Being A Vegetarian: Week 2!

Hey guys, I'm back! Here's what's been going on as my second week as a vegetarian!
Basically, I wanted to do a bunch of research this week about what to eat & how to replace absent nutrients, but since it was finals week, I've basically done none of that! I'm actually not as proud of my diet this week because since I was running low on time, I relied heavily on microwavable foods or easy to go quick things since I was busy! But, since It's not really meat I'm consuming, it could be worse.
Something else I learned/realized this week is that I need to be keeping up with my protein intake! Last week I wasn't as worried because I was still trying to catch on to the new lifestyle. Still, going into the second week, it's important because my body now realizes that I am not receiving those nutrients as abundantly as I was before! So my focus going into next week is not to overuse, but have some protein in my diet- (e.g., eating a serving size of almonds or any nut every day, having a protein bar now and then, and so forth)
Another thing to consider is not to really let carbs like bread, pasta, etc. overrun your diet! I notice that it can be a straightforward trap to fall to. Don't know what to eat?- make some pasta! Carbs are good in moderation already, but if you let it overcompensate your diet, you could gain some serious weight, which isn't bad, not you don't want that unhealthy fat either!
Also, trying new things is a whole part of this journey. This week I've tried meatless chicken tenders, orange chicken, bologna- and it's definitely a whole new world, but a good one! There's something about eating fake bologna that you can't help but feel good about. It's obviously not the real thing, but it's such a good substitute! It satisfies cravings and makes the journey a little less tempting every time!
Okay, so the story of the week really quickly. My mom had a leftover Chick-Fil-a sandwich in the fridge for a couple of days...AND IT WAS THE HARDEST THING. Like, if you've ever had Chick-Fil-a, you know what I'm talking about. That stuff is delish on another level. Anyways, it's examples like this that make you stronger the more you resist! I had celebratory meatless chicken tenders to celebrate...it's the little things! Here's this week's menu:

Monday:
Lunch: Pasta Fajoli (it's a soup) with wheat crackers
Dinner: Lentils, Pasta Shells, and some veggies

Tuesday:
Lunch: Veggie Hot Dog
Dinner: 15 Bean Soup with wheat crackers

Wednesday:
Lunch: Cheese Pita & leftover soup
Dinner: Meatless Chicken Tenders

Thursday:
Lunch: (A HUGE slice of) Cheese Pizza
Dinner: Cereal & A Banana

Friday:
Lunch: Bean & Cheese Tamale
Dinner: Instant Noodles

Saturday:
Lunch: Minestrone & A Side Salad
Dinner: Macaroni & Cheese

Sunday:
Lunch: Sushi & Lentils
Dinner: Meatless Orange Chicken

Talk to y'all next week!
Lots Of Love, Erica xxx