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Here are the top 10 Veggie Challenge stories we received in 2011 from those aged 25 and up. Also see the top stories from teens and early 20's. To read the full stories, click on the title above or the "Read more" link below.

Inspired by the book "The World without Us"
"What I needed was a reminder and a little inspiration; this Veggie Challenge renewed my passion."
– Andrea, late 20's, Vancouver, BC

Discovering the world of vegetarianism and veganism was very rewarding
"My boyfriend announced that he is willing to try the Veggie Challenge - he sees the positive changes in me."
– Karen, age 30’s, Garson, ON

My three year old son decided he didn’t want to eat animals
"You have done it in such a fun, accessible and 'digestible' way that I even did the Challenge twice!"
– Gillian, age 40’s, Johannesburg, South Africa

Saving money and feeling great
"This Challenge was exactly what I needed. And talk about cheap! I saved tons of money on this diet!"
– Lara, late 20's, Williamsport, PA

I am now off all the the medication I was taking
"I have IBS and was taking approximately 16 pills a day! But now I have noticed a marked improvement in my symptoms as long as I didn't eat any meat, fish or poultry."
– Lori, age 50-64, Mason, OH

I have discovered the ease of making a stir fry
"My digestion has been fantastic, and I have been sleeping very well."
– Heather, late 20's, Toronto

Started scared and reluctant, ended up loving the creativity
"It's nice to know you're doing something good through something as simple as eating."
– Lauren, late 20's, St. Catharines, ON

Did this for the animals, but the health benefits were a nice bonus!
"We both feel healthier, our energy levels have gone up, we have lost a little weight."
– Jennygirl, age 40’s, Nova Scotia

The Challenge was most helpful in inspiring me to read more
"I read, Safran Foer's "Eating Animals", and Singer's "The Way We Eat". I also read more from dietitians. I also viewed "Earthlings" with my partner, and let's just say he is taking a break from eating meat as well."
– Gaela, age 30’s, Toronto

Gastric bypass surgery and allergic to milk. Hello veganism!
"I finally had an epiphany. Why am I trying to force myself to eat meat when I don't like it anyway?"
– Ellie, age 50-64, Oshawa, ON

Click "Read more..." for the full stories.

Here are the top 10 Veggie Challenge stories we received in 2011 from those in their teens or twenties. Also see the top stories from age 25 and up. To read the full stories, click on the title above or the "Read more" link below.

I can't even begin to say how great I feel
"By the end of the week I was having nuts, tofu, tempeh, beans, lentils, quinoa, and more vegetables than I've ever had before."
– Emily, early 20's, Toronto

Excited to continue this vegetarian adventure
"I felt like I wanted to share everything I had learned with EVERYONE. BUT I learned quickly, I can‘t be a preacher, people will learn on their own."
– Nadia, early 20's, Edmonton, AB

It was so easy!!!
"It makes me happy every day to know that I am no longer contributing to the inhumane treatment of animals."
– Tiffany, teen, Pontypool, ON

I discovered many delicious veggie meals
"By the end of the week, I discovered a new love for grilling vegetables, whole wheat pasta stir-fry, fried and seasoned tofu with rice, and more."
– Jessica, early 20's, Scarborough, ON

My family was appalled but my friends received it well!
"Food and I had a terrible relationship before, but now I feel like it is a source of nourishment as well as delight."
– Erin, early 20's, Winnipeg, MN

I grew up scarfing down McDonalds and Dairy Queen
"When I began exercising and making smart food choices (giving up meat and dairy) I lost 50+ pounds and have kept it off."
– Rachel, teen, Abbotsford, BC

My parents decided to go "old fashioned" with a home supply of poultry
"After holding a bird down for slaughter, I was splashed with undesirable materials. I went 6 months, no meat."
– Mandy, early 20's, Chatham, ON

I have never felt so healthy
"A friend told me to think about all the wonderful things I can eat as opposed to thinking about the restrictions."
– Shaun, early 20's, Toronto

Irish teen’s vegetarian ‘phase’ rekindled
"Inspired by the Veggie Challenge, I became a more skilled cook, lost a few spare pounds and really think that I will be a vegetarian for life."
– Una, teen, County Cork, Ireland

Even my anti-tofu friends were impressed
"They didn't believe me afterwards when I told them it wasn't meat!"
– Jody, early 20's, Vancouver, BC

Click "Read more..." for the full stories.

Here are nine stories from those who did the Veggie Challenge in Nov/Dec 2011. To read the full stories, click on the title above or the "Read more" link below.

	Documentaries, "Fat, Sick and nearly Dead" and "Forks over Knives" both had a tremendous impact on us."          – Mickey, San Pedro, CA
	100 pounds overweight, loaded up on steroids and suffering from a debilitating autoimmune disease, Joe Cross is at the end of his rope and the end of his hope. He turns to the only option left, the body's ability to heal itself. He embarks on a 60 day juice fast while traveling across the US..
	Forks Over Knives

Discovering the world of vegetarianism and veganism was very rewarding
"My boyfriend announced that he is willing to try the Veggie Challenge - he sees the positive changes in me."
– Karen, age 30’s, Garson, ON

When my daughter was born the reality of what I was eating really hit home
"I physically and mentally feel better for living in line with my moral beliefs."
– Lisa, age 40’s, Toronto

Carnivore convert
"I am enjoying new foods and I eat a lot more fruit and legumes than I used to."
– Shawn, age 40’s, Gatineau, QC

Starting the New Year vegetarian
– Mickey, age 50-64, San Pedro, CA

Not giving into my cravings paid off
"At week three I had a craving for chicken, but I didn‘t give in!"
– Sue, age 40’s, Toronto

Vegetarian in Japan
"The daily e-mails were very friendly, simple and straightforward."
– Sarah, age 30’s, Kyoto

Veggie Challenge strengthened my commitment
"I'm looking forward to phase 2 of the process."
– StartsWithSoul, age 40’s, Toronto

A very satisfying discovery
"I am delighted at how easy it is to make healthy and delicious vegan food."
– Katie, age 30’s, Guelph, ON

Virgin vegan
– Marianne, age 50-64, Waterloo, ON

Click "Read more..." for the full stories.

Here are seven stories from teens and 20's who did the Veggie Challenge in Nov/Dec 2011. To read the full stories, click on the title above or the "Read more" link below.

	I have more energy, less pain and I sleep better at night."          – Laurie, Otobicoke, ON
	Photo of baked Tofu Fingers is creative commons. From bookgrl's Flickr site.
	Amy wrote on facebook:  "This is a sign of two things. One: ... my goal for the month = vegetarianism. And two: Movember :)

Even my anti-tofu friends were impressed
"They didn't believe me afterwards when I told them it wasn't meat!"
– Jody, early 20's, Vancouver, BC

Vegan even on a gluten-free diet
"I have more energy, less pain and I sleep better at night."
– Laurie, late 20's, Etobicoke, ON

Choosing to become vegetarian was a challenge for me
"I wanted more of a challenge, so I decided to do it over Christmas break. Meat was everywhere."
– Jorge, teen, Aurora, ON

I challenged my boyfriend
"Being vegetarian made me feel better about myself and my impact on the lives of animals."
– Amy, early 20's, Mississauga, ON

I love to cook for my non-vegetarian friends
"I show them how tasty our food is."
– Raquel, early 20's, Lisboa, Portugal

Daily emails were a big help
– Terri, early 20's, Mount Pearl, NL

Recipes and cooking ideas made it easy to go vegan
– Josephine, late 20's, Montreal

Click "Read more..." for the full stories.    

LA Weeky recently ran their version of famous people who no longer eat meat. Many on the list are not who you would think.

​10. Bill Clinton (Age 65) – "...after suffering a couple of health scares, including stent surgery on his heart last year, the popular politician changed the way he eats. Most notably, Clinton went vegan and lost more than 20 pounds."

9. Ellen Degeneres (Age 53) – "I do it because I love animals and I saw the reality, and I just couldn't ignore it anymore."

8. Alanis Morissette (Age 37) – "...she decided to change her lifestyle and diet after reading Eat To Live. She lost 20 pounds on the vegan diet and said she has "no more aches and pains."

Photo : Alanis in LA with her month-and-a-half-old son named Ever who was born on Christmas Day.

​7. Steve-O (Age 37) – The Jaskass star writes: "Only after becoming vegan did I regularly hear that my skin looked great, and that I was looking younger, slimmer, and healthier... I have since come to learn that it is an animal-based diet that is responsible for the overwhelming majority of cases of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, multiple sclerosis, and all kinds of other problems."

​6. Ozzy Osbourne (Age 62) – His bat-eating days are over, ever since he watched the documentary Forks Over Knives. Ozzy says the vegan diet helps him stay fit while he's on tour and keeps him from going "on binges."

5. Joaquin Phoenix (Age 37) – Vegan since age 3. He still vividly recalls the incident: "My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one fish was caught, he was writhing, then he was thrown against the side of the boat. You couldn't disguise what it was. This was what we did to animals to eat them. The animal went from a living, vibrant creature fighting for life to a violent death."

4. Alicia Silverstone (Age 35) – The former Clueless actress has a popular cookbook and blog called The Kind Life.

​3. Russell Simmons (Age 54) – This hip-hop mogul writes, "The more I opened myself up to the idea of the full scope of exactly what non-violence translates to, the less interested I became in consuming the energy associated with the flesh of an animal that only knew suffering in his/her life and pain and terror in its death."

2. Mike Tyson (Age 35) – The former boxer went vegan in 2009 and said it made him feel better than ever. "I have more stamina and it helps keep me in a positive state of mind ... I can't imagine going back to meat. I feel incredible." Recently he did an ad for Last Chance for Animals with the tag line: "Love Animals Don't Eat Them."

​1.Thom Yorke (Age 43) – The Radiohead frontman lists the song "Meat Is Murder" by The Smiths as one of the reasons he chose to go vegan. 

In 2011 we added a new prize category for photos or videos submitted by participants.

Want to enter?  See our prizes page for details.

Amy (from Mississauga) writes on facebook:  This is a sign of two things. One: my love for vegetables, and ... my goal for the month = vegetarianism. And two: Movember :)

A friend asks: What's fueled the vegetarianism?

Amy: It's healthier.... I signed up for a week challenge competition and decided to turn it into a month to really see how well I can do :) I've been running for a month now, and I want to eat healthier. so this is my one month challenge :)

Another friend: Yay vegetarianism! You have my support. 

"My daughter's tarte tatin was a big hit during our challenge!" – Ina, Kitchener ON Note: Here is a recipe for pear tarte tatin at vegetariantimes.com. To make it vegan look for a brand of puff pastry with no butter. Or make your own pastry.

Story: My parents decided to go "old fashioned" with a home supply of poultry
"After holding a bird down for slaughter, I was splashed with undesirable materials. I went 6 months, no meat."
– Mandy, Chatham, ON

She also wrote: "I am happy living with a vegan diet, especially with all these healthy protein alternatives."

Andrea writes: "I've attached an image of my favorite new lunch: a veggie wrap on a spinach tortilla with masala hummus." Masala hummus is sold by President's Choice and is made with: Chick peas, tahini, water, canola oil, lemon juice, honey, Spanish onion, garlic, spices (cumin, turmeric, garam masala, fenugreek), ginger, sea salt, citric acid.

"What I needed was a reminder and a little inspiration; this Veggie Challenge renewed my passion."
– Andrea, late 20's, Vancouver, BC

Story: Excited to continue this vegetarian adventure "I felt like I wanted to share everything I had learned with EVERYONE. BUT I learned quickly, I can‘t be a preacher, people will learn on their own." – Nadia, Edmonton, AB

Terri writes: "Here's a photo of yam tortillas with green salad topped with hemp seeds and broccoli sprouts. The tortilla recipe is adapted from "Appetite for Reduction" by Isa Chandra Moskowitz." Here are two similar recipes:  Karina's Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchiladas and Addictive Sweet Potato Burritos

Terri's story: Nutrition information a big help
"I feel more confident than ever that I can continue with a vegetarian diet for life."
– Terri, late 20's, Toronto

Story: Going vegan in the Caribbean "My motivation is to live a healthier life style, protect the environment and stop the slaughter and maltreatment of farm animals." – Hilton, Port-Of-Spain, Trinidad, West Indies

	 Photo is creative commons from FashionbyHe's Flickr site
	Strangely, since going vegetarian my underarms do not produce any odour"          – Heather, Veggie Challenge participant

Never mind reducing cancer, heart disease, diabetes, sparing animals from suffering, or helping the environment, here is a really enticing reason to try a veggie diet: you will smell more attractive!

Eating meat affects how you smell

A study at Charles University in the Czech Republic, found that women preferred men who ate a vegetarian diet because they had a "significantly more attractive, more pleasant, and less intense" body odor than the male participants who ate meat.

From the study write up: "Seventeen male odor donors were on a 'meat' or 'non meat' diet for 2 weeks wearing auxiliary pads to collect body odor... Fresh odor samples were assessed for their pleasantness, attractiveness, masculinity, and intensity by 30 women not using hormonal contraceptives. We repeated the same procedure a month later with the same odor donors, each on the opposite diet than before. Results of repeated measures analysis of variance showed that the odor of donors when on the non meat diet was judged as significantly more attractive, more pleasant, and less intense."

An article from NaturalNews.com titled "Body odor can be eliminated through a change in diet" agrees:  "Red meat is the number one cause of body odor. Red meat causes stagnation in the body; it putrefies in the digestive tract and releases all sorts of toxins into the bloodstream through the large intestine. ... a plant-based diet is an internal deodorizer ... the chlorophyll and other phytonutrients will cleanse you from the inside out."

According to Dean Ornish, M.D. "When you eat a lot of meat, it takes a long time for it to make its way through your digestive tract. As it putrefies and decays, your breath smells bad, your sweat smells bad, and your bowels smell bad." (from the Forward of his book Eat More, Weigh Less)

Further steps to a better smelling body

It may not be enough just to go vegetarian. If you eliminate meat and find that your underarms still smell strong, you are likely eating something that is not digesting well such as processed foods, refined foods, sugary foods, dairy or eggs. It is best to eat a super healthy diet with lots of whole grains, leafy greens, vegetables, fresh fruits plus some beans, lentils, nuts or seeds that are ideally soaked or sprouted. 

LiveStrong.com has an good article on foods that cause body odour. In addition to meat you may want to cut back on garlic and onions (especially eaten raw), curry spice, alcohol and caffeine, and if you have a rare condition called trimethylaminuria, you may have trouble digesting eggs, milk, legumes, peanuts, and vegetables from the cabbage family.

Also see Vegetarians make better lovers at www.sheknows.com

Here are ten more stories from those who did the Veggie Challenge in Sept/Oct 2011. To read the full stories, click on the title above or the "Read more" link below.

Meat was easy, but replacing dairy presented some challenges
"I haven't been able to find something to replace the cream in my coffee."
– Deanne, age 50-64, Oshawa, ON

I have made the choice not to eat meat
"I have made my family several vegetarian dishes during the last two weeks and they have enjoyed them."
– Natalie, age 30-39, Markham, ON

Starting the process of being a vegetarian
"I bought my daughters vegetarian cookbooks for Christmas presents in the hope that they will change their eating style."
– Lis, age 50-64, Toronto

The Challenge was a great supplement to the CHIP program
"I am eating more, weighing less and have increased energy levels."
– Peter, age 40-49, Yorkton, SK

My vegan conversion
"I loved the nutritional facts. It's great to have an answer to "Where are you getting your Protein/Iron/etc.""
– Astrid, age 30-39, Melville, SK

I want to be a better vegetarian
"I watched a movie called Forks over Knives and that changed everything for me."
– Richard, age 40-49, Vancouver, BC

The motivation I needed
– Lynda, age 65+, Charlottetown, PEI

Healthy cooking methods
– Grace, age 40-49, Vancouver, BC

It was my grandson's idea
– Gini, Colorado Spring

Click "Read more..." for the full stories.  

Question: I want to switch to a vegetarian diet to help eliminate unhealthy eating habits, but my tendency is to grab quick meals from fast food places. I am also concerned about the availability of health foods (as my Food Basics supermarket has a very crappy selection), and the price it would cost per meal. 
– Eric, early 20's, Etobicoke, ON

Eating well on a budget is definitely possible, but you do have to make friends with your kitchen (but you don't have to be a gourmet chef or spend a lot of time prepping or cooking).

Just to give you an example: I can buy a one pound bag of organic lentils for $1.79 (and much cheaper if I buy a larger quantity or conventional lentils). Make that into a hearty lentil soup with roasted red peppers (available in a jar), onions, tomatoes (or tomato paste) oregano, garlic, lemon juice & a bit of salt and it yields 8 - 10 servings. I haven't done the exact math, but it definitely works out to under $1 per serving. You can eat VERY cheaply if you focus on beans, lentils (legumes) and whole grains such as brown rice, barley, millet and others. Add fresh or frozen vegetables to these staples, seasonings of choice and you've got a nutritious, economical meal. More examples: stir fry veggies with tofu over brown rice – cheap & easy! Rice & beans with Mexican seasoning – cheap & easy. And the list goes on.

There's also a new book out titled "Eating vegan on $4 a day" by Ellen Jaffe-Jones ($13, $10 in the US) – you might be able to borrow it from the library. Most of the recipes in it are fairly simple and quick.

Just keep in mind that vegetarian/vegan convenience foods will make your grocery bill sky rocket (i.e. frozen entrees; prepared meals, etc). Cooking from scratch, but using convenient ingredients such as canned beans or frozen veggies/fruit will help keep costs low, and cooking time to a minimum.

Eating out can be expensive. However, if once in a while you have to resort to grabbing something from a fast food place, a couple of options are:

Here are eight stories from teens and 20's who did the Veggie Challenge in Sept/Oct 2011. To read the full stories, click on the title above or the "Read more" link below.

	I feel healthier, have more energy, and knowing my lifestyle is completely free of animal dependency makes me feel great."          – Paterson, Toronto
	"If I could suggest a fantastic documentary that really spurred my interest, I highly recommend Forks Over Knives. It's brilliant if you want to know more about the science behind vegetarianism." – Emily, Toronto
	"Strangely, since going vegetarian my underarms do not produce any odour" – Heather, Toronto There is a study that supports this. Photo is creative commons from FashionbyHe's Flickr site, and is not Heather.

I can't even begin to say how great I feel
"By the end of the week I was having nuts, tofu, tempeh, beans, lentils, quinoa, and more vegetables than I've ever had before."
– Emily, early 20's, Toronto

Mostly vegan
"I saved a good chunk of money on groceries by not eating meat. A bag of beans is a lot cheaper than a cut of meat, and it goes A LOT further."
– Nicole, early 20's

I have discovered the ease of making a stir fry
"My digestion has been fantastic, and I have been sleeping very well."
– Heather, late 20's, Toronto

It was so easy!!!
"It makes me happy every day to know that I am no longer contributing to the inhumane treatment of animals."
– Tiffany, teen, Pontypool, ON

My Veggie Challenge day by day
"On the second day we tried one of the recipes from the Veggie Challenge emails and it was delicious which helped keep me positive."
– Brandi, early 20's, Windsor, ON

I am lactose-intolerant and I decided to cut meat as well as dairy
"I learned that veggie food was much healthier (and tastier to boot!)"
– Pamela, early 20's, Ottawa

I helped my boyfriend
– Kira, early 20's

Click "Read more..." for the full stories.   

Here are seven stories from those who did the Veggie Challenge in July/August 2011. To read the full stories, click on the title above or the "Read more" link below.

	A friend told me to think about all the wonderful things I can eat as opposed to thinking about the restrictions."          – Shaun, Toronto
	Photo is creative commons from Flickr and shows a pumpkin chickpea burger along with a link to a simple vegan recipe. Shawn wrote us: "I was able to maintain a wonderful vegan diet for the past week and two days. I treated myself today with a delicious quinoa and chickpea burger with sauteed mushrooms and a pesto topping on a whole grain bun."

I am now off all the the medication I was taking
"I have IBS and was taking approximately 16 pills a day! But now I have noticed a marked improvement in my symptoms as long as I didn't eat any meat, fish or poultry."
– Lori, age 50-64, Mason, OH

The Challenge was most helpful in inspiring me to read more
"I read, Safran Foer's "Eating Animals", and Singer's "The Way We Eat". I also read more from dietitians. I also viewed "Earthlings" with my partner, and let's just say he is taking a break from eating meat as well."
– Gaela, age 30-39, Toronto

Kicked it up to the next level
"I am now almost entirely vegan. Love, love, love the recipes."
– Kristen, age 40-49, Boise, ID

From way down under in New Zealand
"I found the nutrition information most useful as this has been my main flaw in being veggie."
– Nina, late 20's, Wellington, New Zealand

Thanks for the great challenge!
– Florian, age 30-39, Toronto

I learnt more about being a vegetarian
– Aysia, teen, Kitchener, ON

Click "Read more..." for the full stories.  

Here are 12 stories from those who did the Veggie Challenge in May/June 2011. To read the full stories, click on the title above or the "Read more" link below.

	By the end of the week, I discovered a new love for grilling vegetables, whole wheat pasta stir-fry, fried and seasoned tofu with rice, and more."          – Jessica, Scarborough, ON
	Photo is creative commons. From prideandvegudice Flickr site.
	Photo is creative commons. From cstrom Flickr site. If making your own pizza, you can buy pizza dough ready-made in stores, or even fresh pita bread will work. But for the best pizza, here is a vegan pizza crust recipe from VeganBaking.net. It is describes as: "easy to make and features a rich flavor with a crispy exterior and chewy interior."

I grew up scarfing down McDonalds and Dairy Queen
"When I began exercising and making smart food choices (giving up meat and dairy) I lost 50+ pounds and have kept it off."
– Rachel, teen, Abbotsford, BC

Teen’s vegetarian ‘phase’ rekindled
"Inspired by the Veggie Challenge, I became a more skilled cook, lost a few spare pounds and really think that I will be a vegetarian for life."
– Una, teen, Co. Cork

Returning to a vegetarian diet
"One thing that continues to inspire me is listening to the TVA podcasts."
– Raquel, age 30-39, Regina, SK

Inspired by the book "Eating Animals"
"I feel definite that I'm going to continue on this path and feel really good about the choices that I'm making on a daily basis."
– Brenna, late 20's, Toronto

My teenage son challenged me
"He taught me to be a vegetarian, and your site reinforced the lessons learned."
– Patty, age 50-64, Flagstaff, AZ

I made the best pizza ever!!
"With all the delicious grilled veggies I put on top I didn't even miss not having cheese."
– Margaret, late 20's, Chaput Hughes, ON

Tasty and fairly easy
"I lost five pounds in the two weeks easily and hope to continue."
– Dina, age 40-49, Mississauga, ON

I learned that a vegan diet takes little effort
– Ann, age 30-39, Calgary, AB

An ongoing struggle not to slip
– Alexis, early 20's, Toronto

So proud of myself that I made it
"Being vegetarian is really healthy."
– Henda, late 20's, Toronto

Click "Read more..." for the full stories. 

Here are 10 more stories from those who did the Veggie Challenge in Mar/Apr 2011. To read the full stories, click on the title above or the "Read more" link below.

	My health issues are slowly improving with this lifestyle change ... with no sign of diabetes."          – Kelly, Tomah, WI
	"My motivation is to live a healthier life style, protect the environment and stop the slaughter and maltreatment of farm animals" – Hilton, Port-Of-Spain, Trinidad

Influenced by my daughter watching Food Inc.
"One week turned into a lifestyle change and we are all vegetarians now."
– Sharen, age 40-49, Toronto

Going vegan in the Caribbean
– Hilton, age 50-64, Port-Of-Spain, Trinidad, West Indies

Engine 2 Diet inspired me to go vegan
"I really had no idea what impact a vegan diet had on the planet and our health."
– Linda, age 40-49, Oakville, ON

Beginner vegetarian loves book recommendations
"I am pleasantly surprised how easy it all has been."
– Kendra, age 30-39, Maple, ON

No more "digestion tiredness" after meals
"I'm caring more about my body and that makes me happy :)"
– Kasia, age 30-39, Toronto

Seventh-day Adventist finds help and support through Veggie Challenge
"My youngest son is vegan and he is excited with my interest."
– Pamela, age 50-64, St. George's, Bermuda,

Blood sugar and weight stabilizing for Type 2 Diabetic
"There's nothing like success to keep you going."
– Wizzy, age 65+, Burlington, ON

"I felt really good all week, quite clear-headed, stronger and more energetic."
– Sarah, age 40-49, Vancouver, BC

Went vegan for the week
"I think I'll continue for another three weeks."
– Blonde, age 40-49, Strathroy, ON

I didn't tell my family that I was vegetarian
"I just ate the vegetables at meals."
– Jenny, age 30-39, Burlington, ON

Click "Read more..." for the full stories.

Congratulations to Isabella for winning the top story of 2010 from among all the Veggie Challenge stories we received during the year – 122 in total. Isabella wins a SoyQuick 930P Milk Maker. There were many other excellent stories from a wide variety of perspectives. We have included several Honourable Mentions below.

Energy boost for this mother of two

I am a 36 year old mother of two. I have decided to remove meat from my diet after reading The Kind Diet.

I have never really enjoyed meat to the point that giving it up would be hard. I was actually sort of astounded that it took me so long to get here. My diet included meat just because it was always considered a necessity of a healthy diet in my family. My biggest concern was to get enough protein. That is where the educational emails really helped.

I find vegetarian food delicious, and not as hard as I thought to prepare. My food staples are whole grain cereals, Ezekiel bread, brown rice, quinoa, nuts and beans. I find the food very satisfying, I no longer crave bad carbs! And that is the best part for me as I would always go through my cupboards looking for cookies after a high protein, low carb dinner. I found myself totally satisfied and with no cravings and this was my PMS week!

Also my daughter (8 years old) is enjoying all the new foods, so much that she actually devours her dinners, as before it would take her forever to finish dinner. My energy levels are high, and I feel... cleaner on the inside. :>

Newly converted.

– Isabella, age 30-39, Brampton, ON

Note: Check out Alicia Silverstone's The Kind Diet at Amazon. She also has an excellent blog called the Kind Life.

Honourable mentions

This is the beginning of my journey
"I have really learned to enjoy cooking. It feels great to be able to take full responsibility for what I put into my body (now mostly whole foods) and to have a much better understanding of the ethical and environmental aspects of food choices."
– Nancy, age 30-39, Toronto ( Nancy won a prize for top story in Sept.)

I was finally sick and tired of being sick and tired
"Ever since I was a child I struggled with food. In general I was sick all the time. I went completely veggie and haven't felt so good in my whole life. I dropped 15 pounds right away."
– Rachel, age 30-39, Fernie, BC

The push I needed to go veg
"I took my son to the petting zoo, there was a yak and my son put his face right to his and kissed his nose. That moment I really understood what I was eating, for the first time ever..."
– Karen, age 30-39, Orillia, ON

At first my Muslim parents tried to force me to eat meat
"They thought that I liked some vegetarian guy and he had influenced me to change my religion or something."
– Antara, teen, Toronto

My love for animals and the Earth surpassed my love for the taste of meat
"I accept the continued challenge of a meat-free diet in exchange for a clear and sound conscious, great health and good food."
– Kiya, late 20's, Toronto

Going vegetarian in rural Newfoundland
"It has truly changed my life. I have never before had such variety in my diet."
– Priscilla, age 30-39, Baie Verte, NL

This is the first time I have gone vegan
"After reading "Eating Animals" by Jonathan Safran Foer ..., I will never again put meat or dairy in my mouth."
– Kate, age 30-39, Guelph, ON

Here are 10 more stories from those who did the Veggie Challenge in Jan/Feb 2011. To read the full stories, click on the title above or the "Read more" link below.

	We both feel healthier, our energy levels have gone up, we have lost a little weight.          – Jennygirl, Nova Scotia
	"The chick pea salad sandwich is one of my favorites!" – Christine, Steubenville, OH See our our lunch page.

Mother of two little ones moves towards a vegan diet
"I have had a blast cooking and planning meals and I think my family has enjoyed my new enthusiasm in the kitchen."
– Christine, age 40-49, Steubenville, OH

I was brought into the "veggie world" by a vegetarian friend
"Meatless dishes turned out to be a lot more satisfying and delicious than I ever thought they could be."
– Lexie, age 40-49, Oakville, ON

Gastric bypass surgery and allergic to milk. Hello veganism!
"I finally had an epiphany. Why am I trying to force myself to eat meat when I don't like it anyway?"
– Ellie, age 50-64, Oshawa, ON

My goal is to reduce my reliance on meat at most meals
"The Veggie Challenge gave me the focus I needed to stay away from meat for a week."
– Lynn K-S, age 50-64, Sarnia, ON

I listen to my body
"In 3 weeks I noticed a great difference in my mobility, I no longer had unpleasant odours coming from my body, no more itching, had more energy and just a general better feeling within."
– Lucie, age 50-64, Vanc., BC

It is the cooking that stymies me
"I am so glad of your recipes and friendly information."
– Susan, age 50-64, Munich, Germany

Not as difficult as I thought
– Raquel, age 30-39, Regina, SK

Following a vegan gluten free diet
– Cristina, age 30-39, Toronto

Click "Read more..." for the full stories.  

Here are 8 stories from those in their twenties who did the Veggie Challenge in Jan/Feb 2011. To read the full stories, click on the title above or the "Read more" link below.

	Food and I had a terrible relationship before, but now I feel like it is a source of nourishment as well as delight.          – Erin, Winnipeg, MN
	"I love the recipes included. And also the focus on nutrition and the lists of where to get your iron, protein, etc." – Nadia, early 20's, Edmonton, AB Photo is from her blog.

Excited to continue this vegetarian adventure
"I felt like I wanted to share everything I had learned with EVERYONE. BUT I learned quickly, I can‘t be a preacher, people will learn on their own."
– Nadia, early 20's, Edmonton, AB

Our vegan journey
"What really surprised us was our grocery bill. It was LESS than before despite buying "specialized" vegan ingredients."
– Tara, late 20's, Toronto

The Challenge proved to be an affordable and easy venture
"It is comforting to know that I am doing my part in reducing the widespread ecosystem damage associated with meat production."
– Melanie, early 20's, Kingston, ON

It is a lot easier than it looks
"Why would we harm our health and the lives of animals, especially when we can eat an animal-free version of what we love without doing so?"
– Heather, early 20's, Sackville, NB

I finally buckled down and challenged myself to live animal-free
"I now have more energy, more clarity of mind, and the pounds have been melting off."
– Lindsey, early 20's, Pittsburgh, PA

Creating a healthy relationship with food
"My body feels wonderful, I'm thinking more clearly, and I'm sleeping really well too. I feel better than I ever have."
– Krystin, late 20's, Toronto

Fabulous!
– Luci, late 20's, Paia, HI

Click "Read more..." for the full stories. 

“The challenge is on! No meat, no milk, no animal anything.” – Oprah

In celebration of Earth Week, April 17-23, 2011, why not inspire friends, family and yourself by taking our delicious Vegan Challenge at work and at home?


Oprah did it – along with 378 of her staff! They took a Vegan Challenge this past February.  And following her lead, one Canadian media organization, rabble.ca is doing the same for Earth Week. You can participate too. Go vegan for a week, and ask your workplace, friends and family to join you.

Take the Vegan Challenge yourself

We have everything you need: recipes, menus, a shopping list, nutritional tips, and information about how participation helps the Earth, the animals, and your health. Sign up for the Veggie Challenge. We will send you daily emails with simple and tasty vegan recipes and other helpful information and tips. You can also support rabble.ca’s Vegan Challenge Facebook page by clicking "attend", and share updates about your experience in the comments section.

Get your workplace to join you

Approach close co-workers or even the whole workplace and ask them to join you in taking the Vegan Challenge during Earth Week. It’ll make it more fun and also gives you an opportunity to share your recipes and nutritious and delicious experiments! See rabble.ca’s Vegan Challenge Facebook page for tips on how to get started.


Vegan Week is brought to you in collaboration with Toronto PigSave, a group raising awareness of about the cruelty involved in factory farming, transport and slaughterhouses. 


We make going vegan easy.  Eating a plant-based diet is one of the strongest ways you can make every day Earth Day! Meat production requires huge amounts of land, energy and water – which leads to habitat loss, soil erosion, water depletion, and pollution from pesticides and animal waste.

Celebrate a greener planet, a more compassionate and peaceful lifestyle, and healthy and delicious food.


Here are the top 11 Veggie Challenge stories we received in 2010 from those age 30 and up. Also see the top stories from teens and 20's. To read the full stories, click on the title above or the "Read more" link below.

	I found myself totally satisfied and with no cravings and this was my PMS week! My energy levels are high, and I feel... cleaner on the inside.          – Isabella, Brampton, ON
	"I have really learned to enjoy cooking. It feels great to be able to take full responsibility for what I put into my body (now mostly whole foods) and to have a much better understanding of the ethical and environmental aspects of food choices." – Nancy, Toronto

This is the beginning of my journey
– Nancy, age 30-39, Toronto

I'll never look at meat the same way again
"I like eating meat, but I‘m not sure it‘s worth the suffering these poor creatures go through."
– Doug, age 30-39, Windsor, ON

Going vegetarian in rural Newfoundland
"It has truly changed my life."
– Priscilla, age 30-39, Baie Verte, NL

Inspired by a vegan friend
"I believe it's wrong that animals have to be tortured and killed when people can be healthy without consuming meat."
– Ronee, age 30-39, Toronto

A plant-based diet was the obvious answer for me
"With heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes in my family I knew changes were absolutely necessary."
– Sheila, age 40-49, Montreal

Energy boost for this mother of two
– Isabella, age 30-39, Brampton, ON

Becoming vegan: a challenge and an adventure
"My appetite for meat disappeared overnight."
– Linda, age 40-49, Lanark, ON

I was finally sick and tired of being sick and tired
"I've lost fifteen pounds and people tell me I look healthy."
– Rachel, age 30-39, Fernie, BC

I felt a huge weight falling off my heart and soul
"I experienced a dramatic decrease of PMS and menstrual cramps."
– Miriam, age 40-49, Austria

The push I needed to go veg
"That moment I really understood what I was eating, for the first time ever..."
– Karen, age 30-39, Orillia, ON

This is the first time I have gone vegan
"After reading "Eating Animals" by Jonathan Safran Foer ..., I will never again put meat or dairy in my mouth."
– Kate, age 30-39, Guelph, ON

Click "Read more..." for the full stories.   

Here are the top 10 Veggie Challenge stories we received in 2010 from those in their teens or twenties. Also see the top stories from age 30 and up. To read the full stories, click on the title above or the "Read more" link below.

	Every time I began to eat meat, it felt like I was eating another human being."          – Kelley, Toronto
	"I regularly research new and easy recipes on the internet" – Carolyn, Oshawa, ON

At first my Muslim parents tried to force me to eat meat
"They thought that I liked some vegetarian guy and he had influenced me to change my religion or something."
– Antara, teen, Toronto

My love for animals and the Earth surpassed my love for the taste of meat
"I accept the continued challenge of a meat-free diet in exchange for a clear and sound conscious, great health and good food."
– Kiya, late 20's, Toronto

Best of all I don't feel guilty
"I am overweight and dread exercising, so learning that I can lose weight by just eating is awesome!"
– Eliya, early 20's, Toronto

Going vegetarian isn't easy, but it's worth the effort!
"I will never go back to eating meat or dairy. It's amazing, and I feel awesome about myself."
– Melanie, early 20's, Oshawa, ON

Vegtastic! I love being vegetarian
"I can help the animals and stay healthy at the same time."
– Danielle, early 20's, Pickering, ON

I decided to join a vegan club at the University of Toronto
– Kelley, early 20's, Toronto

Vegetarianism is right for my whole family!
"I spoke to my five year old daughter about how she felt about eating meat, and she said it made her sad."
– Krystle, early 20's, Toronto

An eye-opening experience
"Being Vegetarian is one of the best choices I've made. I simply feel GREAT!"
– Christy-Marie, teen, Toronto

Gallstone attack prompted gradual switch to vegetarian diet
"For me, starting slow was definitely the way to go."
– Carolyn, late 20's, Oshawa, ON

The Challenge solved my worries about getting enough protein and iron
"Avoiding meat makes me feel a lot lighter, more energetic and makes me feel so much better about not harming any precious animals."
– Sobi, late 20's, Toronto

Click "Read more..." for the full stories.