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Here are 11 stories from people who did the Veggie Challenge in Sept/Oct 2008.

Inspired at the Annual Vegetarian Food Fair

I am a 49 year old mom of three and grandmother of two of the most beautiful grandsons in the whole world (they live in Australia). I have a 13 year old daughter living with me and I was just recently married (August 16) to wonderful man – he is 22 years younger than me – we are doing the Demi/Ashton thing LOL!

The point is I have all these wonderful young people in my life which means I am always concerned about their health – especially the grandsons – what kind of a world will they inherit? Lately my 13 year old daughter decided to become vegan, and to accommodate her efforts and because I am not the best vegan cook, I decided to surprise her with a visit to the recent Vegetarian Food Fair at Harbourfront. It was a rainy miserable day and at one point I thought to myself: "the things I do for my kids!" But you know, we had a great day together! We met so many loving human beings there who were so willing and able to help us make the transition without judgment. We had a beautiful lunch together and came home with our bellies stuffed with delicious and guilt-free food. I couldn't wait to try the recipes which we have been enjoying all week and this website has really made it soooo easy to find a good menu at a glance.

My newlywed carnivore husband announced at the beginning of the week that: "No way was he giving up HIS meat." I just smiled and said OK sweetheart...but he's been eating everything I've prepared and cleaning the plate and complimenting every dish! I've managed to get the whole family on a better path thanks to you! I will be sending many of the recipes to my family in Australia as well. Thanks again :-)

– Cathie Lamport, age 45-64, Bradford, ON

I decided right then and there to eliminate poultry and fish

From the moment I signed up to join the Challenge, I decided right then and there to eliminate the poultry and fish I was still eating from my diet.

I had been unsuccessful in the past but I believe the difference this time was when I put the pen to paper and signed onto the Challenge. Surprisingly it was easier than I thought it would be – I looked forward to the daily emails that were inspiring and motivating me to succeed in this goal I had set for myself.

A couple of times during the week I had gone out for lunch and dinner where the menus were heavy on the meat options however I was committed to being meat-free and took the time to carefully scan the menu for vegetarian dishes.

I feel I am eating a healthier diet and seem to be enjoying my meals more! I will miss your supportive emails but I am committed to being a life long vegetarian, not just for my own health and well being but for the health and well being of our planet.

Thank you!

– Cindy, age 45-64, Toronto

My partner never thought it could be soooo tasty

It was not hard for me at all, because I'm really interested in nutrition and I love cooking, so it was a pleasure. The only hard thing is eating with friends that are not interested. I solved that problem though, I brought my own food when I visited them.

My best achievement was making my partner try my vegetarian food, she loved it and she was amazed, she never thought it could be soooo tasty. She will try the Veggie Challenge!.

Thanks for your help!

– Laura, age 30-44, Toronto

I am getting back on the wagon

I had been thinking about becoming a vegetarian for quite some time. I had actually already began the transition but then fell off the wagon (and then the wagon rolled over me a couple of times).

I knew that a vegetarian diet is the healthiest way to eat but the challenges of a family that is not supportive and friends that do not share my belief made it hard.

I have become increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of a meat-based diet. That along with the health benefits of a vegetarian diet spurred my decision to sign up for the Challenge.

I still consider myself in transition and will continue to do so until it has been at least a month of no meat consumption.

My ideal is to become as close to vegan as possible. I am not a dairy or cheese lover so that helps.

Hopefully by my 41st birthday I will be able to call myself a veghead!

– Denise, age 30-44, Pickering, ON

My husband and children did not even notice the difference

I cooked and baked like before but instead of using meat I used tvp. Instead of using milk I used soy and potato milk. Instead of using eggs, I used salba and flax seeds soaked in water. My husband and children did not even notice the difference. The food tasted awesome.

– Kitsa, age 30-44, Scarborough, ON

I wouldn't want to eat any way else

After taking the Veggie Challenge and researching diet options, I decided to adopt a 100% plant-based diet. I have already seen the changes in my body! It is amazing and I wouldn't want to eat any way else.

– Julie, late 20's, Oakville, ON

Paradoxically I became interested in vegetarianism from feeding my dogs

Paradoxically I became interested in vegetarianism when I started taking my dogs to a naturopathic veterinarian who promoted the raw food diet for dogs. The more I read about dog nutrition, the more I became fascinated with my own diet. Every Saturday I would drive to Toronto and I would shop at the Big Carrot and Whole Foods for organic liver for my dogs. Gradually, my kitchen cupboards started to be filled with unusual food for myself – salba, quinoa, goji berries, arame, smoothie infusions, wheat grass, etc. (I started to grow my own) and bought a juicer and a TriBest from the Big Carrot. I signed up for a raw food course at the Big Carrot but it does not happen until Jan. 2009.

I started to buy a book here and there (the Thrive Diet) etc., but my biggest problem was trying to put all the information together so it wasn't just a here and there, hit and miss kind of experience. When I look back at when I started to change my dogs' diet from a typical north american pet diet, it took a lot of reading, thought and effort to put it together. Similarly, I'm getting over the humps of putting it all together for myself.

I happened to hear about the vegetarian festival on CBC radio and ventured down to Harbourfront. It was quite helpful and I got some new ideas. My sons have started buying me gift certificates for special occasions to the Commensal restaurant, so I am getting an opportunity to taste vegetarian meals and see how much variety there is. I appreciate the Veggie Challenge and my next adventure is to visit your Vegetarian Resource Centre on Baldwin St. By the way I tried the vegetable masala recipe from the Veggie Challenge and it was really good!!

Thank you Veggie Challenge!

– Margaret, age 45-64, Courtice, ON

Not contributing to the horrible abuses animals suffer to feed humans

I feel healthier and more at peace with myself knowing that I am not contributing to the horrible abuses animals suffer to feed humans. I want to prove that you do not need any kind of flesh to satisfy protein requirements and sustain muscle. I hope to become 100% vegan in the future. This is my journey that I will take one day at a time!! =D

– Gianna, age 30-44, Amherstburg, ON

Seeing if we could do it

My husband and I joined the Veggie Challenge just to see if we could do it. We are busy harvesting our garden vegetables and wanted to enjoy as many as possible in their peak period. We'd just had a visit from a friend who follows the "100 Mile Diet" very closely. We thought if she could do that, we could go vegetarian for a week. We raise beef cattle. We are not going to give up meat, but we'll eat it less often.

– Linda, age 45-64, Two Hills, AL

Only thing left is to convince the the rest of my family

I have always eaten healthy and included meat alternatives in my diet. However, I always included meat products in my diet as well.

I found the Challenge interesting and majority of the recipes delicious and easy to prepare.

I am much more aware of non-meat based meals now...only thing left is to convince the the rest of my family :)

Thank you to the Toronto Vegetarian Association for the efforts they have put forth to create this Challenge.

– Laura, late 20's, Fort Erie, ON

Damn sushi!

I was a vegetarian before I took the Challenge, to be honest. I was new to it though (eating seafood before that...damn sushi!) So I needed that extra confidence so that I could be straight up veggie.

Obviously sushi wasn't that hard to give up (I just had to sub the fish for other veggies.) So all is good now.

Thank you!

– Brett, age 30-44, Winnipeg, MN