After hearing the terrible news that our sister-in-law Lisa's cancer is in an advanced stage, I watched the documentary Forks Over Knives and decided to try being mostly vegan for a while. Here are some of the things I tried:
Quinoa, black beans & mango salsa for lunch (yummy)
Tacos with black beans, brown rice, salsa and avocados (good)
Whole wheat vegan pancakes with blueberries & agave (terrible!) and a blueberry "green" smoothie
Steel cut oats with berries & rice milk (delicious) and a green smoothie (I found that kale was much better than spinach or other greens)
Here is my haul from Costco the day after I watched the movie:
So 4 things happened that made me fall off the wagon: first, my sister-in-law wasn't interested, second, I learned that a lot of the things that had been "getting me through" my new diet, like corn tortillas, popcorn, peanut butter sandwiches (peanuts and wheat) and soy milk are also not supposed to be good for you, third, I felt terrible instead of better, even after 3 weeks and even though I've always eaten a high-fiber diet full of fruits and vegetables, and fourth and most importantly, we read some criticisms and scientific reviews of the documentary and the book The China Study that show how the claims are overblown, based on assumptions, and otherwise not scientifically sound. So now we're just re-motivated to think about what we're putting into our mouths, and eat even more fruits & vegetables.
Tacos with black beans, brown rice, salsa and avocados (good)
Whole wheat vegan pancakes with blueberries & agave (terrible!) and a blueberry "green" smoothie
Steel cut oats with berries & rice milk (delicious) and a green smoothie (I found that kale was much better than spinach or other greens)
Here is my haul from Costco the day after I watched the movie:
So 4 things happened that made me fall off the wagon: first, my sister-in-law wasn't interested, second, I learned that a lot of the things that had been "getting me through" my new diet, like corn tortillas, popcorn, peanut butter sandwiches (peanuts and wheat) and soy milk are also not supposed to be good for you, third, I felt terrible instead of better, even after 3 weeks and even though I've always eaten a high-fiber diet full of fruits and vegetables, and fourth and most importantly, we read some criticisms and scientific reviews of the documentary and the book The China Study that show how the claims are overblown, based on assumptions, and otherwise not scientifically sound. So now we're just re-motivated to think about what we're putting into our mouths, and eat even more fruits & vegetables.Other things we did in February: we went skiing at Crystal Mountain
We had a mostly rainy mid-winter break (shocker) and tried some indoor projects and playing with friends to keep the kids busy.
Carson had lasik surgery but we don't have a picture of that!
We had a mostly rainy mid-winter break (shocker) and tried some indoor projects and playing with friends to keep the kids busy.
Carson had lasik surgery but we don't have a picture of that! Caeden decorated a can for his valentines at preschool:
And I tried to make valentine's breakfast fun with heart pancakes with sprinkles & strawberry milk but the kids wouldn't even sit for the picture
Beckham turned 7 and we celebrated with my family since we decided the kids don't need to have a "friend party" every year... I don't know who was more disappointed, me or the kids. I had an awesome Charlie & the Chocolate Factory party in the works.
Aspen turned 2!!
She almost got to open her presents by herself.
It really is amazing to have a girl. She is still crazy like the boys a lot of the time but she does things that they never did... like leaves things in the cabinets without locks, stays in her "big girl bed" (most of the time) without having to be locked in, likes to clean up, asks for a napkin to wipe her mouth when she's eating, notices what clothes I put on her and has opinions about it, talks incessantly, cries like her heart is broken if you hurt her feelings (or her pride), sits kind of still for me to do her "piggies," and likes to show everyone how smart she is by saying things like "apsen's pink shirt." She is very bossy and doesn't like her brothers to come into her room and will tell on them if they're doing a "no no." She is already potty-training and loves to put stickers on her chart and likes to sing the Little Einsteins theme song, watch My Little Pony, make cookies in her toy kitchen and paint her toenails with mommy. She is such a joy to our family and we are trying very hard not to spoil her by making her stick to the rules but she is so much more obedient than the boys that she doesn't need very much discipline, and the boys are so in love with her that they cater to her a lot and are always trying to teach her everything. She is so loved and so special to us!
And I tried to make valentine's breakfast fun with heart pancakes with sprinkles & strawberry milk but the kids wouldn't even sit for the picture
Beckham turned 7 and we celebrated with my family since we decided the kids don't need to have a "friend party" every year... I don't know who was more disappointed, me or the kids. I had an awesome Charlie & the Chocolate Factory party in the works.
Aspen turned 2!!
She almost got to open her presents by herself. 
It really is amazing to have a girl. She is still crazy like the boys a lot of the time but she does things that they never did... like leaves things in the cabinets without locks, stays in her "big girl bed" (most of the time) without having to be locked in, likes to clean up, asks for a napkin to wipe her mouth when she's eating, notices what clothes I put on her and has opinions about it, talks incessantly, cries like her heart is broken if you hurt her feelings (or her pride), sits kind of still for me to do her "piggies," and likes to show everyone how smart she is by saying things like "apsen's pink shirt." She is very bossy and doesn't like her brothers to come into her room and will tell on them if they're doing a "no no." She is already potty-training and loves to put stickers on her chart and likes to sing the Little Einsteins theme song, watch My Little Pony, make cookies in her toy kitchen and paint her toenails with mommy. She is such a joy to our family and we are trying very hard not to spoil her by making her stick to the rules but she is so much more obedient than the boys that she doesn't need very much discipline, and the boys are so in love with her that they cater to her a lot and are always trying to teach her everything. She is so loved and so special to us!
4 comments:
I'm sorry that I wasn't interested in going Vegan. Honestly my first couple weeks of treatment I didn't even have an appetite, then it came back and the last week I am never hungry. Yet, through all that, I gained 10 lbs. Now I have to really get on a health kick. : )I'm hoping my body will adjust and get back to "normal", whatever that is when you have cancer. I do eat lots more fruits and vegetables.
Who knows, there is so much conflicting information out there it drives me bonkers. I guess I have always taken the approach of eating "real" food that hasn't been processed or messed with. Should be good with that right?
I love that Aspen is so cute with her pigys and so well taken care of by her brothers. She is a doll.
Thank you for emailing about the information and arguments against Fork over Knives. That helped me so much. I'm so glad that I can eat fish, healthy meat and EGGS in moderation without feeling like I'm giving my children heart disease!
I want to make that melted crayon art with my kids. Did you use a hair dryer to melt the crayons? How did you attach the crayons to the frame? Yours looks so good. It's even better than the ones on pinterest.
And your sweet Aspen is so darling. Your description of her was really fun to read. She reminds me of my Macey. We have to make a concerted effort not to spoil her. I agree with you, my girls are much more naturally clean and obedient than my boys. Love that.
so fun! can't believe how grown up the kids are getting. loved hearing your take on the china study. funny thing - i was actually going to email you about that the other day b/c i've been so conflicted about it and thought "marisa's smart - she'll know." :) hope you're all well. miss you. xo
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