Let the experiment begin!

After a long break in this blog I re-discovered it again. It happened mainly because I decided to do an experiment. Basically I decided to become a vegan for 3 months and see if I get any healthier. Also, since my previous concerns about the vegan diet non being totally environmentally sound I was going to try to track my food in terms of energy needed. Like for example, fake cheese has palm oil - is that good or bad compared to real cheese from Wisconsin in terms of energy?
I am mainly inspired by "Omnivore's Dilemma", a great book that traced out influences of failing farm policy as well as other environmental concerns as it relates to the un-wholesomenes of our food.
Am I motivated by suffering of animals? Partially. I do feel bad about tortured chickens and cows. However if the alternative will cause destruction of the rainforest (palm oil) or contribute to global warming (all the shipping) - I don't know how I feel about that.
Obviously I won't be able to trace the environmental impact of foods when I eat out. But I am hoping in 3 months to have at least some understanding about the impact of rising meat eating or rising vegan eating.

Local eggs vs. fake cheese

After reading Omnivore's Dilemma and after reading about energy usage and fossil fuels and how that impacts our world, I was left with WAY more questions than answers.
 So what is better for me - a trip to a nice family farm down state some place for eggs and cheese or vegan cheese made locally on the South Side in Chicago? I really felt stumped. Eggs from a family farm, chickens living outside, cow milked occasionally, grazing on grass.
Or vegan cheese, with no animal ingredients, made from cashews that resembles a really good cheese spread. Both totally tasty. But cashews? How far did they have to travel to get to the vegan cheese makers? When calculating fossil fuel impact, and its effect on the environment, is eating vegan cheese the answer? Is it really a more morally sound choice?