Recently, I traveled from the midwest to Austin, Texas. A place I truly love. I do a fair amount of traveling, and rarely feel the desire to break from my vegan lifestyle. Yes, it is a lifestyle. I didn’t choose it to lose weight, or to be fashionable. I chose it because I truly believe it’s healthier, for many reasons. Way fewer anti-biotics in my diet, which hopefully will keep me from becoming immune when I need them, less fat and corn, certainly less cholesterol and fewer animal slaughters on my behalf. At my age, I am determined to be as healthy and fit as possible. Okay, I could go on and tell you the why and how I became a vegan, but this post is about “temptation.”
Austin, for me, offers lots more fun type foods to eat, than I can readily get in the midwest. Therein, lies the temptation. I’m sure many of you reading this have been to some city where you crave the food.
I used to love barbecue, mostly my own, cooked on my Big Green Egg. Now, I never eat it. Austin offers dozens of BBQ joints, a plethora of Hispanic foods, prepared by natives from varying countries. Soul food, like I had tonight at Hoovers. Yesterday, I ate at Perlas, on South Congress and had a most unusual Ceviche. One of my favorite spots is Rudy’s, truly, nothing like it.
So is Austin really is a haven or heaven for “food trucks”? Yes it is. I believe the concept was created here. There are literally hundreds,all over the city. Some stand alone, others in their own little “food truck villages” with every kind of food imaginable, from cupcakes to wine bars to hot sauce.
So, if you are wondering, did I cheat? Well, yes I did, but just a little. Was it worth it? Yes, it was. It was very satisfying. Truth be told, while I enjoyed it and, no, none of it made me sick, I am happy to go back to my “plant based diet.” I also, only cheated a little. I have been eating all my meals out for 10 days and only veered off four small times.
Indulging once and a while, doesn’t make me less of a “vegan.” It doesn’t make me less “fit.” It didn’t add any pounds to my “work in progress” body. I don’t feel like I have to apologize to myself or anyone else. It was a treat. As my son, the AthleticFoodie tries to inpart to his readers, cheats, are okay. Make them occasional, Then there’s no harm done.
Diane 
