Highway to Health

I became vegetarian after supporting my friend TeNona, in her church's challenge to "eat what Paul would eat". It was really tough at first. I had an upset stomach and diarrhea. Later I learned my body was getting rid of toxins, which drinking lots of water would have helped with.

When I got through that part, I felt amazing. Good energy and healthy; so I decided Paul was on to something. I ate a vegetarian diet for the next 5 years. I did blood work every 6 months to help me make adjustments to my diet.

I was challenged again. This time, to try a vegan diet for 30 days, as I was feeling weary. I had no idea how to cook vegan food, so it was a tasteless, miserable experience that I could hardly wait to be over. As luck would have it, I had blood work drawn at the end of those first vegan 30 days. My doctor said, "I don't know what you are doing, but keep it up". He then went on to tell me that most people couldn't keep a change going anyway. Challenge accepted.

It's 6 years later, and I'm still a vegan. I have eaten eggs on and off, thinking that I wasn't getting enough protein. That is why I have listed the protein in the recipes. You can definitely get enough protein in a vegan diet. You just need to pay attention to it. My blood work, which I still monitor regularly, is great. I'm pleased that I am not on any prescription medicine, am a normal weight, and I feel happy and healthy. I also learned a ton about cooking delicious vegan food - and a lot of the secrets that make a vegan diet a healthy one - which I want to share with you.