Enjoy Vegan Festivals Around The Country

By Larry Allen


Many people never eat animal products of any kind. Following a stricter diet than vegetarians do, these folks eat only products of the vegetable kingdom. It's hard to avoid most American food; eating at home is often the best policy. However, as this eating style becomes more popular and prevalent, vegan festivals are occurring across the country.

A 'vegan' is a person who avoids all meat, dairy (including eggs), and seafood. They never eat butter, yogurt, fish, or omelets. They also avoid seasonings which may contain natural or artificial flavors derived from animal sources. Since most people get their protein from meat and dairy, vegans must work hard to get a balanced diet. However, a carefully-crafted plan using a wide range of vegetables and few refined foods can actually be very healthy.

People who are 'vegan' may just not like the taste of meat. Often, however, they feel that is wrong to eat animals or consume an unfair proportion of the food of the world. They may feel so strongly that they only want to eat vegetables that they refuse anything with even a trace of animal foods. This is a very strict dietary plan, but it does not have to mean that allowed foods won't be good.

Food fests are great for finding out about new foods or learning to prepare old favorites in a whole new way. A vegan festival will have gourmet food that smells great and tastes great - and vendors won't be exhibiting anything that is not allowed on the diet. Visitors won't have to avoid tempting things. They can sample everything that the vendors have brought.

It's a chance to learn new ways to prepare dishes and new items to include in your daily menus. People can get in a rut and eat the same thing over and over, especially when they have dietary restrictions. Go out and see what's new and exciting in the vegan marketplace.

Everyone knows foods they like that are completely vegetarian. A French baguette is made of flour, water, yeast, and salt, as are many hearty whole-grain breads. A great salad has lettuces, seeds, nuts, and fruits; who needs anything more? There are cakes without eggs, creamy sauces without cream, and delicious sautes made without butter. Find a festival in your area, or one worth traveling to, and see how exciting meals can be.

New York City, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Portland, and Austin have these popular festivals. Now, many other places are hosting these specialty food fairs, so check to see if your area is getting on board. If not, suggest to the city fathers that now is the time to cater to this way of eating.

Festivals organized around good things to eat are often the most fun. You don't even have to spend a lot of money on food; vendors give away samples as fast as you can say 'Yes!'. It'll be a good idea to plan on doing your grocery shopping, because you'll be sure to want to bring a lot of their best merchandise home.




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