October 7, 2011
(last updated April 30, 2014) 
“Role model” is not an expression I throw around lightly. In a nutrition community full of self-proclaimed “gurus,” I tend to believe that we’re each the best judge of what does and doesn’t work for our bodies; in a community full of “experts,” I don’t believe that any single book or opinion is the final word on nutrition science. The closest thing I have to “role models” are the men and women—cookbook writers, mostly—who made me fall in love with vegan food, and taught me to live compassionately.
Colleen Patrick-Goudreau is one of those women. The Vegan Table is one of my favorite cookbooks, and in spite of the fact that it is dog-eared, splattered, and generally worn down by my kitchen, I never cease to make and remake its recipes. Colleen’s food is simple, wholesome, and bursting with flavor. Her recipes are designed to satisfy the tastes of omnivores (or new vegans) without sacrificing health or relying upon a pantry full of faux-meats. Her perspective is balanced: healthy and whole foods oriented, but also appreciative of the sweeter indulgences in life (after all, she did write The Joy of Vegan Baking).
Colleen’s power as a figure in our community, however, goes far beyond her talents as a chef. If you know Colleen’s work, it’s probably because you know her famous podcasts, which have inspired countless men and women to take the vegan plunge. Having seen Colleen speak twice now (once at Vida Vegan Con, and once recently at Poplar Springs), I can tell you that she is simply one of the best public speakers around. She’s passionate, yet even-tempered; humorous, but capable of relaying the importance of animal rights issues. Most of all, Colleen exudes confidence and strength. It’s this confidence, and the fact that Colleen (an English lit major) is a superb writer, that make me admire her so deeply. Veganism tends to demand a little confidence building, and no one sets a better example than Colleen.
Colleen’s newest book is the 30-Day Vegan Challenge. When I first received a copy to review, my heart dipped: most “challenges” treat plant based eating like it’s the Zone Diet. This challenge is different. Colleen’s mission is twofold:
- To help prove to people that eating and living vegan for 30 days is within reach
- To help guide her readers through the challenges and difficulties of being vegan
The word “challenge” was chosen with more care than I initially realized. This is one of the first books that openly addresses the fact that veganism can be hard. There’s nothing more discouraging for new vegans than the slew of books that insist that veganism is “so much easier” than you’d think. Yes, for some people, veganism is surprisingly doable, and I was one of those lucky people. But I hadn’t eaten red meat in a long time, and I didn’t like cheese. For most people, the vegan transition is actually pretty tough, full of speed bumps, backsliding, and little mini-battles with cravings for old favorites.
These difficulties don’t mean that veganism isn’t worth it. It is unbelievably, amazingly worth it. It’s just like most worthwhile things in that it’s not a piece of cake. The best way of dealing with the challenges of a vegan lifestyle is to talk about them openly, so that we can deal with them efficiently; this is exactly where Colleen shines. From dining out to talking to family and friends about your lifestyle, Colleen is a fountain of insight and strength. I can’t recommend her words highly enough to anyone who’s facing this major lifestyle change with a little anxiety.
Of course, the book goes beyond all that, into recipes and lifestyle tips and all sorts of brilliant tutorials (“Tofu: It’s Just a Bean”). The book is worth it for the food alone. But recipes are not what makes this book invaluable: the food and practical guidance draws you in, but it’s the wisdom and strength that will keep you referring back, time and time again, as you embrace a compassionate lifestyle. And if you’re an animal lover, you’ll smile at the acknowledgments:
“My hope is that we can learn from the animals what we need to become better people.”
Do you want to take the 30-Day Vegan Challenge? You’re in luck, because I’m giving one lucky CR reader a free copy. To enter, you can do any of the following things; each will count as a separate entry, but you have to leave a comment letting me know you did it!:
- Leave me a comment telling me why you’d like to take OR read the 30-Day Vegan Challenge.
- Tweet about this giveaway, using the tweet: “@choosingraw is giving away a copy of @patrickgoudreau ‘s 30 DAY CHALLENGE! https://bit.ly/puqhyA” Then leave a comment letting me know you did.
- Like Colleen on Facebook.
- Follow @PatrickGoudreau on Twitter.
- Follow me on Twitter.
- Check out one of Colleen’s podcasts and tell me what you learned.
Winner will be announced next Friday. I hate to do this, but US residents only, please—I’ve had some trouble with shipping copies internationally. Good luck, and get typing!!!
Happy Weekend!
xo
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I would love to give this book to my mom who has been vegetarian for over 2 years but hasn’t been able to fully commit to veganism…this might be just what she needs! Thank you for the giveaway! 🙂
Hi Gena! I’d love to read this book. I tweeted about the book and follow both you and Colleen on Twitter!
I’d love to give this one a read. I’ve been following you and Matt (NoMeatAthlete), and trying to enhance my running with a vegan diet. It hasn’t been easy. However, I am coming around and would definitely benefit from specific guidance.
Good to have a few more vegans in my twitter feed. 🙂
The majority of my family is overweight with heart problems and I’m the only vegan (besides my second cousin whom I’ve never met), and my mother follows a meat-based diet that allows very little room for carbs. She won’t listen to me that the reason her blood pressure is so high is because she eats so much meat and cheese, so I really think that this book will help open her eyes to how healthy it can be and how compassionate it is for the animals. I think that it might help her to go more plant-based for the animals and her health 🙂 But I don’t want to be pushy about it.
Your posts never fail to inspire! As a big fan of Colleen’s work, I would absolutely love to read this book in hopes to challenge my feelings about food and compassion. It also seems like it would be a great book to pass on to others once I am done!
I have been toying with the idea of going vegan for awhile. This book would be so helpful to me!
It’s been tweeted. 🙂
Great opportunity, thanks! I’d like to read it to improve my own vegan diet strenghtening my nutrition and to better prepare me to discuss the benefits and possibilies of going vegan with others.
Hi Gena!
I just tweeted your giveaway (@motionislife). While I have been vegan for more than 2 years, many of colleagues and patients have recently expressed interest in a plant-based diet, including my husband who is currently thinking about trying a vegan diet after 4 years of marriage! I would love to read this book and add it to my personal library to help others in my life explore the benefits of a vegan lifestyle!
Charlotte
work has been a little hectic and i’ve allowed myself to eat foods that don’t make me feel as good as a healthy vegan diet. so, i would love to use the 30 day challenge to get myself back on track, so i am at my peak to handle what comes my way. – thanks!
And I love Colleen’s podcasts! Just listened to this one the other day.
I follow you on twitter!
I’m already vegan, but I love learning new ways to teach people about it so this would be great!
I’d love to win this book as it would help me get my three teenagers and one husband on the vegan bandwagon!
I have been moving towards “veganism” since March. I have been mostly successful – meaning I can do it when on my own but socially it is challenging. I am always looking to improve and would love to read this book to learn more.
I would love to read this book so I can finally commit to this way of eating. I have several food allergies so I am already avoiding dairy and eggs, but it has been very hard trying to cut our other animal products. The longest I have done it is two weeks and I always seem to give in! I’m sure this book would give me the understanding that would push me on the right track. I started following Colleen on FB, and really enjoyed her sea vegetables and egg replacer podcasts.
Gena,
I’ve been a vegetarian since I was 18 (am 50 years old now) and have been reading about veganism (including your blog daily) for about a year. That information, along with movies like Forks Over Knives have led me to the sure belief that becoming a vegan is truly something I must do for my health and for the health of the planet. But (and there is usually a but, right?) old habits die hard (namely Greek yogurt) and I’m hoping that Colleen’s book would help me take that final step.
Thanks so much for your blog. You have added to my life immeasurably.
Diana
You wouldn’t believe how awful the knives I have in my apartment are. Every time I cut a carrot it flies across the room because I’m practically going Mortal Kombat on it. I never want to buy a big knife because I’m never cooking meat, but Colleen’s knife demonstration shows me that I probably should get one if I don’t want to hurt myself, haha.
I read your blog all the time and I am on a self proclaimed “mostly vegan” diet. The reason why I haven’t gone vegan are the challenges I face with my busy schedule. My sister is going through some hard times right now battling an eating disorder and I would love to share this book with her when she gets out of rehab. I would love to do the 30 day challenge with her so we can find some way to bond over food again.
Hi! I would love to read this book. I have two of her other books and they are terrific. She is an inspiration.
I have heard so many good things about this writer and this book that I very much want to read it. I would like to see how she helps ease the reader into cooking and eating foods that might be completely foreign and unappetizing to them.
I forgot to mention that I followed both you and Colleen on twitter (I’m “reneedanie”) and liked Colleen’s facebook page.
I’d love to try the vegan challenge because I have colitis and I feel like eliminating animal products from my diet does tend to help my condition.
I would LOVE this!!! As an explorational vegan/high raw, it would be amazingly helpful. Love your recipes!
Every little bit of information and inspiration help!
I already follow you on Twitter.
I followed @PatrickGoudreau on Twitter.
I liked Colleen on Facebook.
I tweeted about the giveaway. http://twitter.com/#!/saraholberding/status/122813783805661184
Gena, I would love to get a copy of this book. This would be a great tool to learn more about a vegan lifestyle. I am transitioning to a vegetarian diet and would love to go vegan someday.
I would love to read and take the 30 day challenge because my mother died at age 58, her mother died at an earlier age. I am a 42 year old diabetic. Six months ago I was on every medication possible. I finally said enough is enough, I am taking my body back…so I went through a local (food and mondern medication) detox program and started to eat a plant based vegetarian diet. I feel better now than I did in my early 20’s. I haven’t been on any medications in over six months and my blood sugars are within normal range. I am ready to take the next step and learn everything I can to finally complete my journey and live a vegan lifestyle.
I also followed you on Twitter!
I also liked Colleen on Facebook!
I would love to win this book because I’ve been leaning into veganism for a year or so. I have been a vegetarian for over a decade but thought I could never give up cheese or greek yogurt. Yet the more recipes I make and enjoy, the more vegan blogs and cookbooks I read, the more I fall in love with the lifestyle. It would be wonderful to have a challenge like this for encouragement and support when the going gets tough.
I definitely fall into the category of people who really want to be vegan but also find it really hard. Vegetarianism and veganism have always been about the animals for me; good health is a bonus. That’s why it’s so frustrating to me that I have a hard time sticking to veganism – I feel terrible because I so deeply care about the suffering of the animals – but then I go and eat their by-products. I don’t understand why I don’t have the willpower to not eat them when I feel so strongly about not wanting to exploit them. I continue to feel deeply conflicted about it and wish that it were as easy for me as it seems to be for other people. I so envy people like you and Colleen Patrick-Goudreau and wish I could be like you. I haven’t stopped trying yet, so I am hoping that one day I will get there. I have definitely made progress over the past few years (I have been trying to go completely vegan for about 4-5 years) so my hope is that I will continue to make progress and will one day get there. I have lost a lot of confidence in saying no to non-vegan food around family and friends (usually desserts) because they have seen me flip-flop back and forth and no longer take me as seriously. I feel terrible about not being a very good example of veganism to others – I worry that I am making it look harder than it might be for others and am further harming animals. I could definitely use a confidence boost and continued encouragement on the path I’m on. I actually have this book on my Amazon wish list, and have been meaning to read it since it came out, but then I moved temporarily to Australia and books are really expensive here so I decided to wait until I get back to California to order it (this December). I do have a US address still though, so it wouldn’t be an international order. I actually shared this feeling with Colleen a long time ago (though with the thousands of emails she gets I doubt she remembers it) and am really excited that she addresses this issue in a book. I am so glad she is addressing an issue that is little talked about and I truly believe that this book may help me move to 100% veganism because I found her podcast incredibly inspiring and believe her book will probably be the same. I’m crossing my fingers!
I’d love to win a copy because I think it will give me the momentum I need to kick dairy and go fully vegan. 🙂
Just listened to “What’s Wrong With Eating Eggs” and learned that 1 hen for every person in this country is spending its life making eggs…in a dark cramped cage :/
I follow you on twitter!
I follow Colleen on twitter
I like Colleen on facebook
I became a vegetarian after I gave up meat for Lent one year because I though it sounded like a fun challenge, only to start reading about why some people are veg and decide I never wanted to go back. I don’t know if I’ll go vegan, but I would love the challenge and would like to be less dependent on dairy products!
I would love this book to pass along to a childhood friend who called me telling me she wanted to be vegan!
Hi Gena, I went to the library this morning to pick up “The 30 Day Vegan Challenge”, but the copy was already checked out. Then I came home and saw your post-what a coincidence! I recently watched “Forks Over Knives”, and am thinking about taking the plunge into veganism from my current omnivorism. It seems like it will only result in positivity. Yet I struggle with explaining this lifestyle choice to my friends and family, all very opinionated meat eaters. I hope Colleen’s book can teach me how to put up a fight for veganism, and give me the confidence to stick to it myself. Thanks for the post!
I would like to read the 30 day vegan challenge because I am always up for a good read and education is key! I am already vegan, but that doesn’t mean I won’t learn anything. Also, knowledge is power and I think my knowledge from this book could help other people.
(The anonymous person is me. I have no idea why it did not post with my name!)
I would like to read the 30 day vegan challenge because I am always up for a good read and education is key! I am already vegan, but that doesn’t mean I won’t learn anything. Also, knowledge is power and I think my knowledge from this book could help other people.
I would love this book because I am a newbie vegan and am definitely having some confidence problems with it!!
Following on Patrick Goudeau and you on twitter and liked Colleen on facebook!
I have been a vegetarian for 8 years, and want to transition into veganism and a more raw diet after studying abroad in Latin America for the past months. Processed flour and white cheeses at every single meal have wreaked havoc on my digestive system and body, and since I have always aspired to a vegan diet I feel like this is the perfect time to make a change and get healthier!
I had the pleasure of hearing Colleen Patrick-Goudreau speak at Vida Vegan Con, and I would love to have a copy of her book! I am already vegan, but I found her incredibly inspiring. I would want to read it myself and then lend it out to those who were interested in veganism. Compassion begets change.
I’d love to read Colleen’s new book! I’m always looking for new recipes and love a good challenge!
I followed you on Facebook and subscribed to your feed
I liked Colleen on facebook
I have been trying to become full vegan for years. I live with a family divided – my husband and son love meat and rice, my daughter and I are vegetarian and my youngest daughter flits back and forth between. I make 2 meals a night and that can be a struggle but I have been doing it for 4 years now. I really want to go vegan and have some great cookbooks but can’t seem to stick with it. I always seem to fall off the wagon at some point. I also have gained 20 pounds since I have become vegetarian – I think it’s because I like what I’m cooking more 🙂 but I need to lose the weight without sacrificing flavor. I love to cook and I love to eat great healthy food. I do not eat any junk food or processed food or any sugar. I think I’m on the right track but need the guidance to stay on the vegan track, lose some weight and be able to justify my choice when questioned. If you think this book will help me please pick me!
I also added Colleen to my RSS feed of tweets.
What a great podcast about cashew cream! It’s something I’ve struggled to make (without a hi-speed blender).
I’m following your Tweets (via my RSS feed).
I liked Colleen on FB.
I would love to both read and take the 30 day vegan challenge! I already eat a fairly plant-based diet, but would like to challenge myself to go beyond and cut all animal products (at least for a time) to have confidence that I can do it with ease.
sounds like the help I need to get started! I also liked Colleen on facebook.
Thanks!
I’d like to read the book and then give it to my brother, who is trying to become vegan. I also tweeted about the give-away.
I’ve been a vegetarian for over 10 years and recently, due to digestive issues, I’ve given up almost all dairy products. I’ve been flirting with veganism for quite some time and I think this book would be a great way for me to finally make that transition!
I like Colleen on facebook
I would love to give this book to my parents as a gift! They sometimes talk about going veg but I think that they need a little bit more information! This books seems like a gentle, fun, and non-preachy first look at veganism that I think they would enjoy.
I am in the “interested in veganism” phase, but I feel like I am not ready to make a complete, life decision yet. I want to fully know and understand not only the decision I am making, but my personal reasons for doing so. I would love to read this book and do the 30 day challenge with my eyes wide open to the pros and cons. After that, I can evaluate and see what I really feel is the right decision for me. I would love to win, but after commenting here, I might just check out the book anyway. Thank you for your inspiration and honesty, Gena.
I liked Colleen on FB
I follow you on twitter!
I follow Colleen on twitter!
I tweeted about the giveaway! @healthy_cupcake
I’d love to read the 30 Day Vegan Challenge because in social settings I don’t always ‘speak my truth’ and sometimes feel like I’m a pain for everyone to deal with. I’ve listened to her podcasts on this issue, and read blog posts, but I would love to have a reference to look at whenever I need to.
I absolutely LOVE her podcasts, and as a former self proclaimed vegetarian who “couldn’t live without cheese” I began listening only to get more info about vegetarian meal options. Well, after listening to “Life After Cheese” and dozens of other podcasts I left behind the cheese and am OK with it 🙂
I would welcome the advice and approach of the Vegan Challenge- as I am finding it challenging but really want to succeed.
Colleen’s my favorite vegan cookbook author too, and hers are the books I always recommend to vegan curious friends. They have all the elements of the perfect cookbook in my mind as she educates on the unique health properties of the star ingredients (she does this especially well in Color Me Vegan) while sharing truly original, inspired recipes!
Given my long-time adoration for Colleen, I’ve been coveting this particular book since it’s late summer release. Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy, Gena!
I think being vegan is a challenge, especially when you are in a family with small kids. I would love to learn about good vegan food for kids! We would love to be healthier, with the flu season coming up 😀
I’d like to try it because I’ve wanted to go vegan again for a while and have finally started to feel like it’s time to stop putting it off.
I’m ready to try something differnt
I would love to win this giveaway,new awesome cookbooks helps me be a vegan.
I would love to have a copy of this book. I am going through some vegan challenges at the moment and I could use any help I can get : ) I have the Vegan Table and I agree, Colleen’s books are amazing!!
Thank you. I also “like” Colleen on facebook : )
Heather
I’d love to read the book. I’ve been a vegetarian for a decade and have recently started leaning more towards veganism, but I’m reluctant to take the plunge. I do “vegan days” or “vegan till dinner” — maybe this book would push me towards “vegan for 30 days!”
I would love to read and take the challenge with the hopes of feeling better. My husband and I eat rather well most days but still leave me feeling blah…i’d love learn from her even if we just try out the lifestyle for a month. Thanks!
i already am vegan, but i would still love the book. new recipes are always great and id like to be able to make more “normal” foods to introduce friends and family to the fabulously tasting cuisine. also, i could glean some tips to encourage and motivate them to change their ways!
I would love the cookbook because I strugle giving up things like goat cheese to eat vegan. Would love more ideas!! 🙂 Would love to pick up the book even if I don’t get chosen. 😉
Hi Gena. This book sounds great. I originally went vegan 4 or 5 because of my food allergies and at the time had developed an eating disorder. So, I didn’t exactly start off on the right foot with veganism. To this day I’m still struggling with my past disorder and my health resulting from it. I fall off track so often out of fatigue and my depression, resulting in relapses when I get upset for making unhealthy choices, and this is why I’m excited to enter the giveaway for this book. I want to get back on track.
4-5 years ago**
After stumbling across Colleen’s podcast when looking in the iTunes store for things to keep me occupied during my workout, I became more and more intrigued with vegetarianism, and then, later, veganism. I began getting into the vegan food blog world and questioning my own ethics regarding food and animal treatment. About two months ago, I became vegan, and Colleen helped lead me to the decision. Her compassionate tone, educated, well-informed take on topics pertaining to health, diet, animal rights, and the practical aspects of being vegan encouraged me that it was absolutely possible to follow a vegan lifestyle. I would love to learn more tips and receive more encouragement from her book; I’m sure in this new book, like in her podcasts, it is in great supply!
I listened to Colleen’s podcast called “The Moral Crusade of Foodies”. Very enlightening!
I already follow you on Twitter:)
I just started following Colleen on Twitter!
I tweeted about the giveaway (@faiththomas)
i’d love to give this book to my mom, who recently returned from a thich nhat hanh retreat. she keeps hinting at taking the first steps toward going veg and i think this could be the book to give her a good nudge.
I’ve been eating a vegetarian diet for over a year, but would like to take the next step to veganism. I would love a book like this to ease my transition.
I learned how to make the cashew cream. It sounds delicious!
I would love to read this book and try the challenge. I’m trying to get my U.S. Marine husband to eat more vegetarian and vegan, and its proving difficult! He loves cookbooks as much as I do, so this would be a big help!
I’d love to read this book–I think it’d be useful in having some succinct and convincing explanations of why I eat the way I do when asked by others.
I like Colleen on facebook as Sheree Muhr Perelman
I’m going through perimenopause, and it is kicking my butt:) I feel miserable and I also have fibromalgia and interstitial cystitis. I need a guide to help me get healthier.
I’m trying to find ways to be vegan while feeding a carnivore … This book would help me!
I don’t know if we are supposed to post to tell you we are doing so, but I am following you and Colleen on Twitter.
Thanks Gena
Gena, I would like to both take the vegan challenge and also read it. I am already leading a vegan lifestyle as far as eating goes but I am still breaking into it as a newbie so taking a challenge and reading more about it would be so helpful and I can share it with my family.
Id love to read about overcoming the challenges. It really can be hard to explain why I eat the way I do, especially when people are looking at me like I’m crazy.
Thanks, Gena! I’d love to read this book and have some good tips to share with family and friends who are interested in the way I eat. Sometimes I forget how to share the very basics. Also, new recipes would be great!
I follow colleen on twitter