What exactly IS tofu?

For the person who strives to eat "food as grown" as Dr. Hans Diehl calls the vegan diet, eating tofu is such a conundrum. What exactly is tofu? Obviously some processing is involved in its creation. It doesn't grow on trees, and I can't find tofu seeds in the local nursery. As I strive to eat better and feed my family fewer processed foods, I am really on the fence about tofu.

However, there are a couple of dishes that make me turn the other cheek. Its kind of like ordering a BLT without the B. WHAT???!!! Why? One can't make Scrambled Tofu without tofu. Simple as that! If you have never tasted Scrambled Tofu, you simply have to try it. I don't have kids, so not sure how this goes down with the 10 and under group, but my husband will eat it if he has no alternative, so that's close. 😅 What I love about scrambling tofu is that (no joke) it tastes like whatever you add to it. You may even get a few vegetables into the easily fooled and hungry spouse. I never make a big deal about that, though, or he will turn down the broccoli at dinner stating he had veggies for breakfast. It's a "no win" battle in our house.

So, I need to back up here and recall the past week's journey. Oh yes, we fell off the wagon big time. Last week I had lunch with my sister in Sacramento at the Tower Cafe. There were only a few items I could have ordered off the menu without the meat, mayo, cheese, and butter. However, I am always suspicious as to (1) whether they are really doing those things, (2) if the alternative is better for me (back to the original question: what is in all those meat substitutes?), and (3) if I am going to be charged $13.00 for a flat iron steak salad without the $8.00 steak. Basically, it bugs me to have to modify my order. Why can't it be easier to eat out and get a healthy, hearty meal?

**Restaurant ordering tip: I saw my sister's sirloin steak salad with tons of veggies, nuts, and a big steak sliced on top. She immediately asked for a TO GO box and place half of her salad in the box. Next time I am in this situation, if I am stuck with meat or cheese in my salad, I am going to order the meat, but please put it on the side; :-) slap it into a TO GO box and bring it home for Phil or Duke.

That said, I chose to order a BLAT and asked him to hold the B. So sad. I think I even choked out the words, knowing I would be paying for the $13 sandwich without the most expensive item. Gauls me. At any rate, I must have swallowed my order, because the sandwich came with bacon.😲 I did not have the mental fortitude to remove the bacon so I choke it down. 😆 Of course, it was delicious, but the next day, I did feel the effects of the bacon - intestinal distress and a headache. It was a good lesson in eating well. The less I eat non-nutritional foods, the more they disrupt my metabolism when I do indulge.

I ate pretty well and vegetarian the next few days until we decided to make a trip to Costco. Big Mistake. Again, hungry, I had a polish dog. Please, Lord, let me be strong and never do that again. I made it through the first sixty years of my life without eating at Costco. I think I can survive the rest of it without eating there again.

Easter weekend we went to a party and it was easy to choose healthy foods among all the lovely food choices. I was easily able to avoid the hamburgers and hotdogs.