Food is a culturally sensitive and personal issue. I think the right way to approach this is through health - limiting red meat and eating more fruit and vegetables is simply a healthier way to longer life.

I personally grew up eating lots of cultural delights that did not endanger any species, and wouldn't want to start to homogenize our eating habits to suit particular tastes.

I am vegan because when I see the cows get there protein from greens and not eating there other friends. It made me realized more that we have been duped into believing we need a lot of protein and it is only found in animal products. Where do all the animals that they say you get your protein from get there protein?

I am vegan for the animals, the environment and my health. There is no better way to save our planet and attain peace.

Go the natural step further - encourage raw vegan foods for all! Raw vegan means an even lesser impact on environment, happier, healthier people and a happier and healthier Vancover (along with the rest of the planet). Go raw!

humans aren't omnivores at all randall. their physiology is horribly affected by animal proteins. the peer reviewed studies that come out each year overwhelmingly keep saying the same things - that animal proteins are bad for human health:
http://www.30bananasaday.com/forum/topics/i-told-you-so-science

furthermore, if you actually examine the comparative anatomy of carnivores, omnivores and herbivores, you will see that humans fall deeply into the third group:
http://connect.krishna.com/node/169

Vegan options are indeed necessary.

Takes up less resources. People say "animals are available year round" but ever wonder why organic meat is so expensive? You can't expect grass, all year round even in winter. Not to mention THE huge number of people in this world. Hence we have fridges, just as with any food will require it during such times.

Rice and Lentils may seem taxing on the farm ground. That's why we have Albertan Barley and other Canadian grains that have been around ever since we became "Canada" or way way way back.

To succeed on a vegan dietary path, doesn't matter who you are. One needs to find their own "edge" to get there. Just as I have with myself.

10% fat per day..or on average, with the vegan path, is one of the keys. Too much will cause sluggishness and exhaustion, not because it's "fat" but because of what "fat does to the body when taken in such mass amounts per day." Such is the cause of diabetes, when mixing high fat with high sugars.

Also eating enough is important too. And eating enough greens to keep the blood ALKALINE is an important factor too. Acidic blood + high fat only means diabetes and MASS exaustion. High acidity also means the loss of calcium and other "nutrients" that people so rave and fear about. Being active..at least exercising to get the metabolism going, doing stretches and mixing cardio and strength routines are important to keep the flow to go. Ever wonder why people screw up when trying veganism?

The future will be fruit trees. =)

If this world gets too hot from "global warming," then the future is tropical fruit trees all around. =)

Give me a break! We are omnivorous and require animal protein to maintain a balanced natural diet. I eat my greens but my body also requires meat.

I am an epileptic and researchers suggest that low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets may promote the build-up of ketone compounds – a byproduct of fat metabolism – in the body, which play some part in reducing or completely eliminating seizures.

That is just my medical situation, imagine the health problems around the globe with your suggestion.

Hi ****- I have actually done a great deal of research into this topic. Not sure you have. It don't see how rice as generally grown is as sustainable as goats on free range land not suitable for crops. Lentil production is almost as bad as rice, as is wheat. An then there is corn ... diet does not define sustainability, the networks of production and distribution do.

Stock-free farming - where all animals involved are free-living, not artificially bred 'livestock' - is proven environmentally sustainable, productive and economically viable. You can find out more from farmers around the world, for example Stephan Groleau of the Veganic Agriculture Network based in Quebec.

Agree or disagree is not really the issue.... facts are facts my friend, a little more research Steven and you will a little closer to the truth of the situation

I disagree. There are many cases where integrating animals into the agricultural system is more sustainable than systems that ignore the natural complexity of the food web. The problems are from industrial agriculture, the reliance on oil forproduction and distribution, and the globalization of food distribution and production. Keeping hens in cities, growing oysters in False Creek and Burranrd Inlet, having goats in our parks are all vital to sustainability.

Vegan Diet is the only way to have our bright future. It's meaningless to have a slaughter house surrounding by trees, or seal's blood in clear sea. Vegan diet does not only help people's health or our planet, it saves our soul.

Vegan diet + animal-free products are the greenest way of living.
Per the latest World Watch Institute report, Livestock industry is responsible for more than 50% of the total greenhouse gases. Just recently UN has urged a global shift to a meat-free, diary-free diet.
If no one eats meat, no one would produce. The currently livestock industry employees can transition to grow organic vegan food for us all!

Agree 100% . Cause Vegan diet is the most important and efficient and fastest way to stop the serious climate change to save our beautiful planet. Please go ahead Vancouver!

I agree people should eat more vegetarian and vegan meals, and less animal products. However, I wonder how the City of Vancouver could influence this decision? Any sorts of by-laws would be political suicide, given that the majority of the population are currently unabashed meat eaters. I would say we should encourage Council to focus on areas where they have influence - more efficient land use, bike routes, impacting transit, encouraging urban agriculture, etc. Food policy would probably be much more effectively influenced at the national level, so if this is your interest you should focus your energy at that level of government.

switch to a vegan diet please!!! :D

Veganism is the greenest option for our planet. Eat green think green, eat veggies. Save the animals, save the planet, save the humans. Be Veg

A global shift to the vegan diet is crucial in saving the planet from hunger, global warming and climate change. We must do it as soon as possible for our own sakes and for the sake of our future generations. Please listen and take it to heart about this urgent message.

Meat is not green, blood is not green, and milk is not green. Organic farming is green! Please people all over the world turn into Vegan diet soon! Vegan diet is to reach Greenest City Target!

Kudoz to the councilor who fought for healthier Food options and even vegan ones to be offered in kiosks throughout Vancouver - this will enhance the City's profile with local and international patrons.