Well hello there! I haven’t run off to a cabin in Iceland or to a missile silo in the midwest. Vegan Man has been neglecting this site, however, as the pressures of life mounted over the months. But the cold of winter has subsided, and I’m back to clear out the cobwebs and provide some more quality content.

What have I been up to since September? The answer: school. I’m back in classes full-time, increasing my macho street cred in a massage therapy program. I’m about 3 months out from having my license, after which I’ll be a massage therapist/software developer. I believe I will need two business cards.

Being in class 4 days a week as well as working has taken a toll on the cooking, as any busy vegan knows. It’s hard enough sometimes to get a nutritious and square meal when you’re busy, but add in the whole vegan thing and you’re in a different place. I’ve relied fairly heavily on Chipotle in months past to get me through – the veggie fajita burrito with black beans, lots of salsa, guacamole and lettuce is a whole cylinder of deliciousness. I’ve been there so often recently that I’m started to get comped now and then. Thanks Chipotle!

My second survival device has been the crock pot. Throwing a bunch of veggies in the morning and come dinnertime there’s a whole mess of goodness. In addition to my own awesome red lentils, I’ve been experimenting with recipes from Fresh from the Vegetarian Slow Cooker.

The third has been cooking the quick and easy dishes I know like the back of my hand. Pesto, grilled tofu, chili, and soft tacos, over and over.

The great thing is that after this long being vegan isn’t a chore at all, it’s just how it goes. Those who are just getting started, rest assured, it gets easier. After a while it’s just as normal as your pants.