Hi All,
I  have just started reading The Kind Diet and am so glad to have found this site. My biggest challenge being vegan (I have been prior to reading the book) is that my husband is not. Although he will eat most meals I prepare, I know it does not really satisfy him and I really miss the deep connection over enjoying meals together. I know I have to get past this in my mind, but it's a challenge. Does anyone else have the challenge of their spouse being a meat eater? How have you handled it?

Thanks,
Ziggy

Hello Ziggy, your situation was exactly like mine, but the other way around. My husband and I became vegetarians together. When I got pregnant, I dropped out. I, too, missed the connection over enjoying meals together. Sometimes I felt awkward gnawing on chicken in front of him while he ate his plate of vegetables. Thankfully, he never judged or criticized my meat-eating. Gradually, I'd make meat-meals for me and our son and vegetarian meals for my husband. Sometimes, I would forgo meat and just eat with my husband. Just this week, I decided to go back to being vegetarian. I sold all my chicken, pork and beef in my freezer to my sisters. It felt so good to do it, too. To make the long story short, yes, there were challenges. My only advise is, don't give your husband the 'evil look' or say anything to him. Respect his decision. And I think overtime, maybe, hopefully, your husband will convert. Whether or not he does, I think respect is the key here. This might make it easier for both of you, actually. Good luck. 

Hello fellow vegetarians! Make room for one more- I just became vegetarian (again). I was one years ago with my husband, but dropped out. And since I started reading The Kind Diet, I learned more about being vegan/vegetarian. I sold all my frozen meat to my sisters and I can't wait to get on this healthy journey. At this moment, I am loving this Veggie Patch, Broccoli Bites. It is filling, healthy and my 5 yr old loves it! This makes me a happy mom! My husband is supportive and is open to trying out vegetarian meals with me.

What really solidified my decision to say goodbye to meat was watching some videos on PETA on animal farm cruelty. I cry everytime I read or see the process. I cringe everytime I see meat now. I think this is what I needed for my wake up call.

I'm also thankful for this wonderful website. I can tell I'll get mental support from here.

Hello!  I began my journey on becoming a vegetarian almost 20 years ago when I gave up beef and pork for compassionate reasons and felt the need about 6 months ago to eliminate poultry, fish, and eggs from my diet (I could no longer justify eating some animals and not others and it just seemed right to give these up altogether).  I had been researching veganism online when I came across Alicia's book and this forum.  For the new year I have decided to eliminate dairy and eventually coffee from my diet and to work toward even better health, greater energy, and to getting closer to becoming a "superhero."  I am thrilled to have found this site and look forward to joining all of you on this path.   

Karen in Columbus Ohio here!  I was vegetarian for several years until I met my husband, who eats fish, and I gradually started eating it too.  I had surgery in January 2009 for renal cancer, and since then I have felt like I was struggling against my body, but didn't know what the problem was.  Just making the decision to return to vegetarianism has made a world of difference in how I feel, and in my stress level.  Weight is not an issue for me, since we already ate a relatively healthy diet low in fat and sugar.  My husband is fine with eating veg meals, although he is not enthused about vegan - we both love our cheese! He will probably continue to eat fish, but he will prepare it himself.

We are lucky to have a Whole Foods in Columbus, many Asian grocery stores, and several vegetarian and veg-friendly restaurants. Unfortunately, most of them are the garderburger type places, rather than full, creative meals.  I am trying to learn to like Indian food, because we have a few vegetarian Indian restaurants here.

Hey, y'all,
Leesha in D/FW Texas here. I was a vegetarian for 7 or so years, then read Skinny Bitch and came off of the fence.  So glad to have found this community.  I am going to run to the bookshop today to get Alicia's book. 

I'll be travelling for work this year and am looking forward to having connections in different places across the country. 

Happy New Year to all!
Leesh

Hi Ziggy, When I went veg 4 months ago, my husband seemed very stand-offish and didn't want to try a thing I was eating. I never once tried to push my newly changed ways on him or our daughter but I feel he secretly resented me becoming a vegetarian. About a month into not eating meat, I think it started to sink in that I wasn't going to switch back and I let him know that I too missed our bonding moments over dinner. I felt like there was a big disconnection and I let him know that it would make me feel more special if he would be more accepting.  So we both would cook together in our small kitchen. He would cook their meat and we both would cook our vegetarian side dishes to share.I didn't think he was really 'listening' but he has made great strides and now seems to eat far less meat. We both eat together a lot more and he prepares vegetarian and vegan meals for me to eat dinner with them when I come home late. Today, was another big step for him. He admitted since he stopped eating meat and dairy as much, his allergies were hardly present this Fall and I told him that mine were non-existent!! He also has tons more energy and has lost the last 10 pounds he wanted to shed.I think he is coming around but I have had to be patient, understanding and loving. I also never say anything negative about a meat dish out of mutual respect and will still offer cooking tips on his dishes so it won't seem like I am looking down on him for not changing. As Vegans or Vegetarians, we have to lead them down the path without pushing them and let them come around when they are ready. He has made huge strides without even knowing it but after today's conversation, I think it is finally starting to have some positive realizations.  Good luck with your husband. I know it is hard and frustrating. It is for me at times but try not to let it show and express your feelings in a loving manner.  So far it is working for me. :o)

Hi everyone!  I recently read Skinny Bitch which pushed me into a lot of research on-line and then I came across thekindlife.com!  I signed up for the 21-day vegan kickstart through PCRM and am completely new to a vegan lifestyle!  I have ordered Alicia's book and should have it tomorrow, I am uber excited to start this change especially since I plan for 2010 to be a new beginning for me! 

One problem I have is that I live my mother and even though I know this diet would be great for her health (she has Chron's disease) she makes very disparaging remarks in regards to my decision so it will be hard having food in the fridge to fit both diets.  Today was my last day eating meat, (I had a traditional southern new year's dinner with pork chops) the dairy and eggs will go next but may take me a little longer to find a cheese substitue I like since cheese is a weakness of mine.  There are a few places here in Augusta, GA where I can shop (no Whole Foods, but an Earth Fare) and a fairly decent selection in the organic section at Kroger (grocery store)!  If there is anyone in Augusta who would be willing to share their experience and guidance I would appreciate it!

Following the diet for breakfast and lunch will be the easy part since I can have those meals at work.  Dinner will be the hard part since I will be home but I am hoping as I slowly bring substitutes into the house my mom will become more supportive in my choices and possibly even join me on the diet to help herself too! 

I am excited to be a part of this on-line family and appreciate Alicia for writing her book and sharing all her knowledge with us!  I have the tools, the desire, now I just need to ensure myself that I will continue the willpower!  Happy New Year to everyone and the best of luck to everyone else on their journey!

Happy and Healthy New Year to One and All,

I started out being vegetarian 2 years ago, about 3 days after Christmas. Now after reading The Kind Diet, and removing any roadblocks I had left in my mind, I went vegan 3 days before Christmas. My family (with except of my rock star supportive mother) and friends do not understand why I'm doing this, but that's OK - I'm all in. The challenge I know I will run into is the crazy travel schedule I have due to work. If there is anyone who has any advice or tricks for eating in airports or hotels, I would really appreciate it. I will say that for some reason since starting this vegan way of eating, it has perked up my sweet tooth, but I'm sure that will pass soon. When I decided to become vegetarian, I had dreams about sushi for about 2 weeks. I figure I'm on par for withdraw on something...

Thank you to Alicia for writing this book and changing the way I not only see food but expelling ingrained ideas I had about when and how I could eat and combine food. My favorite thing to eat for breakfast now is Ezekiel bread toasted with a little earth balance topped with sautéd collard greens. Crazy! I never would have thought!

Welcome to 2010... I look forward to being apart of this community.

I am beginning to move towards being vegan, I'm all for flirting!! I don't want to go cold turkey (pun intended!) as it took me 48 years to get where I am so why rush into changing?! It is amazing to me why people are so against being vegetarian or vegan, it is a choice. When you get up in the morning you decide what you want for breakfast, is it what everyone else is having for breakfast? Probably not! Celebrate being YOU and how you live, thanks Alicia for making these steps make sense!

Hello and Happy New Year! 
I am new to TKD.  I picked up the book December 26 and have not put it down since.  I have actually been viewing the blogs but this is the first time I have actually responded.  I am so excited about this new journey!  I have never been veggie or Vegan for more than a few months at a time, where I usually fall back into old eating habits.  I have known in my heart that this was the way to go but didn't have the knowledge of how to do it.  TKD was exactly what I needed to start my journey.  I am happy to say that I have been officially Vegan for 5 days.  Ok I admit not very impressive but I feel so good already.  I feel like this is the life I was always meant to live. 

My Resolution for 2010 was to live a kinder life which was ironic because when I went on line Dec 31, I noticed that Alicia had made the suggested to the Online community to also adopt that resolution.  That confirmed it this IS the life for me!!!

I wonder if there are others out there with similiar challenges to me.  I have 2 young kids (2.8 &5) I work fulltime and travel about 25% the majority of my family lives too far to be supportive, so it is all my husband and I.  Fortunately my husband is very supportive and has even agreed to try out the new Vegan lifestyle for 4 weeks.  My biggest challenge hasn't been giving up the meat and dairy that has actually been easy, it has been the sugar.  Alicia is right Sugar is CRACK!!

I just wanted to say hi and looking forward to the journey.  If anyone else is out there living a similiar life I would love to hear from you but I also realize that no matter what we have going on in our lives we all struggle with finding the time and doing what feels right.  Thanks for the support  and Happy New Year!!!!

You know, I remember reading a long time ago (maybe 20 years) that white sugar isn't even vegan, as if we needed another reason to avoid it! The processing involves charred cow bones in some way.  Does anyone know about this? Or was it an ancient practice or some kind of scare tactic?

Hello everyone, I hope to get to know you better and look forward to all the good suggestions.  Here is a little about me: I have always had 2 prominent problems throughout my life, one was food association I was a big meat eater but if I thought about what I was eating I could not eat it anymore, yet I did for many years and the other was severe health problems.  This past August I guess my body was done with it.  I became sick and could not eat anything for almost 3 weeks, as I started introducing foods again I really paid attention to everything and things that I have grown up on all of a sudden I did not like any longer.  The foods that taste good and that I can't get enough of, vegetables mainly, I want all the time.  So after starting to read The Kind Diet just to get some ideas on how to prepare these foods, I figured I would just flirt for awhile, come to find out I have gone beyond flirting and did not even realize it.  Have not gone vegan all the way yet, still like some dairy products but awfully close.  Now the big challenge will be where to find all these items in the book that I want to try now. 

My name is Breeze and I am brand new to this way of eating. I live in N. Las Vegas, NV with my husband and 8yr old son. I have never been big on meat and love vegetarian food. However, I am starting to  believe that the Vegan lifestyle is for me.... for many reasons. Now I just need to get started. I just began reading The Kind Diet and absolutely love it. I look forward to meeting a whole new family of friends who want to do right by their bodies and the envirionment!!

Hello all! I'm just finishing TKD and am a self-admitted flirt for now. I'm hoping to lose weight, balance my life, and reverse some of the negative health issues I have. I'm so glad I found this website; I know I'll need the support! Hopefully I'll meet some people who have the same goals and we can egg (pun intended) each other on. Send me a message anytime!

-Michelle