While I had hoped some people would show up for the event, I was blown away by the turnout and response! We had to get more chairs and then we ran out and there was standing room only left. People got to eat a variety of vegan foods, including mini muffins, Gardein beefless tips, hummus and blue corn chips, chickpea salad, tofu salad, crackers, vegan gummy bears, chocolate soymilk and vanilla almond milk, and bagels and vegan cream cheese, among other things. We had a great response to the food and people had a lot of questions for us.

We also set up a table filled with literature about veganism, coupons, recipes, etc. In addition, we had a giveway of vegan products at the end (vegan mac and cheese, vegan worcesteshire sauce, crackers, and even vegan cookbooks).

The response for the whole event was incredible! People were genuinely interested in learning more about where their food comes from and the process it took to get to their table. They watched the movie, ate, asked questions, and nobody left empty handed.

A big thank you goes out to all those who came out to the event today!

And for making it possible, big thank you's go out to Edward and Sons for providing a variety of vegan products for people to try (mac and cheese, sauce, crackers, gummy bears, etc.), to gardein for providing all the beefless tips samples and coupons, and to VegFund for funding the purchase of a wide variety products for people to try (soy and almond milk, tofu salad, chickpea salad, vegan bagels and cream cheese, hummus and chips, etc.).  Thank you to the fabulous Vegetarian Resource Group for providing us with lots of great literature to offer people. And, thanks to the News Journal for putting the information in there twice to inform people about the event, and thank you to the Port Orange Library for allowing us to have such a great set-up and place to hold this event. We look forward to many more!

Behind the scenes, thank you to Carolyn, Terri, and my husband, for all their help! :)

Here are pictures from today's event (you can see more on our Facebook page here):

I'm getting ready to turn 40 and wanted to have it checked. So a few days ago I went to have a lipid panel done at the hospital, so I could see what it was. I got my test results back today and I'm thrilled! My total cholesterol level is 112! How cool is that?

Not only is that good by overall standards, falling into the desirable category, but it seems it is good also by vegetarian and vegan standards. I did a quick search to see what the average cholesterol level is for vegetarians and vegans and this is what I found from PETA (see full article here):

"Incidentally, while the average cholesterol level in the U.S. is 210, the average vegetarian's cholesterol level is 161 and the average vegan's cholesterol level is 133. People with cholesterol levels below 150 virtually never have heart attacks, while nearly one-third of meat-eaters will die from one."

If that is accurate, then I feel even better about my 112.

The point is, though, that millions of people in this country are sweating learning their cholesterol levels right now. Some are being handed prescriptions for cholesterol lowering medications and others are being scheduled for open heart surgery, or other procedures. But not consuming the animal products is all it takes to get a desirable number.

Heart disease, one less thing I have to worry about.

The World Vision catalog caught my attention because the cover had a cute picture of a goat and on the bottom it read "Inspiring gifts for everyone on your list." So I opened it up and started looking. I am all for inspirational gifts, so I wanted to see what was offered.

I didn't like what they were selling as inspirational gifts. Chickens, goats, cows, sheep, ducks, rabbits, etc. Yup, I guess some people find it inspiring to purchase one of these animals, thus giving it a death sentence. The catalog is chock-full of explanations of how giving these gifts help others.

First, I find it odd that I would take my list of people I need to buy for and then tell them I bought a goat for someone in another country, and then somehow convince them that it is their gift. It immediately reminds me of the Seinfeld episode (see the clip here), where they focus on this type of gift giving. While it's a great way for charities to tug at heart strings, it's a concept that I'm not comfortable with.

Secondly, I don't think buying animals for those in need is a good gift. It's exchanging one life of suffering for another. There are better ways to help, I am sure. On page 5 they are offering the "gift" of a goat and 2 chickens for $100. They state that it is the "Best $100 you'll ever spend." Really? I just don't agree. I think the "best" gift will always be subjective. What I feel is the best, isn't necessarily what someone else will feel is the best. My best gift would never include purchasing animals for someone so they can go on to eat them and their by-products (the gift description states that "...you'll provide a steady supply of eggs, milk, and meat to feed children and save families." (You can save lives with fruits, veggies and grains!)

There were only a few things in this catalog that I thought had merit, such as the mosquito nets, water well, soccer balls, etc. But even so, I can't see my kids waking up on Christmas morning, running to the tree and finding a note that says "You got a soccer ball...for a child on the other side of the world." Somehow I just don't think that will sit well.

World Vision isn't the only time I've seen this type of gift (and how did they get my name/address to send me this catalog??), I've seen the ads online for it as well, through OxFam.

These gifts are not "inspiring" and are not the best $100 someone can ever spend. They perpetuate the idea that animals are things and to be used at human disposal. They continue to create the desire to eat meat and dairy products.

If you really want to support this type of gift giving, opt for the vegetable seed gift on page 9. At least you will be providing food, without paying for animals to be slaughtered.