The second annual Vegfest is set to take place on April 2 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Collegedale Commons. This event is being run by The Healthy Taste Inc. and will feature 18 food vendors, promote plant-based food and products and include interactive kids programs.
Healthy Taste Inc. was initially founded in Knoxville, Tennessee and recently established as a secondary branch in Chattanooga just last year according to Gabriel McClover, the organization’s current president.
“My wife and I own a restaurant here in Summerville, GA,” said McClover about the inspiration behind the local Vegfest, “and we started visiting vegan festivals that happened all over the country. However, we soon realized that many of these [festivals] placed their emphasis on animal rights and activism. We wanted to create an event that focused on the health of the individual and on how food can help prevent and reverse chronic lifestyle diseases.”
According to McClover, last year’s Vegfest was also held at the Collegedale Commons and was such a success in attendance that he hopes Healthy Taste Inc. can continue holding these annual events there in the future.
“This year we hope to have an even bigger impact,” said McClover, “and we want our attendees to leave with an understanding that plant-based food can taste good and can be applied to their own lives.”
The event will not only have a number of vendors selling food, promoting health-based products and featuring other plant-based products, according to McClover, but there will also be demonstrations sponsored by the different vendors happening throughout the event like seasoning and cooking classes and a panel of physicians and health educators who will be discussing questions and taking audience questions.
“We focus fairly heavily on kids, so we have interactive programs within our event like a reptile show, science experiments and book readings,” said McClover. “But we also see many teens and college students attending, standing around in little pockets eating vegan cinnamon rolls and just having good conversations. I think these types of events are great opportunities to learn something new about the food you eat, meet new people, fellowship and enjoy yourself.”
Those wanting to get involved as vendors, volunteers or are simply looking for more information can check out Healthy Taste Inc.’s website www.healthytaste.net.
