Carrie Underwood: the country cutie of befitting American Idol fame. Not only is she known for her remarkable voice but for maintaining a fit figure.
Recently, my friend and I discovered a YouTube challenge and decided to try it: Eat like Carrie Underwood for a Day. We ate her favorite healthy meals and closely followed her eating schedule. Here are nine things I learned after pretending to be Miss Underwood for a day:
1. Carrie Underwood is a vegan.
Prior to this challenge, I had NO IDEA that Carrie Underwood was a vegan. Some vegan celebrities plaster their meal plans on every social media site, assuring the whole world is aware of their lifestyles, but Carrie is a humbler version.
2. She allows herself to be a “practical vegan.”
Carrie explains that she practices practical veganism: she concentrates on eating plant-based foods a majority of the time but if she’s at a non-vegan restaurant or on the road, she’ll allow herself to indulge in animal-based products, still choosing healthier options.
3. Veganism is not an “all or nothing” matter.
If someone wants to convert to a vegan or even vegetarian lifestyle, she does not have to quit eating animal products cold turkey. A slower transition is perfectly acceptable; any step towards maintaining a healthier, plant-based diet is a step in the right direction. Often times, people choose not to become vegan worrying they won’t be able to maintain the diet, potentially receiving criticism for “not really being a vegan.” So…
4. The vegan stigma needs to stop.
Anyone who is in the process of transitioning to a vegan lifestyle should not be derided for her efforts but commended for them. An “in between” vegan is still a vegan, just one who is in the process of committing herself.
And now, onto the food's Carrie ate:
5. She eats a scrambled tofu dish for breakfast.
A vegan play on scrambled eggs, Carrie enjoys her tofu scramble every morning at 7 a.m. She chops up a red onion and a red bell pepper, cooking them in a pan over the stove along with a quarter block of tofu. She seasons with salt and adds salsa to her scramble after cooking. Of all of Carrie's meals, this was my favorite. It was delicious and very high in protein, keeping me full until lunch.
6. She eats a sandwich for lunch.
Most non-vegans seem to believe that veganism means eating strictly salads and vegetables. This is FAR from being the case. Carrie eats a Tofurky sandwich at 1 p.m., a vegan turkey sandwich alternative. She adds lettuce and mustard between two slices of Ezekiel bread, a bread low in carbs and high fiber.
7. She snacks on an Ezekiel English muffin.
Clearly, Carrie is a big Ezekiel fan. At 3 p.m., Carrie's designated snack time, she tops her snack with almond butter and banana slices.
8. She eats a veggie burger and a side salad for dinner.
This is an easy meal to find while eating out as well. More and more burger restaurants nationwide are beginning to carry vegetarian and vegan options.
9. All in all, becoming a vegan is a rewarding journey.
The process may take time, but becoming a vegan has so many benefits. Try experimenting with plant-based foods: you may discover that you love a lifestyle you never thought you could.
