No Meat March

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I really wanted to join Amanda and the Vegan Challenge for March, but I just don't know if I am ready for that step just yet.  Don't get me wrong, I would love to try a vegan diet, and a month is great timeline - enough time to adjust to the way of eating and see some results (or changes in behaviors, mental and physical feelings, energy levels, etc...) - but I just didn't prepare like I needed to.  I still had yogurts and cheeses I wanted to eat, I wasn't 100% ready to give up eggs and fish.  So I am going to focus on just the meat thing this month - chicken, turkey, red meat, bacon, etc...

Would you be able to let these go bad in the fridge? I know I can't!!

For the past 5 days I have maintained a pescatarian diet, and if you have been following me for a little while, you might remember me trying out this way of eating last summer - yeah, it didn't even last a week...and if I have to be honest, I tried a chicken sausage sample at Costco on Sunday....see meat is the hardest thing for me to give up.  Meat has always been a part of my diet, yes I have (and still do for the most part) given up red meat completely, but chicken and turkey have been staples since before I can remember.
Why now you might ask? Is it because of Lent? Am I just trying to play along? 
Well, I it is sort of in alignment with Amanda's vegan challenge, and although I am catholic, it is not something I am giving up for Lent - it is actually the beginning of a few allergy challenges I would really like to undergo (meat-free, dairy-free, gluten-free).  I figure this will be the easier of the challenges I would like to undergo, and therefore a good building block for some diet control.  Ever since I have gotten to a happier place with my eating, I have lost a lot of the regimented control I put on food.  I still have fear foods, but I don't necessarily ban them - I eat them when they are in front of me, and then I feel bad afterwards.  The thing is, I don't ever want to be back in that neurotic mindset, but I need to rediscover intuitive and thoughtful food habits.  
I keep putting intuitive/thoughtful eating on my monthly goals (which I seem to have slacked on writing out), because it is still an area I need to work on.  I think this "No Meat March" will be a great start to watching what I am about to grab on my plate and put in my body.  I have always had some issues that I believe will be best dealt with on a gluten-free diet, and that I control by eating very little dairy (I almost always drink almond milk, but I enjoy some good cheese, skim milk in my coffee, and yogurts, which are not too bad on the stomach), so I am really excited to get into those challenges - but for right now, the no-meat is kind of like "base building" in marathon training - you need to train your mind and body to take the change before you can jump into more difficult workouts/changes.
So what do I hope to gain from all of this, besides a clearer mindset on food choices? Well I want to be putting things into my body, that will react well with my body, and there are a lot of studies out there toting the benefits of a no-meat diet protecting against diseases such as cancer and heart disease, and that a vegetarian type diet can lead to lower cholesterol and weight (quick read HERE).  
All-in-all, I am curious to see if I notice any changes in my daily energy, physical feelings, mental feelings - will I feel more refreshed? 
What have I been eating lately? I have been having tofu, tempeh, beans, yogurt, eggs, fish (salmon, swordfish, tuna).  I am not noticing any real changes thus far, but I also didn't start until last Wednesday evening.  If I concoct a recipe worth publishing, I will most definitely fill you all in.
------------------------------------------------------------Have you tried any 30-day challenges focused around food choices?

Are you vegetarian, vegan or pescatarian? What if your favorite dinner idea/protein source?