I started my week of vegan whilst on holidays in New Zealand (and later came back to 
Sydney), which didn’t prove to be difficult given my rather diminished need for energy.
Cheese, as Grace has suggested, was the hardest thing to give up. I did slip up on one occasion by having an egg for breakfast.
However, I approached the vegan challenge as a bit of a personal detox. I was determined to eat less food and also eat food that was not so heavy. I was curious to see how it felt.
At the end of the challenge, I most certainly felt as though I was refreshed. I had stayed off unhealthy food and my addiction to cheese and milk chocolate. I felt lighter and lost a little bit of weight (due to an increase in training recently).
Nonetheless, it should be noted that I am fairly regimented with my eating. At breakfast, I rarely shy away from my usual bircher museli with fruit and a coffee on the side.
I also took advantage of the lovely Italian dishes that my family sometimes cooks (see this recipe for example we found online). Lentil soup and various pastas fall under the vegan umbrella. I ate a lot of that food.
On balance, it is difficult to determine what it would be like being a “full time” vegan. I approached the experiment as a bit of a detox and in this regard it was positive, but I don’t think I know how it feels to go through wholesale dietary changes.
The hardest aspect of it all was the social aspect (for example see this blog). Being in New Zealand on holiday wasn’t so much of an issue. I was only eating two meals a day and had no social obligations. This week my diary was rather empty but I faced a challenge on Friday night where I had to hold off from a substantial meal because standard local bars simply don’t offer in-depth vegan options.
I was relieved I could still use my coffee machine.
Monday
Bircher muesli with soy milk
Espresso coffee
Leftover pasta
A banana
Vitaweats with nutellex and vegimite (thanks for the tip Lane)
Leftover boiled rice and beans
Lentil soup
Tuesday
Bircher muesli with soy milk
Espresso coffee
Salad sandwich, carrots and celery
Banana and apple
Vitaweats with nutellex and vegimite
Leftover lentil soup
Salad and grated carrots dressed in garlic sauce (my breath stank)
The pasta cupboard got a good run…
Wednesday
Bircher muesli with soy milk
Espresso coffee
Pear and banana
Avocado on toast
Rice with beans and fish sauce
Fettucine napoletana
Salad
Thursday
Bircher museli with soy milk
Poached egg – yes I know I slipped up!
Espresso coffee
Two fresh apples
Salad sandwich
Rice with beans and leftover salad
Risotto
Eggs – my slip up!
Friday
Bircher muesli with soy milk
A banana
Espresso coffee
Toast with nutellex and vegimite
Leftover lentil soup
Leftover grated carrots with that garlic sauce!
Saturday
Bircher museli with soy milk
A banana
Espresso coffee
Leftover pasta napoletana
Carrots and celery
The fruit bowl was emptied (almost)
Sunday
Bircher muesli with soy milk
Soy cappuccino
Salad sandwich, carrots and celery
Pear and apple
Beans and rice
To Bean Or Not To Bean? 