One of the biggest crazes right now are diets, seems everyone is on one. I know there are are some benefits to some of them and I understand sometimes people have no choice because of dietary restrictions. So I decided to test it out myself for 1 week. I was going to try to be a lacto-ovo vegetarian. The website dietitians.ca has a guideline for a lacto-ovo diet:
http://www.dietitians.ca/Downloads/Factsheets/Guidelines-Lacto-Ovo.aspx
So what is a lacto-ovo vegetarian you say? A lacto-ovo vegetarian diet includes grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, seeds, nuts, dairy products & eggs. It excludes any meats, fish, poultry or any products containing these foods.
I started on Thursday March 19- Thursday March 26. Im not going to lie, it was quite hard the first few days. I tried to keep a log of what I ate:
Day 1: Thursday 19th (early morning demo class)
Day 2: Friday 20th (concepts lab)
Day 3: Saturday 21st (I had work this day 11-7)
Day 4: Sunday 22nd (went grocery shopping)
Day 5: Monday 23rd (baking lab)
Day 6: Tuesday 24th
Day 7: Wednesday 25th (early morning wine class)
Day 8: Thursday 26th (completely failed)
My moms recipe
Penne Pasta Bake
- penne pasta
- tomato sauce (of your choice)
- red & green bell peppers, small dice
- carrots, finely slice
- mushrooms
- shredded cheese (I used old cheddar cheese)
- garlic, minced
- white onions, finely sliced
- green onions, finely sliced
- olive oil
(all ingredients were measured to yield of pasta & your preference)
1. In a pot of salted water, boil your penne pasta & strain when cooked.
2. In a separate pot add your olive oil, garlic, white & green onions & cook- season with salt & pepper.
3. Add your vegetables & cook till semi soft.
4. Add your tomato sauce & penne pasta. Mix.
5. Add some of your shredded cheese & mix. Transfer everything into a casserole dish.
6. Add the rest of your shredded cheese on top of your pasta & bake in an oven at 300 degreesF until cheese gets golden brown.
ALL DONE!
In all honesty, it was very hard completing this diet. If I hadn't went to the grocery, I dont think I would've been able to do it. I bought peach fruit cups, raw pecans, salted sunflower seeds, pop tarts, Tostitos salsa & chips, ritz crackers.. I think thats about it. By the end of the week, I noticed I was feeling alot cleaner in the sense that I felt more energized. Usually I can go a day or 2 without meat & feel good because it sometimes makes my stomach feel upset but a whole week was interesting. I got to eat nuts and seeds I dont get to eat often. But I will say I was starting to crave meat after the 4th day. I've noticed that getting vegetarian meals isnt as available as people think. When I was in like at Tim Hortons in the mall on my break at work, I was looking at the menu & most of their sandwiches are meat filled, most of their soups have some kind of meat in it. The grilled cheese & broccoli soup are probably the only meal-like items that dont have meat. Even their wraps & breakfast have meat in it. I could imagine how difficult someone who is lacto-ovo vegetarian to eat there, imaging a strictly lacto or ovo (so no eggs for lacto or no dairy for ovo) could eat there. The best option for lacto ovos are bagels.
My mom is a lacto ovo vegetarian, so I was pretty much trying to eat how she ate. She will eat things that have eggs in it (like bread, pastries, cakes, etc) but will not eat eggs by itself, like scrambled eggs like I did. She eats alot of quinoa, vegetables, beans, greens (spinach, kale, arugla, etc), nuts (almonds, cashews, pistachios, walnuts), I found it fascinating because you start to understand complimentary proteins and stuff like that in order to get the nutrients you need.
Im not sure if I could continue with a lacto-ovo vegetarian, I think I might be able to be a semi vegetarian or flexitarian which is a diet mostly plant based but occasionally consumes small amounts of meat. Not typically red meat (which I dont really eat anyways) so mostly poultry or fish.
As a chef, I would take into the considerations of a lacto-ovo, lacto, ovo, diets/dietary restrictions because creating & producing dishes that can cater to their needs or preference would benefit my restaurant and my reputation as a chef. If I can provide tasty, quality meals that can be presented in a formal dining setting, I think that would increase revenue because now vegetarians have a place to eat.
I didnt get a chance to take many pictures, I usually remembered after I ate the food.
http://www.dietitians.ca/Downloads/Factsheets/Guidelines-Lacto-Ovo.aspx
So what is a lacto-ovo vegetarian you say? A lacto-ovo vegetarian diet includes grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, seeds, nuts, dairy products & eggs. It excludes any meats, fish, poultry or any products containing these foods.
I started on Thursday March 19- Thursday March 26. Im not going to lie, it was quite hard the first few days. I tried to keep a log of what I ate:
Day 1: Thursday 19th (early morning demo class)
- Breakfast: chocolate chip muffin
- Lunch: sun-dried tomato bagel with butter & coffee
- Dinner: Pizza with cheese, onions, green peppers, pineapple & tomato with garlic bread
Day 2: Friday 20th (concepts lab)
- Breakfast: cinnamon waffles with butter & syrup
- Lunch: cheese tortellini with rose sauce
- Dinner: chinese food - vegetable chow mein, vegetable spring rolls
- Snacks: pumpkin seeds
Day 3: Saturday 21st (I had work this day 11-7)
- Breakfast: leftover chow mein from Friday
- Lunch: penne pasta with garlic alfredo sauce & broccoli from Richtree
- Dinner: Quinoa with chick peas
Day 4: Sunday 22nd (went grocery shopping)
- Breakfast: Scrambled eggs with buttered toast
- Lunch: stir fry vegetables (carrots, broccoli, bell peppers) with sauce & rice
- Dinner: stir fry noodles with scalloped potatoes
- Snacks: sunflower seeds, pop tarts
Day 5: Monday 23rd (baking lab)
- Breakfast: Cap'n Crunch cereal with milk
- Lunch: sun dried tomato bagel with butter
- Dinner: rice & curried peas
- Snacks: banana & caramel yogurt
Day 6: Tuesday 24th
- Breakfast: spinach, feta & pesto scone from Cobbs Bakery
- Lunch: skipped & had snacks
- Dinner: penne pasta bake (see recipe)
- Snacks: granola bars, peach fruit cups, salsa & chips at home
Day 7: Wednesday 25th (early morning wine class)
- Breakfast: banana & caramel yogurt, sun-dried tomato bagel with coffee
- Lunch: goat cheese, onion & thyme quiche
- Dinner: curried chicken with rice (I failed!) & apple pie for dessert
- Snacks: granola bars, sunflower seeds
Day 8: Thursday 26th (completely failed)
- Breakfast: cap'n crunch cereal, granola bars, peach fruit cup
- Lunch: chicken burrito from the Austin Grill at GBC
- Dinner: Osmow's chicken shawarma
My moms recipe
Penne Pasta Bake
- penne pasta
- tomato sauce (of your choice)
- red & green bell peppers, small dice
- carrots, finely slice
- mushrooms
- shredded cheese (I used old cheddar cheese)
- garlic, minced
- white onions, finely sliced
- green onions, finely sliced
- olive oil
(all ingredients were measured to yield of pasta & your preference)
1. In a pot of salted water, boil your penne pasta & strain when cooked.
2. In a separate pot add your olive oil, garlic, white & green onions & cook- season with salt & pepper.
3. Add your vegetables & cook till semi soft.
4. Add your tomato sauce & penne pasta. Mix.
5. Add some of your shredded cheese & mix. Transfer everything into a casserole dish.
6. Add the rest of your shredded cheese on top of your pasta & bake in an oven at 300 degreesF until cheese gets golden brown.
ALL DONE!
In all honesty, it was very hard completing this diet. If I hadn't went to the grocery, I dont think I would've been able to do it. I bought peach fruit cups, raw pecans, salted sunflower seeds, pop tarts, Tostitos salsa & chips, ritz crackers.. I think thats about it. By the end of the week, I noticed I was feeling alot cleaner in the sense that I felt more energized. Usually I can go a day or 2 without meat & feel good because it sometimes makes my stomach feel upset but a whole week was interesting. I got to eat nuts and seeds I dont get to eat often. But I will say I was starting to crave meat after the 4th day. I've noticed that getting vegetarian meals isnt as available as people think. When I was in like at Tim Hortons in the mall on my break at work, I was looking at the menu & most of their sandwiches are meat filled, most of their soups have some kind of meat in it. The grilled cheese & broccoli soup are probably the only meal-like items that dont have meat. Even their wraps & breakfast have meat in it. I could imagine how difficult someone who is lacto-ovo vegetarian to eat there, imaging a strictly lacto or ovo (so no eggs for lacto or no dairy for ovo) could eat there. The best option for lacto ovos are bagels.
My mom is a lacto ovo vegetarian, so I was pretty much trying to eat how she ate. She will eat things that have eggs in it (like bread, pastries, cakes, etc) but will not eat eggs by itself, like scrambled eggs like I did. She eats alot of quinoa, vegetables, beans, greens (spinach, kale, arugla, etc), nuts (almonds, cashews, pistachios, walnuts), I found it fascinating because you start to understand complimentary proteins and stuff like that in order to get the nutrients you need.
Im not sure if I could continue with a lacto-ovo vegetarian, I think I might be able to be a semi vegetarian or flexitarian which is a diet mostly plant based but occasionally consumes small amounts of meat. Not typically red meat (which I dont really eat anyways) so mostly poultry or fish.
As a chef, I would take into the considerations of a lacto-ovo, lacto, ovo, diets/dietary restrictions because creating & producing dishes that can cater to their needs or preference would benefit my restaurant and my reputation as a chef. If I can provide tasty, quality meals that can be presented in a formal dining setting, I think that would increase revenue because now vegetarians have a place to eat.
I didnt get a chance to take many pictures, I usually remembered after I ate the food.
citations:
http://www.dietitians.ca/Downloads/Factsheets/Guidelines-Lacto-Ovo.aspx
http://www.dietitians.ca/Your-Health/Nutrition-A-Z/Vegetarian-Diets/Eating-Guidelines-for-Lacto-Ovo-Vegetarians.aspx
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Semi-vegetarian
http://www.dietitians.ca/Downloads/Factsheets/Guidelines-Lacto-Ovo.aspx
http://www.dietitians.ca/Your-Health/Nutrition-A-Z/Vegetarian-Diets/Eating-Guidelines-for-Lacto-Ovo-Vegetarians.aspx
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Semi-vegetarian
RSS Feed