Day 30: The End

The day is finally here.  Wow, this has been an interesting and life changing challenge.  I've learned so much and I want to learn more.  I feel great mentally and physically.  The energy that I have is amazing.  The physical changes of this challenge are just what I needed.  I feel that I must clarify that I did not do this challenge to loose weight.  I did this challenge to become a healthier person.  The weight loss is a huge bonus.  I have always admired Vegans and Vegetarians.  Now I am one of them.  This decision is not going to be easy all the time.  There will be some that question why I am this way.  That's perfectly ok.  I am ready to answer all the questions.  Yesterday, when me and the hubby where talking he asked me a couple questions like: Are you going to eat dairy?  What about fish?  I answered, " no dairy and no fish".  I can't imagine going back to my old way of eating.  I feel too good for that and I know that the feeling will only get better.  This is a lifestyle change for me.  Don't get me wrong, if I have the taste for a piece of fish I will have it.  And remember those potato chips that I absolutely love...

If I have a deep craving for them I will have a few, just not the entire bag.  As for coffee, I will continue to have my one cup in the morning. I enjoy that cup of coffee in the morning.  I will not deprive myself of things that I enjoy.  Like I said before, there is not one thing that I can think of that is worth losing the way that I feel at the end of these 30 days.

I have thoroughly enjoyed blogging about this challenge and may continue to blog about my new life as a Vegan.  I am sure that will be an Adventure too!!!!  Thanks to my family and friends for their support  during this challenge and for their continued support of my decision.   Thanks to everyone that took the time to read and also comment.  I got a feeling my blogging days are not over...

What did I have as my last meals of this 30 day Raw Food Challenge...

For lunch I had kale salad with mango salsa and for dinner I had avocados stuffed with mango salsa.  What will be for dinner tomorrow.  Well, it a toss between two things...

Quinoa with Balsamic Roasted Mushrooms

Ingredients

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard 
1 small pear, peeled, cored and cut into chunks 
1 garlic clove, halved 
2 pounds portobello mushrooms, stemmed and gills scraped out 
1 cup red or white quinoa 
3 cups tightly packed spinach, chopped 
4 green onions, thinly sliced 
1/2 cup slivered almonds, toasted 
1/8 teaspoon sea salt 
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Method

Preheat oven to 475°F. 

Put vinegar, mustard, pear and garlic in a blender with 1/3 cup water and blend until smooth, about 1 minute. Cut mushrooms into chunks and combine in a large mixing bowl with 1/4 cup of the pear balsamic dressing. Spread mushrooms in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast mushrooms until tender, stirring occasionally, 20 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly. 

While mushrooms roast, prepare quinoa. In a medium pot, bring 1 3/4 cups water to a boil. Stir in quinoa, cover pot, reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove pot from heat and set aside, covered, 10 minutes more. Uncover and fluff quinoa with a fork. 

Combine mushrooms, quinoa, spinach, green onions, almonds, salt, pepper and 1/2 cup more pear balsamic dressing in a large, wide serving bowl. Stir to mix well. Serve with remaining dressing on the side.

And Mediterranean Garbanzo Salad

Ingredients

5 cherry or grape tomatoes, halved 
1 small zucchini or yellow squash, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced 
1/2 (15-ounce) can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained 
4 pitted black olives, such as Kalamata, halved 
2 tablespoons roughly chopped parsley 
1 tablespoon prepared balsamic vinaigrette or Italian dressing 
1 tablespoon lemon juice 
Ground black pepper to taste 
2 or 3 lettuce leaves, torn into large bite-size pieces

Method

Toss together all ingredients, except lettuce, in a large bowl. Arrange lettuce on a dinner plate and top with bean mixture.

30 days done!!!!!