Rethink Your Food

Our Vegan Caribbean Kickstart online pledge program drew participants from over 25 countries including 22 Caribbean countries, the USA and Canada. The program is a cost-effective tool to raise awareness about the benefits of a plant-based diet and motivate participants to be more conscientious eaters. Participants receive a series of emails that include written and video content, as well as culturally-appropriate sample meal plans and recipes. The content also spotlights the impact of industrial animal agriculture on nutrition security, the environment and animal suffering.

Through our Better Menus Initiative, we participated in several community events by giving presentations and distributing information that highlight the health benefits of a plant-based diet, while also raising awareness about the environmental and ethical concerns associated with industrial animal agriculture. We collaborated with community leaders in Trinidad and Tobago to launch the first Ital (plant-based) Food Festival. The festival featured family-friendly entertainment, performances by local musical artists, plant-based food, vegan value-added products, and arts and crafts from local small businesses. It also included talks on protecting forest ecosystems and wildlife, as well as the effective use of indigenous herbs. Free young breadfruit trees and seeds were also distributed. Additionally, we conducted research on school lunch programs in primary and secondary schools, as well as universities across Caribbean countries. This included gathering data on existing offerings, the percentage of students who utilize these programs, and public attitudes toward plant-based diets. The goal was to assess the feasibility of introducing one or two plant-based meal days per week in schools and expanding plant-based options overall.