How I did it: After being vegetarian for about nine years, I ordered a pizza one night and thought about how disgusting it was.  I tried to keep eating, as delicious as it was, but I kept thinking about where that cheese came out of, the stomach lining, etc.  I couldn't go on.  I threw the pizza out, cleared out my cupboards and bought all vegan food at the grocery store.  It wasn't as hard as I thought, and above the concept of going vegan itself, it causes you to think more critically about one of the most important aspects of your health: diet.

Lessons & tips: The hardest part is going out to eat at restaurants that aren't chains and always having to read ingredient lists.  I found great vegan options at Subway, Chipotle and Noodles, but I'm constantly learning about animal products in foods I've been eating for so long.  Stick at it for a month and if you still have cravings for cheese, read about how it's made.

Resources: Websites like VegGuide.org helped me find restaurants that had vegan items.  I also followed a number of vegans on Twitter who always share recipes.  I initially felt self-conscious about reading ingredient lists while shopping, and while I don't care anymore, it's extremely helpful to use an online grocery delivery service where you can shop and read ingredients right from your computer.

Nov 05, 2009, 05:30PM PST | 0 comments | 3 cheers