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I am 42 years old and have always had a weight problem. We’re not talking about 5-10 pounds either, we’re talking about 40-50 pounds. I’ve done Weight Watchers (3 times), the nutra-system, and Atkins for almost two years. I cringe when I think of that! I did lose weight, but felt lousy all the time. I’ve read all the books out there: Carbohydrate Addicts, Protein Power, the Cave-man Diet, Dr. Phil’s book, Blood-type Diet, South Beach, Sugar Addicts diet, and Susanne Summers’ book, to name a few. I’ve joined Curves, and I even trained and actually ran a marathon. I lose some weight and then slip off the diet and gain more. What was worse than the weight problem though, was that I would get headaches, have moodiness (major ups and downs) and PMS symptoms, predominantly lower back pain and breast tenderness.

When I was doing Atkins, about three years ago, I had a co-worker who is a 7th Day Adventist and their diet is vegetarian. I was interested, but never thought I could do it! My mom lives two doors down and is a great Italian cook, and my husband is a huge meat and potatoes guy! How could I actually live on just veggies and beans? What would I cook?

Well, the next thing I knew, I turned 40, and started to wonder about where my life was going and especially my health. I started by asking questions to my 7th Day Adventist friend and actually went to a cooking class that their Church put on. For the last year and a half, I’ve tried to incorporate more vegetarian meals. The clincher for me occurred about 6 months ago. I went a whole month on a vegetarian diet and noticed that my PMS symptoms were gone, as well as NO headaches. I knew it was the food, because while visiting my in-laws for a week, I ate whatever they cooked and fell “off the wagon”. The symptoms came back.

I will begin by saying that I am interested and somewhat knowledgeable when it comes to nutrition, and so for the past year have experimented with "veggie" foods, simply for variety of taste and nutritional value, rather than with the intention to become vegetarian. For example, I'd have soy milk in my fridge and eat tofu once in a while, but I absolutely LOVED to eat meat. During the holidays, my over-indulgence in meat was somewhat disgusting, so I just stopped eating meat, poultry and fish for a couple of weeks thereafter. One day I googled vegetarianism and the Veggie Challenge came up, and I thought, why not, this might be fun.

That Friday, I checked out all the links sent to me and then some. I learnt everything I could about the treatment of animals and the effect of a meat-eating diet on the environment, in a span of about 3 hours. Something hit my heart and I sat there at my work desk, sobbing like a child. That was all it took and now I don't think I could ever ingest meat again, whereas two weeks ago I was digging my teeth into a bloody rare steak. I'm in awe of the power of knowing, and I suppose before I just wanted to remain ignorant.

My meals are nutritiously comprehensive and I have required less sleep this past week, awaking before my alarm clock goes off. Cooking with protein alternatives, I find is easier than cooking with meat and feels lighter in your stomach. All the veggies, fruits, and legumes have aided my digestion, relieving some problems I used to have. And chick peas! Mmm, they're good in everything!

As a celebratory gift to myself, I had lunch at Vegetarian Haven, just below the Toronto Vegetarian Association, right behind where I work on Baldwin Ave. I tried tempeh for the first time, it was (surprisingly) extremely tasty. The staff there were nothing short of amazing, supportive, informative, and super friendly! This probably sounds like an ideal transition, but I feel excellent about my decision – I just feel good about not partaking in the killing of animals for my ingestion, especially when it is absolutely not necessary. Thanks for all your info!

– Karoline, age 25-44, Toronto

This Challenge got me to look at my eating habits. I find it really hard to eat purely vegan, especially with byproducts. I never know what's vegan, or maybe vegan. I just do my best and what is best for my body. I pick whole grains and lots of vegetables, legumes, fruit and of course vanilla soy milk. I bake muffins and breads and freeze them in case I ever want a quick vegan snack. I make lots of soups and I make sure that I get protein in every meal. I have lost tons of weight since I changed my diet to full-out vegan. I think 20 or so pounds, but vegan for me isn't about weight or my health. I just believe that there is no reason for an animal to die for me to eat and be a healthy human.

I became vegetarian almost two full years ago and then vegan for over a full year now. I was on and off vegetarian my whole life but my parents were very afraid I would become unhealthy, so while I lived at home I had to purchase my own healthy vegetarian food. But I slipped in and out of my vegetarian ways until I turned 20 and got my first apartment and with it, my own fridge. I loaded it up with vegetarian and vegan foods but back then I had no cooking finesse, and a lot of the foods I was baking and cooking up were a mix of disasters and learning experiences. Over time and with some help from a great Italian lady I know I've become a much better cook. Mary is the most fabulous chef I have ever met, she cooks fully Mediterranean vegetarian for her husband. She taught me a lot about cooking and baking. Now I can say with confidence, that I am in a much nicer boat that I was before. I can cook beans and legumes much easier and I have become a self-titled master at substitution, I think I can make almost any recipe vegan now :). But my friends and family are really all the evidence I need, my dad loves my vegan cooking and invites me over to make food for him almost once every two weeks.

Picture caption: seasoned Tofu Pattie (I bought it pre-made) with a Kamut whole grain (so whole and healthy!) bun with steamed veggies (celery, carrots, grape tomatoes, broccoli and cauliflower.) I sprinkled sea salt and vegan tamari sauce over the vegetables with some lemon juice and pepper and toss it lightly before serving. I also make my own soups (with roasted veggies if I have the time) and muffins and deserts.

– Cynthia, age 16-24, Kingston, Ontario

My two stepdaughters have gone vegan and my wife and I have gone vegetarian. I still eat fish on occasion, she does not. We all changed our eating lifestyle for many reasons. For myself it was a combination of health and saving animals. Since going vegetarian and following a non-pharmaceutical healing process, I have not been sick in over 2 years. No colds, no aches, cramps, indigestion has ceased to exist. While I was still eating meat, I had actually been hospitalized thinking I was having a heart attack, It turned out I had stones in my liver and gall bladder. Since then I have done some liver, gall bladder cleanses and have not had these sharp pains in over two years as well. I also switched to almond and soy beverages over milk.

Becoming a vegetarian is the only way to go if you really want to live.

– Dean, age 25-44, Cambridge

My first week as a vegan went quite well. My husband, although still a meat eater, is very supportive and proud of me for my decision and he now enjoys eating vegan foods too! We experimented with tofu and although I always enjoyed it, he was afraid to try it and now loves it! I am hoping he will go all the way soon too.

I started my week off by purging my cupboards and donating any unopened non-vegan foods. I went grocery shopping and planned out a week's worth of meals. Each night I tried a new vegan meal and my husband and I both rated the outcome. We were surprised at how healthy we felt just a few days into it and after finishing the meals we were no longer bloated and sluggish.

It has been quite a few months now since I became a vegan and am happy to report that I feel great, have lost weight and know I am doing something to help not only the animals but the environment too. Thanks for all your help!

– Carin, age 25-44, Hamilton

My week has actually been one of the best I have had in so long. I have discovered not just new foods and flavors, but realized there is a large variety of foods that I can eat. I can even substitute the recipes my family makes with meat alternatives. I have always been restrictive with food due to my weight, but I have been able to add to and change my entire eating plan for the day. I feel so much better physically and mentally.

People have complimented on my new color and just overall sense of doing something good. My motivation is the articles that I have seen and read on animals suffering. My goal is to stop the abuse that I am causing first and start becoming an activist, supporter and donor to help fund research and defend animals.

– Shannon, age 16-24, West Palm Beach, Florida

My week wasn't too hard because I eat primarily vegetarian anyway. But I had to make an extra effort to stop and think before I ate anything. I love sushi, so omitting it will be my biggest mountain to climb before reaching full vegetarian status. I took this week as an opportunity to try more of a raw food diet too. I went to a David Wolfe lecture in November and started reading his "Sunfood Diet Success System" book (See Amazon.ca). I highly recommend it for anyone interested in achieving optimal energy, digestive, and mental functioning. I am motivated to completely cut out meat from my diet after taking the Veggie Challenge. It gave me that extra edge I needed to say no to chicken, and I really didn't miss it at all for the week. My digestion also improved without the added saturated fat. I will continue on the path to vegetarianism slowly but surely. My ultimate goal is to have a healthy raw food diet in the future. My body craves the nutrients!
– Amy, age 16-24, Toronto

During my youth, my mother took me and my siblings every year to the Royal Winter Fair and Centerville petting zoos in Toronto. It was exciting to see and interact with the animals. Although, each year as I grew older I became more aware of the animals living conditions & well being. One year, I decided to stop eating pork (as the pig pens turn me off greatly). But at home, I couldn't avoid the tempting meat-filled dinners that my parents made for me. I grew up in a household where eating meat was the "important" food item that would fill the family up, keeping us healthy and strong.

In my late teens, I developed an interest in cooking with different herbs & spices in most vegetarian dishes. I was given more criticism then credit about the "lack of substance" and "smell of the house" from some members of my family. For years, I was discouraged to completely cut meat from my diet. I then attended the Vegetarian Food Fair where I sampled and learned about all sorts of veggie lifestyle options, along with animal treatment. It just all made sense to me to cut out the meat dishes and make the substitute. I picked up a pamphlet there and decided to take the veggie challenge, which really helped me make that transition.

I first learned about the Veggie Challenge after searching the internet for information relating to IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). I had already cut out dairy products, substituting for soy, and rather enjoyed the products I had tried. The Veggie Challenge was the motivation I was looking for to try eliminating meat products from my diet as well. The Challenge introduced me to new products that my regular grocery store already had available but I wasn't aware of. I also ventured into my local specialty health foods store and found great tasting, healthy substitutes for most meat or dairy items. I had anticipated the Challenge to be more difficult than it actually was. I don't think I will have a hard time in continuing a vegetarian lifestyle.
– Carrie, age 25-44, Oshawa

I stopped dairy over night, due to a flare up of asthma I had not had since many years. Then, I started researching on dairy-free living, tennis player, Martina Navratilova, etc., stumbled across veganism and found there is not that big of a step from non-dairy to meat-free nutrition.

Felt less sluggish and lighter after 4 days of non-dairy! Then, leaving out meat forced me to learn how to really cook and pay attention to veggies. I am finally cooking recipes I always envied, but never knew where to find (Vegan with a Vengeance is my favorite. See Amazon.ca). I love Middle-eastern and Mexican food, but tough luck over here in Luxembourg/Belgium/France, hehe!

I lived almost vegan before I moved in with my now husband, 4 years ago. Since then, I have been eating meat and dairy like never before. I am now 30 pounds heavier.

My in-laws who lovingly cook gourmet meat pies, feel personally rejected through my new choice. I hope we will get through this since having (enough) food is very cultural and historically charged over here in Europe (WW2 trauma).

Wonderful added plus: Moral upwind (who, me?) due to animal cruelty-free eating.

– Michi, age 25-44, Luxembourg

My week went well. It was a challenge to find vegetarian food that would fill me up for lunch, and after school snacks. I ate sandwiches with beans and different vegetables like tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers and kale. I also ate tofu in my salads, tomato sauce, and sandwiches. I found that I was more satisfied with my vegetarian lunches than I had been with my ham and beef sandwiches and non-vegetarian products. The Challenge forced me to look at other alternatives for foods and snacks. At times I was frustrated because I was hungry! By the third day, though, I had snacks like apples, oranges, grapes, and mango. I love making vegetarian stir fries – they're easy and fun to make; they're also delicious and nutritious! My family would still have their meat meals, but I ate with them, and they were always asking about my colorful, wonderful smelling concoctions.

It was never a problem eating at restaurants. In fact I found new ones around town that I had never known existed. I tried different soups, rice and pasta dishes that fit my vegetarian diet. I found I was always spending less on vegetables than steak, or chicken.

I have no issue in finding vegetarian food that I like but that's a different story for my friends. At school one of my friends is against being vegetarian. We have intense debates, and usually I win because being a vegetarian is the best thing ever! I'm hoping to convince him to a point where I'll be able to send him the Veggie Challenge. Who knows, maybe he'll find it in his heart to not eat animals anymore.

Thank-you for making this Challenge. It has helped me become healthy and aware of a new menu for veggie-based foods. I hope someday everyone will choose to embrace the vegetarian lifestyle.

– Maya, age 16-24, Abbotsford. Winner for Nov/Dec based on a random draw of all selected stories. She wins a subscription to VegNews and gift pack. See prizes page for details.

Hi! I'm Malina. I have been a lacto-ovo vegetarian for three years and wanted to go vegan for a long time. Unfortunately, due to my very busy schedule, shift work and eating on the go, I have put it off until the Veggie Challenge.

While vegetarian, I read a lot of very interesting books on veganism and made the decision to go that route. Within 3-4 days, I felt so good, that I am confident I will NEVER go back. I will continue to learn, shop and eat vegan, as I discover new recipes, products and stores that have a large variety of vegan choices.

I would like to thank you for giving me that final "push" I needed to discover a new way of taking care of myself and working towards creating a kinder, gentler world, which only starts with the way we treat each other and the animals.
– Malina, age 25-44, Scarborough

Being a vegetarian isn't hard, in fact, it's fabulously fun. I have been one for two years and it is amazing. I had never tried to be vegan, it sounded too intimidating. Against my better judgment, I decided to go for it. I cut out dairy, eggs and honey from my life. I have to say, it took A LOT out of me. Imagine not having a warm mug of delicious cocoa before bed?Imagine eating leafy greens?
    The first couple of days, I was hungry and longing to stuff a cookie in my mouth and down some milk. By the third day, the worst of it was over. I began to embrace this change; I began to feel less drained and had a little spring in my step. It was a great deal of fun; I tried amazingly delicious new recipes that I was too afraid to try before. And heck, I was incredibly proud! I could say I was a vegan! I've always wanted to roll that sentence in my mouth but never got the chance. I felt real, and alive. It's utterly fantastic; I have never felt as natural, human, and primitive (in a good way) before in my life. This week was a catharsis for me, a cleansing of dark and dank emotions. I feel strong and ready to take on the world, if I was able to be a vegan for a week, what's to stop me from changing my lifestyle?
– Jessica, age 16-24, Toronto

I was a vegetarian for two years, occasionally cheating with chicken, dairy-ladened food and eggs. I adapted to a vegan diet since it was easy for me in university to do so, and with the limited amount of cash I had at hand, vegan eating was the way to go. A week of eating nothing but whole grains, veggies, legumes and fruits, I felt more energized and more ecstatic. I enjoyed food, and I started tasting real food and not just bingeing on it without sensing the flavors. I felt loose and unstoppable at what I did. It will take me a while to learn how to cook other vegan stuff but for now I will stick to eating whole food soups considering I have limited supplies and recipes to use.
– abigail, age 16-24, Markham

While looking for information to help out with my son's decision to be vegetarian, I came upon your website. I had already been following an ovo-lacto diet for about 5 or 6 days. I guess the biggest challenge was cooking at home. I had visions of cooking two separate meals all the time. Surprisingly it was very easy to adapt ie. one night I made pasta primavera and just did the chicken separately for my husband and other son. 

The real funny night came when we had tacos. I bought a vegetarian chili mix from the bulk barn and made that as the "meat" for the tacos. The only people privy to this fact were me and my vegetarian son. I let my meat eaters make their tacos first. They were taunting my veg son about how great the meat was, how great the meat smelled etc. I asked them to pass the bowl over. ...

Winner for Nov/Dec based on a random draw of all selected stories. She wins a $100 gift certificate for Le Commensal. See prizes page for details.

I honestly didn't miss any of the animal products
I feel phenomenal, and fueling my body and mind with a healthy diet is the best thing I can do as a student. ...

Simple and tasty
Wow, I didn't know how simple and tasty this would be. I would have started eating vegetarian a long time ago. ...

The weight is just dropping off me this week
Let's put it this way – before my son (now 2) was born, I was a vegetarian. I started eating meat for some unknown reason (I didn't know a lot about vegetarian nutrition, and believed others when they told me I 'needed' to at least eat chicken) and in those three years I went up 30 lbs!

The journey started when I met a vegan while volunteering at a homeless shelter
I have been exploring vegetarianism for a couple of months now and hadn't made some sort of commitment. ...

It all started with the pigs
About a year ago, I was playing softball in a downtown Toronto park, which happens to be down the street from a slaughterhouse. ...

I had dreams about meat cooking on the BBQ
Protein powder, protein bars, fresh and dried fruit quelled my desires. [Full story >>]

My mother passed away from a heart attack
Suddenly I was faced with heart disease in my family and my risks shot up. [Full story >>]

My life has dramatically changed for the better
Wow! I never dreamed that in signing up for this Challenge, my life and the lives of my family would be so dramatically changed (for the better). [Full story >>]

Vegetarianism as a tool for social justice
If Jesus were to walk among us today, he would be absolutely appalled at the farm factories that provide our society with meat. [Full story >>]

I started this challenge to show support for my 16 year old daughter
I am eating healthy and fully and the extra pounds are sliding off. [Full story >>]

I have become an advocate without even realizing it
As a health care professional, my main reason for taking this challenge was to have a first hand experience with this diet and the obstacles one would face to maintain it.  [Full story >>]

The Challenge helped me prepare awesome veggie dishes
I always feared that dining out would be unsatisfying. I was very wrong!   [Full story >>]

Once the meal was over, I informed
them of my elaborate ruse
"My goal with the challenge was not only to eat vegetarian for the week, but to secretly prepare and have my crew eat a healthy meal with me at the firehall and be none-the-wiser to the fact that it was veggie." [Full Story]

Meagan challenges a friend and
ends up challenging herself too.
"It began as a suggestion I made to a close friend of mine when I spotted one of the Veggie Challenge posters. Since he is notorious for being a carnivore who hates vegetables, and I am concerned about his health, I suggested that he entered the challenge. ... As moral support for him, I promised to do the same, and enter the challenge with him." [Full Story]

Slow move to veganism labelled ungodly, foolish
by family and friends
"Since I've massively reduced my consumption of animal foods, I feel much healthier. I am stronger, I eat a more balanced diet, and my temperament has improved. But what is more important is that now I can ethically feel good about what I am doing each and every day – for the planet, and for the things living on it." [Full Story]

I changed overnight
"I was one of those "overnight" vegetarians. I hadn't really given a vegetarian lifestyle much consideration until one month ago, when I became aware of the appalling conditions in which animals are raised and slaughtered for human consumption. ... This has been one of the best decisions I have ever made, not only for myself but for the animals who would have died to satisfy my appetite!" [Full Story]

A reluctant vegetarian now sees food in a new light
"I didn't think I could really cut out meat altogether. For one, I grew up on a meat-centered diet (in large part because of my cultural background). For another, I enjoyed eating meat along with my significant other." [Full Story]

The Challenge made me THINK
"I learned I need to PLAN meals and it'll take some effort. But if it means I'm making the statement that it's not okay to chemically-induce animals so they can grow bigger faster, which ultimately leaves them with cancerous lesions and lame muscles, then I'm going to continue on this Challenge." [Full Story]

• I used to live on a steady diet of McDonalds
• At about 3 am in the morning I made the final decision to become a full blown vegetarian
• He asked me why I didn't consider going vegan
• Co-worker and wife inspire me to try a vegetarian diet despite a lack of cooking skills
• "I'm a vegetarian, Aunt Maria. Can you cook it without meat?" I waited, nervous for her reply
• A Paul McCartney concert and a man who changed his name to "kentuckyfriedcruelty.com."
• I passed a tractor trailer transporting live pigs
• Discovering meat's ecological footprint

• My young family embraces vegan diet
• Weight lifter cuts meat from diet
• Our group looked at each other with a mixture of amusement and disgust
• Meatless in Mississauga
• Testing out the vegan waters
• I've done this midway through a pregnancy
• Sometimes I hanker for meat
• Hearing them scream....
• I took the plunge and experienced a full vegan lifestyle
• My health had deteriorated on a low carb diet
• Vegetarian in Singapore

I've given up explaining myself and now volunteer to help cook all the family meals
I decided to become a vegetarian after continually seeing meat-related diseases (mad cow, China pork, avian flu etc.) in the news and watched a TV special on PBS on the meat industry (gross). Watching PETA's "Meet Your Meat" movie confirmed it for me that I had to stop eating meat. ...

I used to be an apologetic vegetarian.
– Gita, teen, from vegetarian to vegan

Inspired by my vegan fiancé, I took the Challenge for none of the traditional reasons.
– Logos, 20's, from meat-centered to vegan

A car running over ducks inspires switch.
– Sarah, 20's, from meat-centered to vegetarian

I'm the first "carnie" that my veggie-boy has ever dated.
– Michelle, 20's, from meat-centered to vegetarian

I thought vegetarians were limited. Was I ever wrong!
– Dee, 30's, from mostly vegetarian to vegetarian