Eating as a vegan in London is proving to be not as difficult as I had assumed it would be. You definitely don’t get much choice and may just have to eat vegetable side dishes but it is possible.  Having said that I should point out that I am not being a strict vegan.  I am not choosing dishes that obviously have meat, fish, dairy or eggs added but I do not worry about whether the chef used butter or ghee as a cooking fat so it is possible that I think I have eaten a vegan meal but I haven’t but I am ok with that.  I am doing this primarily for weight loss and health rather than for being ethical or for the sake of the animal.  Obviously it is a bonus that my new lifestyle spares the animals but it is not my primary motive as it is for so many others.  I do eat honey which vegans don’t but I like it and have no problem with a small amount each day as my sweetener of choice.

I took breakfast in to the office which I had prepared the night before – overnight oats, made by mixing together half a cup of oats with 1 tbsp chia seeds, 2 tbsp Co Yo and a good glug of coconut water.  I did also have some grapes but I was very hungry this morning so I ate them on the train on my way to work.  Enjoyed with a black tea which I have got used to very quickly.  I tend to drink 2 black teas a day, one black coffee or a soya milk latte and then just water and herbal teas.  How much caffeine I am consuming is not something I worry about at the moment but I don’t think 3 cups a day is excessive.

Seeing this photo reminded me I also added some walnuts in honey too.Mid morning I had a small soya milk latte and at lunch time I popped round the corner to Suda, a Thai restaurant with a work colleague, Owen.
We both had the vegetable Thai green curry with tofu which was excellent. We had it with coconut rice and broccoli and mushrooms.  I drank water and green tea.  If all vegan meals tasted that good I think we would all be vegan! In the evening I enjoyed the walk over Waterloo Bridge once more as I was going to meet Gail for supper at her flat in Southwark. My photos do not do this magnificent skyline justice.  The buildings seem so much bigger and closer in reality and the view is just stunning. I could have stood and stared for ages but it was so cold tonight I put my head down and strode along more quickly. I saw one of the sheep!!!!  Sean The Sheep, promoting the new film, was huge. I also walked past the Founders Arms, which is the pub I have just won a dinner for 2 and a bottle of wine at in a raffle at work which is a pleasant surprise. Having arrived at Gail’s in Southwark, we walked back to Waterloo and had to try several restaurants before we could find one with a table.  London is just too busy these days !

We ended up in an Indian and you have a choice of photos of my supper.  One with a flash and one without. Neither make my meal look at all appetising whereas it did taste very good.  I had Aloo Gobi (cauliflower and potato curry) with tarka dal.  I also had one popadom with raw onion, chutney and pickle to start and once again I just drank water.

As I said at the beginning, it may not have been strictly vegan, but it was vegan enough for me and I am enjoying my new way of eating.  I am finding a pleasurable freedom in being able to eat as much as I want to instead of having to count points or calories.  Ok so I am avoiding a significant and commonly eaten food group (s) but there is so much other choice I am finding it easy.    Bizarrely, I am actually eating very modest portions because when you eat so many vegetables, you fill up quickly and I am feeling sated for long periods of time between meals.  I actually very rarely snack between meals which is great.

It is weigh day tomorrow and I am feeling optimistic of another loss which will be the 5th week in a row.  Here’s hoping so anyway!