Tomorrow, Friday, September 25, give out hugs to show your appreciation to the vegetarians around you!
Even if you're not a vegetarian, you should still admire the willpower and goodwill of vegetarians worldwide! Adopting a meat-free, vegetarian diet can save up to 100 animals per year. That's a pretty hefty toll when you add it up over the course of a lifetime, so here's to those who stick it out as vegetarians!
Besides it being great for our fellow animal friends, it is also good for you! Limit the animal-fare and you'll be reducing your likelihood for disease – the number-one killer of women. Right up there on the list of scary diseases is cancer, and it's becoming increasingly clear that a meat-cancer connection exists.
You will also be doing the earth a big favour by enhancing your vegetarian meals. Raising cattle for beef and milk spews more greenhouse gases into the air than all of the cars currently on the road. Eating a plant-based meal for lunch instead of a burger saves 2.5 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions, 133 gallons of water, and 24 square feet of land! Also, if you want to fit into those skinny jeans this season, adding more veggies and less meat might help you as well!
It's easier than ever to be a vegetarian! For just about every meat item on the market, there's a meat-free version that's surprisingly good. Did you know a lot of celebrities are vegetarians? Russell Brand, Sarah Silverman, Russel Simmons, Jared Leto, Andre 3000, Ellen DeGeneres, Prince, Brandy, Natalie Portman, Anne Hathaway, Carl Lewis, Common and the gorgeous Olivia Wilde are among them!
A great place to get tasty vegetarian food right here on St. Maarten is Top Carrot! Open from 7:30 am to 6:00pm, this popular health food café and juice bar is great for breakfast and lunch. It features fresh and tasty vegetarian entrées, sandwiches, salads, homemade pastries and fresh fish. Be there early for their daily specials, as they go quickly! Favourites include a pastry stuffed with pesto, avocado, red pepper and feta cheese, and a cauliflower, spinach and tomato quiche. They have free Wi-Fi and adjacent to the restaurant is a gift shop with gorgeous gifts, feel-good items, spiritual books and unique clothing items.
Hug a Vegetarian Day aims to combat the stigma of vegetarianism and to recognize and reward those who undertake the challenges of maintaining a vegetarian diet. Just give it a try. Vegetarian food is vibrant, exciting and flavourful, whether it's the plentiful choices at the supermarket or special menu items at a restaurant. On top of satisfying your taste buds, going vegetarian and eating meat-free food benefit animals, the environment and your health and wellbeing!
Hug your fellow vegetarians tomorrow and even try and think about becoming one yourself! Call Top Carrot at 544-3381 and ask about their menu and yummy specials!
