Veggie Fest offers ideas for vegetarians
A vegetable crisper stocked with green peppers, broccoli, carrots, green leaf lettuce and scallions is not necessarily just a tossed salad waiting to happen.
With a little creativity and imagination, those ingredients can be the start of a culinary adventure that goes beyond the salad bowl.
At Veggie Fest 2015, a free event featuring speakers, food vendors, music and cooking demonstrations, attendees will learn how to create vegetarian meals while relaxing at the festival's new site on Benedictine University's Lisle campus.
The festival is set for 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 15 and 16.
Since its inception 10 years ago, the festival has been located on the grounds of the Science of Spirituality meditation center on Naperville Road, just north of Warrenville Road.
The location switch was precipitated by construction plans and by the festival's increasing popularity, said Jonathan Kruger, festival coordinator.
"There's going to be some building going up there," Kruger said. He said the center is planning to replace its existing building with a new center that will accommodate 1,500 people.
Veggie Fest attendance has climbed over the years, he said, with more than 30,000 in attendance last year.
"We'd love to have 40,000 to 50,000 people come. We need a bigger piece of property," Kruger said, adding that an 8-acre grassy field on Benedictine's campus will accommodate the festival's 125 tents and more than 100 vendor booths.
"There'll be plenty of room for people to sit on the grass," Kruger said. "It's not that far away. I think it'll be easy for people to find it."
Thousands of visitors flock to the festival each year, Kruger said. This year's festival is underwritten by the Science of Spirituality center along with 20 other sponsors.
"We have 800 volunteers come from 20 countries around the world to help put on the festival," he said.
Moving to a new location makes preparation more challenging.
"It's a lot of work. We're starting from scratch on a new piece of property. We've redesigned the whole thing," Kruger said.
Free parking will be available on the university grounds.
A practical, how-to guide to creating vegetarian meals will be offered by several experts.
The festival also will host demonstrations by representatives from restaurants, supermarkets and other food companies showing off vegan cooking, gluten-free dishes and cooking with organic foods.
Speakers will offer 45-minute mini-seminars on a variety of topics such as how to use nutrition to relieve headaches, how to feed children a vegetarian diet, and making food choices that foster a stronger immune system.
Timothy Fior, a family practice physician based in Lombard, will give a talk titled "Eat More, Weigh Less."
"I'm going to talk about how to lose weight by going on a whole-food, plant-based diet," Fior said.
Fior has been a featured speaker at Veggie Fest in the past.
"I've been a vegetarian for 30 years. I always learn a little something there," he said. "I think a lot more people are seeing the health benefits. Now it's become very mainstream."
Several speakers also will address related topics, such as meditation and spiritual fitness.
Visitors can satisfy their appetites at the Veggie Fest food court, where an array of vegetarian fare will be for sale. And several performers and bands will deliver a variety of musical genres.
"We put on this festival for the community. Not everyone is going to be a vegetarian," Kruger said. "Our goal is to make it a family-oriented event. We want people to feel comfortable and good about it."
If you go
What: Veggie Fest 2015
When: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 15 and 16
Where: Benedictine University campus, 5700 College Road, Lisle
Cost: Free
Info: veggiefestchicago.com or (630) 955-1200