Food In Oakland: Oakland Veg Week scheduled for April 15-21, 2012

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A representative for something called Oakland Veg Week sent a rather detailed email about an event called, you guessed it, Oakland Veg Week, set for tax-day April 15th to April 21st. Check it out:

Oakland, California – Have you been looking for a reason to try a vegetarian diet, but lacked the motivation? Look no further. In a week of community education and celebration, Oakland residents will band together to give vegetarianism a try during Oakland Veg Week, April 15-21, 2012.

Oakland Veg Week is a week-long celebration of the health, environmental, and animal welfare benefits of vegetarian eating. Oakland Veg Week will start on April 15th and includes speaking engagements by celebrated Oakland vegan cookbook author Colleen Patrick-Goudreau and Oakland resident and founder of national non-profit, Vegan Outreach, Jack Norris. There will also be a cooking demonstration, a screening of the documentary film, Vegucated, and a grand finale party for participants at the Lake Merritt Sailboat House where participants can sample some of Oakland’s finest vegetarian offerings.

Restaurants throughout Oakland are getting involved by offering specials on vegetarian fare throughout the week. Oakland residents are encouraged to pledge to be vegetarian by signing the pledge at OaklandVeg.com. They’ll receive tips, recipes, and meal ideas for the week. Public officials Rep. Barbara Lee, Alameda County Supervisors Keith Carson and Wilma Chan, and Oakland City Councilwoman Nancy Nadel are all pledging to go vegetarian for Oakland Veg Week.

Oakland Veg Week spokeswoman Kristie Middleton encouraged Oakland residents to take the pledge to be vegetarian saying, “Oakland has a long history of environmental sustainability. Eating more vegetarian foods is better for our health, reduces our contributions to environmental degradation, and means fewer animals will suffer the horrors of factory farming. We hope many Oakland residents will join us by taking the pledge to be vegetarian for the week.”

Every year in the U.S., more than 10 billion chickens, pigs, turkeys and cattle are killed for food. Most of these animals are raised on industrial factory farms, which cause tremendous animal suffering and severe environmental degradation.

Choosing more meat-free meals not only helps protect animals and the planet, but it’s also been shown to help improve our health. The American Dietetic Association recognizes that reduced meat consumption decreases the risk of various health problems including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and various cancers.

For more information about the benefits of vegetarian eating and to learn more about Oakland Veg Week, visit http://www.OaklandVeg.com.

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