Good EARLY morning!
I used a random number integer back on the original Meatless in March post to pick two winners!
- #20 Jessica—You win Amy’s!
- #87 Courtney— You win Cookies!
**Girls, please send me an email with your mailing address so I can get your prizes out to you!
Thank you all SO much for accompanying me on this journey. I have to say, being a strict vegetarian is anything but easy!! I found myself really craving sushi, salmon and rotisserie chicken. Did you guys have any cravings? What did you think the most difficult part of it all was? I would love to hear your feedback!
In the first two weeks I became worried that I was going to have a really hard time getting enough protein, but that turned out to really not be an issue at all! I relied a lot on greek yogurt and protein powder but I guess that is better than relying on cold cuts, no?
Although I am not going to stay meatless, I definitely think this month taught me that it IS possible to eat an all vegetarian diet and be a very active person. In the past month, I have run three races and set a new PR for myself! On top of that, I have taken up swimming and biking and decided to not only train for a triathlon but also a half marathon! Before when I didn’t eat meat, I still chose to eat seafood so this was my first time going all out. I was actually surprised that I didn’t feel deprived at all although whenever Ryan and I went out to dinner I really wanted seafood! 
Any thoughts from those that participated?
oh, and I forgot—for the e-cookbook, if you want a copy please email me at HelpJennaRun@gmail.com starting on Thursday! I’m trying to keep all e-cookbook stuff going to that email address to keep things organized! Thanks, guys!
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
Okay, so I have not gone to bed yet here in CO and you are already up for the day, Jenna! CRAZY girl
!! Anyway, thanks for the great blog, and congrats on being meatless in March! And as soon as I get paid I cannot wait to get an e-cookbook! Yummy desserts and it’s for a great cause! Have a nice day!
P.S. I just checked, and I won cookies! Holy moly I cannot WAIT to try them! Thanks again Jenna, you rock!!!!
I think I had my first real test last night, for the first time this month I had to prepare a meat eater’s meal…I’m having girls’ night at my house tonight and last night I was prepping some chicken for the meat eaters’ quesadillas and while I was chopping I was expecting I’d have an urge to nibble. Guess what?! No urge! All I could think about were the pretty green grapes in my fridge and icy cold glasses of water…maybe I was dehydrated!
Looking forward, I definitely don’t think I can leave broth/stock out of my diet because of my looove for my homemade chicken soup (without chicken chunks), also it will definitely be easier to eat out (without looking like a weirdo ordering only sides!) if I can include seafood.
I miss bacon…lol but I know my health will be so much better for not eating it
I have switched to a mainly meatless and dairy free diet and actually have more energy now. The only occasions that I do eat meat is wild meat and that is only once or twice a year when I am actually able to leave the city and go to their communities; my close friends and family hunt every fall for moose, deer and goose (lol as you may be able to tell from the far north 
)
Since I am already meatless it was easy to do meatless in March, but I’ve gone vegan in the past and I really missed being able to eat things with eggs in them, whether it was a baked good, certain pasta noodles, etc, and finding vegan stuff at a restaurant is very, very hard! I’m so proud of you for going the whole month!
As far as your comments on running three races and setting a PR over the month, Carl Lewis, with the hugely successful track and field career, is a vegan, so working out and being strong and fast are certainly possible without meat!
Yay! Great job on doing it for a whole month! That’s so awesome!
Although I wasn’t completely meatless in March, I do abstain from eating meat on Fridays during lent. It’s a fun challenge to think of protein packed, yet meatless options! I actually wrote a blog post on cheap (and vegetarian) meals:
http://runnerskitchen.wordpress.com/2009/03/18/cheap-eats/
Mmm, can’t beat mac n’ cheese!
I love the recap of your meatless month! Thanks for that! Enjoy your day.
Congrats on being able to stay meatless for the month. I couldn’t do it because I can’t eat soy and I need my protein. Enjoy your day.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS!!
I did the best I could to eat fewer meat meals in March, and found that both my fiance and I craved baked tofu and big salads more than we craved steak and chicken! Health wise, thats awesome… but money-wise, its even AWESOMER!
Congrats to the winners and way to go on the meatless March!
Congrats to the winners! I actually have a little while longer to go since I gave up meat for lent. I haven’t really missed red meat, but I have missed chicken so badly! I can’t wait to have some again, just 12 more days!!!!
Congrats on a Meatless March. I think it takes a lot of discipline to go without meat. I’m not sure i could really do a meatless month considering i have to prepare meals for two other people, but its an interesting thing to try. Congrats again.
Hey Jenna!
Congrats on meatless month, that’s great! I went vegetarian for 2 months once, but like you I absolutely LOVE seafood, and I don’t think I could give it up forever.
I just found your blog a few days ago and I love it. I will definitely keep myself posted on how things are going with your training and life. You are inspiring.
I do have a question though…the e-cookbook, is it just desserts or are there other recipes as well? Just curious.
Have a great Tuesday!
Thank you Jenna so much! I never win anything and I LOVE Amy’s!!!
Anyway, i’m already a vegetarian kind of, I eat seafood and chicken and turkey so cutting out those 3 took a big hunk out of my diet. I craved seafood also more than anything. Also, I had a big craving for a turkey burger. BUT I do not think my nutrition suffered at all. I ate a lot of beans, nuts, nut butters, greek yogurt, and protein bars and I found that I was completely satisfied. I think going meatless for a while does your body good. However, I do not think I could live on a vegan diet with no dairy but you never know I guess!!
Since I became vegetarian I became even more energetic — I feel like I’ve made a greater effort to balance out my meals and make sure I am meeting my daily req intakes. So many people assume I am anemic, malnourished etc just because I don’t eat meat…they are mistaken!
I did the Meatless in March challenge and it was a great experience. I have to admit, that I craved meat a few times, and I’m looking forward to re-incorporating meat into my diet. It was especially hard when I went out to dinner with friends and played a show at a venue where almost everything had meat (and looked delicious!) But I stuck with it for the whole month and it was fun. It was definitely the longest I’ve ever gone without meat, but I already eat a lot of tofu/legumes/nuts/etc anyway, so it wasn’t that bad.
Thanks for putting the challenge out there!
Grats on making it the whole month Jenna!
Back a year or two ago, when I was dabbling with vegetarianism, the one thing I craved and couldn’t really give up was pastrami. I’m a former NYer and I love pastrami on rye! I don’t eat it often, but when I do it’s a big treat for me.
Congrats on not eating meat for a month!!
I am a vegetarian and I guess I do not understand all the fuss here.