Vegan in the Honeybaked Ham Store

Here it is, the day before Thanksgiving.  The last day of this vegan challenge, and where do I find myself? The Honey Baked Ham Store.  This is our first year hosting Thanksgiving, and I decided cooking a turkey wasn't going to become part of my tradition.  Being vegetarian (my daughter is too!), I have learned to suck it up and cook meat for people on occasion, but after this challenge, after really thinking about those defenseless animals, the last thing i wanted was a poor dead turkey roasting away in my oven.  andplusalso I make a killer "stuffing" (is it still called stuffing when not stuffed in a dead bird's tucus?)  and I need plenty of oven room for that reasonably sized gigantic pan of it! I also am very bothered by wasted meat.  And let's face it, there's always that one uncle that wants the fatty parts of the turkey, but then what? White meat gets devoured, and the rest gets thrown away.  I can't do it.  So this year, I ordered a small turkey breast from the Honey Baked Ham Store, already cooked. It's even sliced.  Laine and I will be indulging in Trader Joe's turkey-less turkey roast.  I'm sure it will be amazing  slightly disappointing.  I always have high hopes for these meat substitutes.

I'll be happy when the challenge is over, because I really miss my fancy cheese (cranberry chevre anyone?), but I will definitely be making more of an effort to not include dairy in every single meal.  I felt better eating that way.  Dairy cows suffer just as much as meat cows (and before you say "but they aren't killed!), yes they are killed.  And I won't get into the horrific conditions chicken are kept under, but use your imagination. 

So there you have it. First challenge coming to an end! I wasn't perfect, but I tried! Katie and I are putting the final details on our next challenge and will reveal it soon!  And just for the record, she summed up our main differences in one sentence:  

"That's one thing I normally don't have a problem doing - staying away from alcohol.  I don't see the point in drinking my calories"

Stay Healthy and have a cocktail!
Kelly