I always thought veganism was pretty strange. I mean who doesn’t eat eggs or cheese!? I understand vegetarianism in many ways, but vegan diets just felt like a step too far and extreme. Then I saw Forks over Knives and Food Matters – both on Netflix now, by the way. Both documentary films really made me rethink my prior assumptions. There is a lot of research to suggest that eating a plant-based diet is the way to go. But full-time veganism? Ha. Not going to happen here.
Then I found a more moderate philosophy. Have you heard of Mark Bittman’s VB6 habit? The basic premise is that you eat according to vegan rules until 6:00 in the evening, and then you eat whatever you want in moderation. I completed my dietary cleanse last spring, which really was just my way of trying to be more watchful of the food I eat. It was amazing the difference it made on how I felt and how I viewed food. As usual life gets in the way, and I’ve not been so careful on my fruit and veggie consumption lately. I need a reboot. I have no interest in doing that particular cleanse again right now, but I’m thinking VB6 is something I could get behind. I can still enjoy the same dinner dishes with my family and not impose my own habits on them. I’m going to give it a try this week. I have not done a meal plan post in ages (or any post really!) so here’s my plan this week.
Breakfasts: green smoothies, pumpkin baked oatmeal (My kids LOVE baked oatmeal, especially Jude.)
Lunch: chickpea wraps, lemon pepper broccoli pasta, detox salad I’ve also got hummus and crackers and various fruit to throw in.
Sunday Dinner: fish tacos with shredded cabbage and creamy sauce
Monday Dinner: sun-dried tomato chicken, mashed potatoes, and more of that detox salad
Tuesday Dinner: Martha Stewart’s Tofu and Broccoli (Jude and I love this, and Scott is away that night. He is not a tofu fan.)
Wednesday Dinner: stir-fry cabbage cups
Thursday Dinner: grilled fish, potatoes, Pioneer Woman’s Grilled Zucchini
Friday Dinner: something ready-made from my freezer stash with a side salad (Jude’s speech therapy has us home later on Fridays, so my freezer is usually the solution.)
Saturday Dinner: I’m having friends over, and one of them is eating dairy-free right now with a nursing baby, so I think I’ll give this pasta dish a try.
We have a ridiculously busy weekend ahead with three different social functions today including a get-together with the new neighbors which I’m sure will be fun but is always a bit awkward at first. I did my grocery shopping last night after the kids were in bed to get it out of the way before the busy weekend. I’m looking forward to diving back into healthful eating. I’ve been bringing my lunch at work, but I’m realizing half the time I have NO fruits or veggies other than an occasional banana or something. None. So embarrassing, but true! So wraps with deli meat, baby bell cheese, chicken salad on a bagel, etc. are not cutting it anymore. We’ll see how this goes. I’m posting it here in writing , so I have to do it, right?
Happy weekend, friends!
Mama the Reader 
Hi, there! I have heard of the VB6 and was interested in it too. Let me know how it goes. For a different point of view, I’ve added more meat to my diet, particularly red meat, and I’ve been much more energetic and feeling healthier. Eating more meat has been recommended to me by my acupuncturist and chiropractor. Apparently, there are many myths about meat causing high cholesterol. Eating grass feed beef is supposed to be fantastic for you. It’s the “other kinds” of meat – not to mention carbs. – that aren’t as good. Nonetheless, I am consumed with healthy eating too, and I’ve had my own new perspective lately on eating more meat – and even on eating real butter (recommended by a nutritionist!). Be well.
I love love love real butter. I use a lot of it with cooking and baking, and it’s one reason I could never be a full-time vegan. Our CSA does grass-fed beef, but I’ve only ever signed up for fruits and veggies….maybe I’ll start ordering that one too. Carbs and dairy have been too prevalent for me these days, so VB6 is one way to purge me from all that. I’ll keep you posted. Hope you are well and enjoying work!
I need to get back to bringing healthy lunches. I don’t do meat or dairy (but I eat eggs) and if I’m not careful I lapse into EAT ALL THE CARBS. I found that when I make sure to pack a healthy lunch and tons of snacks (I feel like I have to eat more often with no animal products plus nursing) I feel better. Also my milk supply gets low if I don’t eat plenty of plant-based protein, fruits, and veggies.
Yes to the carbs trap! I feel like that is an issue with packing lunch in general. Bagels, breads, etc just work so easily for a lunchbox. Thinking of interesting ways to bring veggie-based meals is a challenge for me. Unfortunately, my lunchbox has been a dairy trap too. Baby-bell cheese, yogurt, cheese and turkey sandwich….SO much milk product.
Baked tofu, soup, quinoa, and salad are my friends. It does seem to take so much more prep work. And we moms know that time is certainly a commodity.
I am curious to know how your VB6 challenge is going? I just purchased the VB6 book and love it… please let me know.
Hi! Thanks for reading and commenting. It’s going alright, although I cheat with eggs in my breakfast occasionally (like the baked oatmeal recipe I just posted for instance). Overall, it is doing it’s job of making me curb my dairy habit and eat more fruits and veggies though. And that is what I was wanting out of it. Lunches have been easier than I thought – chickpea wraps, salads, almond butter and jelly on homemade bread. Overall, it’s been a great way of getting me out of my dairy-overload rut. And I feel so much better and generally “less puffy” when I eat minimal amounts of dairy.
Awesome! I am starting a VB6ers challenge group where I am and saw your blog post! I would love to track your progress and keep in touch! I think it will be inspiring to read your ups and downs of it all! I am vegan and I do throw myself of the vegan train from time to time…so no worries! 🙂