This cookbook is unique in many ways and has proved quite popular among the vegan crowd. Not only does it contain chapters on making your own household cleaners, health and beauty products, and vegan treats for animals, it has a really fun chapter on vegan kids.

Melanie: How did you decide to include a kids' section in your book?

Sarah: The kids' section was inspired mostly by my niece Heidi. My brother is raising her vegetarian, but when she is with me I feed her vegan. That meant lots of different tastes for her, and it took a while for her to enjoy her food. Her immediate reaction was to put new foods to her lips and then say "bleck." She helped me test and re-test all of the recipes in the kids section. She would tell me if things needed to be sweeter or more sour. She's really excellent in the kitchen. I think my brother being a chef and me being a food lover has rubbed off a little on her. Healthy eating habits start from the day we are born. Excuse me while I quote the book, but I think it's important to "create eating experiences that are significant, happy times that involve conversation and laughter as well as nourishment."

Tanya: I had a lot of bad experiences with food when I was younger; I still won't eat brussel sprouts to this day! I hated being forced to eat liver, brussel sprouts, or what ever was on my plate. It was really humiliating. I wish I had positive food experiences when I was a young miss, but on the other hand if I did, I might not be writing this.

What experiences or advice will you remember about having a vegan family, if and when that time comes?

Sarah: For now, my 3 cats and Heidi keep me busy enough. I'm an excellent Auntie. It's an amazing gift that I take very seriously. I am very involved with Heidi, and while Heidi isn't vegan most of the time, she is very curious about food. I like to think I had something to do with that. Growing up when I was a kid, dinner was always a time for being together. Whether we liked it or not--*laugh* ! Even now my family tries to get together at least once a month for vegan potlucks, so we can keep tabs on what's going on with each others lives. Those potlucks are one of my favorite things. There's nothing better then family, friends and food.

Tanya: I've definitely thought about having children, but I'm still unsure. I'm 27 right now, so it wouldn't be for another 5 years, at the very least!

Sarah, you grew up veg...what do you think your family could have done differently and/or did well?

Sarah: I couldn't have asked for a better childhood in terms of food. My mum was very enthusiastic about trying new things, new recipes, as are my Dad and Step-mother Denise. They love to experiment with gourmet recipes. My Dad is a meat lover, so his idea of good food and my idea of good food are vastly different. But we agree to disagree and leave it at that. But I think their enthusiasm and experimenting rubbed off on me.

Tell us about your website.

Sarah: There is some basic information about the book, about Tanya and me, merchandise, chat room, reviews, you can order the book on-line, recipe of the month, tips to going vegan--all sorts of things to look at. We love hearing what everyone thinks.

Tanya: I just want to say that we all should start taking responsibility for the choices that we make in our daily lives. This includes what we wear, where we shop, and what we eat. People think that I'm crazy for being vegan, and that my life must be so hard. Compassionate living isn't very hard, it just takes a commitment to change and a commitment to take action. My personal actions come from me re-examining choices I make about what kinds of food to eat, and what clothes to wear. When I'm a consumer, through my buying power, I try to make the world a more humane place. We have evolved to the point where we don't need to cause animal and human suffering, we have plenty of other alternatives. Let's use 'em.

--Interviewed by Melanie Wilson, Editor of Vegetarian Baby and Child magazine.

Read the book review.