VegFest comes to St. John's for the 1st time

Vegans, vegetarians and anyone interested in learning about a plant-based lifestyle can hit up the RE/MAX CentreSaturday for the first ever St. John's VegFest.

The festivalisan annual international event that has locally organized branches, similarly to TEDTalks and TEDx St. John's.

While you don't have to be vegan or vegetarian to attend the event, organizer ErinNormandeau says attendeesmight be surprised by how easy a plant-based lifestyle can be to follow.

It's great,I only wish I had done it sooner.- Erin Normandeau

"You think it's going to be hard All our meals are based around our meat or our protein," she told CBC Radio's The St. John's Morning Show.

"Essentially with vegetarianism or veganism it's the same thing, except we're just reaching to plant-based sources to do that. They are many plant-based foods that are very high in protein, and then other nutrients as well, and at the same time the bonus being that they're lower in fat and salt."

A vegan herself, Normandeauis excited to bring the event to St. John's for the first time.

"A couple of us got together and just saw that there was a need," she said.

"It's sort of been spreading across North America, and we thought, 'Well, let's try and do it in St. John's.' And so far so good."

Event details

St. John's VegFest 2016 is a free event takingplace Saturday from 9a.m. until 6p.m.

There will be food and merchandise vendors throughout the day all items for sale are 100 per centveganas well as entertainment and yoga for kids in the morning and guest speakers in the afternoon.

There will also be a panel discussion at 3:30 p.m. to talk aboutthe challenges and benefits of being a vegan in Newfoundland and Labrador.

When speaking about veganism,Normandeauhas only one complaint.

"It's great,I only wish I had done it sooner," she said.