KeepGreenGoing

Day One

I had a protein shake for breakfast. This is what I have every day so no big deal. I carried on throughout the day thinking of maybe getting a chicken burrito from Chipotle for lunch. After remembering that I’m a vegetarian for a week I decided to go with the Amy’s tofu cheddar bowl that I had brought with me. My wife is a vegetarian and together we’ve found that there are a tremendous amount of great simple vegetarian dishes available. Amy’s in particular often adds in additional soy protein which is invaluable for the nutritionally challenged vegetarian. I had a simple salad and bread for dinner. Day one as a vegetarian not bad at all. I didn’t even notice that I wasn’t eating meat.

Day Two

Protein shake for breakfast. Having these shakes I’m very thankful that I’m not participating in a vegan for a week experiment. Nothing against vegans, I just don’t know that I’m creative enough to get my essential nutrition without dairy. I picked up another frozen meal for lunch at work; a rice and bean burrito to help settle down my cravings. Pretzels as a snack and then … I remembered that I was meeting some friends for dinner. Not just any friends, Josh and Denae. Let me tell you about Josh.* Josh has studied food and it’s preparation since his childhood eventually attending culinary school after high school and is easily the best chef that I know. Tonight they are not just cooking they are cooking their grandmothers chicken riggy recipe that is raved about from all who have had it. Am I looking forward to dinner? Obviously. Am I instantly depressed that chicken makes up half of the recipe’s title. Undoubtedly.

I arrive late and begin eating with my wife and friends. I’m pleased to see that while there is plenty of chicken in the dish it is easily maneuvered around and the remaining pasta and vegetables are delicious in and of themselves. Regardless I find myself experience my first bout of vegetarian’s remorse as I watch my dinner partners devour delicious tender chicken riggy, while I’m left with just plain riggy. I persevere.

::a

* I later discovered that while the chicken riggy was delicious it was prepared by Josh’s talented wife Denae; not the culinary wizard Josh. So what.