Engine 2

Every February Whole Foods Market supports a nation wide challenge: The Engine 2 Diet. First off, let me just say that I HATE the word diet because the connotation has evolved into something that it shouldn't have. Second, let me put it out there that Whole Foods sells the Engine 2 book and many of the products (i.e.: tortillas, salsa, crackers.) After Jake found this out he reacted like I thought he would, "What a racket!" True, I'm not a fan of diets that come with products but I wouldn't include Engine 2 on that list. Their products just make it easier for some people.

The Engine 2 Diet focusses on eating a plant based diet that is rich in whole grains. It cuts out all refined sugar, oils, animal products, with no added sodium. No meat. No dairy. No bleached flour. Jake didn't agree to do the challenge with me, but he has been a real sweetheart through the whole ordeal. He has cooked a numerous amount of delicious meals that all meet the Engine 2 standard. He has pretty much eaten the same as me, with an occasional midnight snack that satisfies his bratwurst and pasta cravings.

The first two weeks were pretty intense for me because I went through sugar withdrawal. I could handle the no meat thing-- no problem. Cutting out dairy wasn't that hard either. But I started to realize two major things:  1) I love sugar and I eat a lot of it.  2) There is oil in EVERYTHING in a box.

Getting sugar out of my system gave me pregnancy brain. I became very forgetful and scatterbrained. I would spend five minutes looking around the house for my car keys while the entire time I was holding them in my hand. Then I found my brain wandering so much that I almost ran a few red lights. Without sugar, I was becoming a threat to society! I asked the barista at work if there was a way to order espresso with almond milk in it. She looked at me and said, "ya that's called a latte." Then I tried to pay her with my drivers license.

People are asking me, "how much weight have you lost?" My answer is NONE at all. I have been eating twice as much food as I usually do and I always feel exhausted. I think my body does well with meat in my diet. And carbs! I love me some fluffy sourdough bread hot from the oven. I never started the Engine 2 Challenge with the intent of losing weight. I really just wanted to change my eating habits and cleanse my body of my evil indulgences…. mainly sugar. After three weeks of living the Engine 2 lifestyle, I have slowly started to incorporate certain food back into my diet. I made homemade yogurt yesterday and it tastes delish! I'm planning to keep as much refined sugar out of my diet as possible, and continue to live a 90% vegetarian diet.

One really great creation that came out of this challenge and that got me through the tough times is my Vegan & Oil Free Banana Nut Muffin Recipe.

1 1/4 c whole wheat flour
1/4 c quick oats
3 Tbsp ground flax seed
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1 c mashed banana
1/3 c applesauce
1 pear (or an extra 1/3 c applesauce)
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 c chopped walnuts

Mix the dry ingredients separate from the wet, then mix together and add the walnuts. Bake at 350 degrees for twenty-five minutes. If you stick a fork in the middle and it pulls the muffin right out of the tin, they are ready!