It Ain't Easy Being Vegan

I started my day excited that I finally got sleep and made a quick decision this morning that I would do the vegan challenge like the other bloggers, both because it sounded like fun and because I wanted to be sure to get back on track today.

Things that are vegan

Raisins, almonds, and peanuts are vegan!

Granny Smith apples are vegan!  So are the Fuji apple and Chili spiced mango I ate today.

Not Vegan

The soup I kept in my office, which was a vegetable soup was not.  I realize that vegetarian is not vegan, but when something says vegetable soup, it can be quite tricky.  As I was doing my dance waiting for the microwave to do its magic, I found some parm cheese product in there- fail!  I should have done a better job of looking, but I was in a pinch and that was all I had to eat with me.

My plan was to leave work early today, but I got an awesome finance task at exactly 4:00 PM and was not able to leave until 4:45- still earlier than my usual!  I walked home from my train ride while listening to my music and hurried to change into my Zumba outfit.  This week I got there early to avoid any potential casualties like last time and got to act silly and forget the awfulness that the last couple of days brought.  It's my new favorite TGIAF celebration!

I had to run to Trader Joe's after work and my hungry stomach got me into another vegan mess.  I grabbed a food sample without even looking- it ended up being stuffing with some kind of sausage- I didn't get any pieces of it, but I should have totally looked, because I seriously don't eat sausage- ever.  Flustered, but still hungry, I grabbed these for a snack on the way home:

They didn't have any questionable ingredients, but they are processed in a place that uses the same equipment as wheat, nuts, and dairy products.  Did I mess up again?

Once I got home, I cooked a very non-vegan soup for the Huz, who thinks he has been getting sick for the last 3 days or so:

Chicken Noodle Soup is not vegan (but not for me).

I also made this salad:

• Carrots
• Apple
• Celery
• Pom seeds (to me they will always be seeds)
• Balsamic, pom juice, honey dressing (honey is not vegan)

I changed my mind and decided I wanted berry apple crisp (minus the crisp) instead:

I feel like I have had a satisfying day overall- I wasn't craving meat or dairy all day and I have been considering cutting some dairy because every time I eat it I get a food baby- and not in any kind of a good way.  I'm not ready to make any huge changes or label myself, but it was a fun challenge and I respect all the folks who do it regularly- it takes a lot of detective work and preparedness or you end up feeling bamboozled in the middle of your favorite grocery store.

I'm cooking up a batch of heaven for tomorrow- and I'm thinking of having some for breakfast. 

Butternut squash and ketchup ARE vegan!

Did you do Vegan Thursday?  What did you think?

Also, since when is Dakota Fanning a teenager?  I'm watching her on Leno and she's wearing a hawt outfit...and talking about driving.  Gawd I'm getting old.