The first time around was a personal test.<\/p>\n This time, it’s something I need to do so that I can be my healthiest, most authentic self.<\/p>\n The concept of Veganuary<\/a> was born in Britain, where animal rights activists encourage carnivores to go meatless for a month in hopes they will lay down their steak knives for good. I upped the ante by adding alcohol and sugar to the challenge. It’s not enough to forgo pork chops. Let’s go whole hog!<\/p>\n On New Year’s Eve, I enjoyed a dinner party with shrimp, chicken, free-flowing wine and a lemon drop martini. Tonight’s repast: eggplant parm, with a tall glass of H2O.<\/p>\n One day down. Thirty to go. Happy Veganuary.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Today is the first day of 2019–and the launch date of Veganuary, my month-long \u00a0commitment to abstain from all alcohol, meat and refined sugar. It’s my second go-around with Veganuary. I didn’t plan to repeat the pledge after successfully staying … Continue reading ![\"clipping-piglets-teeth-and-cutting-off-their-save-ernie-tails-10248828\"](\"http:\/\/smithreports.com\/eatshopgo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/clipping-piglets-teeth-and-cutting-off-their-save-ernie-tails-10248828-172x300.png\")
<\/a>So why am I doing Veganuary II? Because I need to cleanse and recalibrate after months of eating and drinking too much. I want to lose weight. I want to be more productive.\u00a0And I believe it’s healthy to challenge ourselves to do better.<\/p>\n![\"Fruit-Veggies-P4E\"](\"http:\/\/smithreports.com\/eatshopgo\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Fruit-Veggies-P4E-300x200.png\")
<\/a>I’m looking forward to Veganuary. Really, I am. The wine is in the rack and the gin is tucked away in the liquor cabinet, where they will stay until February. I stashed the bacon and a few Christmas cookies in the freezer and added faro and lentils to my shopping list. I will even give tofu another try.<\/p>\n