Thursday, December 13, 2007

Record Attendance at Festive Dinner

Our annual Festive Dinner held at the new Satisfaction Feast on Friday December 7th was our biggest dinner to date with thirty members and guests filling the restaurant. The food was impressive thanks to Sarita and her staff, who managed to satisfy everyone. The choice of larger or smaller servings is rarely given in restaurants today, but was offered to us and provided savings in cost and waste. With the Satisfaction Feast stressing local and organic when possible, the dinner was an environmental, as well as a vegetarian success.

Dr. Anne Houstoun spoke to us on the health benefits of a vegetarian diet. The fact that vegetarians live longer healthier lives was documented in the Public Policy Statement of the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada Position on Vegetarian Diets. This report and a Vegetarian food guide rainbow was provided to each of us by Dr. Houstoun. We are in her debt for this report, as well as the time she gave us for her thoughtful presentation and individual discussions. If you missed the dinner, but would like to receive this printed information, please request it from our secretary.

I found it interesting that the policy statement indicated that 2.5% of adults in the USA and 4% of adults in Canada follow vegetarian diets. If this is the average for all of Canada, the average in Halifax would be much higher. Our current membership of just over fifty has considerable potential for growth.

We will be back to you in January with our 2008 events including a January dinner. In the meantime, use your membership cards over the holiday for discounts at the restaurants, cafes and other businesses in our discount program.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year