Coworker going vegan for a week

[Medesha]

My coworker was chastising me for my diet coke habit (I know, I know). I told him laughingly that he had no right to criticize my diet when he ate meat and milk.

Me: "I'll stop drinking diet Coke when you go vegan."
Harry: "Done."
Me: "Whatever."
Harry: "No, seriously, done. I'm a vegan."
Me: "Starting when?"
Harry: "Starting right now. For one week, I'll be vegan."
Me: "And for one week, I won't eat any artificial sweetners." *we shake*

This was at 8:45 am. At 9:30...

Harry: "Ok, I give up."
Me: "Dude! It's been, like, 45 minutes!"
Harry: "I know, but I forgot there's a pizza party tomorrow, and I want the weekend off...I'll start Tuesday."
Me: "Fine, whatever."

I honestly thought he'd 'forget' by Tuesday, but today he reminded me that he's vegan for 1 week. He grumbled a bit at lunchtime but is generally being a good sport. And I'm holding up my end of the bargain!

I asked him today if he bought or made his lunch, and he said he usually bought his. Since I make mine at home, and we work the same shift, I offered to make double tomorrow and bring him half. He was really happy to hear that. :) I thought it was a fun story to share.

[Lydia]

Cool! Maybe he'll like it and decide to stay vegan. Or maybe not, but still- I think it's neat that he's trying! :vebo:

[Marineluvr26]

That's cool. Hopefully he'll stick to it. One of my coworkers said she's getting to the point where she can't even stand to look at meat. Then joked that maybe she was turning vegetarian. I told her I had some yummy recipes if she did.

[Odalys]

well THAT was easy, he seems to be a vegan in the making with the right encouragement!
I wish I could get people to go vegan in a snap, maybe I'll start drinking diet sodas :op

[Pinkerton]

I bet when you're not around eachother he is eating as much meat as you are drinking soda! :lol: Seriously though, as good as it is for him to stop eating meat, I hope you stick to the no soda thing. :up:

[Medesha]

Well I probably won't give up "fizzy drinks" entirely, but I am going to try and lay off the artificial sweeteners. Today I brought his lunch and he ate it all and said it was fantastic, so yay!

Even if he doesn't go veg*n permanently, it was still a fun experiment. He says he's gaining a new appreciation for vegans after having gone to a restaurant last night. :D

[wheesaidshe]

I think that's great. Any chance you could forward him a cool (meaning not graphic and depressing) website link about all the positive things about veganism--without being too pushy?

[karenlovessnow]

I agree...a fun story...thanks for sharing!! :)

[Thalia]

send him to this blog http://veganmenu.blogspot.com/ with tons of awesome pictures of tasty vegan food.

There are a lot of great recipe blogs out there with pictures that could inspire anyone to cook!

[RunsWithFoxes]

...he seems to be a vegan in the making...

Exactly. If her coworker thinks that merely eliminating meat and dairy makes him vegan, I beg to differ. It makes him a vegan-wannabe. A 'mature' vegan has gone through a fair amount of exploration and re-education, and does not in any way feel that s/he is compromising or missing anything by following this lifestyle. I doubt that one week is anywhere near long enough for someone to become a mature vegan. :chef:

[Medesha]

My coworker is well aware of the differences between himself and the committed vegans at the store. (We work at a small health-food store and at least three staffers, including myself, are vegan, and the majority of the rest are lacto-ovo, plus one raw foodist). I should have said he's eating vegan for one week, but didn't think the distinction was important enough to bring up for such a fluffly little story. :)

[Music Girl]

I work at a health food store, too. Oddly enough, I am the only vegan. There is one vegetarian. One free-range only carnivore. Then there are five smoking, drinking, drugging carnivores. My coworkers are all awesome, my best friends, but they sure are an unhealthy bunch to be working in a HFS.

[isowish]

that's cool! :sunny:

[Honeysuckle]

Cool! Maybe he'll like it and decide to stay vegan. Or maybe not, but still- I think it's neat that he's trying! :vebo:

Medesha - Tell Harry how much more handsome and virile he's looking after his week of veganism.

And yes, surely his hair looks just a little thicker and glossier. And can it be true - is his bum just a bit tighter?

[missmushroom]

send him to this blog http://veganmenu.blogspot.com/ with tons of awesome pictures of tasty vegan food.

There are a lot of great recipe blogs out there with pictures that could inspire anyone to cook!

if that is not food porn, i don't know what is.

[evan_fabiani]

pop is poison, literally.

[Thalia]

pop is poison, literally."Pop"? glad to have another non-soda person around.

[Medesha]

I used to say "pop" all the time. Then I moved around the States for about eight years. Half the time I said "pop" and the other half I said "soda". Sometimes I say "soda pop". Mostly I'm confused. :p

I still enjoy soda/pop and have no plans to give it up. But today Harry dared me to go for a month! Apparently he's enjoying vegan eating. Who knew?

[Michael]

Awesome! A co-worker of mine told me her and her daughter were going vegetarian for a month. She ended up sticking with it for several years (she has since gone back to eating meat).

It's times like that when I really feel like I'm making a difference. :sunny: