Thursday, December 19, 2013

411 ON VEGAN AWARENESS MONTH

I was invited to a party once, the hostess was so excited to have a vegan as her guest and she informed me that she knew exactly what she would prepare for me. I have to admit, I was rather skeptical but preserved a pinch of faith that she would Google what a vegan was. Day of the party came and she really had done an extravagant food display but to my dismay she had googled “Vegetarian”.

The difference between a vegan and vegetarian is usually perceived as the same thing BUT this is not the case.

                               

VEGAN: A person who doesn’t eat or use animal products or by products
VEGETARIAN: A person who doesn’t eat meat or fish and sometimes other animal products

In such a world filled with diverse palettes, the Breath of Life Institute decided to take full advantage of Vegan Awareness Month 2013 which was initiated by The Vegan Society in November 1944. Vegan Awareness Month (Also known as VAM) series was held over the weekends from 9th November 2013 – 24th November 2013.

VAM series was divided into 4 activities which explained the benefits of veganism for the animals, environment and humans, the last activity involved food tasting which gave non-vegans a taste of great, healthy vegan food and those who were already vegans more options to explore.

The first 3 activities were held at The Cape Town Central Library and each Saturday an exhibition was on display. Patrons were educated with power packed answers to questions asked about pictures, statements and information given. Books about veganism from the library were on display for patrons to explore and BWC (Beauty without cruelty) pamphlets.

                  


 






















 The vegan cuisine day was held at The Company Gardens where Breath of Life Institute had a stall with spinach spring rolls, vegan recipe and lifestyle books on display, Good Hope International Beverages had a stall with soy milks (sweetened and unsweetened) and soy milkshakes (Chocolate and Strawberry), BWC has Fry’s products display, Crush CafĂ© stall with vegan cake, AVO (African vegan outreach) with booklets that went into the dynamics of animal cruelty of the meat industry and Veg Fund stall with bite size Fry’s foods and pamphlets to accompany them. The day exemplified the saying of Yah in Genesis “Thou mayest freely eat”
Health Connectionwholefoods donated vegan products, Laura Cooke supported and marketed the event on her blog veggie.buntch and also the Green Times team who marketed it on their website 

BWC stall representing Fry's products





Jacques and Lucas at AVO stall

Study material


Prizes for lucky draw and study material




Sample kebabs

Fry's Polony


Soy mince rolls

BWC pamphlets

Sisyah at the Good Hope International Beverages stall


Volunteers at Crush and Avo stall 
Delicious and mouthwatering! No eggs or milk!

Arikeeyah demostrates the different tastes of soy milkshakes












Luan and Laura

The Team


The Team


Somchiyah and Laura


Luan, Simkhiel and Somchiyah



BWC also held a Veg Parade where vegan community took the streets of Sea Point with their banners and pamphlets to create awareness of veganism, the danger it causes to our animals and environment and food alternative with a Fry’s products stand where free fry’s vegetarian sausages were given.








Hopefully such steps will educate and make one more aware of the differences between a vegetarian and vegan, the vast list of benefits it has and the possibilities it introduces in making a difference for our earth, animals and health.

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