My Husband’s 21-Day Vegan Challenge

I’ve decided to write this post without much fanfare. Because it’s my blog, not my husband’s, and one day it will be his story to tell. But I can tell you this:

Dave | Vegan Grilling

Dave at the vegan grill.

Saturday night we saw the film COWSPIRACY: The Sustainability Secret in Denver. It was his final weekend on the vegan challenge. In the car, on the way home, he turned to me and said, unprompted, “I’m going to stay plant-based at home and I’ll be vegetarian outside of the home. For now.” We both learned an incredible amount of new information about the environmental toll of animal agriculture. It was a turning point for him.

I’ll take it.

I was vegetarian for eight years before I went vegan. It’s been a journey.

Dave’s on his. And I’m grateful.

24 thoughts on “My Husband’s 21-Day Vegan Challenge”

  1. Wonderful!! My hubby is in a similar place. After going on a vegan cruise and watching a couple of films, he decided to be vegan at home, but omnivore when dining out. Of course I would love for him to go all the way, but I recognize and appreciate the steps he’s taking, and support him in his journey no matter how long it takes.

    1. Support and patience is really important, @thevegangypsy:disqus, I agree. Great news about your hubby!

  2. Vegucated and Forks over Knives were the two documentaries that made me vegan overnight. There’s a powerful message out there that will resonate with many people if given the opportunity. Congrats to your husband and good luck on his journey!

    1. Exactly, @mcnallyd:disqus! They say that one of the three vegan pillars (animal, environment, health) will pull you in and if you connect with two of the pillars, you’re more likely to stay vegan. The more we know, well, the more we know!

  3. YAYAYAYAYAYAY for Dave!!!! Still waiting on my Paul to make the switch. But he did buy tofu for the first time this weekend, and he cooked it all by himself. And it was delicious. Baby steps.

  4. Congratulations to Dave! It’s a process, and as Lindsay Nixon would say, it’s about “Progress, not Perfection”.
    Here’s our story: I’ve been vegan about 2 1/2 years, and was “mostly veg” AKA pescetarian for many years before that. The hubs doesn’t cook so he was forced to eat a veg diet at home. He continued to eat meat whenever he got the chance though. In January of this year he told me he wanted to try staying vegan all the time. He is so happy eating this way and I am SO proud of him! He has lost 35 pounds (much needed) and his cholesterol is down! We celebrated his 58th birthday yesterday with vegan pizza and vegan cupcakes and he told me (again) how he doesn’t miss meat and how satisfying being vegan is for him!

  5. It’s a win!!! Congrats to you for keeping him exposed to movies, farm sanctuaries, etc. Kudos to Dave for having an open mind and heart.

  6. So glad to hear someone else on the same “journey”. I do vegan at home and vegetarian out (modified the best I can). It’s what I’m able to currently do, as I eat out quite a bit and my other half is a serious carnivore. At home, we just cook separate meals. Thanks for sharing his journey.

  7. I’ve been trying to get my carnivore husband to join me on this vegan quest and must say he’s pretty good while at home. Getting better all the time! But we end up dining out more so he can eat meat. He will not watch any of the films…

    1. @lindagoudelock:disqus, Dave wouldn’t either. It was an environmental film that got him. You just never know!

  8. Way to go Dave! Very inspiring, JL. I haven’t seen Cowspiracy yet, hope to soon. Tell Dave I’m giving him an oven-mitted high five! 😉

  9. Wow! That’s fantastic! Isn’t it amazing what a documentary can do? I’ve noticed in my experience that friends and family are more receptive to the idea of veganism after they’ve watched a documentary, instead of hearing my husband and I talk about it. It’s like they have to hear it from someone else, or see it in a different context. Whatever works!

    1. So true! And I have always said that I wanted him to have his “moment.” I guess the environmental issues, expressed incredibly well in Cowspiracy, did it!

  10. This is so absolutely wonderful, JL!! I’m so happy for both you, and Dave! It’s so awesome how open he is, and how supportive he’s always been. I just think he’s on an amazing journey and this post made me smile so big. I love it, and how cool to see him at the vegan grill!! Yay yay yay!! You guys are great!

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