The 30-Day Vegan Challenge Ends

Having (more or less) fulfilled the 30-day vegan challenge, here are my final thoughts.

1) I had to eat twice as much food. Perhaps it was my metabolism, but I found myself hungry an hour after eating a vegan meal. I was eating granola bars like I smoke tobacco. Most of this was due to my not cooking, so not having a stash of pasta or rice on hand. I really missed burning heavy fuel. I didn't lose weight, but the only time I ever felt full was after a full plate of black beans and rice at Tadeo's (Holly St.)

2) I never found a vegan substitute for the ham-egg-and-cheese sandwiches I love to eat first thing in the morning. (Egg McMuffin, Eggenue, etc). I really love starting my day with a big pile of fat, salt, protein and cholesterol. There's just no vegan alternative.

3) Your rice doesn't need to be brown, and it doesn't need to be organic. It just has to be rice. Same with your oatmeal, same with your soy milk, same with your fruit smoothies. Why these books all try to push the rich-person-in-LA-doing-yoga version of vegan food I'll never know.

4) My mood was greatly improved. Normally, in a month I can count my "good days" on one hand. Eating vegan, I could count my bad days this month on one finger. While having a lot of sun this October helped, I have to credit the vegan diet.

5) I miss milkshakes.

--Andrew

To try your own 30-Day Vegan Challenge, check out Colleen Patrick-Goudreau's book by clicking here.