"Don't think about what you can't have, think about what you can."
Plant-based in Bend, OR: a true sufferfest.
When I first went plant-based in May 2016, I was completely overwhelmed by the thought of replacing animal protein with tempeh, tofu, and beans. I loved to cook and I loved trying new things even more, but it was such a departure from how I'd eaten for so much of my then 34 years.
Dramatic reenactment.
After devouring a mountain of cookbooks and websites, I started to see things differently. I quickly learned that nuts or seeds + nutritional yeast + vinegar formed the basis for any number of rich and creamy favorite pasta sauces and salad dressings. High-protein tofu slices + pickles = sandwich. Chickpeas + vegan mayo = chickpea salad.
Robin and I heart chickpea salad. So much.
Suddenly, as I walked down grocery store aisles, the deli counter faded into the background and out popped those little 'all natural' sections.
If there are any non-vegan products here, la-la-la, I don't see them.
Much like when you're in the market for a new car and you suddenly start seeing your desired make and model everywhere: the thing you focus on expands.
And as I honed in on the foods that were naturally plant-based, I was even more delighted. My mind looked a little like this:
Then, of course, were the ready-made products popping up everywhere. In 2016, there was only a fraction of what's available today. Which means in another four years we might pass by that old deli section and see even more of this:
One of the things I've held onto throughout my plant-based exploration -and beyond- is this idea that if you zoom in on what you can have/see/do, nothing else matters. All the rest fades into the recesses of your memory like a bad haircut or the third season of Glee.
Or Halloween circa 1993.
If you're toying with the idea of taking the next step in your plant-based journey -whatever that means for you- rest assured that it's chock full of possibilities. The only thing you have to "give up" is the idea that you have something to lose.
This seemed like a good time to revisit the beer and tots pic.