Bridging the Veg / Non-Veg Divide

Many vegetarians and vegans (or those just leaning in) live with non-veg partners or family members and must also regularly interact with others in a largely non-vegan world. This presents numerous challenges, socially and otherwise, and often leads to awkward situations for everyone involved. With those closest to us, things can be even more pressing: there's often a strong urge to "win them over" or to defend ourselves or to simply find a way to make peace, regardless of which side of the veg issue we're on.

Join Eat for the Earth on Tuesday, January 14th, for a fun and interactive look into the interpersonal and psychological dynamics at play in these situations. Facilitator Jan Liband will lead us through an exploration of proven best practices, tips and tricks, and related topics to help you better understand and bridge the veg / non-veg divide. And let's make it real! Bring your own stories and questions about some real-life challenges. We'll interactively discuss and try to clarify issues so we can see and relate to each other better.

We will start our time together with a whole food, plant-based potluck. Please bring a dish to share that is made exclusively from whole plant ingredients and is free of added oil. Please avoid bringing dishes containing meat, dairy, fish, eggs, or other animal-derived ingredients. To align with the topic of the evening, we encourage you to bring a dish that you think people would enjoy, whether they eat plant-based or not!

Here are some recipe sites for inspiration:

• Forks Over Knives Recipe Collection
• Monkey and Me Recipes
• Center for Nutrition Studies Recipes

If you are new to this way of eating, feel free to bring something simple like a fresh fruit platter or green salad.

Jan Liband is a fact-based environmentalist, public speaker, and Silicon Valley veteran who has studied the environmental and health impacts of our global food system for decades. Jan works with a Bay Area-based non-profit focused on accelerating the global shift to a more sustainable plant-based food system. Jan has presented at Climate Fest 2024, Santa Clara University's tUrn climate week, the World Vegan Fest, Sonoma County Veg Fest, public libraries, and various community organizations. He also works with the producers of the award-winning documentary, Eating Our Way to Extinction, to present at hosted screenings. In addition to advocacy, Jan is an accomplished athlete, martial artist, and professional musician who holds a degree in Psychology from U.C. Santa Cruz.

in addition to your plant-based dish to share, please bring your recipe or a list of ingredients, plate and utensils. And please invite your friends!

Drive towards the back of the parking lot. About halfway down you will see a smaller parking lot towards the left. We are in Sundean Hall, between the side parking lot and the street.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Santa Cruz Seventh-day Adventist Church, 1024 Cayuga Street, Santa Cruz, United States