Below are some of the many stories that we have received. 

I honestly didn't miss any of the animal products

I definitely enjoyed participating in the Veggie Challenge and I'm going to continue this kind of lifestyle. I didn't find it too difficult to make the minor changes either. The cafeteria at my University always offers healthy veggie options for lunches. There are vegetarian options everywhere, in restaurants and groceries stores, so making that switch is pretty simple. I went from a meat-based diet to a vegan diet. I honestly didn't miss any of the animal products. The biggest motivation for my decision is that I'm trying to live healthier in every way I can. I'm a runner, and I want to maintain a solid running foundation through the winter for a marathon in 2007. I also take yoga classes 4 times a week. My boyfriend has cooked some very nice vegan meals for us. It seems that I've inspired him towards a vegetarian diet as well. I feel phenomenal, and fueling my body and mind with a healthy diet is the best thing I can do as a student.
– Mel, age 16-24, Prince George

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. I thought this was going to be a hard week as I decided to start on Thanksgiving weekend. I was invited over to my aunt's for dinner and no one is a vegetarian. Turkey was the main meal, and I love turkey, but she also prepared seven delicious vegetable dishes. I filled up on the vegetables and was so full eating these that I didn't even want the turkey.
   I also picked up a cookbook from the library and started to prepare my own vegetable meals as I only knew how to make basic salads and steamed veggies like carrots, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts. I learned how to make stuffed eggplant, carrot and ginger soup, avocado salad and other veggies that I have never eaten, and they tasted amazing. I am now looking to sign up for vegetarian cooking classes. When I informed my family and friends that I was going to start a vegetarian diet and they were very positive and helpful. I went shopping with a friend to Whole Foods and was amazed at the amount of organic vegetables. I feel healthier.
– Cyndal, age 25-44, Toronto

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! I can't blame it on the birth of my son, because the baby weight came off – but those extra 30 were still there.
    To my complete shock, the weight is just dropping off me this week, even though I am eating as I did before, just vegan. I even baked vegan cookies and muffins, because I love to bake! Just dropping all the animal products has finally started to get this weight off me! Nothing else I have done – and I have tried a lot – has gotten me below a *certain* weight. I just kept hovering in the same range. Not anymore! I feel better, and best of all, I don't have that enormous guilt hanging over me.
    I also made myself watch the movie Earthlings* so I can fully grasp exactly WHY I want to do this. As gruesome as it was, I felt it was important. You just don't see where your food is coming from. I could never kill an animal to eat it, and so I needed to see that, even though I wasn't using my own hands, I WAS killing animals.
    Thank you so much for this Challenge. it gave me that final push that I needed, and I won't be going back.
– Kerri, age 25-44, Etobicoke
*[Earthlings is available at our Toronto Resource Centre for sale or for loan.]

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 haven't made some sort of commitment. I think the journey started when I met a vegan while volunteering at a homeless shelter. I haven't seen her again yet, but something she said stuck. According to a friend, I teased her about how she couldn't eat meat. Even though I don't remember saying that, I do feel bad about it because now some of my friends tease me for not eating meat.
    I started reading The China Study around the same time as signing up for the one-week challenge. I'm about halfway through reading it and it is an eye-opener in how preventable/treatable certain diseases could be with a simple change in diet. I would probably continue eating vegetarian due to the health benefits.
    Meal-wise it was not at all difficult. I'm quite into culinary arts so it was a welcome change to make use of the fresh seasonal produce. I've even started making trips down to the farmers' market at St. Lawrence Market. I completed the end of the week preparing a vegan lunch and dinner for a few friends. They enjoyed the meal and I enjoyed the journey that lead up to it.
– Nathan, age 16-24, Toronto

A quest to improve my health

I started my quest to improve my health. Then I realized how unimportant any animal flesh is in the human diet. We are always taught "Meat, Veg, Starch" is a rounded meal. Now I know the difference, and I have a lot of support from my husband (who still eats a little meat) and from my family. My mother-in-law even made extra vegetables for Thanksgiving to ensure I had enough to eat – it was great!!
    I love the thought that I can help my planet and help the animals of the world by not supporting their slaughter. I AM A VEGETARIAN – FOR LIFE, and I'm living a healthier, happier life without all of the indigestion, and stomach problems that come from meat products.
    Thank you for all of your support. The Veggie Challenge was a blast and super easy – I'll continue with it for the next 70 years!
– Tina, age 25-44, Courtice

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. It was a hot, sunny afternoon, and trucks were lined up outside the building, waiting to drop off their living cargo. The anguish and terror of the pigs was obvious. The experience was all at once heartbreaking and revolting. Before that, I had dabbled in vegetarianism, off and on. But seeing and hearing the suffering pigs, sensitive and intelligent animals jammed into an overheated truck, about to be shredded by the remorseless killing machine, had a profound effect on me. From that moment, I gave up pork completely. Since then, I have been trying to cease eating meat altogether on ethical grounds. I must admit that I have wavered from time to time, so I decided to take the Veggie Challenge to steel my resolve.
    The week went better than expected. When talking with friends, family and co-workers, it is surprising to discover how many people have a troubled conscience when it comes to consuming meat, even self-described "carnivores". Over the past week, I tried to read as much material as I could get my hands on about the topic. I've come to the conclusion than vegetarianism is just plain common sense. It is humane and much better for your health and for the planet. In fact, I can't think of any sound argument against it. On the other hand, meat eating is built on a foundation of cruelty, pollution and exploitation, of both workers and animals. And it's bad for you. But complacency is what meat has going for it. Someone who has eaten hamburgers all their life isn't always going to change their habits overnight. Once you've truthfully considered the issue, though, it is difficult to go back to enjoying the taste of meat in the same way again.
– Stu, age 25-44, Toronto

Dealing with my extremely meat-lovin' family

The Veggie Challenge has done more good for me, ethically, spiritually and healthwise than anything else that I can remember. I found myself liking things I'd never enjoyed before (cauliflower and soymilk stick out). I also learned that my eating habits are my own and I should never have to defend them.
    When I started the Challenge, I knew that I would have to deal with my extremely meat-lovin' family who kept telling me that vegetarianism/ veganism would cause my teeth to fall out, make me anorexic, or that I was dishonouring God's creations by not devouring them... however much sense that makes. My Pakistani family is definitely not pleased, but beginning to understand that I'm not a threat. I'm not giving them any trouble with their dietary choices and they should do likewise.
    The week had its moments but I know that the minute any non-veg craving came by, all I had to do was think of the plight of the animals that suffer for my meal and instantly, any thoughts of eating meat would be diminished and I'd happily round together a nutritious, DELICIOUS meal in no time.
    Thank you so much. There's so much more to this world than unnecessary cruelty.
– Sidra, age 16-24, Toronto

I had dreams about meat cooking on the BBQ

Eating only vegetarian for a week has been a very rewarding challenge. I had some hunger pangs that I thought could only be satisfied by my eating meat, but I was wrong. Protein powder, protein bars, fresh and dried fruit quelled my desires. I did have a couple of dreams about meat cooking on the BBQ. I changed my mind when I woke and decided to call the dreams part of my grieving process. I was saying goodbye to meat, but the the good times I've had around the BACKYARD BBQ ARE STILL POSSIBLE. Grilled tofu and veggie burgers are great.
    I am feeling lighter and more clear minded. I plan to continue this healthy eating pattern that the Veggie Challenge has launched me on.
    Thanks for the Challenge.
– Michael, age 45-64, Toronto

My mother passed away from a heart attack a month ago

My mother passed away from a heart attack a month ago [Aug. 25] and suddenly I was faced with heart disease in my family and my risks shot up.
    I took the challenge to prove to myself that this was easy and this was what I needed to do to avoid the same fate as my mother. She was 61, I'm 34. If I continued eating the saturated fat laden animal products, that would mean I've already hit middle age and I'm not prepared for that.
    Now I know I can do this. I know how easy it really is and how affordable it is.
– Simona, age 25-44, North York

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).
    I had been an on-again-off-again vegetarian with vegan tendencies for over 20 years when I began. I have 5 girls, ages 9-23 years, ( one of which has been vegetarian for over 2 years).
    Nonetheless, we were still relying heavily on vegetarian convenience and "junk food" items, and I had been cooking more for convenience than nutrition as my girls got older.
    I am college educated, and had taken many nutrition courses in school, but your Challenge was just what I needed for a "vegetarian refresher course."
    The emails were fun and surprisingly educational, as well as thought provoking. The references to recipes and other vegetarian and vegan sites were my favorite part.
    I tried a lot of new recipes, ordered many new and interesting cookbooks for my vegetarian cooking collection, and only wish I lived near Toronto so I could continue my learning experience with you. Thank you, from all of us!
    P. S. We are doing a fund raising walk for the Farm Sanctuary this Sunday as a way to commemorate our new way of life. Thanks Again!
– The Schiedeck Family, Redwood City, California

Vegetarianism as a tool for social justice

I became interested in becoming vegetarian at the Vegetarian Food Fair in Toronto (September 2006). Specifically, a discussion with the woman at the Christian Vegetarian Association made me think a lot about vegetarianism as a tool for social justice.
   I believe God calls each of us to live according to standards and principles, which may differ from one person to the next. As a Christian, I cannot help but think that if Jesus were to walk among us today, there is no doubt in my mind that he would be absolutely appalled at the farm factories that provide our society with meat. There is just no way he would support this. In addition to this, I've also concluded that although my husband and I have generally bought free range chickens and organic beef in the past, I do not think my spiritual convictions allow me to return to my meat eating habits. I do not believe that killing an animal for the sake of eating it is necessary in Western society.
– Chris, age 25-44, Toronto

I started this challenge to show support for my 16 year old daughter

I started this challenge as a way to show my support for my 16 year old daughter who became a vegetarian at the end of July.
    I have a huge amount of respect for my daughter now. This is NOT easy. I often work late and after about 6 pm my only food choices are McDonalds, Sushi, KFC, Taco Bell or Subway (I am not paying someone to put lettuce on bread for me). One evening my boss ordered in from Swiss Chalet and I was unable to eat anything. The 7lbs I lost this week more than makes up for it. I have been overweight for most of my adult life. I am eating healthy and fully and the extra pounds are sliding off.
    We have struggled to find meals for my daughter to eat. I have subscribed to the Vegetarian Times and will be buying several cookbooks so we can experiment with meals for the whole family. I am not sure yet if I will maintain a vegetarian lifestyle but this challenge has most certainly shown me many ways to help my daughter. For that, I thank you.
– April, age 25-44, Scarborough

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. Years ago I made a promise to myself that I would not ask any of my patients to do something I would not do myself.
    There is no doubt in my mind that a plant-based diet is a way to go if we want to prevent disease! There is an overwhelming amount of evidence to support this claim, unfortunately most people are stuck in the old mode of thinking that something is not 'complete'. The funny thing is that some of my physician friends that initially reacted with shock at my new found way are now experimenting with meat free diets themselves. I have become an advocate without even realizing it. It is quiet a profound shift in the relationship that we have with food. Thank you for the experience.
    Dr. Alexander Mostovoy. H.D., D.H.M.S., B.C.C.T.
– Alexander, age 45-64, Richmond Hill
Winner for Sept/Oct based on a random draw of all selected stories. See prizes page for details.

The Challenge helped me prepare awesome veggie dishes

I've always been interested in vegetarianism but never made the commitment until now. I always feared that dining out would be unsatisfying. I was very wrong! The vegetarian selections in many of Toronto's smaller restaurants and bistros are quite good, not to mention reasonably priced.
    This week was great! With the help of the daily email messages I was able to plan and prepare awesome veggie dishes that kept me going. Today, inspired to live vegetarian, I'm making a lovely rosemary pumpkin soup with roasted seitan and a quinoa and pepper salad.
– Rk, age 25-44, Toronto