Veganism hits Orlando

[Guest guest]

Juwon Ajayi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Media Credit: Juwon Ajayi

ANIMAL-FREE FOOD: The 2008 Central Florida Veg Fest featured a cornucopia of vegan-friendly food such as these oat patties above.If you came out to the 2008 Central Florida Veg Fest, you saw that contrary to popular belief, vegans never lack variety in their meal options. From hot dogs to lasagna, Veg Fest had something for everyone. Held at Loch Haven Park, the festival attracted crowds of people who came to check out the numerous exhibits and vendors available. There was music, flamethrowers, speakers and plenty of vegan food. Vendors offering meatless goodies included Z-Cafe, Ethos Vegan Kitchen and Khasiyat, among many others. The crowd that gathered at the third annual festival that Saturday were vegans, vegetarians, those who were considering making the lifestyle change, and those who just wanted to know what vegans actually ate. Many people thinking of

crossing over to the green side are afraid they'll be limited to eating tofu and spinach for the rest of their lives. While tofu is usually a staple in vegan and vegetarian diets and spinach is just good for you and should be eaten, there's a lot more available to eat. The Ethos Vegan Kitchen tent served up meatball subs and macaroni and cheese that had people lining up. There were salads, burgers, lasagna, paninis and vegan hot dogs being sold by different vendors as well. With a little effort, people can transition into veganism and still enjoy tasty food…unless you enjoy having tofu for breakfast, lunch and dinner.At one time, going vegan meant sacrificing favorites like pizza and grilled cheese sandwiches. Those days are gone, my friends. Behold the perfection that is Sheese. Imported from Scotland, Sheese is a one-hundred percent vegan alternative to dairy cheese. It comes in seven block flavors and six creamy spreads. With no artificial

colors, no casein and no gluten in it, it's a great alternative. Now it's not the real thing, but it's a very tasty substitute and anyone who has tasted some of the soy cheeses on the market right now will be happy to know that this product does not taste like a burnt Barbie doll. Black Duck Imports, the company that distributes Sheese, will start supplying their products at Whole Foods.Some vegetarians still eat eggs and dairy, which means they can enjoy desserts like ice cream and cake. But vegans, who abstain from consuming any animal products, are hardly missing out. Making my way over to the crowd of people surrounding the Mixed Media Baked Goods tent, I happened across a vendor with the really good stuff. A bakery that runs out of Infusion Tea, Mixed Media has vegan-baked goods to die for. Cupcakes like the "Oreo Cookie" and "Red Velvet" were popular and sold quickly. There were also peanut butter and mocha cupcakes available. Vegan

desserts, while more difficult to find, are out there. In addition to Mixed Media, Dandelion Café, Ethos, Z- Café, Drunken Monkey Coffee Bar, and Get Green Organics all serve delicious vegan desserts. Stores like Publix and Whole Foods also stock vegan desserts including soy ice creams like Tofutti and Purely Decadent. That's right, vegan cookie dough ice cream does exist! Rejoice, for all is right in the world.

In our depressing economy, people may balk at the hefty price tag that comes along with a vegan diet. I mean vegan food is expensive, right? No, not really. Ask yourselves how much you spend on beef, chicken and seafood and get back to me on that one. And being vegan isn't difficult either. For those who can't even boil water or just don't have the time to cook a veggie stir-fry, there are vegan frozen dinners on the market. From vegetable pot pies to samosas, brands like Amy's Kitchen are making sure those who can't cook or don't have time to can enjoy a good meal. There are also products like Joe's Oat Patties. Made with oats, soy protein and different herbs and spices, Joe's Oat Patties are one-hundred percent organic, one-hundred percent vegan, and incredibly easy to make. You add water, let it soak for ten minutes, and you have yourself a meatless burger mix. Who says being a vegan was hard? I do. Being a vegan isn't

easy. Until restaurants start doing a better job at providing veg-friendly options on their menus, you're always going to be the weirdo that wants to know what kind of oil the fries were cooked in. And being a vegan requires some creativity to avoid getting bored with the same meals. But as the Veg Fest showed, more people are curious. And the more people demand that vegan food be provided in supermarkets and restaurants, the more varied our options will be.

 

 

Peter vv