"NO HEARTBEATS EXPEDITION" This is my journey to finding an enthusiastic supply of food without heartbeats!
Thursday, February 9, 2012
FAILED AFTER 17 DAYS!!!
17 days into my "NO HEARTBEATS EXPEDITION" and I ate one shrimp. I failed, again!
But this is not defeat, this is the challenge, the challenge that pushes myself on the daily; I love it!
I have come to realize that I may never be okay with eating any type of animal for the rest of my life, because I am fortunate enough that my thought process about my food has done a complete 180 since I started this journey on January 21st.
I no longer see meat as food, like I had my whole life before, I now see it as a dead animal that we cooked. It may not be distributing to you but that is the one reason I feel like I can no longer consume meat!
By the way, the one shrimp was not worth it; and after I ate it, all I wanted to do was throw up because that one little shrimpy had a heartbeat at some point in it's life; just like I have a heartbeat!!!
But of course, I will NOT give up! I have a goal that I am fighting for with ARDORlarder, and more importantly my "NO HEARTBEATS EXPEDITION!"
But this is not defeat, this is the challenge, the challenge that pushes myself on the daily; I love it!
I have come to realize that I may never be okay with eating any type of animal for the rest of my life, because I am fortunate enough that my thought process about my food has done a complete 180 since I started this journey on January 21st.
I no longer see meat as food, like I had my whole life before, I now see it as a dead animal that we cooked. It may not be distributing to you but that is the one reason I feel like I can no longer consume meat!
By the way, the one shrimp was not worth it; and after I ate it, all I wanted to do was throw up because that one little shrimpy had a heartbeat at some point in it's life; just like I have a heartbeat!!!
But of course, I will NOT give up! I have a goal that I am fighting for with ARDORlarder, and more importantly my "NO HEARTBEATS EXPEDITION!"
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Blogs are hard :/
14 days into my "NO HEARTBEATS EXPEDITION" and the most challenging part, besides trying not to eat fish, is my blog that parallels my experiences during my expedition; however, I have not consumed any meat for 2 weeks now and I feel healthier because of it. I believe I may be more dubious in my ability to constantly keep up my blog rather than the dedication of my journey because a busy work schedule seemingly gets in the way. I will continue to try my darnest of documenting the journey via ARDORlarder!!!
For now, the hopes of finding the enthusiasm in food, with no heartbeats, is my drive of the journey!
There are always healthier options that we as consumers need to search for in your everyday eating routine, such as Gardenburger. If you are trying not to consume any meat and would love to enjoy an amazing burger, next time reach for a Veggie Medley Gardenburger and you won't be let down! 
When I am at work, it seems to be the hardest to refuse any type of meat, let alone fish; but it's those everyday challenges that make us stronger. When I don't have any meal options I will ask the chef to make anything vegetarian friendly, needless to say, without a doubt I will usually end up with a plain marinara sauce pasta.
Sometimes, just sometimes, I get the privilege of placing a special order; when this happens I love to ask Kim, one of our amazing chefs, to make me a grilled veggie wrap with a side of white rice!When you want to satisfy your hunger with something healthy and filling, choose a grilled veggie wrap and don't feel guilty about the side of rice or even french fries, because when you can cut out red meats and chicken you will then feel stronger and maybe even shed a couple of pounds!
Everyday I make a conscience effort to not eat any type of meat, but I know there will be days when I am craving fish and maybe, just maybe, I will choose to eat it, but I will not consider it defeat because this is a journey and there is always room for, what I call, "little slues." I don't consider the "little slues" to be a bad thing because I am not seeking punishment for any failure that happens during my "NO HEARTBEATS EXPEDITION" but rather I consider it a non-guilty conscience fail.
So, "little slues" = a non-guilty conscience fail
Friday, January 27, 2012
Day 2.5 of Attempt 4!
Yah to making it to my second in a half day of eating no heartbeats!!!
Dinner last night, the 26th: an amazing Caesar Salad from Sprout's deli department with a side of wild rice
http://sprouts.com/departments/deli
Lunch, today, the 27th: Mexican style rice with a veggie and cheese quesadilla (from work)
For dinner, I am not sure what my journey has in store but I am going to a friends house, Tailor, who happens to be a vegan, so I am pretty confident it should be somewhat easy tonight.
My "NO HEARTBEATS" EXPEDITION started because every time I consciously thought about the animal I was eating it disturbed me to the point where I (sounds gross) spit it out. The heartbeat for any being is the symbol of life. To know we are responsible for ceasing a heartbeat for the pleasure of human consumption is devastating.
The point of blogging my journey is to show the struggle of a "conventionally habitual" meat eater turning against the consumption of any animal. This has not been enforced by any outside influences but has been inspired by those closest to me that have to decided to not eat meat, or to be vegetarian, vegan or pescatarien.
Thanks everyone for your support!
Dinner last night, the 26th: an amazing Caesar Salad from Sprout's deli department with a side of wild rice
http://sprouts.com/departments/deli
Lunch, today, the 27th: Mexican style rice with a veggie and cheese quesadilla (from work)
For dinner, I am not sure what my journey has in store but I am going to a friends house, Tailor, who happens to be a vegan, so I am pretty confident it should be somewhat easy tonight.
My "NO HEARTBEATS" EXPEDITION started because every time I consciously thought about the animal I was eating it disturbed me to the point where I (sounds gross) spit it out. The heartbeat for any being is the symbol of life. To know we are responsible for ceasing a heartbeat for the pleasure of human consumption is devastating.
The point of blogging my journey is to show the struggle of a "conventionally habitual" meat eater turning against the consumption of any animal. This has not been enforced by any outside influences but has been inspired by those closest to me that have to decided to not eat meat, or to be vegetarian, vegan or pescatarien.
Thanks everyone for your support!
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Today is a NEW day!
Day 1.5 of Attempt 4:
It is going well today on my "NO HEARTBEATS EXPEDITION". I had a veggie egg white omelet with crispy home fries and a side of fruit for breakfast. I wanted to order my usual, biscuits and sausage gravy with bacon on the side, but I was not craving it too the point of failing Day 1.5 of Attempt 4!
The most interesting craving I have had was last night. I was out drinking at an adorable little bar in North Hollywood and my mouth starting watering for the taste of a bacon-wrapped hot dog covered in pastrami, pickles and mustard from Pink's Hot Dogs!
The craving was so random and out-there I had to make note of it, I think it is a reaction from the change in my diet.
It is going well today on my "NO HEARTBEATS EXPEDITION". I had a veggie egg white omelet with crispy home fries and a side of fruit for breakfast. I wanted to order my usual, biscuits and sausage gravy with bacon on the side, but I was not craving it too the point of failing Day 1.5 of Attempt 4!
The most interesting craving I have had was last night. I was out drinking at an adorable little bar in North Hollywood and my mouth starting watering for the taste of a bacon-wrapped hot dog covered in pastrami, pickles and mustard from Pink's Hot Dogs!
The craving was so random and out-there I had to make note of it, I think it is a reaction from the change in my diet.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
WORDto theWISE....
The third time is THE charm!!!
It is true, the third attempt of my "NO HEARTBEATS EXPEDITION" was a success. I had finally made it a whole day without eating anything that had a beating heart, on January 24th. As I reflected back on my day, thinking about what I had eaten, I suddenly felt that maybe it wasn't as hard as I was making it out to be.
For lunch, my boyfriend took me to a small cafe located in the heart of Griffith Park in Loz Feliz in L.A. The quaint snack shop mid-way up Fern Dell Drive is The Trails Cafe, open Tues-Sun 8am to 5pm, their specialized vegan menu is small but holds a variety of different lunch choices. My boyfriend ordered their Pb&J sandwich, I had a bowl of their chili, vegan of course and we both enjoyed a StumpTown coffee. It was a large portion of chili and the best part was the delicious slice of homemade sage blue-cornbread. It was so moist and all the flavors of the chili and the cornbread blended so well together. Then for dinner I had a Taco Bell crunch burrito without the ground beef sub for beans, it's a great choice for a cheap but "no heartbeats" friendly meal. I felt yesterday was a positive step forward in my journey to simplifying the food I consume...However, I soon realized it is as hard as I thought it would be. For lunch today, January 25th, I had a toasted sprouted wheat bagel with onion&herb cream cheese, lettuce, tomato, capers, cucumbers, and Lox.
And well, Lox is smoked Salmon.
So, DAY 2 of Attempt 3: FAILED!
I am going to keep trying because I can already feel the difference in my body from not eating red meat or chicken. This has become a spiritual type of quest and a way to push myself and the everyday challenges we experience, or rather the lack there of.
Attempt 2 and 3 failed because of my self control when it comes to fish has not yet 'kicked in'. Not eating fish seems to be my biggest obstacle during my "NO HEARTBEATS EXPEDITION".
Attempt 4: started after my bagel and lox lunch
Wish me luck!
Monday, January 23, 2012
Another attempt!
2nd Attempt: FAILED!
The main reason I am starting my "NO HEARTS EXPEDITION" is because knowing that an animal that had a heart beat died so I could eat it. For me, it is mainly about the revelations of where and how the food we eat and buy is being processed, distribution and consumed by the people. The torture animals endure for our eating pleasure is heart-wrenching and just mainly the fact that the chicken, cow, fish and others had a beating heart before they reached your mouth!!
So, my 2nd attempt failed when my mother made a delicious tuna salad that she served on cracked black pepper triscuits. It was amazing but unfortunately, the journey gets very hard for me when it comes to fish. I love fish, and because I love fish I did NOT even think twice when I ate the tuna my mother prepared.
Dinner was also a burst when I was unable to attend my company holiday party. Instead, I had to go out of town, and did not get the privilege of a fine banquet buffet dinner, I had a IN-N-OUT veggie grilled cheeseburger rather, and obviously without the meat patty.
EVERYONE must try this!!
The main reason I am starting my "NO HEARTS EXPEDITION" is because knowing that an animal that had a heart beat died so I could eat it. For me, it is mainly about the revelations of where and how the food we eat and buy is being processed, distribution and consumed by the people. The torture animals endure for our eating pleasure is heart-wrenching and just mainly the fact that the chicken, cow, fish and others had a beating heart before they reached your mouth!!
So, my 2nd attempt failed when my mother made a delicious tuna salad that she served on cracked black pepper triscuits. It was amazing but unfortunately, the journey gets very hard for me when it comes to fish. I love fish, and because I love fish I did NOT even think twice when I ate the tuna my mother prepared.
Dinner was also a burst when I was unable to attend my company holiday party. Instead, I had to go out of town, and did not get the privilege of a fine banquet buffet dinner, I had a IN-N-OUT veggie grilled cheeseburger rather, and obviously without the meat patty.
EVERYONE must try this!!
For my 3rd attempt, January 23rd, I began the day with a dance class and afterwards enjoyed a veggie breakfast burrito from a small corner shop in North Hollywood. My dinner has not been decided yet but I hope the third time's the charm!!
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