Vegan Dry January Day 4: Milk is everywhere

Today's care package

My first day without almond milk, which is a start. I'll finish off the sweetened stuff tomorrow, but I still have some of the unsweetened muck to go. I received a tweet from a Criminals: Caught on Camera fan who works in an almond processing plant in California in the light of my last blog post so I will be careful what I say.

It was my third 5am start on the bounce this morning. I know I used to get up at 3.45am five days a week, but I was usually done by 11am. This last few days I've been putting in the hard yards, culminating in a day covering the row about rough sleepers in Windsor for ITV News.

This was initially powered by another Christmas Pudding Hike bar. I was working all day with top ITV cameraman Marc Smith today and he joined me for a 10.30am lunch at a cafe in Windsor after two hours pounding the pavements.

There was a felafel salad in the cafe fridge which was vegan but I was cold, so we had baked potato with beans (no butter) and shared a packet of Tyrell's crisps which didn't contain milk (or whey powder). The first few I picked up did. But this one didn't. Vegan-tastic. The owner of the cafe was great. He had a brief period of homelessness before managing to sort himself out and ended up running a business which can still make a healthy profit despite having to hand over tens of thousands in rent and business rates to pay for his prime position near Windsor Castle. He was a thoughtful, caring man and his equilibrium remained totally intact even when Marc tipped a full cup of boiling hot coffee all over his counter.

Marc and I shared my Paleo Macadamia and Coconut bar on our way to interview the Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner in Newbury. Whilst in the car I got a call from "getsurrey" re my contribution to their film and article about veganuary. I will record it tomorrow if I get a chance. The head of Surrey Vegans has also added me to her secret list, which is very exciting.

At Newbury station I was hungry, but everything I thought I might be able to eat at the station cafe had some kind of milk extract in it, so I got home on a soy americano and diet coke. Dinner was an itsu pot noodle and more Montezuma chocolate.

Oh and I have gone from 11st 12lb to 11st 8lb in four days. They aren't very reliable scales, though.

Day 4 of the vlog version of this blog is below.

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Weight: 11st 8lb

Exercise: 10 mins cycling (and a lot of walking around Windsor)

Food:

Christmas Pudding Hike bar
Half a Paleo Macadamia bar
Granny Smith Apple
Baked potato, beans, lettuce, brown sauce
2 x soy americano
itsu vegetarian pot noodle
Handful of grapes
Montezuma cherry chocolate

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Vegan Dry January Day 31: The Last Post
Vegan Dry January Day 30: A Vegan in Downing Street
Vegan Dry-ish January Day 29: Can't see what all the fuss is about
Days 26 to 28 are Nonblogged.
Vegan Dry January Day 25: Simon Amstell is a Vegan
Days 20 to 24 are Nonblogged. 
Vegan Dry January Day 19: Peer review
Vegan Dry January Day 18: Are you a vegan?
Vegan Dry January Day 17: Mmm... cashews.... 
Vegan Dry January Day 16: Taking Stock
Vegan Dry January Day 15: A relapse
Days 13 and 14 are Nonblogged. 
Vegan Dry January Day 12: There was no Day 11
There really wasn't a day 11
Vegan Dry January Day 10: Alcohol wobble
Vegan Dry January Day 9: Avoiding four meals a day
Vegan Dry January Day 8: Smeared Poo
Vegan Dry January Day 7: Separation Anxiety
Vegan Dry January Day 6: Wastelands of Admin
Vegan Dry January Day 5: Oatly is the tits
Vegan Dry January Day 4: Milk is everywhere
Vegan Dry January Day 3: I've lost my nuts
Vegan Dry January Day 2: This is going well
Vegan Dry January Day 1: Vegan Dry January is go

Vegan Dry January Day 3: I've lost my nuts

Yum.

It's been another long day. Yesterday's train journey into Waterloo was nearly deserted, today it seemed very busy, even on the 0555. Before I left the house this morning I had a bowl of Malted Wheaties (Shreddies, basically) and chilled (this time), sweetened almond milk. I saw somewhere that vegans have to watch their Vitamin B12 levels and Malted Wheaties, like most cereals, have them added.

My mid-morning snack was an Aldi Raw Pecan bar, which wasn't as nice as yesterday's Aldi Raw Macadamia bar, and an Aldi Hike Christmas Pudding bar, which was amazing and twice as nice as my usual Aldi Hike Cacao bar. And then I had a Granny Smith apple which was just the same as yesterday's Granny Smith apple. Oh and my first black coffee for a while from the ITN machine, which was good.

I pulled together a package for the lunchtime news, working with ace new ITV news picture editor Danae in edit cave 31 (Danae did some waving in the dark in this vlog here). I think she is actually half my age.

Then, thanks to a journalist friend of mine, the head of Surrey Vegans (like the Masons but more jolly) called me up and discussed me being a case study in an article about long term and temporary veganuary vegans by the Surrey Advertiser, or "getsurrrey" as it now appears to be known. I am at pains to point out to all the lovely vegans that I am doing this as a challenge, not as a permanent lifestyle change, yet they remain enthusiastic and helpful despite knowing I am, at heart, a horrible meat eater.

This afternoon I got sent out on a live story for ITV London in Harrow. When this was being mooted I was half way through eating an Aldi bag of sultanas and unsalted nuts (because I couldn't be bothered to go foraging for my lunch).

After researching the story for a while I ended up running late, and rather than go downstairs and get into my under-thermals in the changing room in the basement I thought I'd save time by nipping into the disabled loo. I absent-mindedly brought my nuts into the disabled loo with me, and then absent-mindedly left them there, along with the IKEA plastic clip I had used to close my half-finished bag. I suppose it will make a nice present for whoever next uses the disabled loo.

I might attempt a meal when I get home. But I have to go to bed soon. UPDATE: I made a meal (see below)

Here is the vlog version of this blog post - cruising the Westway with Canvey Island's meat-eating Joe Mander:

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Weight: 11st 10lb

Exercise: 2 mile walk, 10 minute cycle

Breakfast
100g malted wheaties
Yet more bloody almond milk

Day grazing
Raw pecan bar - average
Hike Christmas Pudding bar - ace
Granny Smith apple - mm, crunchy...
Half a 450g pack of sultanas and nuts

Dinner
Some Aldi crispy naan snacks
Packet of Quorn lemon and lime chicken fillet style snacks (not vegan, I now discover).
Pepper and brussel sprout stir fry in soya and hot chilli sauce with rice noodles.
More Montezuma chocolate.

Burp (!)....

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Vegan Dry January Day 31: The Last Post
Vegan Dry January Day 30: A Vegan in Downing Street
Vegan Dry-ish January Day 29: Can't see what all the fuss is about
Days 26 to 28 are Nonblogged.
Vegan Dry January Day 25: Simon Amstell is a Vegan
Days 20 to 24 are Nonblogged. 
Vegan Dry January Day 19: Peer review
Vegan Dry January Day 18: Are you a vegan?
Vegan Dry January Day 17: Mmm... cashews.... 
Vegan Dry January Day 16: Taking Stock
Vegan Dry January Day 15: A relapse
Days 13 and 14 are Nonblogged. 
Vegan Dry January Day 12: There was no Day 11
There really wasn't a day 11
Vegan Dry January Day 10: Alcohol wobble
Vegan Dry January Day 9: Avoiding four meals a day
Vegan Dry January Day 8: Smeared Poo
Vegan Dry January Day 7: Separation Anxiety
Vegan Dry January Day 6: Wastelands of Admin
Vegan Dry January Day 5: Oatly is the tits
Vegan Dry January Day 4: Milk is everywhere
Vegan Dry January Day 3: I've lost my nuts
Vegan Dry January Day 2: This is going well
Vegan Dry January Day 1: Vegan Dry January is go

Vegan Dry January Day 2: Well this is going well

Posh pot noodle

Ah the joys... Well, first thing to say is that I woke up this morning with a very vague idea of what I was, who I was and why my alarm was ringing at 5am. I think it took me a full five minutes to remember.  That's what staying off the booze does to you, kids.

By the time I got up, I was running late. I managed to stuff my bag with an apple, a packet of sultanas and unsalted nuts, an Aldi "Hike" protein bar, an Aldi (other supermarkets are available) Raw bar, and then ran out of the door.

I got the 0555 to Waterloo and had the carriage to myself, so I knocked off a vlog which was mainly me being aghast at how much I now weigh and wondering where everyone was. 

Breakfast involved the Hike bar, the apple and some water, but I was soon out covering a story for ITV News this morning - an 8am interview on the rail fare increase.

In between interviewing the General Secretary of the RMT and the Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, I went to buy me and ace cameraman Marc Smith a coffee from Pret. He wanted a cappuccino. I got a soy Americano. After yesterday's almond milk disaster I didn't feel optimistic. But it was okay. 

Me actually enjoying a soy Americano

I finished my newsgathering commitments at King's Cross then switched stories to cover the Public Health England advice on healthy eating for children. We found a newsagent willing to let me film a piece to camera in his shop. Then I was sent to edit in Millbank. It was the lead story on ITV Lunchtime News and my favourite element was the two mums at a soft play who dismissed the whole 2 x 100 calorie snacks a day idea out of hand.

Lunch was the vegan noodle option at itsu washed down with a diet coke (see top pic). Once home I didn't really fancy dinner so I had two corn cakes and an almond milk instant coffee, which was worse than yesterday's tea. 

Right now I don't feel hungry. I feel ready for day three, which is rapidly approaching.

My profound thanks to everyone who has taken the time to comment on this experiment, either with advice, encouragement or bemusement. I'm also very interested to hear what other people are up to for January, 2018 in general or have been quietly doing all along without feeling the need to go on social media and be all attention-seeking about it, like me.

Thanks to:

Jack and Kim for the recommendation on Oatly instead of almond milk.

Anna for the Koko milk recommendation and Veganuary website tip. 

Anna and Will for the Bosh recommendation.

Gordon for his offer to turn this into a weight loss competition.

Cordelia for the Swedish Glace soya vanilla ice-cream tip.

Mike F for putting me in touch with the editor of Vegan Living Mag.

Janey Saunders for adding me to a Vegan supermarket tips group

and finally Marnie for the invitation to the all-you-can-eat Brazilian BBQ in York for when this is all over.

Good luck to Myfanwy Bournon, Alex Barnett and Tom Greenard who are all being abstemious to varying degrees and a special props to old friend Claire Berliner who is going for a full six months off the sauce. What fun we are all having.

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Weight: 11st 12lb (ouch!)

Exercise: 2 mile walk, 10 mins cycling.

Food:

Aldi Cacoa Hike bar

Alid Raw Macadamia and Coconut bar

Fruit tea

Granny Smith apple 

Americano with soy milk

itsu veggie gyoza with udon noodles

2 x Sainsbury's corn cakes (see, I told you other supermarkets were available)

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Vegan Dry January Day 31: The Last Post
Vegan Dry January Day 30: A Vegan in Downing Street
Vegan Dry-ish January Day 29: Can't see what all the fuss is about
Days 26 to 28 are Nonblogged.
Vegan Dry January Day 25: Simon Amstell is a Vegan
Days 20 to 24 are Nonblogged. 
Vegan Dry January Day 19: Peer review
Vegan Dry January Day 18: Are you a vegan?
Vegan Dry January Day 17: Mmm... cashews.... 
Vegan Dry January Day 16: Taking Stock
Vegan Dry January Day 15: A relapse
Days 13 and 14 are Nonblogged. 
Vegan Dry January Day 12: There was no Day 11
There really wasn't a day 11
Vegan Dry January Day 10: Alcohol wobble
Vegan Dry January Day 9: Avoiding four meals a day
Vegan Dry January Day 8: Smeared Poo
Vegan Dry January Day 7: Separation Anxiety
Vegan Dry January Day 6: Wastelands of Admin
Vegan Dry January Day 5: Oatly is the tits
Vegan Dry January Day 4: Milk is everywhere
Vegan Dry January Day 3: I've lost my nuts
Vegan Dry January Day 2: This is going well
Vegan Dry January Day 1: Vegan Dry January is go

Vegan Dry January Day 1: We are go

Formerly, a hill of beans.

Well, it has come to fruition. Pun intended. And I've already messed up.

First thing I did was pour out a bowl of Aldi Benefit (their version of Special K), read the ingredients, noted they contained skimmed milk powder and tipped them back into the packet.

I checked our cornflakes. Aldi cornflakes do not contain animal products. So I had them with warm (I forgot to chill it first) sweetened, almond milk. That was disgusting.

I washed it down with some tea containing more almond milk. This tasted okay, but looked disgusting.

Then we walked up the Thames path to Weybridge to see the in-laws at their traditional New Year's Day drinks party. I had a fruit punch, some veg crudité and chowed down on an olive, which had been stuffed with anchovy. I wasn't about to spit it out. Oh well.

Dinner was three slices of Aldi malted bloomer bread, some vegan olive spread ("Live free!") and a packet of crisps. Then I had a baked potato and beans with brown sauce. Yum.

Yesterday I weighed myself (before the excesses of NYE) and was 11st 10lb - a full half stone heavier than I was in June. We'll see if this vegan, no-drinking fun has any effect.

If you want to see my daily Vegan Dry January vlog, it's here on youtube, or hopefully embedded below.

Further updates tomorrow.

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Weight: 11st 10lb (minimum!)

Exercise: 4.5 mile walk

Food:
Tea with sweetened almond milk
Bowl of cornflakes with almond milk
Carrots, cucumber, celery, pickled cucumber, olive with anchovy (by mistake)
3 slices of Aldi malted bloomer
20g olive oil spread
Packet of reduced fat plain salted crisps
Baked potato
Beans
8 squares of Montezuma orange and ginger chocolate.
Mint tea.

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Vegan Dry January Day 31: The Last Post
Vegan Dry January Day 30: A Vegan in Downing Street
Vegan Dry-ish January Day 29: Can't see what all the fuss is about
Days 26 to 28 are Nonblogged.
Vegan Dry January Day 25: Simon Amstell is a Vegan
Days 20 to 24 are Nonblogged. 
Vegan Dry January Day 19: Peer review
Vegan Dry January Day 18: Are you a vegan?
Vegan Dry January Day 17: Mmm... cashews.... 
Vegan Dry January Day 16: Taking Stock
Vegan Dry January Day 15: A relapse
Days 13 and 14 are Nonblogged. 
Vegan Dry January Day 12: There was no Day 11
There really wasn't a day 11
Vegan Dry January Day 10: Alcohol wobble
Vegan Dry January Day 9: Avoiding four meals a day
Vegan Dry January Day 8: Smeared Poo
Vegan Dry January Day 7: Separation Anxiety
Vegan Dry January Day 6: Wastelands of Admin
Vegan Dry January Day 5: Oatly is the tits
Vegan Dry January Day 4: Milk is everywhere
Vegan Dry January Day 3: I've lost my nuts
Vegan Dry January Day 2: This is going well
Vegan Dry January Day 1: Vegan Dry January is go

I've had an idea

I've spent a year not drinking, so doing Dry January doesn't really appeal. However, if you throw in a bit of dietary fun, I'm your man.

January 2018 will therefore be Vegan Dry January for me, yes it will.

I'm not going to be too fierce about this. I have an energy bar I like which doesn't have any animal products in the ingredients, but nonetheless claims it "may" contain milk. Same for a bar of Green and Black's which I was given for Christmas. Things like this are fair game.

I don't have to worry about the veganality of wine and beer as I won't be drinking and I'll just get me some almond milk to put in my tea and cereal and I should be fine.

I make vegan bread by substituting the butter for olive oil, which I prefer. And I love nuts, which I wouldn't normally eat because they are so calorific. But January 2018 is going to be cashew-tastic, believe me.

So I'll be fine! Won't I?

These are the foods I already eat which I think are vegan (obviously i'll have to go check the ingredients on some of them):

Bread.
Breakfast cereal.
Fruit.
Vegetables.
Nuts.
Tea.
Coffee.
Montezuma chocolate.
Rice.
Noodles.
Onion, garlic and tomato pasta sauce.
Crisps.
Chips.

I'll be fine.

How hard can it be?

(check back in a week's time to find out)

Dry January called off early

There she is. Mummy's special grape juice. Not long now!

We have just had word that Dry January has ended early.

A spokesperson said "We're sorry. We forgot this was a five weekend month. Everybody's been very well-behaved but if we don't call it quits now, things could get out of hand."

Faye Cotter, who hasn't touched a drop since 1 Jan, told this blog: "Thank f*** for that. Honestly. I had no idea how horrible it was going to be. Four weeks is enough, isn't it? Good. We've proved something. Now, who wants a pint?"

Although landlords had been looking forward to the boost in trade on 1 Feb, a spokesperson agreed it just didn't seem right.

"Ending on a Monday was shaping up to be a real test for dry drinkers. Go on a bender at the beginning of the week and admit you probably do have a problem? Or try to hold out for another four days? Far better to finish Dry January on a Friday night so Britain's alcohol dependents can kid themselves they're just choosing to put a bottle or two away in celebration."

Toby Foster Does Dry January

I meant to write a summary of my thoughts after I started back on booze. I spent 2015 not quite getting round to it. It was a busy year.

A couple of days ago BBC Radio Sheffield called and told me their excellent breakfast show presenter Toby Foster was doing Dry January. They asked me if I'd like to have a chat with him about my experiences of going dry for a year. Here is the result:

Or if you can't see the above widget, here is the result, on my Soundcloud page.