[madgeylou]

for the "why" behind not consuming animal products, read "the china study."

it was the book that prompted me to do my 30 day vegan experiment, which has evolved into almost a full year of near-veganism (i eat eggs and cheese maybe once a week). i'm still trying to ramp my diet up to include enough vegs and fruits -- i succeed about half the time -- but giving up most animal products has been a snap for me.

i notice that i get a lot fewer head colds/congestion, even in cold weather. this used to be a big problem for me and i think it's mostly due to dairy.

here's the general plan of what i eat:

breakfast: a few pieces of fruit, plus 1-2 cups of tea with soymilk
lunch: a big bowl of soup (bean, veggie, split pea, or lentil) or a huge salad with lots of beans and veggies on it (like a head of romaine with spicy black beans and salsa on top)
dinner: some sort of casserole (chickpea/broccoli or some such), baked tofu, veggies, cooked greens, maybe another salad

when i stick to this plan, i feel very healthy and energetic and clean, like a machine that is well maintained and all fueled up.

good luck! "the china study" is an amazing read.