Two writers are trying out veganism and they’re writing about their trial. Both writers could use our support.

One is having a fine time:

“Now that I’ve been a vegan for three whole days, I’ve been fielding a lot of questions on whether or not I feel different. The honest answer? Not really. Maybe it’s just because I wasn’t a big meat-eater to begin with. I am, however, becoming a lot more aware of what I’m eating. Having to scrutinize every ingredient label will do that to a person, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. At this point, my biggest fear is that I’m going to screw up somehow and inadvertently eat something that’s not vegan, so the obsessive label-reading is a must. I admit that I get a little thrill every time I read the ingredients list for a given food and discover that I can eat it. Yesterday, a co-worker menacingly held out a jar of white chocolate peanut butter from Peanut Butter & Co., predicting that I wouldn’t be able to try it. I grabbed the jar, scanned the ingredients, and triumphantly pronounced it vegan-it didn’t even contain refined sugar! It was pretty good, too.” (link)

But the other writer is having some troubles:

“I’ve been on a vegan diet for three days and I’ve gained 5 pounds. I feel like a blimp about to be launched. My GI tract “talks” to me all the time. I don’t like what it is saying. Gas pains. Bloating.” (link)

Both are still in their first week of veganism so their bodies haven’t quite yet adjusted. The second writer isn’t just doing a vegan trial, she’s doing the Kathy Freston 21 day cleanse. it’s a detox diet that is vegan-esque, but also restricts sugar, alcohol, caffeine, and gluten.

Both articles list the authors’ email address at the end of the article. Both writers could use our support. Perhaps you want to head on over to the websites, fetch the emails, and send them a note of encouragement? Here are the URLs:

• http://eats.com/eats-editorials/foodie-news/the-vegan-diaries:-day-three-20080924445/
• http://www.ocregister.com/articles/diet-freston-body-2168457-pounds-book

A simple, honest email with supportive words and helpful resources can really help someone make the transition to veganism. It opens up the door to a considerate, respectful conversation. You can’t change other people’s minds, but you can help and encourage them to change their own. Giving people support and resources is a great start.

Here’s the email I sent (feel free to copy or modify for your own purposes):

I just read your article about doing a vegan trial. I am writing to offer you some supportive resources.

I went vegan two years ago and I feel great! I eat a wide variety of foods and I take a multi-vitamin daily. I make sure to get some exercise and some sun exposure, too, in order to stay healthy.

I’ve learned a tremendous amount from these vegan websites. I hope they will support, inspire, and inform you, too:
http://www.compassionatecooks.com/
http://www.veganoutreach.org/

Here’s some information about nutrition:
http://www.veganhealth.org/

Take care,
Elaine

I chose a few links for websites I like. My pro-vegan emails vary and I don’t always use the same URLs. Sometimes I include a video and other times I give a link to a web forum. It all depends on the context. There is a time to say it in a harsh way and there is a time to say it in a gentle way. This is one of those gentle times.

Want another email example? Here’s an excellent one >>

Sections: Vegan Activism, Vegan News
Topics: 21 day cleanse, activism, kathy freston, letter, support, trial, veg, Vegan, writer