Friends and I recently attended the 2nd annual SWFL Veg Fest held in Bonita Springs, FL.  It was a well-organized and well-attended event (estimated 15,000-18,000 people), which was about 10,000 more people than last year!  Here were a few of my personal highlights

The first speaker we heard was Dr. Scott Stoll, author of "Alive! A Physician's Biblical and Scientific Guide to Nutrition".  I enjoyed reading Dr. Stoll's book a few years ago and so it was truly a pleasure to hear him speak about how a whole food, plant-based diet affects our bodies on a molecular, cellular and genetic level.  He explained angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels) and how a plant-based diet can prevent those blood vessels which feed cancer cells. He also explained how we can CHANGE not only our own genetic make up in real time with the right diet, but how we also affect TWO generations that follow (for example, a pregnant woman can change her own genes, plus that of her child and grandchild). I've only touched the surface of what he covered. So much great information in a one-hour session!

As part of the Plantrician Project, Dr. Stoll is on a mission to transform the world of health and health care through the message of plant based nutrition and lifestyle medicine. He and his team equip leading physicians and health care practitioners worldwide with the education and resources they can use to empower their patients to prevent and reverse the most common diseases.

And for those of you who are truly ready to tackle those weight and health issues, Dr. Stoll offers a Total Health Immersion week-long retreat where you will receive education and the practical skills to adopt a healthy lifestyle for good.  I highly recommend Dr. Stoll's book as well as the many admirable projects he's undertaken to spread the word on the benefits of a plant-based diet and healthy lifestyle! Look him up.

I also ran into Christopher Carnrick, a fellow "Certified Starch Solution Trainer" who offered a really great cooking demonstration on how to prepare dinner in 20 minutes. The main dish was Moroccan Stew and it was fabulous.  His business, called Pirate Palms, is a plant-based Bed and Breakfast located in Naples FL, which also offers themed dinner parties and cooking classes.

Lastly, but certainly not least, I had the chance to speak with Chef AJ and listen to her presentation on weight loss. Calorie Density is the key! Calorie density is the number of calories in a specific weight of food (usually a pound).  You can find more about Calorie Density in my blog titled How is it Possible to Weigh Less by Eating More.

The event offered many other great speakers, a fitness stage, kids events and a big variety of vendors.  The predicted thunderstorms held off and it was a great day all in all!  For information on next year's event, visit the SWFL Veg Fest website or find them on social media.   One of these years I would like to offer a cooking demo too!