The KInd Life Community Forum

Hi there!! I am from VT (love it here). So I will admit, I have always enjoyed meat and dairy. I am a huge veggie and fruit gal, and believer in natural health, but never considered becoming a vegatarian or vegan until recently. I have toyed with the idea for the past year, and then made a decision to do my best to support local farmers who raise there meat. But..... a close girlfriend gave me The Kind Diet book to read (I am only at the beginnig of the book, and can't put it down), and I tell you it has totally changed my outlook. So I am starting out vegetarian, and then will move towards vegan....I am taking baby steps, but so far am feeling good about my decsion. The tricky part, my husband is a meat guy, and is not ready to give it up....he is supporting my decision to do so, but it will be tricky for me. He has agreed to only eat meat from local area farmers that are certified organic and humane (so that is a start in the right direction for him too). Anyhow, any ideas, supports and stories on becoming a vegatarian/vegan, and how to keep going are greatly appreciated! Wish me luck

Hi Gretchen...congratulations on becoming Vegetarian!!....I was a vegetarian flirt for 6 years and then 2 and half years ago i watched this video on the Moon Bears in China and what they endure every day of their lives..... This vision stayed with me and i decided there and then that i would be a vegetarian and have never looked back. I subsequently adopted one of the moon bears from the Animal Asia Foundation and her picture sits on my living room mantle....and she as well as my own pets are my constant reminder that i cannot eat/abuse these beautiful creatures. Yes, being vegetarian can be difficult and like you, my partner is also a big meat eater...but its doable. Baby steps is brilliant and in your own time you may decide that vegan is the life that you want to live. I have been vegan for 6 months now, one or two hiccups along the way but i just get back on the wagon and start again!. I hope this helps. i wish you all the best.

Amy, glad you mentioned the driving an hour part.... so today all excited to be cautious on my new way of living while shopping I was slightly bummed at what my local grocery store offered.... I live in a small town, and other than the basic grocery store I have to drive at least 25min. to get to another large grocery store. So I was shopping around, and found a few items that fit my new lifestyle and way of thinking, but even the soy cheese had traces of milk product....so I felt a little frustrated..... but...... my mom and I were talking and and 1 1/2 hours away in North Hampton Mass there is an area of shopping with whole foods, trader joes etc.. and an hour away an AMAZING co-op....sooo even with my frustration in town, I realized, it could be fun to go during the weekend to a more distant place with my mom and bulk up on some great foods (and leave the bare minimal quick grabs at my local store) plus the money we will save. I think I may of gotten a little carried away, but anyhow....Thanks for your advice (I can't wait to try the original field roast grain meat co. products), and for making me get excited to do "mindful" shopping while having quality time with my mom

Hi again Gretchen!..just in reply to your last question..I didnt really use any vegan cook books etc....i just tended to stick to wholemeal rice/ or vegetable pasta, wholemeal noodles etc and then just added veg or make stir frys etc.or get ready made vegan meals from the health shop.......i guess the difference between vegan and superhero is that a lot of the vegan processed foods ie. ready packaged are eliminated etc.....x
Reading Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin really woke me up to veganism......very frightening reading/very sad etc about what animals go through etc...but AGAIN just the wake up call that is needed!.....it does have a 4 week eating plan for break, lunch, dinner which you might find helpful......i also read Becoming Vegan...by Brenda Davis and Vasanto Melina...a little more detailed but got some interesting bits out of it!......Have to say though i think Alicia s book is very straightforward, no nonsense reading...and im definitely think its great...loving the superhero section.
Hope this helps.....hey hope you enjoy those weekend trips with your mom to the super health shops co-op!....its very exciting....i for one am enjoying this jorney so much.x