The 30 Day Vegan Challenge

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“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.

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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:

  1. To help prove to people that eating and living vegan for 30 days is within reach
  2. 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!:

  1. Leave me a comment telling me why you’d like to take OR read the 30-Day Vegan Challenge.
  2. Tweet about this giveaway, using the tweet: “@choosingraw is giving away a copy of @patrickgoudreau ‘s 30 DAY CHALLENGE! https://bit.ly/puqhyAThen leave a comment letting me know you did.
  3. Like Colleen on Facebook.
  4. Follow @PatrickGoudreau on Twitter.
  5. Follow me on Twitter.
  6. Check out one of Colleen’s podcasts and tell me what you learned.

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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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    313 Comments
  1. I would like to read the book because although I’ve found the transition to Veganism relatively easy, I would like to read it for information on how I can help others transition to a more plant-based diet, even if it means one vegan dinner a week. I’m in a rare position in my life where I am able to influence others through my dietary choices, and I want to use that to the utmost advantage.

  2. Bring it on! I would love to take an opportunity like this, with a book like Colleen’s.

  3. I’d love to take the 30 day Vegan challenge because I’ve been toying with the idea of going Vegan…and this would really help 🙂

  4. I would love love love to own this book!! I recently got colleen’s “vegan daily companion” and I absolutely love her genuine compassion and enthusiasm for animal rights. I definitely view colleen as one of my role models and would love the opportunity to own more of her enlightening works. 🙂

  5. I’d love to read this book–my vegan challenge started in september…it’s been 1.5 months already and I’m not stopping! The China Study did it for me.

  6. Hey, what great timing for an introduction to this book!
    I’ve been a vegetarian for the past 18 years and over the past 6 months or so I’ve been unconciously lean toward a vegan diet, just because it felt right for my body. When I realized this, I also started thinking about the ethics behind the lifestyle and decided to make a purposeful switch in fully transitioning to a vegan diet.
    In the switch from summer to fall, I’ve found myself a little uninspired since the meals that I relied on are now largely out of season. This challenge looks like just the spark to keep me on track and to keep me learning.

  7. I would like to read the 30 day vegan challenge because I think that living a vegan life is something I might want to try doing.

  8. I’d like to take the challenge because I’m about 95% vegan, but I always think up excuse after excuse as to why I can’t bump it up to 100%. This might just be the ammo I need!

  9. I would love to read the 30 day vegan challenge! In transitioning to a plant-based diet over the past year, I have accrued some great recipes and cooking skills, but am always looking for more!

    Thanks!

  10. I’m not a vegan but I’d love to take the 30 day vegan challenge. I’d love to try to go vegan but I need to substitute certain foods to honestly be successful. I’m sure this book would be helpful 🙂

  11. My husband and are having a really hard time implementing raw eating into our lifestyle. After extensively reading about and watching documentaries on Max Gerson’s work as well as being extremely and newly interested in living wholly and compassionately every day we want to become vegan. Unfortunately it is indeed difficult. We would love the chance to have help on our journey-Colleen’s book seems like the perfect guide to start our challenge off right.

  12. I have *finally* officially taken the vegan (from vegetarian… cheese was a problem) leap, so I’m eager to read as many new vegan books as possible!

  13. i have been mostly vegan for years and now i’m moving into adding more raw foods to my diet and cutting out all remaining animal products. at the same time, i’m hoping to encourage my family and friends to steer in this direction as well — for their health and general happiness. having a wealth of recipes to test out and share will hopefully encourage me in my own journey towards improved health as well as inspire others that i share my food creations with. thanks for your blog…its provided me so much information and inspiration!

  14. I’d love to try to be vegan for 30 days — this would be an amazing resource!

  15. Would love to read this book! Veganism is so important for our health and our planet!

  16. I eat a mostly-vegetarian, sometimes almost-vegan diet, but I still find myself _really_ wanting cheese sometimes. A challenge is just what I need to see if I can move past the desire to let my best intentions slide.

  17. I’d like to read the 30 day challenge to find ways to cope with introducing veganism to my carnivorous family. My vegetarianism has only subtly influenced them, and I need all the help I can get in having the household eat less animal products.

  18. I would love to read the Vegan challenge because I want to be a more concious and healthier eater. I am 36 weeks pregnant and just recently started to eat a better diet for my baby and myself. I would love to have a guied that will help me continue my journey into eating a vegan diet and also a raw diet. 🙂

  19. I’d like to read her new book and take the challenge. Half or more of my meals are vegan already and I’d like to take it to the next level.

  20. Although I am not vegetarian or vegan, I eat a predominantly plant based diet. I have very bad sinus and allergy problems and I know that I would benefit from removing dairy from my diet. Maybe this book could help me take the leap.

  21. I listened to “Finding Abundance While Traveling” and it was a lot of what I already know. Plan ahead, don’t get too hungry etc.

    However, she made an interesting point that I had never really thought about before. And that was comparing the way we feed our children, and how we would never take them off a schedule or leave the house with out their snacks. We know what happens when their blood sugar gets low. And yet somewhere along the way, as adults, we don’t make regular eating a priority. We often don’t associate our mood swings with lack of food, but it’s the same for us as it is for our children.

    I like that she incorporated this message into a podcast about travel. However, I’m getting more out of it in terms of my regular everyday life. I’m not very good about sticking to an eating routine, and I think I might give it a try now.

  22. I would love to take the 30 day vegan challenge, and have been eyeing this book! I’ve been vegetarian for 8 years, and ethically want to be vegan, but I’m having some trouble with “lapses” on dairy. I definitely need some tips and motivation to see me through.

  23. I’d actually love to win a copy of The 30 Day Vegan Challenge to give to my mother. She has been trying to live a more compassionate lifestyle since I became vegan and I think this book would be a great resource for her.

  24. I would love to have a copy of this book to give to a friend who has just become vegan. This book seems to be the one stop shop for all the things you’d want a new vegan to know – health, ethics, and the wonderfully warm writing style of Colleen. Also, the recipes!

  25. I’ve been wanting to try out a vegan lifestyle!! I’ve been following your blog since forever, but I’ve never quite gotten up the courage to go full-vegan. I’m one of those constant back-sliding types 🙂 Maybe this book will give me the motivation to keep going with it

  26. I already follow you on twitter… love it! Also, I have a diabetic husband and am planning on a 3-4 week vegan challenge beginning in January for his health. This would be a great help for us in the process. Thanks a bunch!

  27. I would love to take the challenge. I try to incorporate at least one vegan meal a day into my diet. I’d love to do more and this book would help me do that!

  28. I am looking for the perfect vegan intro book to give out as Holiday gifts to family and friends this year and would love to read through it and try some recipes myself first. I would eventually pass this copy on, assuming I am able to part with it!

  29. I’m in an MS program, studying to become an RD. I’ll admit that I’m unlikely to go vegan myself, but I do want to get familiar with tasty ways to eat vegan, since I’m sure to be working with clients who do or want to. Colleen’s book looks like a great resource for that.

  30. I would love to get this book, so that I can get my vegan diet on track again. Plus this book would help show that this type of lifestyle is good and not harmful when done right.

  31. this comment is my entry. i would love the book to use it as a resource to at the very least incorporate more vegan meals, if not try to eat vegan for 30 days. and i’m not normally a ‘challenge’ gal, but your review & description of her approach has me completely intrigued!

  32. Hello Gena,

    The reason I would love to win this contest and have a copy of the 30 – Day Challenge is to offer it to our small (portable) community library.

    There is very little information in this small rural community I now call mine. I am one of three vegans (a friend & her daughter make up the other 2) and it would be wonderful to see that number grow.

    This small but most valuable library is one of our greatest tools for helping people grow and make changes in their life’s. The 30-Day Vegan Challenge would be a fantastic tool to offer in their growth and understanding of what it means to be Vegan.

    Thank you for all the work you do.

    one of your grateful readers,
    jeanaann barnaby
    Gilmour ON
    Canada

  33. I would love to read the book and incorporate many of the principles into my lifestyle. I have been trying to transition into a lifestyle with less animal products in it but being a mom and wife to some true meat and cheese lovers incorporating the principles into my life has been very difficult and I often find myself sliding. Having a plan to follow as well as some guidance on the challenges that I will (do) face on trying to put the principles into action would be very helpful for me. I am not going to be a strict Vegan at this point in my life but I do want to life a much cleaner, healthier, thoughtful lifestyle than I do currently and this could be just the little kicker I need to finally put it into action.

  34. Hi Gena! This is an awesome giveaway – I’ve been curious about veganism for a while now, but I’ve been hesitant to give it a try because I have an allergy to tree nuts and peanuts, and many vegan recipes call for nuts. But the 30-Day Vegan Challenge sounds like the perfect way to dive in head-first and make adaptations when needed. 30 days is the perfect length to try something new and see if it works for your lifestyle. Would love to take this challenge! Also tweeted you from @finishurbroc, followed Colleen on Twitter, and liked her on Facebook! 🙂

  35. I woud love to read the book because although I have a lot of knowledge about veganism, I’m always interested to learn more!

  36. I have been a vegetarian for 10 years but have never made the switch to completely vegan. I would love to try to do that with the help of this cookbook!

  37. After owning and loving The Vegan Table, I can’t believe I never thought to look for her on FB before. I “like” her on Facebook now!

  38. I have gone back and forth between a vegan and vegetarian diet over the past year, and have never felt better. However, after an out of state move and the stress of adjusting to a new home over the summer, I have lost focus on the importance of a plant based diet. I would love this book and to take the 30-day challenge in order to get back on track.

  39. I’ve been vegan for a while now, but I’m still trying to learn how to get my act together and not live off of carbs. I’d be interest in reading this book and trying out some of the recipes, and then lending it to family members who are not vegan.

  40. Afte watching the food doc, Forks over Knives, I am eager to try a 30 Day Vegan Challenge. I choose preventative healthcare rather than fixing problems with medication.

  41. I love Colleen’s podcasts and have learned so much! The one on colors in regard to food/animals was enlightening (i.e. the tidbit about lobster never being red in the natural world, only after cooked, yet red is the stereotypical color in cartoons, etc.) and also the one on sheep…just learning the history of how sheep are handled and the details of the sheering process and more was interesting and moving.

  42. I’ve admired Colleen’s work for years and would love to proudly display this book in our vegan cafe, for visitors to read (cafe guests sometimes stay a while).

  43. Lastly, I would love to do a 30 day vegan challenge. I was recently diagnosed with PCOS, and apparently veganism can help to ease, or even cure the symptoms. I just don’t know where to start!

  44. I would like to try a 30 day challenge. I went vegetarian, then went back to eating meat until I realized I really didn’t need it. I am vegetarian now but would like to become vegan without it being detrimental to my running. And part of me thinks It’s so hard to do!

  45. I’ve been wanting to try a 30 day vegan challenge of my own for quite some time, but just never found a good guide to do it. This would be perfect! I really want to become a vegan, but I’m having the hardest time transitioning. I think a solid 30 days would help me finally commit to becoming vegan.

  46. perfect timing…after a summer of company, wine , cheese and party food, i am ready for a vegan kick start….help please

  47. I would love to read this book and take the challenge- I have repeatedly tried to go vegan in the past but have been unable to last more than a few days. I know that however I am going about it is wrong, but I think I need more clear directions or just more assistance on how to get enough protein and how to generally get past the detox stage.

  48. I would love to try this challenge. I am already a vegan, but there is so much I still have to learn. I’m also in a bit of a food rut and could use some inspiration–and we could all use a reminder of why veganism matters! Great giveaway.

  49. I listened to her podcast about cashew cream which is used so much in vegan cooking…can’t wait to try it out!