Thinking of giving vegetarianism a try?
Saturday might be a good day to give it a whirl, the North American Vegetarian Society said.
That's World Vegetarian Day when non-meat eaters and those interested in giving up meat -- if only temporarily --will pay homage to a meatless lifestyle.
Local vegetarians said they welcome the day as a time to encourage people to consider vegetarianism.
A vegetarian diet has proven health benefits, saves animals' lives and helps to preserve the Earth, said Brian Graff, a Vegetarian Society spokesman.
"It's not a fad," said longtime vegetarian Cynthia Black, manager at Cafe Sunflower, a vegetarian restaurant in Sandy Springs. "It's a way of life, a way of healing."
"Food is your first medicine," said Sonya Gilkey, of Atlanta. She's been a vegetarian for 21 years; her husband, Glenn, gave up eating meat 30 years ago. The couple raised three vegetarian sons.
"Once I switched over, I could tell the difference in my health and even my thought patterns," said Gilkey, a natural hair care specialist. "Rarely am I sick or rarely have my children been sick over the years."
To encourage non-vegetarians to give meatless eating a try, the North American Vegetarian Society has developed a contest. Non-vegetarians who pledge to abstain from all meat, fish and fowl during October, which is Vegetarian Awareness Month, can be entered in a random drawing for cash prizes. The top winner will get $1,000, according the organization. People can enter the "Give Vegetarianism a Try" contest at http://www.worldvegetarianday.org
Meanwhile, the AJC's Bargain Hunter has found a least one freebie to celebrate World Vegetarian Day.
And on Oct. 8, Bazaar Noir will be holding a Vegetarian Taste of Atlanta at 188 Walker St. in Atlanta's Castleberry Hill neighborhood.
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