Welcome to week 3 of my blog mini-series
“Isolation made me do it”.

Disclaimer
I would like to start this blog by sending love and prayers to all, in this incredibly scary time that we are currently living through.
I would like to make it clear that these posts are in no way trying to make light of Covid 19 and the colossal and devastating impact it continues to have on so many lives.
Writing is something that helps me to get through the tough times, and documenting the things I have been doing and experiencing through this time has been a huge help to my maintaining a healthy state of mind.
The intention is to help others and hopefully create some happiness and positivity in these dark times if only for a moment.

This blog is not in any way preaching about what people should or shouldn’t eat…. It is absolutely the choice of the individual and what you feel is best for you. I am simply sharing my own personal journey and in no way trying to influence or encourage you to follow in my footsteps.

Becoming vegetarian

Becoming vegetarian was never really something I had ever considered if I am honest. I have always loved to eat meat whether it be with a roast dinner, on a pizza and of course takeaway curries or simply fast food options like McDonald’s. Going through the journey that I have with my Mental Health, I have learnt a lot about myself but also, I have learnt to listen to my body. Over the last 6 months I had started to notice that my body didn’t really respond well to certain meats specifically red meat and so I decided to slowly cut it out. I thought that I would miss it and like my husband I didn’t think it would be long before I was giving in to spaghetti bolognaise or the occasional lamb shank, but actually I was able to manage it very easily and didn’t seem to be missing it at all.
It was at this point that I decided to reduce my consumption of meat in general…. I had been reading and taking in a lot of information and wanted to try and eat less, and introduce meals that are more plant-based.

The benefit’s I have found becoming a vegetarian.

Before making this transition, I felt stuck in the habit of cooking the same selection of meals week in week out!
I often felt that the food I was eating was becoming boring and mundane and I wasn’t really enjoying what I was consuming, Basically feeling like I was just eating because it was that time of the day again. I believe this to be another one of the contributing factors to why I would constantly be looking for the sugary sweet treats after every meal.
It was during this time that i realised by becoming a vegetarian i was forced to be a little more adventurous with the meals I was now cooking, I found myself searching and seeking for new and exciting recipes to cook. I can honestly say it has been such a great change and the food I have been eating has had much more flavour and depth to it and I haven’t once missed the meat from my meals.
Don’t get me wrong I am by no means suggesting meals with meat lack flavour or depth because that is definitely not the case, it is simply that I had become lazy with the food I was making and becoming vegetarian forced me to change that.

Recipes and meat alternatives I have enjoyed cooking and eating.

Here i would like to share with you just a couple of recipes i have been enjoying and a few of my favourite meat alternatives.

• Vegan chickpea curry jacket potatoes
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/vegan-chickpea-curry-jacket-potato

•Beyond meat Beyond burger
https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/305836057
I purchased this specific burgers from Tesco’s supermarket in the UK, and am not sure if they are available outside of the UK

• Satay sweet potato curry
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/satay-sweet-potato-curry

• Quorn Fillets
https://groceries.morrisons.com/products/quorn-fillets-120756011
I purchased these from a supermarket in the UK, and am not sure if they are available outside of the UK

• Quorn Sausages
https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/250341645
I purchased these from a supermarket in the UK, and am not sure if they are available outside of the UK

• Vegan allsorts sweets
https://www.veganallsorts.com/

To name but a few. I am continuously discovering new and delicious recipes and meat free alternatives everyday.
If you have any recipes that you want to share please do so in the comments section below, I would love to receive them and give them a try.

Is it forever?

I believe that being in quarantine and away from the temptations of fast food, restaurants and convenience stores has made my transition to becoming a vegetarian a lot easier. As it stands I have no interest in eating meat again and it is definitely something that I would like to maintain once quarantine ends. On the other hand I am very aware that this may become slightly more challenging once it does, but I am definitely determined and will keep you updated on this journey once we are out of quarantine and back to some sort or “Normal” again.

Question(s) of the week

• Has Isolation encouraged you to try something new?

• What are your favourite Vegetarian recipes to cook?

Share a smile not a judgemental

&

Lead with kindness

💚❤️