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Here are 12 stories from those who did the Veggie Challenge in May/June 2011.

I grew up scarfing down McDonalds and Dairy Queen

After giving up beef and pork two years ago, this past December I decided to give up all meat. I then proceeded to become full vegan! As a kid, I grew up scarfing down McDonalds and Dairy Queen regularly, but I never had the information behind what I was eating and why it was bad for me. As I got older, I got fatter. However, when I began exercising and making smart food choices (giving up meat and dairy) I lost 50+ pounds and have kept it off.

The Veggie Challenge has encouraged me to stick with my diet even if others tell me I'm crazy! I've even got my family and best friend eating less meat! I'm even taking an Advanced Nutrition course and will specialize in veganism... I just can't get enough of this awesome lifestyle. My goal is to help others transition to a plant based diet easily. Some interesting/ helpful books I've read are The China Study, "Eating Animals", and The Crazy, Sexy Diet. Go Veg!!! :) Once you feel the glow, you won't regret it. Thank you Veggie Challenge.

I discovered many delicious veggie meals

I took the Veggie Challenge for 1-week and at first I was hesitant to try it. I kept thinking about all of the foods I could not eat, rather than focusing on new dishes I would soon try. One of my favourite places to eat is the Pad Thai Express. It was where I first tried tofu before the Challenge, so I knew I could handle increasing my tofu intake during the Challenge.

As I began, I started noticing what everyone around me was eating so I started a daily food diary to record all of the food I consumed during the Challenge. I would often find myself browsing through the recipe ideas provided via the Challenge emails, and tweaking them to create a meal I could afford, enjoy and was quick and easy to prepare. 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 substituting some of my favorite dishes with vegetarian alternatives.

Photo is creative commons. From prideandvegudice Flickr site.

The best experience I encountered during the Challenge was while ordering a tofu stir-fry at the Pad Thai Express. The server had assumed I was a vegetarian. She assured me that my meal would be made without egg. A stranger taking notice of my newly acquired eating habit really boosted my morale towards making healthy food choices.

Overall I was glad I took the Challenge along with my best friend. I felt better about my health and more confident in making healthy eating choices. My only advice, remember to take a daily vitamin tablet throughout the week!

– Jessica, early 20's, Scarborough, ON

Teen’s vegetarian ‘phase’ rekindled

When I was ten, I read a book – Mad Dogs by Robert Muchamore – that taught me about the horrifying conditions battery chickens were living in. Chicken was my family‘s main meat, so the only solution seemed to be going vegetarian.

However, I was only ten and the rest of my family were still eating meat. They grumbled a bit but they put up with me not eating meat. I owed a lot to my mother for cooking me lentils instead of lamb, chickpeas instead of chicken and overall, tolerating my “phase“. Unfortunately, that‘s what it ended up as. A phase. After a year, my enthusiasm had faded and I was eating meat almost every day. But if you think about it, I was only ten.

Recently, my friend decided to, ‘go veggie‘ and I was reminded of my young time of vegetarianism. My interest was rekindled.

I cogitated, I contemplated, I googled! That was when I came across the Veggie Challenge. It was only one week, if it didn‘t suit me I could go back to meat. As it turned out, it did suit me. I became a more skilled cook, I lost a few spare pounds and I am more satisfied with what I eat.

Plus, I‘m doing my bit for the environment and the animals. Though I‘m not a vegan (milk is practically what we live on in Ireland) I have stopped my family from buying products with animal fat, gelatine, etc. I‘m also a more ethical consumer and I try to make sure everything I eat is Fairtrade and organic.

I really think that I will be a vegetarian for life this time!

– Una, teen, Co. Cork

Returning to a vegetarian diet

One of the greatest hurdles I had to overcome was how I thought my family would react to me returning to a vegetarian diet. I had been a vegetarian from ages 16-26 and then started eating meat again. I never felt comfortable with consuming meat, but because my partner was a meat-eater, I thought I should start eating it again. I finally had enough and decided to return to vegetarianism. My partner, parents and siblings have all been very supportive. One thing that continues to inspire me is listening to the TVA podcasts. Although I am from Saskatchewan, I find the information provided is very useful.

– Raquel, age 30-39, Regina, SK

Inspired by the book "Eating Animals"

I started thinking about switching to a vegetarian diet a while ago, but hadn't really put it into action. Then I picked up the book "Eating Animals" by Jonathan Safran Foer and it totally changed my outlook on eating meat. Shortly thereafter I signed up for the Veggie Challenge, which definitely helped support me throughout my transition.

I haven't been a heavy meat-eater, for quite some time, but eliminating it from my diet was an important step for many reasons. I think that the fact that it was a more gradual transition and that I've always eaten a lot of fruit and vegetables helped me in the beginning stages of taking on a vegetarian diet.

After the first week 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. I can see already that one of the biggest challenges is going to be sharing meals with non-vegetarian family and friends. I'm going to meet that challenge by looking into ways to make non-vegetarian meals vegetarian. I will also seek out common veggie-friendly choices on restaurant menus.

Most of my family and friends have been surprised so far and moderately supportive. I think that as more time goes by and they see that I'm committed to continuing with the diet they'll be increasingly supportive. Maybe I'll even be able to change someone's mind about eating meat!

– Brenna, late 20's, Toronto

My teenage son challenged me

I became a vegetarian because my teenage son challenged me to become meatless. It was easier to be a vegetarian than to persist as a carnivore while feeding a hungry teen vegetarian! He taught me to be a vegetarian, and your site reinforced the lessons learned. I find my greatest difficulty in vegetarian cooking and eating is the problem of cooking for one, so any guidance your site can give us empty nesters in cooking healthy vegetarian meals for just one person would be very welcome.*

– Patty, age 50-64, Flagstaff, AZ

* For ideas on how best to cook vegetarian for one person check this article at LiveStrong.com. For cookbooks check out Vegan Cooking For One. Also on this page are several similar books under the "Also bought" section.

I made the best pizza I have ever had!!

I have been a vegetarian for over 5 years, but decided to do the Challenge and try a vegan lifestyle. I found the transition fairly easy and even made the best pizza I have ever had!! With all the delicious grilled veggies I put on top I didn't even miss not having cheese.

I looked forward to my e-mails everyday :) Even though I'm not new to vegetarianism I still found them very informative and learned some new things. I look forward to doing Phase 2.

– Margaret, late 20's, Chaput Hughes, ON

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."

Tasty and fairly easy

I truly enjoyed it. The food I made was tasty and it was not difficult finding vegan foods out of the home as well, although when visiting restaurants some proved to be tougher than others. I lost five pounds in the two weeks easily and hope to continue. I am off to Calgary for one week, so being there in a hotel may prove to be a challenge. We will wait and see.

The e-mails were great and I looked forward to receiving them. Thanks for the support.

– Dina, age 40-49, Mississauga, ON

Ontario teen thankful for the Challenge

Thank-you Toronto Vegetarian Association for helping me kick start into a vegetarian diet. I found the emails to be helpful and informative, I looked forward to reading them each day.

– Michelle, teen, Drayton, ON

I learned that a vegan diet takes little effort

I enjoyed doing the Challenge. It taught me how little effort it took to incorporate a vegan diet into my daily meals. The first couple of days I found my hunger level to be higher but I soon adjusted. Now I have reduced my meat consumption to every other day, with fish mainly.

– Ann, age 30-39, Calgary, AB

An ongoing struggle not to slip

Becoming vegetarian has been an ongoing struggle for me. I strive for it but occasionally slip and eat meat again for months before trying again. I feel great while not eating meat and as soon as I start eating meat again I feel like crap. Every time I'm vegetarian it only lasts about a month. My next goal is to exceed that and if I slip, to get back on track quicker.

Thanks for the tips! This is a great intro for people looking for a change.

– Alexis, early 20's, Toronto

So proud of myself that I made it

I'm so proud of myself that I made these weeks being vegetarian. I think now I will keep myself this way because I was really suffering from eating meat.

I found many people are following the same way I do. Being vegetarian is really healthy. On my first try to quit meat, I cut out pigs and chicken because they are very toxic. I kept searching like crazy before I became a veggie. I suffered in the beginning dealing with my meat-eating friends and family. I think we don't have to push people to stop eating something they are used to, instead if we show them the proof by our example, they may convert to the way of wellness. I wish for every body to be well be. I believe strong people will never be strong if they start their path with a wrong base.

– Henda, late 20's, Toronto