I find the powdered stevia I've tried is bitter/weird tasting. I use the liquid extract (KAL brand) since I don't think it tastes bad at all. It's perfect for sweetening beverages and salad dressings.

ollie - mephestopheles is a great name for a fish! :) I feel sorry for fish because they really get the shaft, everyone gets all sentimental about the cute & fuzzies but few people can muster any sympathy for a fish, perhaps because they are not mammals and quite different from us. :( I find animals of all kinds fascinating, but for those who don't think much of fish perhaps they could find it in their heart to feel bad for all the bycatch (non-targeted species such as dolphins, sea turtles, birds, etc.) that the fishing industry accidentally kills by the billions each year. WWF has an excellent fact sheet on the subject. Colleen Patrick-Goudreau also covers this topic very well in an episode of her podcast Vegetarian Food for Thought (search for the one posted 5/30/07 titled "Fish Consumption and By-Catch")

I also have an omnivore husband. We've had a vegetarian household for as long as we've been living together (over 5 years) but he still keeps cow's milk in the fridge. He doesn't really buy any other dairy and we haven't had eggs in the house for a long time. I don't like having dairy in the house, but he is very good and supportive otherwise so I don't give him grief about it.

nellie- thanks. i actually checked to see if China Study is at the library and all 16 copies are checked out! must be good--i'm on da list.

stevia- my aunt back in The Bam grew stevia in her herb garden and we used to throw a leaf in our cup o tea and sip. yummy. never bought it though. i'll be on the lookout.

shananagins- yes, he lives up to his name. thanks for the fact sheet! i downloaded it and emailed it to my husband. yeah, fish do get the shaft. :( when i became vegetarian, folks not only thought that was absurd, but also could not wrap their heads around me not eating anchovies e.g. caesar dressing and other sauces. and i can't count how many times i've heard "but you eat fish, right?"

good thing about being the woman and wearing the pants around the house, i also for the most part control what's in the fridge and pantry and subsequently what's on the table. for me the choice about becoming vegan not only involves making my body as animal free as possible, but also using me wallet to voice my conscience. we shall see how it plays out....muhahaha