On 15 October, over 300 people are present at the last event of “Super Veggie Super Fun” for this year to enjoy a “meatless party” together. (Photo by Fong Kwai Kin)
"This is a significant event to show that a plant-based diet is also delicious, more nutritious and kinder to animals and the planet," the MP for Nee Soon GRC, Louis Ng, a long-term vegetarian, happily said while seeing people flocking in to try out the food at various food stalls.
In 2022, a group of passionate Tzu Chi volunteers came up with the "Super Veggie Super Fun" campaign idea. Their intention was simple - to reach out to more people who have not adopted a plant-based diet, especially young people, by eliminating their stereotypes about vegetarianism. Also, they hoped that the participants could learn that besides eating healthily, it is cool and fun to go meatless.
On 15 October 2022, "Super Veggie Super Fun" had its last event this year at Tzu Chi Humanistic Youth Centre. It was a meat-free and plastic-free market with vegetarian food-tasting stalls, interactive zones, stage shows and movie screenings at the event site. More than 300 people enjoyed the "meatless party" together!
“I started to stop eating one type of meat year after year since I was 14 years old. And 23 years ago, I became a vegetarian. I gave up eating meat to protect the earth and animals," said MP Louis Ng, the founder of the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES), who has been concerned about animal welfare and environmental issues for many years. He encouraged everyone to start with small steps and proceed gradually to make this world a better place.
Crowded with people, this meat-free and plastic-free market offers many vegetarian food-tasting stalls and interactive zones. (Photo by Chua Teong Seng)
A Variety of Plant-based Food for Better Choices
The Toa Payoh Residents' Committee rented a bus to transport 52 residents to this event. The person in charge of the elderly group of the committee, Tan Teck Choo, said, "I often see volunteers cladding in blue and white uniforms shuttling back and forth at HDB housing estates. I finally have the chance to participate in a Tzu Chi event this time."
There were all kinds of trendy vegetarian food, such as “otak-otak”, “bak kwa”, and so on, and the seniors ate with gusto. 75-year-old Tan Teck Choo commended, "Only Buddhist temples provide free vegetarian food or people take plant-based meals on the first and fifteenth day of the lunar calendar. Promoting a plant-based diet like Tzu Chi is rare in Singapore!"
While some were tasting the food, some tried to win a prize at the "World of Beans" stall. The participants learnt the benefits of plant-based protein by answering Q&A such as "Beans and meat are both sources of protein. Which type of protein is low in fat and free of cholesterol?" "Soy milk is more suitable for patients with three highs, middle-aged and elderly people, and obese people instead of milk. Why?"
It was an entertaining and educational game where everyone gained some knowledge.
"I think it's good. I find the food surprisingly delicious, and the taste is refreshing. There are many choices, including organic vegetables, vegetarian dumplings and nuggets, and my child likes them too."
Wu Jia's child is currently studying at Tzu Chi Great Love Preschool. Her child told her he likes plant-based food and does not want to consume meat after adopting a meatless diet in school. Wu Jia gained a lot of insights at the meatless market on this day, and her impression of vegetarianism changed.
"Vegetarian food can be delicious. When I get home, I will try to cook vegetables with ingredients made of soybeans to see if my child likes it.
The Toa Payoh Residents' Committee arranges for a bus to transport 52 residents to participate in "Super Veggie Super Fun". (Photo by Chua Teong Seng)
The event advocates the concept of "Zero Waste", encouraging everyone to bring containers and utensils for food tasting. (Photo by Fong Kwai Kin)
"Only today did I learn that vegetarianism can also protect the earth,” said Claire Khoo, a retired lecturer in the Department of Nursing. Claire usually eats healthily and this was her first encounter with a meat-free market. Claire said, “Only today did I realise that vegetarianism is good for the earth as animal agriculture causes air and water pollution. These are concepts I have never thought of.”
She also appreciated the educational aspects of the "Super Veggie Super Fun" event. "After sampling the food, I found vegetarian food to be delicious. Now we know where to buy vegetarian products and learned a few delicious vegetarian dishes. I want to prepare them for my family and hope that they will also become vegetarians.”
Claire Khoo, who used to work as a nurse, said that it was very common to see elderly patients in the hospital with three highs (hypertension, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar) in the past. Now, the three highs are also showing amongst the younger population, hence, adopting a plant-based diet becomes very important. She recently found that her cholesterol level had exceeded the standard value and so she registered to take part in the "Healthier Me 21 Days Challenge" upon the invitation of Tzu Chi volunteers. That day marked the third day of the challenge. She said, "I am still adjusting, but if I want to change my living habits, I need to be determined and patient!”
Loh Irelian came for the event after seeing the event advertisement on the webpage of natural food supplier Humble Food. She shared that although she had often seen plant-based “meat” in supermarkets, there were no cooking demonstrations or explanations. This event gathered many vendors which gave everyone a chance to try a variety of vegetarian food, which was great.
Loh Irelian said happily, "It was only after coming here that I realised that there are handmade, double-fermented tempeh. I tasted it while listening to the vendor’s detailed explanation."
She also immediately shared the event information with her friends, hoping that they would be able to make it in time for the food tasting.
Loh Irelian (first from left) is very happy to taste many different vegetarian foods and widen her perspective about meatless options. (Photo by Fong Kwai Kin)
Whole Food Plant-Based Diet – Healthier in its Original Taste
Besides meatless food-tasting stalls, the event also invited nutritionist So Hwee Mei to teach everyone how to read nutrition labels and ingredient lists. With this knowledge, people can become better at choosing a healthier whole food plant-based diet and reduce the intake of refined and processed food.
Hwee Mei also makes tempeh regularly at home for sale and she even set up a webpage named “The Therapeutic Kitchen.” On this day, she and her husband prepared 100 sets of organic tempeh for the event. In response to the event’s call for "Zero Waste", the tempeh she brought were wrapped in banana leaves in replacement of plastic packaging, and the wrappers were also reusable. Hwee Mei conducted a live cooking demo at the site on how to make dipping sauce using miso and sesame oil. At the same time, she let everyone taste tempeh made from different beans such as buckwheat, lentils, and black beans.
"Usually, some children are allergic to the tempeh sold in shopping malls, but they can accept organic tempeh." Hwee Mei shared on stage that she started trying to make tempeh two years ago. At first, the motivation was to let her children eat healthier food and subsequently, she decided to promote healthy food. As a former Tzu Chi youth, Hwee Mei felt that the event was exceptionally heart-warming and close to her heart as if she had “returned home”.
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The stage performances at “Super Veggie Super Fun” is so vibrant that everyone can feel the energy and healthy vibes vegetarian food can bring. (Photo by Chua Teong Seng) -
A strong aroma wafts from the centre stage as Chef Hoo Chee Wei demonstrates how to prepare spaghetti in wild mushroom white sauce. (Photo by Goh Shoo Weng) -
Videos on animal protection and health documentaries are played on repeat at the movie screening zone, making people rethink about meat consumption. (Photo by Fong Kwai Kin) -
At the “Healthier Me 21-Day Challenge” exhibition zone, volunteers share the results and data collected from the challenge for the public to have a better understanding of how a plant-based diet can improve their health. (Photo by Chua Teong Seng)
Being a Vegetarian is not a Difficult nor a Lonely Journey
Jeffrey Lim, a vegetarian, participated in the entire event. Not only did he watch the animal protection documentary but also attentively watched programmes promoting vegetarianism on the central stage.
The sharing of one of the vegetarians on stage resonated with him. Jeffrey has been a vegetarian since he was a teenager, and he described that although vegetarianism is becoming more common in Singapore, being a vegetarian can sometimes feel like a lonely journey. Therefore, he was very happy to see youths launching activities to promote vegetarianism and hoped that in the future, more groups would collaborate to advocate vegetarianism and make it a mainstream diet.
The "Super Veggie Super Fun” event came to a successful conclusion at 2pm. Yang Wen Ting, who was in charge of the event planning, said: "We all know that the decision to become a vegetarian stem from compassion, and it helps combat global warming. Now that this has become our knowledge, we must act on it and follow through. By adopting a healthy diet, we are living out the knowledge.
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