Carnivores beware: it's National veggie week!

The opportunity to share the many benefits of a great tasting healthy cruelty-free lifestyle with the world is upon us once again - it's National Vegetarian Week!

If you're already vegetarian you could use this week to help spread the word! Let everyone know that it's not just about lentils, tofu and open-toed sandals any more (although there's nothing particularly wrong with any of those). There's a whole world of deliciously sumptuous delights awaiting those who are willing to take a small dietary step. You veggies are the living proof of the benefits of this lifestyle - so get out there and show yourselves off!

What to do if you're not already a veggie...

If you're not vegetarian then you should be thoroughly ashamed of yourself! use this week to see what you're missing! It's your opportunity to discover what you have to gain by ditching the flesh and embracing the world of plant oriented nutrition. It's your chance to benefit from proven improvements to health. It's your opportunity to play your part in cutting down on dangerous greenhouse emissions. It's your opportunity to stop animal suffering. This is your opportunity, don't waste it!

Whether you want help or you want to help, chances are there's an event near you which should fit the bill. For instance:

• Those lucky enough to live in Wokingham will be able to take advantage of free food demos at Vitality Health Foods in Peach Street (tel 0118 977 5797).

• If you're passing through Southsea be sure to stop off at the Greenhouse Kitchen on Marmion Road and enjoy a double celebration - it's National Vegetarian Week (hoorah) and it's the cafe's first birthday. Discounts and specials a-plenty...

• There's just not enough space here to tell you what's going on in the London area this week, you're gonna have to take a look here.

• If you want to feed your cerebral matter, pop along to the Friends Meeting House, The Friars, Canterbury on the 22nd for a talk on veggie delights by Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University.

• If you fancy getting away from it all then head for Bolton where you can stay at the Crazi Carrots, Bed & Breakfast (tel 01204 704600) for four nights and only pay for three.

• Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust in Preston will not only be offering patients healthy vegetarian meals but also lots of veggie information too.

• Visit the Hope Pastures Horse and Pony Sanctuary in Leeds for their Open Day on the 24th and grab yourself some vegan cake courtesy of the local Veg*n group.

• Birmingham Vegetarians and Vegans have arranged a cookery demonstration for all those who ask the question - "You're a vegetarian - so what do you eat?", it's at the Carrs Lane Church Centre on the 26th (tel 0121 353 2442).

• VegNE has arranged for a special Vegetarian Week display at Jack Sprats veg*n cafe on Chillingham Road in Newcastle during the week.

- The Engine Shed in Edinburgh is also helpoing to promote the week via its website, e-bulletins and in the cafe.

- Throughout the UK Holland & Barrett will be offering a number of special Vegetarian Week discounts, Tesco's own brand vegetarian ready meals will be available at a special discounted rate and Asda's in-store magazine will feature some healthy veg*n recipes. And vegetarian wholesaler SUMA will be distributing lots of information whilst out and about.

Of course there's much, much more going on this week than we can feature here - check the events diary for more information. For more details on who is taking part, for recipes and competitions and for your chance to get involved, visit The Vegetarian Society's veggie week pages [Paul Ridden]

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