Challenge #1 (1 December – 30 December): 30 Day Vegan Challenge

My first challenge is the one that inspired this whole 30 day challenge-blog thing: I'm going vegan (well, at least for 1 December-30 December)!

Depending on who you ask, after analyzing my current diet, some would call me a flexitarian, a part-time vegetarian, or a semi-vegetarian. Basically, I'm a meat-eating vegetarian. Ridiculous, I know. It's pretty much just that I see the benefits of vegetarianism--the health benefits and environmental benefits and wish I could be a vegetarian, but I also really like bacon, burgers, and sushi. So, I'm going to put my money where my mouth is (or leave the meat out of my mouth) and go cold turkey (wow, these references to meat are hard to avoid!)

So, why go vegan and not just try the vegetarian thing? Well, there are a few reasons:

• The point is to make it a challenge, right? Why not add cheese and coffee creamer into the mix?!?
• I went temporarily vegan for about two weeks in October (doing a detox diet--loved it!) and really enjoyed it. In just those two weeks, my skin really did get more smooth, my sinuses were more clear, and I felt great. Of course, I did a great job of "re-toxing" afterwards so I'd like to take the opportunity to try it again and for a longer period of time.
• I found a great tool that will do some of the planning work for me and keep me going every day: The 30-Day Vegan Challenge: The Ultimate Guide to Eating Cleaner, Getting Leaner, and Living Compassionately by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau. I've already read through the intro chapters (thanks, Kindle) and I know it will be a great tool. I'll share some of that info with you.

Throughout the next few days, I'll go more into what I hope to gain from the challenge, the benefits of veganism, and my concerns, but until then...anyone else with me? Let's share our vegan recipes, challenges, and encourage each other!

(And, yes, I do realize the irony of announcing this right after Thanksgiving as I enjoy my leftover turkey, mashed potatoes made with milk, and pumpkin pie with whipped cream--I have 'til December 1st! I'll be eating their vegan alternatives on Christmas Day for sure!)