Times of the Islands Summer 2023

SHUTTERSTOCK
Graceway Gourmet offers a long list of vegan smoothies to go.
Another common reason people adopt a vegan diet is
to shrink their environmental footprint. According to the
UN’s Food & Agriculture Organization, the meat and dairy
industries alone account for nearly 15% of global greenhouse
gas emissions—and that’s not to mention the vast
amounts of land and water required to raise livestock, or
the pollution caused by manure runoff. While the positive
environmental impact of a vegan diet is well established,
it’s a little different on an island, where so many foods
have to be shipped in over long distances. This leads to
more greenhouse gas emissions, and more preservatives
added to food to ensure it survives the journey.
As a result, some restaurants in TCI are striving to
incorporate more locally grown ingredients. The Farm,
the latest culinary venture by Grace Bay’s Seven Stars
Resort, harvests their produce from an on-site hydroponic
farm—bringing diners fresh, minimally processed fruit
and vegetables without the financial and environmental
costs of transportation. This isn’t the only vegan-friendly
resort restaurant; many of the swanky beachfront spots
along Grace Bay offer at least one vegan option. Infiniti
has a vegan curry entrée, Solana has a tofu stir-fry, and
Vita at Rock House has an entire vegan/vegetarian menu.
As a vegan, I sometimes field questions about my opinion
on vegetarians, Meatless Monday-ers, or other “less
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