There are more vegans out there than you think- In all honesty, I was worried that there wouldn't be a huge turnout. But it would seem that there are a lot of vegans in the area, a lot of people who are willing to travel to support such an event a lot of curious meat eaters and vegetarians, or a mixture of all three. Whatever the reason, it was great to see so many people there.
Vegan on Female First
Veganism is represented by a range of age groups- I was surprised at the number of young and older people who attended- from young children with their parents, teenagers, to senior citizens- veganism appeals to all age groups.
Chickens eat their own eggs- In a very interesting lecture about rescuing battery hens- we were told that chickens eat their own eggs when they are cooked for them- they even love the shells as they are a great source of calcium. So if you feel uncomfortable about eating the eggs your rescued chickens produce- there is a solution so they don't go to waste.
There is a lot of support within families- It was lovely to see so many people who came as a family, with a friend or a partner. Mutual support is vital within this lifestyle, which you can get online, but it was so positive to see people coming together for the event.
Some vegans are hard to spot- There are so many tales of what vegans supposedly look like. The media portrays vegans in extreme ways and as a result some people believe that vegans eat, drink and sleep with placards that say 'meat is murder' but in reality- it's difficult to tell a vegan from a non-vegan.
Lectures are interesting- Who knew? I used to fall asleep in some of lectures at university but when all you do is seek out vegan speakers and documentaries on You Tube- it's great to be able to sit in a room full of like-minded people and have them come to you.
Vegans can eat and drink a whole assortment of foods- With stalls selling everything from sweets, cakes, Chinese, Indian and American inspired food to biscuits and beer- one thing became clear- every type of food can be veganised so no vegan has to miss out on a foodie tradition or a culinary experience.
Vegans eat- a LOT- As food was allowed in the lecture theatre- most people brought in snacks. I saw people tucking into big burgers, huge curries and giant hot dogs. Those who believe vegans survive on salads need to think again.
Vegans are a very supportive bunch- All the speakers were more than happy to answer questions and provide advice and help. If there was no time to do this in the lecture space or audience members were too shy- they gave their contact details over so people could get in touch at their own convenience.
Plant based diets are seen by some as medicine- In another guest lecture- fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, legumes, lentils and beans were described as 'medicine' and had helped the speaker to overcome a range of health issues. If all other avenues haven’t worked- plant based eating might be the cure some have been looking for.
Tagged in Vegetarian Vegan