orlando vegetarians

[vegalive]

hello to all u beautiful veg people. i live in orlando area & would like to become friends with other vegetarians. i look forward to hearing from you!

[annie7]

Hi!

Do you find it difficult being veg*n in Orlando? When we last visited family, it seemed like we drove up and down *forever* looking for a veg friendly restaurant. I must say that Disney World was more friendly than I anticipated. My husband said it was because of all the nationalities and religions represented. They don't want to alienate return visits. So they offered whole grain stuff and veggie/fruit platters.

Hope you enjoy VegFamily! Nice to meet you.:)

[vegalive]

Hi Annie,

Thanks for your kind reply to my post.

Well, no, personally I don't find it difficult being vegan here in the Orlando area. I have to say that i've been living this diet for close to 20 years now, so I could easily do it anywhere!

Also, the warmth and sunshine here are ideal for us raw-foodists who do beautifully on fresh fruits and veggies, nuts and seeds. (Did you know that it's scientifically proven that raw-fooders generally show an overall "lower body temperature" than is "normal," while at the same time being better able to tolerate climactic extremes of temperature? Hence, I've seen photos of some of us actually snow-skiing (obviously, not in Florida!) in the nude with great enjoyment. I do find I have no problem tolerating our average summer temperatures which often approach 100 degress F . . . .)

As far as finding veg-friendly restaurants in the area . . . when I came to live here several years ago, I was indeed shocked at the apparent dearth of such. I'd thought that since this is a mecca for retirees, there would be a plentitude of health food restaurants since surely the elder population would be interested in extending their lives, etc. But unfortunately, that does not seem to be the case; our seniors seem more interested in pursuing their various "pleasures" including eating whatever garbage they please and damn the consequences. (Don't get me started!)

I am now aware of quite a few veg restaurants in the area, especially since I joined our local veg meetup group(s). [see meetup.com] Personally, being raw-foods AND not currently rolling in money, I prefer to prepare my own delicious foods at home. I know that in the Big Apple, for example, there are a bunch of raw-foods places that are extremely successful and growing. But here in O-town . . . not even one! I do understand that a bit further south, in Miami, there is a thriving raw-foods community which enables such restaurants to flourish there . . . .

If anyone plans on visiting this, our Magic City of Orlando, I would be very pleased to provide a nice list of veg places to enjoy noncompromising meals . . . .

Love & Light & Laughter,
Dawn

[annie7]

I may hit you up for that updated list in the summer of '06!