Green Space: Re-visit vegetarianism at the Great American Meatout in Ferndale

The reasons people go veggie are myriad: ethical, religious, health and, as with many choices these days, environmental.

Simply-put, a plant-based diet is responsible for less greenhouse gas emissions. The environmental benefits become even greater when organic and locally-grown foods are used.

VegMichigan is an organization dedicated to sharing the benefits of a plant-based diet through events and outings and is the local host of the Great American Meatout on Sunday, April 13 at Ferndale High School from noon to 5 p.m.

The afternoon will afford attendees the chance to sample food from local establishments that focus on meatless meals. There will be door-prizes and plenty of informative lectures from notable speakers, including:

• Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, author of The Joy of Vegan Baking and a columnist at VegNews;
• Milton Mills, MD, associate director of preventive medicine for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) who lectures on the impact of meat and dairy consumption on human health and also specializes in race and diet.
• Beaumont Hospital medical director of cardiac rehab Joel Kahn, MD on rehabbing the heart through diet;
  
• local expert Shannon Brines on year-round residential growing using solar greenhouses;
  
• Drew Winter, PETA's reigning "World's Sexiest Vegetarian" on animal rights;
  
• Sierra Club water sentinel and farmer Lynn Henning on Michigan's factory farms; and
  
• VegMichigan president Harry Pianko.

Event organizer Alicia Les says the event attracted 1,000 last year and more than 1,200 attendees are expected this year. One of the biggest attractions is the food, she says.

Besides various local restaurants serving up tastes, like Ferndale's AJ Cafe and Royal Oak's Inn Season Cafe, there will be cooking demonstrations. Angela Kasmala and Gregg Newsom of Detroit Evolution Laboratory will be among those showing attendees some delicious recipes and cooking techniques.  

"At the Meatout, we'll get to present what we present [at the Laboratory] to a small audience, to a big audience," says Newsom.

Source: Alicia Les, VegMichigan and Gregg Newsom, Detroit Evolution Laboratory
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh