Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Dining Out on Vegan Kickstart (Day 5)

Once a week on the PCRM 21-Day Vegan Kickstart plan, those following the meal regimen are rewarded with a "dining out" night. Tonight was that night! But my day started with a simple breakfast of Fantastic Fruit Smoothie — bananas, blueberries, So Delicious Agave-Sweetened Vanilla Soy Yogurt, apple cider, and hemp protein powder:

Sorry for all the flash photos, by the way. Keeping a daily food diary requires me to take some shots before and after daylight. It was still dark outside when I downed this smoothie at 6:50 a.m. Smoothies never stay with me for long, and I was starving by 11 a.m. But I held out until lunch for this leftovers plate of Curried Lentil Soup and Southern Beans and Greens:

My snack was Edamame with Cedar's Roasted Garlic & Chive Hummus on Pita Bread. I ate this at my desk around 4:30 p.m. before hitting the gym. This kept me satisfied through my workout:

For Dining Out Night, I was supposed to eat Mexican food. The plan urges you to make healthy choices at the restaurant, so I opted for On the Border (where the boyfriend bartends) because I know they have a great veg menu with plenty of healthier options. I chose the Sizzling Fajita Salad with portabellas, onions, black beans, guacamole, corn, pico, and a low-fat mango vinaigrette:

I also enjoyed tortilla chips and salsa, but unlike with most of my Mexican restaurant outings, I made a conscious effort to only have a few chips. I typically stuff my face with chips without even thinking about how much I'm eating. I also don't typically opt for this salad, instead going for the fried avocado enchiladas or the taco salad in a fried shell. I deserved a few chips for choosing the healthier salad. Oh, and I had another glass of merlot tonight with dinner!

What sort of healthy options do choose at Mexican restaurants?

12 comments:

The Health Sensei said...

our favorite mexican haunt, Mad Mex, can veganize almost their entire menu w/ soy cheese and vegan sour cream. they also offer portabellos or tofu as a meat substitute in most of their enchiladas, burritos, tacos and salads...i'd say mexican is right up there with Indian on the most easily veganized cuisine.

T said...

Mmm, that veg plate looks great! I almost never go out for Mexican, but rice and beans + plantains is my never-fail favorite. If you bake, not fry the plantains I think its not so unhealthy.

Helen said...

veg fajitas or black bean tacos with a huge side of guacamole... plus tons of unhealthy chips and salsa, and always a margarita! Gosh, now I want to get eat Mexican!

Lauren said...

I'm really enjoying following all of your meals during the kickstart!

I went to On The Border while I was home because I miss it sooo much. My mom got the avocado enchiladas and she said they were amazing.

Unknown said...

Mexican is difficult because it isn't always a healthful style of food. If I'm going for mexican I usually realize that all healthy bets are off. The fajita sounds great though.

Sarah S. said...

I have an On the Border right by me, I had no idea they had so many options. I love salads like this!

MeloMeals said...

I love getting salads with all the fajita veggies, salsas and beans.. Yum!

Erin said...

My answer is, I don't! I kind of give in to gluttony when we go out for Mexican :) I love chips and salsa too much.

Steph - Veg Fort Worth said...

I fill up on corn tortillas instead of chips when eating Mexican. I usually get some sort of healthy grill veggie enchiladas with a tomato-based ranchero sauce. Yum, yum. Sometimes I'll get a taco salad if it's not an uber lame one.

Christine (The Raw Project) said...

I usually get veggie fajitas holding the sour cream and cheese at traditional Mexican places. The higher end ones are getting better at offering vegan options, one here even offers a raw jicama salad!

The Vegan Snorkeler said...

That smoothie looks like dessert! What a healthy and fun way to start the day.

I usually go for a veggie and bean burrito with avocados. Flippin YUM!

Leslie Richman said...

I just made the Couscous Confetti Salad (ahhh I'm in love!!) and the Kwik Kale. Thanks for the tip onto this awesome program. I'm not doing it strictly, but the recipes I have tried so far are great!