Do not adjust your dials...

I got tired of the previous lame template, and in a fit of typical impulsive behavior, I changed it.

This one feels more organized and seems to have better feng shui.

It's also a nice analog to the dietary change/experiment I'm about to embark on...

...which is to go whole-hog (Eee!) vegan for 6 weeks!

I've been working towards this in my thoughts and (to a lesser degree) my actions for awhile after reading about and ruminating on (can't help it!) many aspects of our food production culture. I began with Wendell Berry, now Michael Pollan and Barbara Kingsolver's newest have become my latest 'teachers' about food and how it relates to the health of the planet and our bodies.

In addition, I just read a copy of Eat 2 Live which promotes a mostly vegan diet for optimal health. Furhman, the author, dares his readers to try 6 weeks of no meat/dairy/sugar/salt/processed foods, and you know about my weakness for dares... It appears the vegan way has helped many folks drop weight, AND get off heart/cholesterol/blood pressure meds, which I've been trying to do since I quit smoking, so what's the harm? Not only is a vegan diet better for our bodies, it's also much better for our planet. So you know that just makes me giddy with the potential for virtuousness.

Now, I have consulted with two vegetarians I know, but mainly to ask, can I do this even though I dislike tofu? They both seem to think I'll develop a taste for it. We'll just have to see about that.

But for now, I'm mainly focused on how to eat salad, fruit, beans, more salad, beans, and salad, without getting bored. I've been collecting recipes all week online, my fridge is stuffed to the gills with springtime produce, my cupboard is stocked with new-to-me things like Braggs Liquid Amino seasoning, oat bran, vegetable stock, tarragon (?), and so I think I'm ready for the next six weeks.

But can she give up bbq?

Stay tuned...