"When we kill the animals to eat them, they end up killing us because their flesh, which contains cholesterol and saturated fat, was never intended for human beings."
Kind Words from Students, Newsletter Subscribers, and Podcast Listeners!
"Loved it. Loved it. Loved it. I want to bring all my friends and family here next time. Thank you for all your hard
work and effort. I can't wait to come back."
"You are amazing. You have been blessed with such an awesome personality. You capture and educate your students with
knowledge and passion and bring that enthusiasm to your students. I have learned so much and am so grateful I found
your classes."
"Thanks again for your good energy and wealth of nutritional knowledge! You have had a big influence on our family."
"It was because of you that I even considered going vegan. The class I attended last year really made me think about
my diet in a completely different way. Because of you, the "vegan way" didn't seem so difficult or crazy. I mainly
changed for cholesterol issues but certainly think about the animals as well. You present the idea in the most
friendly, non-militant, and non-defensive way I've ever seen. You just present facts and offer information and
opinions in a way that allows people to think about it and not feel it was crammed down their throat. You truly have a
gift."
"Thank you very much for your wonderful, interesting, and informative cooking demo! The food was so delicious! I have
been considering becoming a vegan for many years now, and you have inspired me to give it a try."
"I think you have a future as TV's first vegan chef. You should get in touch with KQED!"
"We LOVED your class. You are absolutely the best role model for veganism, with your beauty and charm and passion for
what you do. Thank you, and keep up the great work!"
"It is no wonder you are the success that you are. Everything about this class on Saturday was perfect. I just wanted
to be sure you know how much I appreciated the class and meeting you and your assistants. And the recipes - just
great! Thank you for sharing so much important information about eating, planning, and taking good care of ourselves
and for delivering it with poise, kindness and fun!"
"You have such a warm personality and are so knowledgeable. I love your enthusiasm and will be looking for the TV
show!"
"Many thanks for your articulate "Perspectives" on compassion on KQED radio. I just listened to it via podcast this
morning and was delighted to recognize your voice. I'm a "raving fan" of yours ("raving fan" is a compliment in the
world of business, it doesn't mean I'm mentally ill!). I bought your DVD and am trying very hard to move into a
vegetarian lifestyle. Please keep up your great work, and know that your voice is heard and appreciated by many."
"Loved this class. It may have possibly changed my life."
"I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy, appreciate and am inspired by your Food for Thought messages. I very much
look forward to your communications which are wise, enlightened, intelligent, empassioned, and upbeat. Thanks for all
your hard work, dedication and commitment to a more humane world, both for non-humans and humans alike. You have my
utmost respect and admiration, neither of which I express often or easily. But you have more than earned it, Colleen.
The world is a far better place with you in it."
"Great class. Great soups. Great teacher! Your sense of humor is infectious. Thanks."
"Thank you for doing so much to change the way people think and to encourage them along the way. You are an
inspiration to all of us who value the lives of the animals. Compassionate Cooks is a bright spot in an otherwise
dismal situation."
"I'm so grateful for all the crucial information I learned in your classes, and I have changed my diet to eating
mostly vegan. I want to do whatever it takes to take care of my health and spread the information I learned with
others after taking your class. Thank you for your entertaining, fun classes and your constant warmth."
"I have always perceived vegetarianism as a "lack," as if something is being taken away. Your class helped me see -
for the first time - that vegetarianism is actually expansive, that it means an "increase." Thank you for changing my
perception."
"What an eloquent and venerable ambassador you are for those who cannot speak for themselves. It is commendable that
you have dedicated your life to spreading the word about compassion. I admire and respect you for all you do."
"Thank you so much! These recipes were absolutely delicious! I can't imagine missing meat or dairy eating like this.
These dishes were not just yummy for vegan food -- they're just flat out yummy! I'm so glad I found out about these
classes!"
"I loved this class. Great, tasty, easy-to-make recipes. I have been a vegetarian for 16 years and am trying to
transition to being vegan. Thank you for making it easier!"
"I'm so excited to tell you that my daughter, after attending your class with me, has decided to be vegan. Watching
her quest for more knowledge reminded me of me when I began my "awakening" and became a vegan ~ a very "joyful vegan,"
as you say. I want to thank you for your inspiring, informative class ~ we both just loved it!"
"I can't tell you how excited I am about having found your website. As a new vegetarian I am eager to learn as much as
possible, and to read about how others are dealing with the frustrations (and joy) that come with being a vegetarian.
I've read all your posts and enjoyed them immensely. Also I've listened to all your podcasts and they're great. It is
because of people like yourself that I have hope."
"This class was great -- not only informative but highly entertaining! Will entice me to cook more and return for
future classes!"
"Time and time again I have been enlightened by your efforts. While I possess a great number of vegan recipes, my
collection has been enlarged many times over through your selections of delicious vegan fare. Thank you very much."
"How delightful! I'm so glad I came. Wonderful wealth of information. Will definitely return for future classes. The
food was so tasty, some of the best I've ever had. Thanks so much!"
"Thank you so much for another wonderful and extremely informative class! You and your classes have been a fantastic
influence on me - thanks again!"
"I want you to know I so enjoy your Food for Thought Newsletter and always enjoy reading your thoughts and comments in
your "What I Know" column. Your way of seeing things and describing them makes me feel awesome about being a
vegetarian."
"Thank you for a fun class. I enjoyed it very much! Thanks for all your help making it easier for our family to reduce
the use of animal foods!"
"The dishes were delicious, and the class was so much fun. I hadn't thought about the animal rights aspect much
before, but last night's information made me realize (obvious, I know) that being an animal lover and a meat-eater is
not really compatible. Most of all, your class has reinforced the idea that a vegan diet is feasible and not
unbearably limited. Now I'm looking more into what I can feed my kids, and am leaning ever more strongly toward
vegan."
"The class was fabulous! I am inspired to cook everyday and become vegan! You are a great teacher -- thank you so
much!"
"There was a moment during the March class when you were talking about veganism being a beautiful way to live your
life. What struck me was that it was said with true, honest emotion. I heard it, I saw it, I felt it. Your integrity
is very obvious to me and to all your students."
"Just want to say how much I appreciate you. I am a lone, fairly newly minted, vegetarian amidst a large family of
carnivores. They are supportive and respectful of my dedication to not harming animal life, but tuning into you guys
allows me to feel not so isolated. You also renew my resolve to do what I am doing."
"I just heard your passionate explanation for your compassion for animals on "Perspective" on KQED. Bravo! Beautifully
stated. I'm sure you caused thousands of people to stop and think. Just as you did my husband, who turned away from
his "chorizo ways" and walked out of your November cooking lesson a vegetarian. And he hasn't looked back since."
"Thank you for your dedication and commitment to animals. Everything was delicious! I'm so glad and excited to have
been part of this class. I love your personality - friendly, humorous, personable. You make it all approachable and
do-able!"
"I had no idea what to expect, this being my first cooking class. You were so fantastic. It was informative with a fun
and funny twist! Thank you for the great food and information!"
"This class was so much fun! Thank you so much! The recipes are simple enough that I can make them on my own - and
they were delicious!. I'm really looking forward to taking more classes. I appreciate all the info on veganism and
vegetarianism too and will be thinking a lot more about the issues of animal cruelty."
"This class was awesome! Very informative. It was exactly what I needed to learn to cook tofu and tempeh."
"I really love your thoughts expressed in your newsletter section "What I Know" - a beautifully written expression of
compassionate values for ALL sentient beings. Yet another example of the heart-centered work you do to help us all
awake."
"Enjoyed the class very much! What a treat it was - enjoyed the enthusiastic, positive feeling overall. Lots of good
tips!"
"I have been vegetarian for 25 years, but I still learned a lot here - and had a really fun time!"
"I just returned from a doctor's appointment. I usually dread them because I have been battling high cholesterol for
six years and, having tried statin drugs am unwilling to go that route again. I think they're really bad for you (at
least for me). So I have tried various herbs, niacin, vitamins, exercise regimens, low fat diets, etc. Forget it.
Nothing worked at all. Some made it worse! So now, I try veganism for six weeks. Lowered total cholesterol by FIFTY
points (229 to 179). Good cholesterol up ten points. Doc says my triglerides are now the lowest of any person in her
entire practice. I want to tell you how much I appreciate your help and support in this journey. You have been a
treasure and I am so grateful. My doctor asked me if I really believed that veganism is "sustainable" (meaning, I
presume that I won't get sick of it and give up). I really believe it is sustainable now. But I needed to take your
cooking classes and follow up on your suggested resources before I could get to that place. It is very gratifying that
what is healthy is also good for the Earth and its creatures."
"I have been meaning to tell you that I was able to get off of my Lipitor! I had struggled to reduce my cholesterol
without drugs, via acupuncture and Chinese medicine and a vegetarian low-fat diet. That lowered it 20 points which was
not enough, so I went on Lipitor. I became totally vegan in November from my being at your classes. I asked the doctor
to let me off the medicine for 6 months to see if the cholesterol would stay down; it had been 145 on the medicine. It
didn't stay that low, but it is within the OK, safe limit at 170!!!! I remember arguing with you about it, saying that
for some of us who are genetically predisposed to high cholesterol, the diet might not be enough. And indeed it might
not be, but for now, for me, it is, and I am just thrilled. I actually bought a vegan cookbook even! Thanks for
everything!"
