Latest stories and news

Here are eight stories from teens and 20's who did the Veggie Challenge in Sept/Oct 2011.

I can't even begin to say how great I feel

I had already started my own personal month-long challenge when I discovered the Veggie Challenge at the vegetarian food festival at Harbourfront. I was intrigued, and figured it would help me even more to adjust to a vegetable-based diet, and it really did. The most surprising thing I learned? North Americans are getting too much protein, and we're getting it from the wrong sources!

By the end of the week I was having nuts, tofu, tempeh, beans, lentils, quinoa, and more vegetables than I've ever had before. And the more I learned, the more I wanted to share. Now I've got a bunch of friends and family eager to join in the Challenge. I can't even begin to say how great I feel. I greatly appreciated the learning opportunity, wish me luck in the rest of my own challenge!

ps. 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, early 20's, Toronto

Mostly vegan

The Challenge was great. I was eating a mostly vegetarian diet before, with the exception of fish once in a while. During the Veggie Challenge, not only did I cut out meat, but I ate mostly vegan for the week, except one day I did have goat cheese on my salad for lunch. Thanks for inspiring me to commit to this!

A few weeks later after completing Phase 2

I have not missed eating meat at all in the past few weeks. I feel lighter; I don't have that heavy weighed down feeling from eating animal protein like I used to. Best of all, 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. I'm so glad I committed to this Challenge!!!

– Nicole, early 20's

Photo is creative commons. From SweetOnVeg.com. This recipe uses rice, onion, mushrooms, zucchini, broccoli, spinach, red pepper and spices, with avocado and lemon as a garnish.

I have discovered the ease of making a stir fry

I have discovered the ease of making a stir fry through this experience. I never knew how to make one, and have learned that there is no official way – whatever you enjoy or have access to can be thrown in. I made some with tofu and felt very satisfied.

Strangely, since going vegetarian my underarms do not produce any odour*, my digestion has been fantastic, and I have been sleeping very well.

– Heather, late 20's, Toronto

* There is a study that backs this up. See our article titled: Desire an attractive scent? Go vegetarian.

Going full vegan

I had been a vegetarian for about 8 years before accepting the Veggie Challenge. I had often thought about going full vegan, but I always thought it would be too hard and didn't really know where to start. I had never heard of the Challenge before, but when I saw the booth at the Toronto Veggie Food Fair I thought it would be worth checking out. I signed up to try to maintain a vegan diet for a week, and it was actually pretty easy. Cutting out or replacing dairy wasn't as hard as I thought it would be, and after the first week I knew I could maintain it.

The Veggie Challenge was a great way to kick start a new lifestyle, and I felt it made it easier for my friends and family to understand the change. During the first week I felt like I had to explain myself often, a lot of people would ask “why now?”, “what for?”, or “how come?” And an easy answer like “I joined a one week challenge,“ saved me from explaining it every time. Before I was confident I could maintain the diet, I didn't want to sound like a hypocrite by praising an animal-free lifestyle only to return to normal after a few days. Its been just over 3 months now and things have been great. I feel healthier and have more energy, and knowing my lifestyle is completely free of animal dependency makes me feel great.

– Paterson, late 20's, Toronto

It was so easy!!!

I had gone towards vegetarianism in the past but, because of the circumstances I was living in, it wasn't possible.

I ended up enrolling in the Veterinarian Assistant course at Durham College and found out even more information about the cruel things that are done to animals and why and how I was supporting that by buying animal products and products that are tested on animals. That was the last straw. I knew I had to make a change – and it wasn't as hard as I originally thought it would be.

Many of my friends were surprised and asked questions as to why I had gone towards vegetarianism. I told them that it was making me feel guilty knowing that animals were suffering because of me supporting the meat industry. Many I talked to told me they couldn't afford to become vegetarian. I told them that it is less expensive to eat a vegetarian diet than it is to eat the way they are now.

Others said that it would be too hard and that they loved the taste of meat too much to go vegetarian. I told them that it was so easy!!! Even though it is difficult sometimes to pass up craving for meat products, I had a solution. I would put the images and thoughts into my head of why I wasn't eating meat and picture all of the animals I would be saving from suffering.

Image: Modern Man Followed by the Ghosts of His Meat. ©1990 Sue Coe.

It is really easy to find vegetarian recipes and ingredients. Also, many of the veggie meat "want to be's" are quite delicious! It makes me happy every day to know that I am no longer contributing to the inhumane treatment of animals and that I am doing something great healthwise for myself as well!

– Tiffany, teen, Pontypool, ON

I am lactose-intolerant and I decided to cut meat as well as dairy

I recently became lactose-intolerant, so of course I had to cut dairy out of my diet. After reading The Omnivore's Dilema, Fast Food Nation and watching Food Inc., I decided to cut meat out of my diet as well.

As I learned more about the food I was left with, I learned that it was much healthier (and tastier to boot!). A huge thanks to the Veggie Challenge for keeping me motivated early on and for the ideas that came later.

– Pamela, early 20's, Ottawa

My Veggie Challenge day by day

Tuesday, October 18th, 2011

Breakfast: Oatmeal with brown sugar, Orange Juice

Lunch: Peanut butter and jelly sandwich, Apple, Water

Supper: Salad with tomato dressing, Croissants filled with cheese and spinach, Water

Snack: Granola Bar

The first day I talked with my boyfriend about the Challenge and we decided that both of us do it so it was easier. I started on a Tuesday and I found it went pretty good. For supper we kept it simple at first because we were unsure of all the vegetarian meal options. That night we went shopping at a local produce market to get lots of fruits and vegetables. I found the local market a lot cheaper than the grocery stores and better variety as well.

	Photo is creative commons. From travelingmcmahans Flickr site.

Wednesday

Breakfast: Peanut butter and jelly sandwich, Apple juice

Lunch: Veggie wrap, Water

Supper: Marc‘s chickpea risotto recipe, Glass of white wine, Water

Snack: Granola Bar

The second day got a bit harder. I was going to add ham in my wrap for lunch but I couldn‘t so it stayed veggie. It was still really good – I just seem to always want to add meat to make it a bit more filling. For supper we tried one of the recipes from the Veggie Challenge emails and it was delicious which helped keep me positive about keeping up the Challenge.

Thursday

Breakfast: Strawberry pancake with syrup, Apple Juice

Lunch: Peanut butter and jelly sandwich, Apple, Water

Supper: Veggie Stir Fry, Apple Juice

Snack: Granola Bar

The third day was a very busy and rushed day. My boyfriend made pancakes for breakfast and I didn‘t have much time to make my lunch so I brought a P&J sandwich. My boyfriend did make burgers because he forgot so I just made myself veggie stir-fry and it smelled really good so my boyfriends ended up having some anyway.

Friday

Breakfast: Fried egg sandwich, Orange Juice

Lunch: Veggie Pizza, Water

Supper: Perogies with green peppers, onions, tomatoes, sour cream and cheese, Orange Juice

Snack: Granola Bar

The fourth day was getting harder, I had a cold and my energy was pretty low. My body really needed a little bit more and usually when I‘m sick meat helps me feel a bit better. Instead I drank lots of orange juice. For lunch I almost bought pepperoni and cheese pizza from the school then I figured I would try vegetarian – it has more on it anyway. I really love perogies so I thought since I was feeling a bit sick perogies would help me a bit.

Saturday

Breakfast: Oatmeal with brown sugar, Orange Juice

Lunch: Mr. Noodles, Apple, Water

Supper: Potatoes, corn, peas, and carrots, Pork Loin with gravy, Orange Juice

Snack: Large Pretzels

The fifth day everything was good until supper. I really needed some meat so I made a small pork loin roast with a bunch of vegetables. I only had a small amount of the pork lion but I was feeling a lot better after I ate that meal*. My body was definitely missing nutrients and iron. I could tell because of how I felt. I know when you‘re a vegetarian there are supplements and other foods you can eat, but didn‘t look into that.

Sunday

Breakfast: Hash browns with eggs, Cranberry raspberry Juice

Lunch: Kraft Dinner, Banana, Water

Supper: Large Ceasar Salad with croutons, Ice tea

Snack: Tortilla chips with salsa

The sixth day I was back on routine with the Challenge and was feeling a bit better. My boyfriend and I went out to a pool hall, so I decided to get a Ceasar salad which is really good. I know the option for chicken is there but this is one salad I love the way it is.

Monday

Breakfast: Peanut butter and jelly sandwich, Orange Juice

Lunch: Veggie Tray with ranch dressing, Banana, Apple, Water

Supper: Vegetables Lasagna, Orange Juice

Snack: Granola Bar

The seventh day was the last and was pretty easy. For supper we had vegetarian lasagna, which I love. When I was little, my parents used to buy meat lasagna but it never seemed to be filling or any good. The vegetarian is so much better and has so much in it I would recommend it to anyone who hasn‘t tried it before.

Final Report

Overall I found this Challenge fun to do and it has definitely opened my eyes to what is available. I did try tofu before and I wasn‘t a fan but I am willing to try it again – maybe made in a meal by someone who knows how too. I did mess up the Challenge once when I had the pork loin and other times I was close but I made it through. I have considered being vegetarian before but I discussed it with my physician and long term he feels it wouldn‘t be a good idea for me. I have a pill I take every night for a minor stomach problem so I am always recording what I eat to know what affects it the most. Also having meat at least once a week keeps my energy level up* and fruit and vegetables I already eat a lot of.

After this Veggie Challenge my boyfriend and I are now buying all our fruits and vegetables fresh from a local market – that way we are helping out farmers in the area. The fruits in large grocery stores come from all over the place and often chemicals are added to make them stay fresh longer. After this Challenge I don‘t plan to be a vegetarian but I am definitely going to make a lot more vegetarian meals to try because the ones I tried were really good.

– Brandi, early 20's, Windsor, ON

*Note: Most people doing the Challenge report a boost in energy, but for some it may take longer for their bodies and digestion to adjust. Also I suggest trying more of a vegan diet. Eating a vegetarian diet heavy on eggs and dairy is not the best for health and vitality.

I helped my boyfriend

It went well. I already don't eat any red meat so not eating any meat at all was easy for me. I just helped my boyfriend out with not eating any meat. This was an opportunity to teach him about it.

– Kira, early 20's