Here are 9 stories from teens and those in their early 20's who did the Veggie Challenge in July/Aug 2010.

I wanted to be vegetarian, but my mom wouldn't let me

The Veggie Challenge helped me convince my mom to let me be vegetarian. I wanted to be vegetarian for like 6 months, but my mom wouldn't let me. Now thanks to this Challenge, she will let me. It had all the information to convince her, thank you.

– Ja, teen, Toronto

At first my Muslim parents tried to force me to eat meat

Hi my name is Antara and I am 15 years old. I wanted to become a vegetarian because a few months ago on Youtube I saw a video about how animals are kept and killed for our purpose of eating them. After watching it I felt horrible and I wanted to do something about it. I strongly disapproved of killing animals and of the way in which they are kept, treated and killed for the purpose of our food.

So I told my parents I want to become vegetarian and they should become vegetarian with me. But they are really strict Muslims and they thought that I liked some vegetarian guy and he had influenced me to change my religion or something. They tried to force me to eat meat and told me that I would become unhealthy.

But I explained it to them that becoming vegetarian has nothing to do with my religion or becoming unhealthy.It's a choice I made because I believe that we should not kill animals. After a long argument they decided that its ok if I stay vegetarian, since I am not going to change my mind but I can't tell any of my other family members about it beside my parents.

After a while a friend of mine told me about the Toronto Vegetarian Association and I wanted to become a part of it because I wanted to find people that support me unlike my family. Anyway I heard about the Veggie Challenge, so I told my parents to try it for a week, after convincing them for like a hour, they finally agreed and surprising they actually like it :). They told me they would sometimes go veggie with me:) which is really surprising hearing it come from my parents. I wanted to share my story because I don't think that there are many Muslim vegetarian people out there. But I just wanted to say that becoming vegetarian has nothing to do with religion. It's a personal choice.

– Antara, teen, Toronto

Reinforcing my vegetarian diet

When I started the Veggie Challenge, I had already been vegetarian for five years. But I recently spent six months overseas, and although I maintained my vegetarian diet, when I returned I felt myself craving some meat products. I did not want to slip up, so I tried the Veggie Challenge, as a way to reinforce my vegetarian diet in myself, and possibly veer myself into a more vegan lifestyle, an idea that I have been flirting with for quite some time.

The Veggie challenge is great! It gives daily information, recipes and advice for a week! If you try one of the recipes everyday, you will find new ways to cook and prepare meals, much like I did!

For me, the Veggie Challenge helped me learn new ways to cook vegetarian meals, something I have always struggled with, and encouraged me to become more animal-friendly, and work on cutting all animal products out. Since the veggie challenge, I have not consumed eggs, and am slowly cutting out milk products as well!

Thank you for showing me how to improve my already vegetarian lifestyle!

– Rebecca, early 20's, Toronto

I was convinced that I could not be a vegetarian

Thank you so much! I was always aware of the issues of animal cruelty involved with the meat production industry, but I never gave a lot of thought to it because I was convinced that I could not be a vegetarian. This contest gave me the push I needed to take the first step to becoming a vegetarian!! This experience has opened my mind to this new lifestyle, and I have become more capable of thinking critically regarding meat production, animal cruelty, and its impact on the environment!

– Meghan, teen, Ajax, ON

Environmental Studies student overcomes doubts

For a couple years now I have been interested in adopting a vegetarian diet and lifestyle. As a student I found it difficult to afford alternatives, such as soy products*; it was simply easier to cook up some chicken fingers or hot dogs after a busy and tiring day on campus. I had never really cooked much before, and my parents were always concerned about me not getting enough protein or balanced meals if I cut out meat products. I doubted my ability to stick with a vegetarian diet, despite my desires to do so.

It was not until this summer that I became aware of the Toronto Vegetarian Association, and was pleased to stumble across the Veggie Challenge on the website! It has provided me with information and the support that I needed, as well as copious recipes to make cooking much easier!

I am a student at the University of Guelph majoring in International Development with an area of emphasis in Environmental Studies. Various courses have taught me the adverse affects the meat production industry and factory farms have on the environment and of course the animals. The amount of water and grains used to feed the animals we consume could be used to feed half of the world‘s population that is living in poverty.

When eating fruits, veggies, and nut products I feel as though I am more conscious of the natural products I am feeding my body, and ultimately feel that I have more control over my diet and my lifestyle for that matter.

I wish not to support mass corporations who slaughter animals to gain profit. I wish not to support industries that clear cut forest land for grazing purposes, which force local communities on to marginal lands. I wish to support local farmers by purchasing their products (Ancaster has a wonderful farmers market every Wednesday!). I wish to purchase fair-trade and organic meals, and ultimately I hope that through adopting a vegetarian diet I will become more conscious of the environment

– Liz, early 20's, Ancaster, ON

*Note: Instead of buying the processed products made from soy, purchase inexpensive blocks of tofu and stir fry it or marinate it for enhanced flavour. It is also healthier.

My transition to veganism

After being vegetarian for 11 years I decided to make the transition to veganism. I realized that I was eating too many dairy products and they were making me feel tired and sick all the time. After a few days without them, I started to feel so much more energetic and was able to do so much more every day including accomplishing my running goals. I don't think I can ever go back to eating animal products of any kind.

– Bridget, early 20's, Guelph, ON

A lot tastier than carnivorous meals!

The Veggie Challenge turned out to be a lot easier than I had anticipated. Although my family at first didn't quite understand, they began to realize that it was a lifestyle change for the better that I was pursuing. Cooking vegetarian meals are also a lot easier than I had thought. I could easily spin any nightly 'meat meal' into something veggie friendly – substituting meat for portabello mushrooms and grilled eggplant. I also think that vegetarian food is a lot more tastier than carnivorous meals! Feeling more motivated, healthier and energetic will guarantee that I'll stick with a veggie diet.

– Cara, teen, Demorestville, ON

I no longer felt gummed up

I've done periods of time in the past where I ate mostly vegetarian or made more of an effort to aim for veggie meals. Doing those made me think I might as well try a shift to be exclusively vegetarian and so I tried this Challenge. Probably the most surprising thing is how good I feel at the end. It is hard to describe but there is not a gummed up feeling, at all. I've taken vegan meal-replacement shakes every morning for the past 6 months for the nutritional benefits so for me the stigma wasn't there about going veggie. My girlfriend did the Challenge with me and we are both thinking about keeping it up longer.

After completing Phase 2

This Challenge provided the bump out the door to start down a vegetarian lifestyle. It almost gave me the excuse I needed to tell myself to get on it. After talking to people who had tried to go veg, there is no doubt in my mind that if they had taken this Challenge when they started, they'd still be going strong. Needless to say, I sent them in this direction.

– Nicholas, early 20's, Ajax, ON

I want to continue

I started this Challenge beacause of health reasons, but thinking that I would just stick with a semi-vegetarian diet. But now I find that vegetarianism is starting to grow on me, and I want to continue.

– Roxanna, teen, North York, ON