The kitchen table is a universal gathering place to break bread and commune
with family and friends. In the Lenten season (February 13- March 31) many
devout followers of Christ forego various favorite things (and some vices) to
represent and honor Christ's standing against the temptations that Satan
prodded Him with in the desert. Some of the more common yet undeniably
difficult form that restraint takes is the denying oneself of meat and dairy.
Julie Watkins, founder of Jacksonville-based Vegan Advocacy organization The
Girls Gone Green, has been a vegan activist for more than 16 years. She
recently shared some helpful tips about how to ease the stress of going vegan
for those seemingly interminable 40 days and 40 nights. During the Lenten
season, those who do decide to fast and give up myriad habits have numerous
support groups in their home churches.
Some people may find that going vegan or raw for the first time can prove
to be more difficult even with meditations and spiritual affirmations. So it's
a good thing that The Girls Gone Green hold events throughout March helping
connect newbies to veterans of the fold. “Eating is extremely social and
nothing will make you feel more like an outsider than showing up to a family
dinner as the only vegan,” she says. Watkins wants to urge omnivore friends to
continue to take part in dining out with those observing Lent by eschewing all
meat and dairy items.
Just because someone is giving up something for Lent doesn’t necessarily
mean that a non-vegan host has to put favorite recipes away on the shelf. There
are many ways to maintain traditions and keep the spirit of communion alive.
Branching out and looking for the information is as easy as the click of a
mouse. Watkins recommends educating yourself: “The Internet has made hosting
those with different eating habits simple and easy. You'll find over a million
different veg-friendly recipes by just typing in the word "vegan" or
"vegetarian" in a search engine. Also, don't feel like you have to
give up your favorite dishes or can no longer serve them. My mom still makes
mince and tatties, but she now uses the meatless ground crumbles instead and
you can't tell the difference. It'll taste good and be good for you. You can't
say that about conventional meat.”
People tend to fear that which they do not understand, and there are
certainly many concerns regarding health while fasting for Lent or beginning a
new way of life. There are a lot of questions surrounding the lifestyle
including: Where would one get protein? Do you lose muscle mass? Are all vegans
thin? Watkins assures reluctant vegans that one can indeed get plenty of
protein and nutrients. “People don't realize how much protein is in fruits,
vegetables and legumes and that it's the last thing you'll ever need to worry
about when cutting out meat. Luckily, many misconceptions are being quieted by
better education of food and how it affects our body,” she assures.
The Girls Gone Green group offers a Vegan-Friendly Dining Guide on the
website www.vegjax.com to help accommodate vegans and vegetarians who are
trying enjoy a night out in Jacksonville, listing local restaurants that serve
a bevy of fresh vegan, vegetarian, and raw menu options. Categorizing the
restaurants by neighborhoods, it breaks down menus and lists ingredients so
that everyone can enjoy the unity and togetherness during Lent — and beyond —
wherever you choose to dine. No Meat March begins March 1; a kickoff party is
held at Buddha’s Belly Thai Bistro, right off Third Street South in
Jacksonville Beach. The Girls Gone Green will be at the Riverside Arts Market
from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 2 to answer
all of your burning No Meat March questions. If you miss picking up your No
Meat March card at the kickoff party, just stop by the RAM booth, 715 Riverside
Avenue, under the canopy of the Fuller Warren Bridge, Riverside.
Julie Watkins Executive Director, The Girls Gone Green
www.nomeatmarch.com
www.vegjax.com
www.nfvegfest.org
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