An Funny Thing Happened Along The Way....

I am experimenting with the thought of becoming a vegetarian.  This fall I have reduced my meat consumption and I am not craving or thinking about eating any type of meat at all.  I would prefer not to.  

I have talked to my mom and we are going to experiment with different recipes and types of pastas and I am interested in trying a vegie burger.  I still love eating my fruit and vegie bars and fruit and vegie juice.  

I have been influenced to try this route as I know several singers are vegetarian.  I am influenced by:

Paul McCartney (The Beatles)
Yesterday

Thom Yorke (RadioHead)
Karma Police 

Anni Frid Lyngstad (ABBA) 
Waterloo 

Burritos and Portions

I have continued to make burritos for my family on a regular basis. 

My mom likes lots of vegetables on her burritos so I am happy to help her cut them.  I have tried a bit of salsa on mine.

Something new that I have tried are different types of soft tacos.  I have tried sundried tomato and wholewheat.  I still like the white ones, but the sundried tomato ones were pretty good.

I believe our plates are representing this one (shown here) but all wrapped up inside the wrap! The only thing missing is the fruit. 

I think it would be fair to say I could safely have 2 full burritos at this meal and be fulfilling a dinner portion of required servings.  This takes into account that I would be also eating breakfast and lunch.

As you can see here, the recommended servings for teenage boys are:  

8 Fruit/Veg, 7 Grains, 3-4 Milk+, 3 Meats. 

Healthy Brownies Put To The Test

I was finally able to make the healthier choice brownie.  The main ingredient is black beans and there is no flour.  At New Year's Day I served them to family.  Here is the feedback:

Debbie and Elise - grateful and loved them.  They both are gluten free so they loved this recipe.
Claude and Peter - really loved them and health conscious.
Isabella - liked them better than my previous brownies when she heard they were healthy.
Jonah - loved them (I was not allowed to tell him they were made from black beans because he would not have loved them then).
Auntie Patti and Mama - really liked them!
Violet - really liked it!
Papa - really, really loved them.

I believe these brownies may have been more filling than the brownies I made in the summer, probably because of the density of the black beans.  These brownies were the size of a small muffin.  I could have also made them in a mini-muffin tin and maybe I could try that next time.