La Alaskeña

Remember when I said I was going vegan for Lent? I kind of sort of did it! Yeah!

So I was going strong for the first few weeks. I had no cravings, although I did develop a little vegan cookie problem. Other than that, I was completely free of animal products and not missing them at all.

And then… well, you know. That time of the month. And all of a sudden, I was a fiend. I wanted something NOT VEGAN NOW. I wasn’t even able to articulate what it was I wanted to eat. Just anything, as long as it was NOT VEGAN.

But I stayed strong until last Wednesday, when we ordered Chinese food and I caved and got sweet and sour prawns. I know, I know! Not only not vegan, but also not technically vegetarian. I’m not proud of myself. Then I was good until Saturday, when I ate chilaquiles with cream, because ¿chilaquiles sin crema? Besides, I’m pretty sure it was already Easter in Australia.

So here’s what I’ve learned: veganism is not easy unless you’re prepared. You can’t just waltz into a restaurant. You can’t count on fast food. You have to have your meals planned out, or else you’ll get hungry and frustrated and order sweet and sour prawns.

I also learned that it’s doable. That I can do it, and that I do feel better, and have more energy when I’m not eating dairy. So the takeaway lesson is that now that Lent is over, I’m not planning on changing things too much. After I eat a copious amount of macaroni and cheese, of course.