*** For anyone who subscribes to my blog (and why would you not? especially if I promise to post more frequently!) via Google Reader, please don't forget that the nitwits wise folk who run the world's largest Oggle show have declared Reader dead and defunct as of July 1, which means that you'll have to find another reader OR subscribe via email instead. Yes, do that and I may even promise to be more (less?) snarky than I just was, snort. ***
(And by "earlier", I mean June 2. Why have I not told you about this before now? Heat? Laziness? Life got in the way? Take your pick. Okay, back to post.)
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Well, it was more of a greet than meet, but still! Plus, she signed my copy of Vegan for Life, so that was pretty cool. And how did I get the rare opportunity to see one of my vegan heroes in the flesh? Why, by attending Niagara VegFest of course. Where I also ran into the famous (infamous?) John Sakars. Poor guy. Still doesn't know who I am, but I know who he is, boo haha...
Back to Niagara VegFest. Sure, it's not as flashy or famous as Vida Vegan Con, but it's free (my very favourite F word, snort) and I was impressed with their speaker lineup. Well done, organizers! Attracting more than 4000 people in your second year in a not-too-big-of-a-city is awesome, so can't wait to see what magic you guys conjure up in the third year.
Went by bus this time so wasn't able to hear all of the speakers, but the three sessions I did attend were fantastic. Plus I learned a phrase that sums it up for many vegans -- WTFork. Love it!
Sessions I missed: Susie Coston "The Over 9 Billion Reasons To Go Vegan -- The Sentience of The Animals We Call Food" (bummer, I was still on the bus), Dr. Michael Greger "The Role of Diet in Preventing, Arresting, and Reversing the 15 Leading Causes of Death (stuffing my face I'm afraid), and Linda Grago "Lessons in Diversity: Growing Heirloom Vegetables" (darn, was taking the last bus out.)
Sessions I didn't miss: Victoria Moran "Main Street Vegan" (great speaker, and great topic -- yep, we so need to make veganism mainstream!), Ginny Messina "Happy, Healthy Vegan for Life: Ten Tips to Guarantee Success" (this session was a success for sure), and JL Fields "Healthy Food Preparation for the Busy Non-Cook: Tips, Trips and Techniques to Eat a Balanced, Compassionate Diet" (JL is funny, informative and sassy -- a classic combo, plus she made us creamy kale miso soup!)
Now, and because I really don't think Ginny would mind if I shared the bullet points of her presentation, here in a nutshell are her ten tips:
- Eat legumes: 3+ servings per day
- Choose healthy fats: eg nuts and seeds, making sure to include omega-3 fats
- Take appropriate supplements: B12 and D daily, iodine several times weekly
- Enhance iron absorption: eat vitamin C-rich foods often
- Get adequate calcium
- Stay up to date with good information
- Add umami: such as tomato paste, ketchup, miso, nutritional yeast
- Opt for convenience when and if you need to
- Stay connected with other vegans
- Celebrate realistic expectations: while health benefits are a wonderful bonus, it's about compassion
She also introduced a cool diagram from her new book Vegan For Her:
So, lots of good vegan food, info, and fun. Who could ask for anything more? ;)
