Vegetarians Unite

They don't eat meat, but they like to meet

By Jennifer Kostka Herald Staff Writer

Durango Herald, Wednesday, March 26, 2003, page C-1 (reprinted by permission)

Durango can be a lonely place for vegetarians. They move here for the beautiful scenery but find they are heavily outnumbered in an area where many survive off cattle ranching.

The Vegetarian Society of Colorado Durango Chapter may be the answer for those who crave tasty vegetarian dishes and want to meet others with similar interests.

"We meet because we love to eat and cook good food," said Paige Newman, the chapter's founder.

Newman started the Durango chapter a little more than a year ago to meet other vegetarians and vegans. It has been growing steadily through word of mouth and group e-mails.

The group meets the third Sunday of every month for a potluck vegetarian dinner and to discuss issues associated with being a vegetarian or vegan. Everyone, including people who eat meat, is welcome at the meetings, but people should bring only vegetarian or vegan dishes.

Vegetarians do not eat meat, chicken or fish. Vegans do not eat any animal products, including eggs, dairy, meat broth or gelatin.

Newman, 32, who is also on the Vegetarian Society of Colorado board of directors, became a vegetarian at age 4 because she felt sorry for the animals used in animal products.

"It was my decision," she said. "My mom was feeding me bologna. I asked her where it came from. She told me and I never ate it again."

About 10 people are involved in the chapter, and many of them became vegetarians for health and ecological reasons.

Vegetarian diets are high in fiber and low in cholesterol and fat, reducing the risk for heart disease and some types of cancer, according, to the American Dietetic Association. Vegan diets have no cholesterol.

Newman said people also choose to become vegetarians because they do not want to support what they say is the inappropriate treatment of animals at factory farms.

AI wish more people would eat local meat from animals' raised humanely in a way that is sustainable for the land,". Newman said. "But the majority of meat eaten in the U.S. comes from factory farms, where large numbers of food animals are raised in crowded lots under horrible conditions, and that is what many vegetarians don't want to support."

The group's goal is not to convert meat-caters to vegetarians, Newman said.

"All of us are just out to meet people with similar interests," she said. "We're not out to convert people. It's just to network."

One of the biggest struggles for vegetarians and vegans is. keeping their diets balanced. The American Dietetic Association recommends that people eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole grains. For vegetarians who eat dairy products, the association recommends people choose low-fat versions.

Sometimes the group holds meetings at local restaurants or stores that have good vegetarian menus. Members met at Nature's Oasis in Durango earlier this month to see some of the store's health food products and eat at the deli.

Many meetings have themes or guest speakers. Nathan Ballenger with the Sari Juan Basin Health Department led activities for people to act out ways they influence the environment, Katlina Blair taught a class on raw foods and the health benefits of eating foods that have not been cooked.

Members also had a tamale-making class and a veggie Thanksgiving dinner.

Reach Staff Writer Jennifer Kostka at jennifer@durangoherald.corn.