This is my week off from work, so I decided I’d take myself a little adventure, heading over to Mount Airy, North Carolina, a town of just over 10,000 that sits near the Virginia border.  By name alone, most of America wouldn’t find anything special about this little blip on the map, a city that’s hardly worth a second glance.  But whistle a familiar tune, and this small town becomes something so much more, a place where generations of Americans grew up.  Mount Airy just happens to be the birthplace of beloved TV actor Andy Griffith, as well as the inspiration for the fictional town he protected for eight TV seasons, Mayberry. 

Here’s a little known fact for you:  I’m a huge fan of the Andy Griffith Show.  Thanks to my brother, I’ve been working my way for each season on DVD (for those keeping score at home, I’m currently nearing the end of season three).  For a fan such as myself, seeing Mount Airy is a must (and probably more exciting than it actually should be).  The entire town, from the Andy Griffith museum, to Floyd’s barbershop, to Wally’s service station and everything in between, promises to be full of the sights and sounds of a simpler time (more on that next month). 

My bags packed, I set out on the road yesterday, making a pit stop for the night in Lynch, Kentucky, to visit some dear friends.  In just a few minutes, I’ll shove off from here and start the nearly four-hour drive to Mount Airy.  Of course, completing a road trip is a bit more complicated when one can’t live off fast food hamburgers, so I packed my own version of a survival kit:  apples, bananas, a bag of peanuts, raisins, at least one pineapple, and a big tub of my homemade peanut butter.  Take that McDonalds. 

Thirty days ago, when I began May’s Daniel Fast challenge, I wrote that I wanted to explore the connections between what we eat and our relationship with God.  What I’ve found, over the course of the last month, has been interesting. 

Honestly, I haven’t necessarily seen a connection between the choices I make about food and the quality of my relationship with God.  For thousands of years, the ancient Israelites followed the strict dietary guidelines outlined in the Law of Moses – certain foods were permitted, while many more were not, labeled as “unclean.”  After His resurrection, the “Jesus movement” began to spread, and the early church was formed in its wake.  This gathering was primarily made up of Jews, who, because of their heritage, continued to follow those ancient laws, including the dietary exclusions.  In Acts chapter 10, however, God interjects, using food to teach Peter, the leader of this early church, a most profound truth. 

While praying on the roof of a house, Peter is shown a group of animals, a mixture of both “clean” and “unclean” according to the ancient law of Israel.  Strangely, God speaks, asking Peter to kill and eat what is before him.  A pious Jew, he adamantly refuses to defile himself by eating what God’s law prohibits.  Three times this vision repeats itself, each time concluding with the same command from Heaven “do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”  The big picture God was painting for Peter was in regards to the inclusion of all people, and not just the Jews, in His Kingdom and Church.  But by declaring freedom in food choice, God also, once more, reinforces that idea that humanity comes to salvation through Christ, and not by keeping rules.  As Paul would declare later in the book of Ephesians, “it is by grace you have been saved…not by works, so that no one can boast.” 

So did forcing myself to eat only unprocessed fruit, vegetables and whole-grains, in and of itself, improve my relationship with the Creator of the universe?  No.  But, in another way, it just might have.  Over the past few years, Christ has stirred within me a fire to care for the world He so carefully crafted – I’m a full-fledged member of the Christian environmental movement, God’s green people if you will.  I’m not afraid to dive into the trash can and recycle that aluminum can you just threw away; I’m happy to spend five dollars apiece on CFL light bulbs; I try to bike to locations as often as possible; and I could stand up right now and preach a five-point sermon on the evils of mountain top removal coal mining just off the top of my head.  It seems so obvious to me that God’s children should be healthy stewards of the magnificent home He created for us.  But, for some reason, there’s been a disconnect when I turn that line of thinking toward the corner of creation closest to me:  myself.

I am a vital part of God’s creation, and as such, caring for my own body should be just as important as embracing alternative energy or ending the clear-cutting of old growth forests.  Exercise, rest, relationships – these are all integral parts of living a healthy and well-balanced life – and if this month has proved anything for me, its that the number one contributor to our health and well-being is the food we choose to eat.  Physically, I’ve never felt better.  This month, I haven’t been sick, felt rundown or sluggish.  Sure, there are time’s I’ve been tired, but I’ve had much more overall energy.  Despite the fact that I haven’t been as diligent about my running schedule (due to an unusually hectic schedule), my weight has remained in check, as have my pulse and blood pressure.  And so while the apple I’m having for breakfast won’t usher me into the good graces of God all by itself, I do believe our Creator is pleased when we honor Him by caring for His creation – and this includes ourselves.   

So, as I quickly approach the month of June (and a new challenge), there are aspects of the Daniel Fast that I fully intend to continue.  1) Doing my best to avoid most animal products like milk, eggs and meat (unless BBQ is involved – let’s face it, everyone’s got an Achilles heel).  2)  This month also happened to be the first during which I maintained a budget and tracked all my spending.  Allotting myself $50 a week for groceries, I did most of my shopping on Sunday nights; in fact, I’ve grown to really value that time as a great way to unwind after a very hectic day.  My plan is to continue this tradition into the next month.  3) And while I’m at the grocery, I intend on filling the majority of my cart with fresh, unprocessed food from the produce section – fruits, vegetables, and nuts.  I will, however, also be adding some whole grain bread and tortilla chips to the mix – oh how I’ve missed thee.  4) The one-two punch of having fasted from sugar during Lent and again for the duration of this month’s challenge has left me with little drawing me toward the tooth-killing white stuff.  Candy, soft drinks, and most deserts just don’t seem to have the pull that they once did.  While I won’t be avoiding sugar altogether once June starts, I do plan on continuing to drink (mostly) water and keeping the high-sugar food and candy at a minimum.  That stuff’s like crack – once you start, its gonna pull you down with it.  

With my good intentions fully in tact, I can admit that I couldn’t be more excited for June 1st to come – not so I can follow up a month of fasting with a week of gluttony, but just for the additional freedom that it allows in my diet.  Maybe I’m experiencing just a sliver of what Peter did on that rooftop, thousands of years ago.  And since I’ll be in Mayberry – I mean, Mount Airy – when my fast ends, I’m planning on taking a cue from Deputy Barney Fife himself as I plan my first non-vegan meal. 

You better believe I’ll be there when the doors open.   

Yesterday morning, in the youth-service at my church, we celebrated the graduation of our middle school students, who next week will transition into the high school ministry.  How do you truly honor the accomplishments of nearly thirty eighth-graders?  With heaps of fresh, warm Panera bagels, of course. 

How do you react to said predicament if the parameters of the Daniel Fast don’t allow you to eat bagels?  By stealing seven and stowing them away in your freezer until June 1st. 

It's not my fault - hunger made me do it.  

This month’s challenge, by the numbers:

0 – the number of pounds I’ve lost since starting this non-processed, whole food diet.  For the past twenty-five days, my weight’s been holding steady – hasn’t even changed a pound.  Granted, the purpose of this fast wasn’t to lose weight, but I assumed it would just come with territory.  But you know what they say about assumptions:  they’re usually wrong.  Get your mind out of the gutter. 


1 – the number of awkward conversations I’ve had with complete strangers about the effect of my diet on – how should I say this – the frequency of my “solid waste digestion.”

Janie and I were eating dinner at a local restaurant downtown when one of her good friends and her date, a man I’d never met before in my life, walked up and sat down with us.  When they asked why I was eating a salad with no dressing, Janie explained my challenge for the month, to which this complete stranger responds, in all seriousness, “Man, I bet that keeps you really regular.” 

I couldn’t lie.

“Yeah it does.” 

Now, if you’re done talking about my poop, I’d like to finish supper.


2 – the exact number of times I’ve tried to make bread this month.  After producing two whole-wheat blobs with the consistency and taste of hardening playdough, I’ve decided to bow out early from my career as a baker.  Some things just weren’t meant to be.  


3 – the number of cuts I’ve sustained while preparing meals from fresh produce, including a rather deep one of my left index finger.  I had to be placed on the writing disabled list for a few days (you’ll notice a lull in the blogs), but after rehab and a week in the minor leagues, I’m back and better than ever.  I know you were worried.   

Three also stands for the number of friends that took up the Daniel Fast challenge alongside me.  We may have met with varying degrees of “success,” but at the risk of sounding like an afterschool TV special, the real accomplishment here has been in retraining ourselves to think before we eat.  I’m so encouraged that each of you set out on this journey with me – I hope you’ve found it rewarding!    


4 – the approximate number of “guacamole salads” I’ve eaten in the last month.  I’m a sucker for Mexican restaurants, unfortunately, there’s not much for a vegan, whole-foodie to eatthere.  Enter, the guacamole salad.  At Chipotle (one of the only fast-food restaurants that uses fresh produce), this salad means lettuce topped with black beans, brown lime-rice, stir-fried veggies, salsa and a generous heaping of guacamole – YUM!  At another restaurant, which shall remain nameless to protect the not-so-innocent, a guacamole salad is chopped lettuce, smothered in green avocado goo – not so yum.     


5 – the approximate number of days, each week this month, that I’ve eaten either a potato or sweet potato.  Without these blessed tubers – especially the sweet potatoes – I’m not sure I’d have made it through the fast.  Whether it’s sliced thin, fried, and sprinkled with sea salt, or boiled, mashed, and covered in cinnamon, the sweet potato really is fantastic.  Ironically, until starting this diet, I didn’t think I liked sweet potatoes all that much – put that life change in your pipe and smoke it. 


6 – the exact number of days until I wake up early, drive myself to the nearest Chinese buffet, and wait for the doors to open.  What a glorious, glorious day June 1st will be. 


50 – the approximate number of dollars I’ve spent, each week, on buying fresh, unprocessed groceries.  One of the biggest excuses I hear for not eating healthy is that it’s expensive – but wouldn’t you much rather spend your money of eating well now, rather than paying your doctor for heart surgery later?  The money you spend of groceries is a down payment on your health care – I’d suggest paying up front.   

With almost a month of weekly produce shopping behind me, here’s what I’ve found:  (1) if you can, shop at a Farmer’s Market – you may not get as much, but you’ll get the best produce around, and help support hardworking Kentuckians.  You can’t beat that!  (2) Kroger – pretty good produce, even better price.  (3) Meijer – a much better produce selection, but usually more expensive than their competitors.  (4) Walmart – I didn’t even try. 

If a picture’s truly worth a thousand words, then this blog will be the longest (and, consequently, also the shortest) I’ve ever written.  There are two thousand words worth of pictures here, offering a quick update on last month’s challenge of getting my first book published.

1) The First Thousand Words:  

Tonight, I (finally!) put the finishing touches on my manuscript and, as of fifteen minutes ago, have officially submitted it to Westbow Press for publishing.  I’m still three to four months away from having the book in hand and ready for sale, but I’ve cleared the last big hurdle.  Honestly, I can hardly believe it.


2) The Second Thousand Words:  

Seriously, my friend Sarah is ridiculous – this is a rough draft, hand-rendered proof she designed and created for my book’s cover image.  When I first saw it, I think my jaw dropped.  I couldn’t be more excited about this piece of art – it’s looks so good, I’d buy the book even if the inside was empty.  Be sure to let Sarah know what a great job she’s done! 

Those were, by far, the most exciting two thousand words I’ve ever written.  More updates as they become available!  

Let’s say, just hypothetically, that you’ve decided to eat a vegan, unprocessed diet for a month, and, during the course of said month, you visit a nearby town to see some friends and grab a bite to eat. 

Perhaps, theoretically, this group of friends decides to visit a Mexican restaurant for dinner and by the time you sit to down to order its nearly 9:00pm and you’re as hungry as the wolf from a song by an 80’s band with a repetitive name. 

If that were case, the waiter would most likely bring out complementary chips and salsa, presenting you with quite the conundrum.  Your new-fangled diet doesn’t allow you to eat chips, but, of course, they just happen to be the best part of any Mexican restaurant.  How will you respond?  Let me offer a valuable piece of advice.  Do not, under any circumstance, choose to bypass the chips and eat your salsa with a spoon.  That is, unless you like stomach aches. 

But if you ignore this advice, and gorge yourself on spoonful after spoonful of salsa, then please be wise enough to avoid ordering anything from the menu with the words “guacamole” and “salad” in the title – especially if those are the only two words in the title.  What you don’t understand is that by ordering a guacamole salad, you will be receiving a giant plate of shredded lettuce with a glob of guacamole in the middle, and, unsatisfied with your seventeen spoonfuls of salsa, you’ll be forced to eat this poor excuse for a salad.

If you’ve made it this far – through the salsa and guacamole salad – then you’ve made two terrible decisions back-to-back, and you really have no one to blame but yourself.  In all actuality, I should just stop now and let you learn the hard way, but because I’m sensitive to your hypothetical situation, I’ll offer one last piece of advice.  Do not – I repeat, Do not – decide that salsa and shredded lettuce aren’t enough to fill you up and then order a side of refried beans.  The consequences of those three foods mixing in your vegan, unprocessed stomach would, theoretically, be catastrophic.

Of course, this is just a hypothetical situation; only an idiot would make all three of those mistakes in the course of one meal.

Now, you’ll have to please excuse me, I due in the bathroom.  Again. 

When I talk to people about this month’s challenge – eating only fresh, unprocessed fruits, vegetables and whole grains – most seem sincerely interested, but comment that they “could never do that.”  While everyone understands that the food we consume affects our health, eating habits remain some of the most difficult to break.  I blame this on ignorance – when you don’t know or care about food, then why shouldn’t you just eat what you want.  But once the veil is lifted, and you begin to understand the truth behind what sits on your dinner plate, it’s difficult to continue on with “business as usual.” 

I realize this declaration will publically identify me as a hopeless nerd, but it’s the truth, so here goes:  I love documentaries.  Over the past few years, as I’ve started to become interested in food – how its raised and processed – I’ve watched many documentary films on the subject.  Below, I’ve listed my top five favorites, one’s that have caused me to rethink and reform my eating habits. 

No matter where you fall on the spectrum, from organic foodie to McDonalds connoisseur, these films are a great place to begin that all-important conversation regarding the food you choose to eat.  While ignorance may be bliss, believe me, it’s not doing a thing for your health.

So grab ahold of your bravery, the TV remote, and punch ignorance right in the face by daring to pop one of these films in.  But be warned, you may never look at supper the same way again.

1) Food, Inc.
For me, this is the film that started it all.  Having just finished The Omnivore’s Dilemma, this documentary served as a perfect companion, showing in color what before I’d only read in black and white.  The film is broad in scope, covering everything from the industrial production of meat (gross!), to the economic and legal power of agribusiness conglomerates, to the benefits of eating local.  If you’re new to the idea of caring about what you eat, this is the place to start. 

2) Supersize Me
Americans love fast food, but how do these drive-thru meals affect our bodies?  Documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock used himself as the test tube, choosing to eat nothing but McDonalds for an entire month.  The results are shocking; the film still packs the same punch it did when it premiered nearly eight years ago.  Watch this, and you may never grace the Golden Arches again. 

3) King Corn
Everything on your plate is corn – seriously.  This entertaining film follows the exploits of two city boys who move to Iowa, purchase an acre of land, and fill it with American’s most subsidized crop.  After harvesting and selling their acre of corn, the filmmakers follow it into the modern industrial food system, where they uncover a load of questions about just how much corn the average American consumes and what this does to our bodies. 

4) Forks Over Knives
Ancient Greek physician Hippocrates is credited with saying, “let food be thy medicine,” and that is exactly what Forks Over Knives suggests.  Following the nearly half-a-century work of two modern day physicians, this film investigates the overwhelming health benefits of a whole food, plant-based diet.  Success story after success story are told, detailing how adults were able to conquer diabetes, hypertension, and even cancer by choosing and maintaining a vegan diet.  And yes, in case you were wondering, this documentary was a major motivating factor in choosing this month’s challenge.

5) Killer At Large
With nearly two-thirds of all Americans overweight or obese, our country is the throes of an epidemic.  Killer at Large examines this topic from all sides, trying to determine who or what is responsible for our countries’ growing waistline, showing that obesity is much more than just a self-control issue.  It’s an uncomfortable topic, but one that must be breached if we hope to live healthy and productive lives.      

Over a year ago, my fiancé was given a bread machine.  It was used, but in great condition, and according to the people kind enough to pass it on to us, capable of creating some fine loaves.  We kindly thanked them, and then put the machine on the shelf, where it’s sat ever since. 

This month’s challenge, eating according to the guidelines of the Daniel Fast, dictates that the only type of bread I eat be unprocessed and whole-grain.  In English, that means I have to make my own.  After nearly half a month without a slice, yesterday seemed like the perfect time to put that long-neglected machine to work.  A man can only go so long without bread.

I followed the directions step-by-step, pouring the flour, yeast, oil, salt and water together into the machine.  I flipped the switch, and left to run some errands, knowing I’d return home to the sweet smell of warm bread. 

Hours later, with the excitement of a child at Christmas, I ran to the kitchen – and found a salty, incredibly dense mess.  Needless to say, something went horribly awry.  Whatever pioneer points I may have earned by making homemade peanut butter were immediately revoked.  My hopes, and that “bread” (if we can call it that), went straight from the machine to the trash.   

Christ taught that man cannot live on bread alone, but at this point, I’d sure love to try.  One failure’s not enough to keep me out of kitchen, though, especially when bread’s at stake – with a few tweaks to my recipe, I’m getting set for round two with the ole bread machine. 

Here’s hoping my persistence rewards me with a warm loaf tonight, and not the whole-grain concrete of yesterday. 

I grew up drinking water – it was one of those money-saving decisions my parents forced upon me as a child.  Every time my family went out to eat, the drink order was always the same:  “five waters, one without ice.”  My dad doesn’t like ice – yeah, its weird.  Even now, when I can afford a coke (which is southern slang for “soda,” not necessarily the cola in the red can, just so we’re clear) the sight of a waiter approaching produces an involuntary reflex deep within me and before I realize what’s happening, I’ve ordered water yet again.  Even when shopping at the grocery store, I almost never buy any type of soft drink – and on the rare occasion that I do, its always Ale-8.     

This month’s challenge, eating according to the guidelines of the Daniel Fast, doesn’t just control what food enters my body, but the drinks as well.  Strict adherents to the Daniel Fast drink nothing but water – so, for the past eleven days, I’ve had nothing else.  But, like I was explaining above, choosing only water isn’t much of a sacrifice for me –which makes what happened the other night doubly strange.

People much smarter than me claim that humans dream every night, though you could’ve fooled me.  Only on rare occasions do I wake up in the morning with any notion of having dreamed the night before.  A few days ago, however, was one of those rare occasions.  I woke up, keenly aware of the fact that I’d spent that night dreaming of one thing:  root beer. 

Seriously, I dreamed that I was having a big, frosty mugful while parked inside an A&W restaurant – that was the extent of the entire dream.  Go ahead, you can think it – that’s extremely weird.  I totally agree with you.  I mean, I like root beer and all, but not near enough to dream about it.  I can’t even begin to explain what that’s about it, except to assume that this Daniel Fast thing may be going to my head, in which case, I’m totally keeping my fingers crossed for a Chinese buffet dream tonight.

Sweet dreams are made of these:  egg rolls, fried rice, and those sugary Chinese donuts.  

Some foods make you feel full – like you might have to unbutton your pants just to give your gut room to expand.  Red meat’s a guilty party in this, as are dairy products like milk and cheese, but chief among these filling foods is bread.  And interestingly enough, each of those foods – meat, dairy and processed bread – are prohibited by the guidelines of the Daniel Fast.  And let me tell you, a sweet potato and steamed broccoli just doesn’t fill you up like a cheeseburger would.    

Since starting the Daniel Fast challenge on May 1st, I’ve been on what feels like a never-ending search for a whole, unprocessed food item that produces feelings of satiety (that’s a fancy-pants biology word for “fullness.”)  These past nine days have felt like one continuous meal – I’m eating all the time, but rarely feeling full.  To some people that might sound like heaven, but believe me, it’s more like the alternative. 

I’m a sucker for free things.  The other day, I ran across a website offering free ebook versions of each of Francis Chan’s three books – I don’t even have an ebook reader and I still downloaded each of them.  About two weeks ago, my church held a cowboy themed party and just happened to have a nearly five-pound bag of peanuts left over – whole, natural, and unprocessed.  Cha-ching!  It wasn’t long before that bag found its way back to my house.  In the past nine days, I’m pretty sure that (a) I’ve eaten twice my body weight in peanuts, (b) the floor of my house looks like a Logan’s Roadhouse, and (c) I really need to find a vacuum cleaner.  Peanuts – they might not fill you up like bread, but its better than eating another eggplant. 

My fiancé loves Ree Drummond, a cook and food blogger better known as The Pioneer Woman.  After meeting her now-husband, who she refers to as “the Marlboro Man,” Ree relocated from the glitz and glamor of LA to a working ranch in rural Oklahoma.  She’s most famous for her blog (thepioneerwoman.com), on which she ruminates about her life and shares her favorite recipes.  Out of necessity (remember, she lives in the middle-of-nowhere Oklahoma), she often creates meals from scratch. 

After a week of adding peanuts to nearly every meal (yes, even breakfast), they were beginning to lose their appeal.  And then, in my darkest hour, inspiration struck.  I went to work, shelling nearly half of that original five-pound bag and collecting the peanuts in a bowl.  When I finished, I moved to kitchen and pulled out a food processor, going to work to create my own, homemade, peanut butter.  Ree would be so proud.

Despite the connotations when using a word like “homemade,” making peanut butter is super easy.  After grinding up the peanuts in the food processor, I added a little oil and salt, and voila, peanut butter.  It became my new snack, paired with apple slices and bananas, or just by the spoonful.  Maybe this is just the vegetable haze talking, but that peanut butter was really good.  In fact, I’m working on shelling another bag right now. 

So when life gives you peanuts (and demands that you eat a whole, unprocessed diet), make peanut butter.  

1) Lundi Gras:
Knowing my new diet, consisting solely of whole and unprocessed food, would start the minute the clock struck midnight on Tuesday, May 1st, I set aside the last day of April as my own personal Mardi Gras.  As you most likely already know, Mardi Gras, French for “Fat Tuesday,” is a day of feasting and revelry before the ritual fasting of Lent begins.  Because I hate for food to go to waste, my Mardi Gras would be a day of eating as much of the processed food in my house as possible.  The only problem – with April 30th being a Monday, the name would have to change.  But, lucky for me, I had three years of French in high school.  Instead of Mardi Gras, my processed food feast would be a Lundi Gras:  Fat Monday.  See Ms. Goodwin, I was listening in class.  

I love starches – breads, pastas, cereals and chips – in my world, these are the four major food groups.  Before starting the Daniel Fast, I knew that giving up these foods would be the most difficult aspect of May’s challenge.  Since I’m choosing to eat nothing processed, the only way for me to have bread, pasta or chips is to make them myself.  I don’t believe in my Oregon Trail skills enough to do that just yet, but by the end of the month, hunger may just drive me to try.

Six days into the Daniel Fast, and thinking about that Lundi Gras still makes my stomach turn with jealousy:  cereal and milk for breakfast; a sandwich with chips and salsa for lunch; spaghetti and garlic bread for supper; more cereal for a night cap before bedtime.  Does the Commandment to not lust apply to food as well?  I may be in trouble.    

Curse you starches, for being so dang tasty. 


2) A Steak-N-Shake-Up
The day after starting the Daniel Fast challenge, I rode up to Cincinnati with my friend Jarrod to watch his beloved Chicago Cubs take on the hometown Reds.  We’d been planning this trip for a while, well before I knew what challenge the month of May would bring.  After work, I hoped into his car and we arrived at the ballpark just in time to catch the National Anthem and the ceremonial first pitch.  As you may have already guessed, a baseball game is not the best place for a vegan to find nourishment.  In fact, the only thing in the entire ballpark I could have eaten were peanuts – and I was, in no way, willing to pay their asking price.  I waited the entire game for the broccoli vendor to make his way to our section.  He never did.

By the time we crossed the Brent Spence Bridge back into Kentucky, Jarrod and I were way past due on supper.  Unfortunately, our options were limited.  It was nearing 11:00pm, and northern Kentucky was offering only two choices, both of which were equally unexciting:  Waffle House and Steak-N-Shake.  Neither establishment known for its wide array of fresh, unprocessed meal options, it was obvious I’d have to creative with this meal.

We settled on Steak-N-Shake, which fortunately has four salads on their menu – each one covered in meat, cheese and salad dressing.  This was going to be hard to explain to the waiter.  The conversation went something like this.

Me:  This order’s gonna be weird.

Waiter:  Okay?

Me:  I’d like the Southwest Grilled Chicken Salad, please.

Waiter:  Good choice.

Me:  Except, with no chicken.

Waiter:  Okay, no problem.

Me:  And no tortilla strips

Waiter:  Oh man, that’s the best part.

Me:  And no cheese or salad dressing.

The waiter looks up from his notepad for the first time, confused.   

Waiter:  You know that ends up being just a salad with pico de gallo and corn on it, right?

Me:  Sounds great.

Our table situated near the kitchen, we were able to overhear our waiter place the order.  His exact words to the on-duty cook:  “I’ve got a weird salad order for you.”

Eating out as a vegan sucks. 


3) The Vitals
Although I’m not participating in the Daniel Fast to lose weight, there should be obvious health benefits that arise from spending a month eating nothing but natural, unprocessed food.  Originally, I had wanted to visit a doctor for a full check-up before starting the fast, allowing him to test my cholesterol levels, body fat, blood sugar, blood pressure – all the usual indicators of health.  A second doctor visit, after completing the fast, would allow me to plot my progress throughout the month of May.  Unfortunately, I’m without insurance, so those plans were quickly laid to waste.  Instead, I’m settling for the do-it-yourself health statistics, as indicated by my grandparents’ scale and blood pressure cuff.  Three days into May’s challenge, these were my vitals.  I’m interested to see how this diet, over the course of the next month, will affect them. 

Weight:  143 lbs
Pulse: 70 bpm
Blood Pressure:  110/70