Meatless Monday

I used to be 2/7 vegetarian, but alas, it was short-lived.  It is a challenge being a straight vegetarian once a day; I remember those times I was forcing myself not to eat anything, else I'd start consuming tons of canned meat.  Or normally I would mostly gobble bread and butter the entire day.  Not healthy at all.

To be honest I am currently struggling with my weight.  I am not overweight at all, in fact I have come to terms with the fact that I am finally in my adult body.  This means I have more curves, and hell yeah, for some reason my chest has become more defined.  I hope it's not because I got fat but because I do have a chest, you know?

This "weight struggle" is due to the fact I used to be quite lean because for a few years, until about a couple of years ago, I used to go to the gym.  As I have stopped going, I have formed a bit of padding and to the eyes of my friends I have gotten fat.  But anyway, the fitness regimen I have been trying to design for myself is for the sake of --- yes --- fitness, and I have to admit I want to lose about five pounds or more.  I hope the Hip-Hop Abs-ing I have been doing in the past month is working!

But anyway, to kick off a nice habit, I have decided to try a meatless Monday approach.  Suddenly I have no idea what to eat... being a Filipino I am used to eating all sorts of meat most of the time.  Vegetables have been mostly a side dish or maybe a garnish, the supporting cast in most meals.  Okay, there are a few dishes that highlight those leafy greens, but really, can you imagine eating kare-kare without the tender, off-the bones beef and that oh-so yummy tripe?  Laing without the essence of meat, ie pork?  Kamown.  I love Corner Tree Cafe, but I can't eat there all the time, can I?  And where have all the Mother Siachi's gone to?

To kick off (again) this once-a-week "meatless" thing, I have decided to come up with a simple meal plan for the day that I can pull off based on my resources.

Breakfast:  Pancakes and coffee
Lunch:  Kangkong and tofu from Chowking
Dinner:  Grilled cheese sandwich and salad
Snacks: Bananas and yoghurt and a few Visayan sweets that are currently being distributed around the office today (yema, pastillas)

Aurgh, looking at today's potential meals is already making me hungrier.  I better go down and get those pancakes otherwise I'll start eating my head.

Good luck and have a happy Monday/August!