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This is the beginning of my journey

During the Veggie Challenge, I mostly ate at home. I felt that I could start taking responsibility for my food choices by actually preparing my own food. I found this to be more accessible than navigating menus (looking for vegan options) and to be tremendously satisfying in terms of feeling good about making conscious choices about the ingredients I was putting into my body.

I started eating a mainly vegan diet a couple of years ago, strictly for health reasons. It was very successful in terms of managing endometriosis-related pain and fatigue. As my body started feeling better, I gradually re-introduced chicken, fish, and some dairy into my diet. This past summer, I got married, and as I started thinking more seriously about planning a family, I decided to learn more about vegetarianism and veganism. I began to really think about how I would want my children to understand their place in the world, their relationship to the environment, and their relationship to animals and other people. I found Twitter to be a great resource to connect to vegans who were happy to share their knowledge and transitioning experiences with curious people like me. From there, I discovered great blogs and podcasts, all which helped me decide that I needed to go vegan.

I had been subscribing to the Toronto Vegetarian Association (TVA) e-newsletter for a year or so, since attending the Vegetarian Food Fair in 2009, so I knew of the Veggie Challenge. After my wedding in August, I decided that September 1 would be another new beginning for me. I signed up for the Veggie Challenge with every intention of continuing to phase 2, which I knew would coincide with the Food Fair. While I've attended the Food Fair in the past, I was able to attend this year with a new sense of being in the world, and I was excited to fully embrace the workshops/demos and lectures. The panel discussion on the opening night was exactly what I needed to affirm the new choices I was making in my life. On the Saturday morning, I bought a bunch of fantastic new books and became a TVA member.

Nancy likes the Vegetarian Food for Thought podcast with Colleen Patrick-Goudreau

Throughout Phase 2 of the Challenge, I have tried to adhere to a vegan diet, but I am still a work in progress. While I have eliminated animal products from my home, it is taking me time to feel comfortable asking questions about ingredients when I eat away from home. I continue to read and listen to podcasts daily (I have a couple of years worth of Vegetarian Food for Thought to get through!), and I have started attending workshops with Meghan Telpner, which I have found to be especially helpful in supporting a mindful eating approach.

This is the beginning of my journey, and I look forward to preparing my second vegan Thanksgiving dinner this weekend. My first was last year, vegan because I had vegan guests. This year's will be vegan because of conscious choices I am making in my life to do no harm to animals. It feels good. Thank you TVA for all of the great resources you provide!

Update: six months later

Since taking the Veggie Challenge, I have remained vegetarian – six months on March 1! During those six months, 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.

Even when I was on a vegan diet for health reasons a few years ago, I never really gave truly mindful thought to what I was eating. I simply followed my checklist of foods I could and couldn't eat. Now, having read books by Jonathan Safran Foer, Michael Pollan, Peter Singer, and Jim Mason, it's impossible not to really think about my food choices. Well, at least most of the time... I am a work in progress, and it is taking time to build positive habits of mind for when I am out on a Friday evening with friends and I order a plate of nachos smothered in cheese. So I can't say I'm vegan yet. But in general I've become a more mindful eater, and definitely a healthier eater. Those are two significant changes in my life.

	Larra Skye is vegan Canadian singer.

Thanks to the Toronto Vegetarian Association for all the resources it provides – (and for introducing me to Larra Skye via the podcast)! And special thanks to Sunny Raja for providing such a great prize through Vegan Delights!

– Nancy, age 30-39, Toronto

Nancy won a prize for her story: Vegan Delights provided a Four-course catered meal ($150 value) to the top story from those who signed up around the time of the Annual Vegetarian Food Fair in Toronto – Sept 10-12, 2010.

There were four finalists and we randomly selected his story from among them. Congratulations also go to: Krystle, Chris, and Danielle 

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 would eat, then spend the next half hour to one hour in pain with stomach cramps. When I was 18 I stopped drinking milk as I would get a stomach ache every morning after breakfast. For years now my mom told me "Rachel you need to be a vegetarian" so at the age of 30 I was finally sick and tired of being sick and tired. I went completely veggie and haven't felt so good in my whole life. I dropped 15 pounds right away. I've had numerous people tell me I look healthy and want to know what products I've been using. I don't miss meat, or cheese or dairy at all. I feel GREAT!

– Rachel, age 30-39, Fernie, BC

Hardcore "foodie" doesn't miss meat at all

I was inspired to take the Veggie Challenge after hearing about (and later attending) the Toronto Vegetarian Food Fair.

There were so many reasons to try: for health, to protest the maltreatment of animals and to move closer to a compassionate, sustainable lifestyle.

No one thought I could do it -- a hardcore "foodie" who loves her meat. Well, I did, and I love it and my kids love it too. We don't miss eating meat at all!

Half the fun has been experimenting and tasting all sorts of wonderful new veggies in various combinations. My cooking repertoire has grown to include vegetarian dishes from around the world. I am loving this. Thank you for the inspiration!

– Chris, age 40-49, Mississauga, ON

I feel energized all the time

I was a pescetarian prior to joining the Veggie challenge. I knew that it wasn't going to be that difficult to do the Challenge since it's only eggs and seafood that I'll be giving up.

It wasn't that long before I got to know more about tofu. And how versatile it is. The best part is, I love it! And I feel energized all the time. I definitely eat more for sure – but it's all fruits and vegetables... and tofu.

It's now been 6 weeks since doing the Veggie challenge. And there's no looking back.

Of course, I'm still learning as I go along. But I'm telling people that if I can do this, you can do it.

Thank you Toronto Vegetarian Association!

– Marvin, age 30-39, Oakville, ON

Embracing a lifestyle of less consumerism and greater health

I have been a vegetarian since 1992. In the past five years I have wavered in my resolve, eating seafood and poultry a few times a month when with friends eating out. It seemed easier and gave me more options for ordering off the menu rather than always asking for items to be specially prepared.

After taking the Challenge I feel my convictions are returning; I feel strongly that being a vegetarian is the right choice for me and I would like to lessen the amount of eggs and dairy I consume as well. I am not sold on soy cheese but I will look for more dishes that are filling and do not contain cheese. I have been a lazy vegetarian and my children will eat almost anything if it has cheese so I used that as an easy way to get more fat, calories and food into them. They're on the small side.

Recently my step dad has faced the likelihood that he has prostate cancer. Your email challenge may be the perfect venue to ease him into a vegetarian lifestyle. He has already committed to giving up red meat. This may help him not feel he is missing out on anything, rather choosing to embrace a lifestyle of less consumerism and greater health.

I was visiting friends in Toronto and happened upon your Vegetarian Food Fair by chance. I live in Ohio but you have inspired me to seek out a local vegetarian society and join if one exists.*

– Angela, age 30-39, Akron, OH

*Note: See VegOhio.com for local groups and vegetarian restaurants including VegiTerranean, a vegan restaurant in Akron owned by rock legend Chrissie Hynde.

Going vegetarian has been a huge benefit

My motivation to go to a vegetarian diet was my love of animals and disgust at putting part of an animal in my mouth. I would use a mint after eating meat, even though I love the taste of meat. My friends think that they can't get all the nutrients from non-animal foods, so they have no desire to change. I feel good after turning vegetarian. I believe that it has been a huge benefit. I became vegetarian several months ago and haven't had any desire for meat since then. I love legumes so I do eat a lot of them in different kinds of recipes. I have a parrot who needs fruits and vegetables so she has inspired me to do this.

Thank you for the emails.

– Sherry, age 50-64, Shilo, MN

I will certainly be continuing this health journey into the next month

Having daily recipes really helped me to stay on track. I also discovered some new products I had not tried before. I still find it difficult to eat vegan when I am not fully in charge of preparing the meals. I prefer to keep the Challenge a personal one and therefore would never expect non-vegetarian friends or family to change their menus solely because of my dietary restrictions*. I love the Challenge, but a week is not enough. I will certainly be continuing this health journey into the next month. I look forward to the website support. Thanks

– Tracey, age 30-39, Saint Nicolas, QC

*Note: It is important not to expect change, but often family and friends will be happy to accommodate you once they know that you are firm in your conviction.

Vegetarian in a meat-eating family

I have always wondered about what it would take to be a vegetarian in a meat-eating family. Not only has my 10 year old switched over, but my husband is down to two meat meals a week!

This Challenge has been the encouragement and support that I needed. Thank you!

– Andrea, age 30-39, Toronto

My teenage daughter and I decided to try it together

My teenage daughter was interested to try eating vegetarian, so when we saw the Veggie Challenge at the Toronto Vegetarian Food Fair, we decided to try it together. The men in the family weren't too thrilled when we told them. However, we all enjoyed the meals over the week and we saw how easy and economical eating vegetarian is. We also educated ourselves into the current reality of producing meat for human consumption by watching various documentaries*. We are all inspired to continue a path of greater vegetarian meals, not just for the health and economics, but also for the plight of the animals.

– Leslie, age 40-49, Ottawa

*Note: See youtube's list of vegetarian documentaries, or visit our Toronto Resource Centre and borrow or buy a full length documentary.

I was able to fit into some of my old clothing

I found it easy to make delicious vegetarian meals. I did not miss the meat. I enjoyed shopping for fresh fruits and vegetables grown locally, going to the farmers market to support our local farmers by purchasing the produce close to where it is grown. I want to continue down this path of being a vegetarian. I felt healthy, slept well and generally felt good overall. Oh, most of all, I was able to fit into some of my old clothing from when I was younger – I did not think it was possible so soon. Thanks for your help and encouragement.

Best Regards,

– Pat, age 50-64

Learning how not to be junk food vegan

My Veggie Challenge went wonderfully. I was able to drop my cholesterol by 20 points. The recipes were easy to follow and the food tasted great. This is something that anyone could follow. I feel so much better and look forward to continual improvement to my health as I use the resources that were provided in the Challenge. Thank you so very much for providing this opportunity to learn how to be a healthy vegan not just a junk food vegan.

– Caroljean, age 50-64, Marshall, WA

Back to a raw vegan diet

I used the Veggie Challenge to help me get back to a raw vegan diet. I have not yet succeeded, but the daily reminders to keep me on track were helpful. I have cooked all my life, so I didn't need the recipes, and I had no concerns about nutrition. I know how to eat well as a vegetarian or vegan or raw vegan. It did keep me away from meat for a week, but as someone who has been struggling with compulsive eating, I need resources that address the emotional reasons I eat meat. I find EFT a very helpful resource, but there is still more work to be done.

– Kimberly, age 30-39, Burlington, ON

Giving up fish and eggs

My greatest challenge was giving up fish and eggs. The recipes provided in the daily e-mail were so delicious I found that I really did not miss eating fish at all. I will definitely continue this path for a month because I enjoyed the variety available.

– Sancia, age 40-49, Scarborough, ON