A Journey of 1000 Miles...

Alright, so here I go. 

It bears mentioning that I’ve gone part-time at work.  I honestly don’t think that I would have enough time to plan and actually make this new lifestyle work for me if I worked full-time.  I didn’t go part-time just so I could become a vegan, but it was definitely a side benefit. I think once I’m into the swing of things it will be easier, but like everything the first stage is going to be a lot more work.

So the first thing I do on my first day off is start looking through my new cookbook Veganomicon.  My brother just bought this for me for Christmas (probably with a smirk).  After taking TWO HOURS deciding on the recipes I was going to try for the week and writing my shopping list, I was ready to go.

As I got in my car to go to the grocery store I was feeling apprehensive and even a little bit foolish.  What am I doing?  I have no business entering this world of skinny people who are conscious of everything they put in or on their bodies?  I’m a total fake. I felt just a teensy bit intimidated.  I had the same feelings when I did my first yoga class, until another heavy girl walked in. 

Same old grocery store, but for some reason it took me two hours to shop.  I had no idea where to find half of the stuff on my list. What is this thing called Arugula? Capers? Liquid smoke? Tempeh?  They didn’t quite have everything I needed at good old No Frills, but almost. 

Judging by the number of people gawking at me, or rather my heavy-laden, bulging shopping cart, I guess I was quite a sight to be seen. When I got to the check-out line and the woman in front of me eyes my cart and smiles.  “Go shopping once a month?”

Sadly no.

By the time I left the store I was feeling more empowered and less intimidated.  It’s just food, right?  $277.44 worth of food!!!  (I was also doing the regular household shopping). Hopefully next time I won’t have to spend so much, after all, you don’t have to buy coconut oil every time, right? 

After an entire morning of doing my vegan thing I was totally famished, so I went through the McDonalds drive-through on my way home.

Baby steps.