I’ve been a meat eater my entire life, and I finally decided to do a month as a vegetarian! Here’s everything that I learned, my immediate tips and my biggest takeaways!
WHY DID I DO IT?
I’ve heard all the conspiracy theories from family and friends on why I decided to try living as a vegetarian for a month. Let me name a few fake reasons.
- I’m “really sick” and drastic changes were needed in my life. (Gasps in perfect health)
- Jess has “pressured me” with her vegan “propaganda” and I’ve finally given in! (wow… why….how?)
- I got tired of having to cook my own meals (ok this one is made up, anyone who knows me knows I love to cook as much as I love Jess’ food).
None of these reasons were true. The real reason isn’t that interesting. Simply put, I spent a month in California and almost two weeks in New York primarily eating amazing vegan food. I was fascinated by the ingenuity, flavours and just abundance of options. I also eat tons of vegan food at home and know how good it can be. So with my interest piqued by my wife and two great vegan travel experiences, I set out to find out what it would feel like to be fully plant based.
FIRST THOUGHTS, FEARS AND PUSHING FORWARD
I didn’t want to start my first ever post on Jessica in the Kitchen (Look Mom! I’m a writer now!!!) with a cliché but this month has absolutely changed my life. Anyone who knows me could not imagine that I would do this. Known for my BBQ skills and faux asian inspired dishes, I received a lot of raised eyebrows as I spoke about the journey I was about to undertake. Nevertheless, I went forward with determination and curiosity.
As the day to kickstart my new journey approached, the burning questions started in my mind. What if I started back at the gym how can I build muscle on a vegetarian diet , How can a vegetarian get protein , What about my source of omega 3’s its much easier to get that from fish right ? How silly was this? I’ll admit that I feel even more embarrassed as I had Jess – a living breathing specimen of health showing me that all my questions were just my mind finding reasons to resist change. I point this out only to say we may feel as though we want to do something but until we truly open ourselves up we will never be ready to take the first step into understanding.
My first day of my month as a vegetarian was the hardest day and this statement is important because it really wasn’t that hard at all. I had oatmeal with almond milk for breakfast and began and that was great. In true Gavin style trying to give myself an inordinate amount of work to meal prep the most elaborate vegetarian dishes! I had to make this my best month of eating possible. Sometimes I just don’t understand why I would do this to myself.
When elaborate meal number one was done and I realised none of this was sustainable. I promptly switched to simple and delicious plant based meals. Oh, if only there was a resource that had over 300 vegan recipes to choose from at the tip of my finger! After finding my aha! Moment and using our simple recipes, I had simple and oh so delicious meals that I could heat up and eat in minutes.
MY FAVOURITE MEALS & BIGGEST TAKEAWAY
Speaking of meals, I wanted to share my favourites with you if you yourself are thinking about going vegetarian/vegan for a month. My favourites were the Chickpea Curry with rice, Vegan Teriyaki Meatballs and rice, Sticky Sesame Cauliflower Wings and rice (ok ok I like rice sue me). The point is, I didn’t really change the nature of my meals – it was just the delivery vehicle of my favourite flavours and textures. I think this was my biggest takeaway -it was so easy to feel satisfied by eating what I loved, I just made it plant based.
I realised that my meals were packed with veggies! I ended up not having dairy at all and I also realised I began drinking more water than normal. Needless to say, I was convinced that there were obvious benefits to living a vegetarian lifestyle and would definitely recommend this to everyone!
SO…WHAT NEXT? MY CONCLUSION
For full disclosure, after my month as a vegetarian I slipped back into my old meat eating routine, but this turned out to be such a good thing! I immediately felt the difference. It was so bad that I even got a little sick afterwards!
I’ve been listening to the persuasive argument my body has been presenting and surprise: I’m now fully plant-based !
I’m steadily transitioning on my food journey and learning lots of amazing things. Working to be known locally and internationally (Jess needs to stop my delusions soon) for my plant based BBQ and asian inspired dishes.
MY BIG THREE TAKEAWAYS
- To truly appreciate a journey, you have to be completely and honestly open to receive any knowledge there is to gain. Long story short – have an open mind .
2 . Switching to a plant based lifestyle isn’t a reason to stop eating your favourite types of food .
- Listen closely to your body – it will really guide you in the right direction.
I hope you enjoyed this post about my month as a vegetarian. Thank you for reading.
Love is Love,
Gavin
I’ve been a meat eater my entire life, and I finally decided to do a month as a vegetarian! Here’s everything that I learned, my immediate tips and my biggest takeaways!
WHY DID I DO IT?
I’ve heard all the conspiracy theories from family and friends on why I decided to try living as a vegetarian for a month. Let me name a few fake reasons.
- I’m “really sick” and drastic changes were needed in my life. (Gasps in perfect health)
- Jess has “pressured me” with her vegan “propaganda” and I’ve finally given in! (wow… why….how?)
- I got tired of having to cook my own meals (ok this one is made up, anyone who knows me knows I love to cook as much as I love Jess’ food).
None of these reasons were true. The real reason isn’t that interesting. Simply put, I spent a month in California and almost two weeks in New York primarily eating amazing vegan food. I was fascinated by the ingenuity, flavours and just abundance of options. I also eat tons of vegan food at home and know how good it can be. So with my interest piqued by my wife and two great vegan travel experiences, I set out to find out what it would feel like to be fully plant based.
FIRST THOUGHTS, FEARS AND PUSHING FORWARD
I didn’t want to start my first ever post on Jessica in the Kitchen (Look Mom! I’m a writer now!!!) with a cliché but this month has absolutely changed my life. Anyone who knows me could not imagine that I would do this. Known for my BBQ skills and faux asian inspired dishes, I received a lot of raised eyebrows as I spoke about the journey I was about to undertake. Nevertheless, I went forward with determination and curiosity.
As the day to kickstart my new journey approached, the burning questions started in my mind. What if I started back at the gym how can I build muscle on a vegetarian diet , How can a vegetarian get protein , What about my source of omega 3’s its much easier to get that from fish right ? How silly was this? I’ll admit that I feel even more embarrassed as I had Jess – a living breathing specimen of health showing me that all my questions were just my mind finding reasons to resist change. I point this out only to say we may feel as though we want to do something but until we truly open ourselves up we will never be ready to take the first step into understanding.
My first day of my month as a vegetarian was the hardest day and this statement is important because it really wasn’t that hard at all. I had oatmeal with almond milk for breakfast and began and that was great. In true Gavin style trying to give myself an inordinate amount of work to meal prep the most elaborate vegetarian dishes! I had to make this my best month of eating possible. Sometimes I just don’t understand why I would do this to myself.
When elaborate meal number one was done and I realised none of this was sustainable. I promptly switched to simple and delicious plant based meals. Oh, if only there was a resource that had over 300 vegan recipes to choose from at the tip of my finger! After finding my aha! Moment and using our simple recipes, I had simple and oh so delicious meals that I could heat up and eat in minutes.
MY FAVOURITE MEALS & BIGGEST TAKEAWAY
Speaking of meals, I wanted to share my favourites with you if you yourself are thinking about going vegetarian/vegan for a month. My favourites were the Chickpea Curry with rice, Vegan Teriyaki Meatballs and rice, Sticky Sesame Cauliflower Wings and rice (ok ok I like rice sue me). The point is, I didn’t really change the nature of my meals – it was just the delivery vehicle of my favourite flavours and textures. I think this was my biggest takeaway -it was so easy to feel satisfied by eating what I loved, I just made it plant based.
I realised that my meals were packed with veggies! I ended up not having dairy at all and I also realised I began drinking more water than normal. Needless to say, I was convinced that there were obvious benefits to living a vegetarian lifestyle and would definitely recommend this to everyone!
SO…WHAT NEXT? MY CONCLUSION
For full disclosure, after my month as a vegetarian I slipped back into my old meat eating routine, but this turned out to be such a good thing! I immediately felt the difference. It was so bad that I even got a little sick afterwards!
I’ve been listening to the persuasive argument my body has been presenting and surprise: I’m now fully plant-based !
I’m steadily transitioning on my food journey and learning lots of amazing things. Working to be known locally and internationally (Jess needs to stop my delusions soon) for my plant based BBQ and asian inspired dishes.
MY BIG THREE TAKEAWAYS
- To truly appreciate a journey, you have to be completely and honestly open to receive any knowledge there is to gain. Long story short – have an open mind .
2 . Switching to a plant based lifestyle isn’t a reason to stop eating your favourite types of food .
- Listen closely to your body – it will really guide you in the right direction.
I hope you enjoyed this post about my month as a vegetarian. Thank you for reading.
Love is Love,
Gavin
I’ve been a meat eater my entire life, and I finally decided to do a month as a vegetarian! Here’s everything that I learned, my immediate tips and my biggest takeaways!
WHY DID I DO IT?
I’ve heard all the conspiracy theories from family and friends on why I decided to try living as a vegetarian for a month. Let me name a few fake reasons.
- I’m “really sick” and drastic changes were needed in my life. (Gasps in perfect health)
- Jess has “pressured me” with her vegan “propaganda” and I’ve finally given in! (wow… why….how?)
- I got tired of having to cook my own meals (ok this one is made up, anyone who knows me knows I love to cook as much as I love Jess’ food).
None of these reasons were true. The real reason isn’t that interesting. Simply put, I spent a month in California and almost two weeks in New York primarily eating amazing vegan food. I was fascinated by the ingenuity, flavours and just abundance of options. I also eat tons of vegan food at home and know how good it can be. So with my interest piqued by my wife and two great vegan travel experiences, I set out to find out what it would feel like to be fully plant based.
FIRST THOUGHTS, FEARS AND PUSHING FORWARD
I didn’t want to start my first ever post on Jessica in the Kitchen (Look Mom! I’m a writer now!!!) with a cliché but this month has absolutely changed my life. Anyone who knows me could not imagine that I would do this. Known for my BBQ skills and faux asian inspired dishes, I received a lot of raised eyebrows as I spoke about the journey I was about to undertake. Nevertheless, I went forward with determination and curiosity.
As the day to kickstart my new journey approached, the burning questions started in my mind. What if I started back at the gym how can I build muscle on a vegetarian diet , How can a vegetarian get protein , What about my source of omega 3’s its much easier to get that from fish right ? How silly was this? I’ll admit that I feel even more embarrassed as I had Jess – a living breathing specimen of health showing me that all my questions were just my mind finding reasons to resist change. I point this out only to say we may feel as though we want to do something but until we truly open ourselves up we will never be ready to take the first step into understanding.
My first day of my month as a vegetarian was the hardest day and this statement is important because it really wasn’t that hard at all. I had oatmeal with almond milk for breakfast and began and that was great. In true Gavin style trying to give myself an inordinate amount of work to meal prep the most elaborate vegetarian dishes! I had to make this my best month of eating possible. Sometimes I just don’t understand why I would do this to myself.
When elaborate meal number one was done and I realised none of this was sustainable. I promptly switched to simple and delicious plant based meals. Oh, if only there was a resource that had over 300 vegan recipes to choose from at the tip of my finger! After finding my aha! Moment and using our simple recipes, I had simple and oh so delicious meals that I could heat up and eat in minutes.
MY FAVOURITE MEALS & BIGGEST TAKEAWAY
Speaking of meals, I wanted to share my favourites with you if you yourself are thinking about going vegetarian/vegan for a month. My favourites were the Chickpea Curry with rice, Vegan Teriyaki Meatballs and rice, Sticky Sesame Cauliflower Wings and rice (ok ok I like rice sue me). The point is, I didn’t really change the nature of my meals – it was just the delivery vehicle of my favourite flavours and textures. I think this was my biggest takeaway -it was so easy to feel satisfied by eating what I loved, I just made it plant based.
I realised that my meals were packed with veggies! I ended up not having dairy at all and I also realised I began drinking more water than normal. Needless to say, I was convinced that there were obvious benefits to living a vegetarian lifestyle and would definitely recommend this to everyone!
SO…WHAT NEXT? MY CONCLUSION
For full disclosure, after my month as a vegetarian I slipped back into my old meat eating routine, but this turned out to be such a good thing! I immediately felt the difference. It was so bad that I even got a little sick afterwards!
I’ve been listening to the persuasive argument my body has been presenting and surprise: I’m now fully plant-based !
I’m steadily transitioning on my food journey and learning lots of amazing things. Working to be known locally and internationally (Jess needs to stop my delusions soon) for my plant based BBQ and asian inspired dishes.
MY BIG THREE TAKEAWAYS
- To truly appreciate a journey, you have to be completely and honestly open to receive any knowledge there is to gain. Long story short – have an open mind .
2 . Switching to a plant based lifestyle isn’t a reason to stop eating your favourite types of food .
- Listen closely to your body – it will really guide you in the right direction.
I hope you enjoyed this post about my month as a vegetarian. Thank you for reading.
Love is Love,
Gavin
This fruity pineapple salsa recipe adds juicy bursts of flavor to any taco night. It’s sweet, tangy, and perfectly spicy for an addictive bite. With red onions, tomatoes, and lots of jalapeños, this salsa also turns your dinner into a fresh and colorful Mexican fiesta.
This pineapple salsa recipe is a tropical twist on classic salsas like my Restaurant-Style Salsa, so it’s perfect for Mexican dishes that need a touch of fruity brightness. I added icy parsley to this version, but my Pineapple-Cilantro Salsa is just as good!
This simple recipe is flavor paradise in a bowl with sweet tomatoes, crunchy onions, jalapeños, and tangy lime juice. You’ll be piling it on your tacos or even enjoying it by the spoonful.
Easiest Ever Pineapple Salsa
This homemade pineapple salsa recipe will be your new go-to condiment for nights when you’re craving Mexican food. Here’s why you’ll love it.
- Great for weeknights. Serve it with corn chips, or add it to your favorite tacos and gorditas for the perfect bite.
- Mexican-inspired. This spicy tropical salsa with tomatoes and lime juice is inspired by coastal Mexican flavors and ingredients.
- Versatile. Add jicama, fiery habaneros, and even a bit of honey depending on what you’re craving.
- Beginner-friendly. This recipe is practically fail-proof. All you need to do is toss the ingredients together!
Notes on Ingredients
This easy recipe is a combination of sweet, juicy, herby, and spicy flavors. You can find exact ingredient quantities in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Pineapple – Queen and Honeyglow are my favorite varieties because of their sweetness.
- Parsley – It must be fresh. Remove yellow stems and leaves to prevent bitterness.
- Tomatoes – Don’t use canned tomatoes. Halved or quartered cherry tomatoes are a good swap.
- Lime juice – Lemon juice works too.
- Salt and pepper – Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper are best.
- Onion – I prefer red onion for a pop of color, but white onion is a great substitute.
- Jalapeño – Leave the seeds if you like extra spicy salsa.
Tips & Variations
This tangy pineapple salsa recipe is super easy to make. Here are some of tips and variation ideas:
- Let the flavors concentrate. This recipe gets better with time, it’s even better after 1-2 days.
- Choose the right knife. Reduce prep time by using a sharp chef’s knife to chop up the pineapple and veggies. Blunt knives are dangerous to work with and also make the prep work longer.
- Extra crunch. Mix 1/2 cup diced jicama or celery into the salsa for more crunch.
- Make it spicier. Turn this into a Baja-style salsa by swapping the jalapeño for finely chopped habaneros.
- Go extra fruity. Add 1/4 cup diced strawberries to the recipe to create a pineapple-strawberry salsa variation.
- Sweeten it up. Swap half of the lime juice for orange juice and stir 1/2 tablespoon honey into the salsa for a sweet-and-savory bite.
- More veggies. Stir in 1/4-1/2 cup diced bell peppers, thinly shredded purple cabbage, or cucumber to help clean out the fridge and add more flavor.
Ways to Use It
This pineapple salsa recipe is great with your favorite Mexican recipes. I love it on my Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos , Jackfruit Tacos , Soyrizo , and Crispy Zucchini Tacos . My Gorditas , Tlacoyos , and even Birria Pizza go well with it too. You can also serve it as an appetizer with corn chips.
How to Store Homemade Salsa
Refrigerate it in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Keep it away from desserts and foods with subtle flavors to prevent them from absorbing the salsa’s odor. Enjoy it straight out of the fridge.
More Salsa Recipes to Try
- Black Bean Avocado Corn Salsa
- Strawberry Jalapeño Salsa
- Easy Mango Basil Salsa
Ingredients
- 3 cups diced pineapple , a whole pineapple (540g)
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
- ¾ cup diced tomatoes , (118g)
- 2 tablespoons lime juice , from freshly squeezed limes
- sea salt and ground black pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup finely chopped onion , (37g)
- 2-3 teaspoons chopped jalapeño , (24g)
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a bowl and toss with a spoon or spatula, throughly until all is incorporated. Feel free to add more lime juice and switch up any quantities. Optional, but let it set for at least 30 minutes for the onion bite to be gone and for the flavours to meld together. It’s even better with this air time. Enjoy!
