pm

    Congrats girl! That’s fantastic news on grad school!

  • Kristen November 19, 2009, 9:58 pm

    Congrats for getting into PT school!!! You should be so proud of yourself – it is VERY competitive to get into! 🙂

  • Kelsey November 19, 2009, 9:58 pm

    congrats on grad school!!!! can’t wait to hear what your future has in store for you 😀

  • ashleigh November 19, 2009, 10:03 pm

    congrats on grad school and being vegan for a day!

  • Alison November 19, 2009, 10:35 pm

    congrats on getting into grad school, caitlin! i visited our chapter at USC last week and loved columbia and the college. it is a fun school because it’s in a great city but still has a great college feel to it. fun!

  • Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) November 19, 2009, 10:50 pm

    Congrats on getting into grad school! I look forward to hearing what you decide to do 🙂

  • Carolyn November 19, 2009, 11:10 pm

    Congratulations on getting into grad school!! Every time my husband and I see a dog with big ears we say we would name it Radar.

  • Deb (Smoothie Girl Eats Too) November 19, 2009, 11:12 pm

    Caitlin! Ice Cream= the breakfast of champions!

    Also- USC, as in Los Angeles?! yay- maybe one day we’ll get to meet each other finally! A zillion congrats…I know how hard it is to get in there. I went undergrad to USC (and as you know, I’m at the USC Norris cancer center all the time!)

  • Deb (Smoothie Girl Eats Too) November 19, 2009, 11:13 pm

    OH WAIT- it’s not Univ. of So. Carolina is it??

  • Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg November 19, 2009, 11:25 pm

    Congrats on grad school! One of eighteen– that’s pretty impressive! I went to college in South Carolina, and I’m a big fan 🙂

    Good luck on your 18 miler tomorrow– that is insanely long, but you’ll rock it!

  • Jasmine (Sweet and Fit) November 19, 2009, 11:37 pm

    CONGRATS on getting into grad school! there nothing that you set out to do that you haven’t accomplished =)

  • katie November 20, 2009, 12:05 am

    THATS WHERE I LIVE!!!! 🙂 congrats!!!! there isnt a whole foods.. but there IS an earth fare!! i would love to meet you!

  • BroccoliHut November 20, 2009, 12:33 am

    Congratulations, Caitlin!! Such good news:)

  • Susan November 20, 2009, 12:48 am

    Congrats on PT school! That’s so awesome. 🙂 I can’t wait to hear all about it! I’m sure it will be here before you know it.

  • caitlin November 20, 2009, 4:42 am

    THANK YOU GUYSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

  • Lindsay November 20, 2009, 7:55 am

    Congrats future GAMECOCK!!!!!!!

  • kirsten November 20, 2009, 8:01 am

    Congrats on school!!

  • Diana (Mymarblerye) November 20, 2009, 8:13 am

    So I thought Glenn and I were a power couple with our careers and education but I guess we’ll allow you and your hubby compete with us. 🙂 great job girl. You are such an inspiration!

  • Julie @savvyeats November 20, 2009, 11:22 am

    This is the reason I just did one vegan meal, instead of a whole day. I actually realized I eat a lot of vegan meals unintentionally, but I knew if I told myself I “couldn’t” have something, I would feel too restricted. I didn’t need that on an exam day!

    I’m sure it would be different if I were going vegan for any reason other than to see what it is like. I’d have more motivation to avoid dairy, eggs, etc!

  • Sarah November 20, 2009, 12:59 pm

    congratulations on getting into grad school!!

  • Still Life in South America November 22, 2009, 9:50 pm

    I love your puppy pictures. Thanks for sharing your furbabies.

    Congrats on the grad school acceptance. I hope the delayed entrance is workable for you! 😀

  • cyrell January 27, 2011, 2:40 am

    My two cents as a omnivore going vegan from one day to the other.

    Ice cream?

    Sure,love ice cream and eat it.There are damn good brands of vegan ice cream where you never would believe it is different than other brands…except they are better tasting.

    Will I eat meat again some day?

    No, why would i put parts of dead animals ever again in my mouth?
    It would be as strange as eating my pets when they die or humans. This will just not happen..when you think about it, it is gross.
    Humans are so proud to have a big brain and to use it..so I use mine. My instincts do not tell me to hunt down and eat an animal..the craving to eat meat is just because of cooking and spices and the social training, like Pavlovs dogs.

    Before I choose to become a vegan I thought that I could never give up cheese, but cheese is also a trained taste.

    People who were given flacons with cheese flavour were asked how it smelled.
    One flask was labeled body odour, the other brie…both were the same but guess which one was said to be good and which was gross.

    Most asian people would look at cheese like we look at them when they eat non hatched ducklings, cooked in the egg.

    I changed my diet from one day to the other..the cravings for cheese and bacon were strong the first months.
    But after 4 years I can say..never felt better.

    No I do not miss it. I make hearty dishes, fry things, bake(an no one would guess it is vegan), I make cheesy sauces.

    Also you said it is possible toproduce humane eggs and milk.

    Sure?

    Imagine a human in the place of the cow..you as a woman are inseminated, then your child is taken away directly after birth.

    Sure, you have a nice home, can walk around, have a beautiful landscape..but they are putting machines on you to take the milk that was meant for your baby.

    You hear your child cry, you cry too..and I know from experience that the short time at birth is enough for the cows to remember their children for life.
    They scream terrible when the slaughterhouse truck comes to take the children away..and also the other cows cry when one of them is taken away.

    So you are not even thirty, but your body is not as healthy anymore..they take you on a truck away from your family and then you are killed.

    Sounds not so nice for humans, does it?

    Th farmer surely sells his old cows..with 6 year…to the slaughterhouse as he does with the children the cows birth every year.

    Still humane when you think human instead of cow?

    Organic chicken are still killed after one or two years because their egg prodution drops 70% after the first year.

    Chicken can reach 15 years, just as dogs and cats.

    Is it humane to kill cats and dogs with 2 years because they are not cuddly anymore and buy a small kitten or puppy…and kill that too when it is no longer cuddly enough?

    People do that, so how do you think about that?

    Would you eat cheese and eggs if dogs and cats were in the place of the cows and chicken?

    It is not human, you just lie to yourself because you are scared to miss out on the pleasure of eating.

    Like a frenchman eating the liver of force feed goose or the canibal eating human flesh…they always ate it, they grew up with it..they can not imagine to live without it.

    They can, but they do not want to.

    You could..because the soyghurt and ice cream and even cream cheese is great!!
    But you do not want to, you are scared..and I understand that, because I was there before.

    This Daiya cheese is great on pizza, but when you are a bit longer away from cheese you do not need it. Pizza with lots of veggies and pesto tastes great…cheese would overwhelm it.

    And that from a die hard cheese devourer which I was. As a child I would take the whole block of cheese from the fridge and eat it all. Two bottles of milk, a tube of greek yoghurt.
    I still smile when I think about how my mother would pull her hair because I had again.. this week.. plundered the fridge.

    I still take pleasure in eating…more than enough..I just shifted my pleasure from one food to the other.

    People are afraid, there is no other reason for not changing the diet.
    There is no irreplaceable pleasure even if there are people who think so.
    It is the fear of a child that learns to swim..but once they can, they take their joy in it.

    I jumped..and I swam..and I laughed about how insanely easy it was..and is.

    And then there are the people who gorge on fatty, salty, unhealthy foods no matter if it will kill them, no matter if the doctor told them to change their diet.

    Insane fear to loose the pleasure of grease and salt and it does not matter if you will get a heart attack again or something similiar.
    It does not matter if your small children will loose their father and your wife her man, it will not matter that you are under 50..because greasy death is such a pleasure.

    I know many people like that..and it is sad that they see the pleasure of eating higher then the pleasure to see their children play, laugh..the embrance of their beloved ones.

    They are afraid to even dip their toes in the water.

    Sometimes you have to jump, or you may shy back by the first cold droplet of water.

    And I life in a place where you do not get fake cheese and meats easily, there are no other vegan around me or even vegetarians..but swimming is just too good to miss it.

    Because, be true to yourself, do not lie to yourself…you still feel guilty or you would not search for humane dairy and eggs..I know it, because I was there.

    Maybe after your light dip, you want to take a little swim?

    Try the ice cream..and the cream cheese..some of them are just too good to miss..and that is it…pleasure.

    There are the other two cents about how food should never be one of the greater pleasures, it is pleasurable but companionship, friendliness, friendship are way greater then the issue of food.
    If food is your greatest pleasure, it may be one time your only pleasure…a rather buddhist way of thinking. I found great things there, but you find them in every religion even when you follow neither.

    The greatest fear, is the fear itself. In reality, there is nothing to fear except what you imagine.

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