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Eat healthy and save the earth

Sandra Thomas
Vancouver Courier

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Now that summer's over, it's time to step away from that barbequed steak and head to the Ninth Annual Taste of Health Food Festival.

EarthSave Canada is presenting the only vegetarian exposition in B.C., Sept. 29th and 30th, at the Croatian Cultural Centre.

The festival is organized to offer information to people who want to learn more about adopting a plant-based diet for reasons of healthy living, animal rights or environmental impact. EarthSave Canada is a non-profit, educational organization that promotes awareness of the health, environmental and ethical consequences of food choices.

Presenters at the festival include Antonia Demas, who will offer tips on introducing children to new foods in a positive way and how vegetarian food choices can become part of the curriculum in school systems.

Jonathan Balcombe, an animal researcher, will present scientific evidence of how animals experience pleasure--including late-night partying dogs, drug-abusing lemurs, and joke-making gorillas.

Dr. Douglas Graham will argue that raw foods are essential for health and true ethical veganism, and that fasting can bring a person to the peak of performance at any stage of life.

The event also includes cooking demonstrations, workshops, a food court, a book fair and a children's tasting zone.

The festival runs from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, and 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $7, but free for children 12 and under accompanied by an adult, as well as free to EarthSave Canada members.

EarthSave expects more than 3,000 people to attend the festival at the Croatian Cultural Centre, 3250 Commercial Dr.
© Vancouver Courier 2007