Looks Aren't Everything You Know ...

Does look half bad right? Let's put it this way ...If your lactose intolerant, you'd be able to eat it. If you are on a low fat diet, you'd be able to eat it. If your on a low sodium diet, you'd be able to eat it. If your on a high fiber diet, it would help add to your intake. Finally, if you are a vegetarian, you'd be able to eat it. Why? It is ...
- Dairy Free
- Fat Free
- Contains less than 250 mg sodium
- Has 4g's of fiber
- Contains absolutely no meat what so ever

It is a completely vegan alternative. And it looks totally delicious and wholesome.

If you already enjoy healthful foods (I.e. whole grain versions of food such as whole wheat bread, brown rice, and soy options, plus diverse grain choices)then following a vegetarian diet really is not difficult what so ever.

It seems that the "cleaner" your palate is to begin with, the easier the transition from meat to meatless will be. In other words if you even so much as sort of like beans, bulgur, tofu, cereal, fruit, vegetables, and a few other staples of a vegetarian diet than all you need to do is eat them more often.

To do this you'll need to come up with creative ways that can incorporate these foods in a way that is flavorful, filling, and good enough to pass for meat.

I say that it should be good enough to pass for meat because many feel that a meal is incomplete without meat. However, this isn't really true. Once you know how to turn beans into a burger and tofu into marinated heaven, you won't be missing meat at all. Just like chicken, tofu is quite bland by itself in its uncooked form. Add a few spices, marinade, and proper cooking technique and many will be fooled that it isn't meat at all.

It may seem tough at first, or ludicrous even, but once you form a level of eating sophistication you will understand exactly what I mean. The scary part ...it requires a little homework, experimentation, the will to do so, and half a brain. Those who tell you otherwise, that meat is the only way to go, are in fear of what's different, in fear of you being better than they are, and lack of ...half a brain.

So what was on the day's menu? A wonderful, Korean dish that I am not 100% sure of the correct name for it. My brother happened to bring me a dish from a restaurant he ate at, assuming I would enjoy it. Below is a picture along with a description.

Contents:
- Udon noodles (or so I suspect)
- Spicy, peppery, red sweet sauce
- Octopus
- Cabbage
- Pepper
- Several other green vegetables that were cooked down so I am unsure of what they were exactly, perhaps kale.



Unfortunately it does not look as appetizing in the photo or even in person, but the flavor was wonderful. Slightly too salty for my liking, but none the less, delicious.

Sports Diary:

So the Superbowl chicken wing substitution was really not difficult at all. Other than watching bits and pieces of the game I ran 4.5 miles (actually .5 was walked to warm up and cool down). Pretty soon it will be time to start training to bring my 5k time down in time for the race I'll be doing in April.