After a Friday night spent with a group of five women-friends, where we found ourselves enjoying a bevy of delectables at a local Lebanese restaurant, where I annoyed the waiter by (politely) asking if there was any dairy in the hummus, I found myself with the outline of this article in the forefront of my head. These women, like so many other people, are curious about my lifestyle. I am not a trapeze artist, a lion tamer or anything else especially interesting; I am a vegan.

In my travels, this bit of information, which I tend to share only when necessary, has elicited a variety of responses: raised eyebrows, furrowed brows, laughter, snorts and the occasional swear word. But, mostly, just questions. They want to know what I eat, where I shop, how I cook, what books I read and what chocolate I indulge in. I don’t flatter myself and think that they want this information to know the inner workings of my world – rather, I am sure that most people are wondering if my wacky ways can fit into their current lifestyle. They recognize the health and wellness benefits associated with it; people are, in most cases, also willing to acknowledge the impact a vegan diet has on the planet. Yet, no matter how interested most folks aren't ready to consider giving up, permanently at least, their cheese, milk and ice cream.

And, who am I to judge? I don't: To each their own. But, I am always happy to share some information, pass out the recipes and direct people towards my blog. There is a vegetable patch full of positive outcomes to be derived from making partial changes that mirror a vegan lifestyle - without having to put dairy (or even meat) to bed for good.
I have compiled some changes, splurges, and splashes of veg-action that one can add to their day and feel confident that they are reaping some of the benefits of a vegan lifestyle. Enjoy and be healthy:

1. Read your labels: Being a vegan this practice has become as common as reaching for my credit card whenever I encounter a shoe sale. Vegans are looking for key words, such as: milk, eggs, casein, and any other animal derived products. You can use this obsessive behaviour to look for things that you don't want in your body (no matter what you are eating). A high salt content, trans fats, words you can hardly pronounce, preservatives and high volumes of processed sugar (and even high amounts of cane sugar) are what you want to keep your eyes open for.

2. Stop and Think: I used to make assumptions about where my food came from, even when I was a vegetarian, I wasn't always that concerned about where my food was coming from. Now I find myself stopping to really think about where things are coming from and considering the links in the chain that brought the food to my grocery store or market stall. If I am holding 'fresh' raspberries in my hand in the middle of January, I can make a pretty good assumption that the food I am considering picking up has been stored in a mac truck that has trekked across the country. I can also make the connection between storage and preservatives - what was sprayed on this? We don't need any additional chemicals in our bodies - so, just stop and think before sticking it in the basket.

3. Go All Veg: I tend to be a little reliant on soy products. Soy concerns me only slightly; with juries still being out on the positive/negative realities of estrogen in the pressed and packed tofu that I have come to know and love I try and limit my intake. As a strategy for reducing my soy I have declared 'All Veg' days in my house. This can have awesome effects for those who are meat eaters or vegetarians. Giving your body a break from having to break down meat products and certain dairies is like sending it to the spa. Curries, stir fries, chili, bean dishes and soups are all satisfying options for 'All Veg' days.

4. Buy the Book: Pick up a couple of great vegan cookbooks. There is a current explosion of this culinary literature. The great thing about most vegan cookbooks is that they include glossaries, how-to sections and a 'where to find it' appendix. Having the recipes, instructions and helpful hints right there on my kitchen bookshelf has provided more than a little bit of inspiration on nights when a bowl of cereal is looking like my best option!

5. Surf Green: There is an abundance of websites, blogs and forums dedicated to vegetarian and vegan lifestyles. These sites can spark ideas, become your new favourite interest-read, or provide you with the motivation to try something new.

This is a nice list of small, but impressive, changes that don't have to be permanent, but might just add a little flavour to your life.

Check out my blog (and the slew of veg-links) at: www.vegancowgirl.blogspot.com