2 Years - Vegan-ing

I have just passed my two-year mark as eating as a Vegan. Over the last two years, I have loved my food options each day, more and more. As I learn to navigate the ingredient lists of some old favorites which I have been able to adapt to gluten-free and vegan I have opened up more variety of foods that I can eat without causing joint pain. However, I have gotten to where for the most part I like simple foods, simply prepared, and lots of bright colors on my plate. The first 18 months I would try and replicate foods I missed, but over the last bit of time, I find myself being content in the great options I have with all the starches and veggies I get to eat every day.

{Pictured below is a great meal a friend made for me. She eats mainly vegetarian and vegan and prepared an amazing nacho bar which included so many vegan options from, cashew cheese, cashew sour cream, refried beans, black beans, cilantro and lime rice...it was such a treat. I have great friends with lots of skillz. (Thanks Hollie and Stephen, not only are y'all touching the lives of the homeless with your big social worker hearts, you blessed me with this meal so very much, check out their new website www. sojustsix.com!)}

Every now and then I will eat BBQ or take a bite of something that isn't vegan, I always feel worse for it, my joints complain right away. I am at a place where I can pass by an old craving without too much struggle, as long as I have something else yummy waiting for me. That is the key. I work hard to keep my food options varied, I don't like to decide on Sunday what I will eat on Thursdays, but in the morning of the day at hand, I am thinking about what sounds good to me for dinner that night.


We were in Indianapolis for a family wedding last week and we visited Bazbeaux's Pizza twice. The first time I ordered a tomato and basil pizza on gf/vegan crust. It was uh-mazing. The crust was so yummy. The second time I ordered the vegetable pizza, same crust, which is pictured below. Just look at those fresh veggies!

While in Indianapolis I was able to utilize Uber Eats a couple of times to have food delivered to me. It was super convenient. For lunch one day when my husband was trying out a famous deli I stayed back at the hotel and ordered from Piada. Uber Eats delivered me this delicious Protein Power Bowl about 35 minutes later.

I was determined to recreate this meal when I got back home. Here is my version -

My favorite treat in the summer is farm fresh tomatoes which have never been refrigerated. I am a regular at the local Abilene Farmer's Market, but I also love to travel out to Denton Valley Farms and purchase produce from them. For the non-vegans who travel to Denton Valley Farms (about 15 minutes out of Abilene) keep in mind, they make fresh peach ice cream each day (and vanilla bean if you don't like peach). My family will make the trip out there with me because they love the fresh ice cream.  

Pictured below was my haul Saturday...red onions which I pickled, lots of tomato varieties, blackberries (which you can pick or buy already picked), cantaloupe, peaches, and jalapenos. 












My meal last night used many of these items. I made a gluten free/vegan pizza covered with olive oil, fresh minced garlic, celtic sea salt, heirloom tomatoes, fresh basil, jalapenos and a remnant of a piece of Chao Vegan Cheese. I have drizzled an 18-year Balsamic vinegar (from Cordell's) over the fruit and a bit of the pizza. The balsamic on the fruit was amazing. The crust...I ordered a vegan/gf crust mix from www.brandless.com, nothing is more than $3 and free shipping if you order $40 or more. Lots of vegan and gf options, plus everything else.

Last week I used those heirloom tomatoes to make sandwiches. (pictured above)

So 6ish years gluten-free and 2 years Vegan and I'm not looking back. I love that my food fuels me, works at giving me optimum health and strength, and it is mouthwatering, decadent, indulgent and delicious.