Super Veggie Super Fun become part of the Zero Market on 16th April 2022 where Liu Ling Ling is invited as a guest speaker to share her journey of becoming a vegetarian.
“Kids, what are your wishes?”
“My wish is for animals to live happily and freely with their parents.”
The children took centre stage at Tzu Chi Humanistic Youth Centre (HYC) with their clear and crisp voices and painted a story filled with their heartfelt wishes. HYC was bustling with a lot of noise and excitement on 16th April 2022. Liu Ling Ling, a celebrated artiste in Singapore, performed the song “Children’s wishes” alongside a group of children. This is a song that promotes vegetarianism and animal conservation.
With their singing voices filling the entire HYC, many Tzu Chi Great Love PreSchool students donning their respective cute animal headbands were seen sharing the stage with the children from the Parent-Child Bonding Class and students from Tzu Chi Teenager’s Class. They sang and performed the lyrics to the song in sign language in hopes that more people would put fewer lives on plates. The singing and dancing by more than 20 children garnered the undivided attention of the audience. The audience showed their utmost support by giving a thunderous round of applause at the end of the finale performance.
Since 2021, the Zero Market has been held at HYC on the first and third Saturday of the month, where various fresh produce and sustainable products are sold at the market. The event aims to encourage people to take the necessary steps toward reducing our carbon footprints and creating a zero-waste life. When the pandemic situation gradually eased up in April 2022, Tzu Chi’s community volunteers started stepping up their efforts in promoting vegetarianism through Super Veggie Super Fun and turning the Zero Market event into a small-scaled carnival event to promote the benefits of a plant-based diet.
At the start of the vegetarianism promotion campaign, the foundation managed to rope in Liu Ling Ling, a well-known artiste in Singapore, as their guest speaker to share her thoughts and experience on her journey towards vegetarianism. Goh Ling Chih, a nutritional therapist, explained various nutritional facts behind vegetarianism. Jian Xiang Yun, a volunteer at Tzu Chi, also cooked up a few vegetarian dishes and shared her family recipes with the audience. An event packed with fun-filled activities attracted more than 250 animal lovers who collectively want to protect our earth. This made Saturday a super fun one!
Children with different adorable cartoon animals on their heads are singing and performing the song “Children’s wishes” in sign language, conveying the notion of loving and protecting animals.
The interesting performance by the children has captivated the attention of many as they stop in their tracks to appreciate the performance.
Going Meatless for Six Years so as to not become an “Animal Graveyard”
“There is one benefit to adopting a vegetarian diet…and that is to regain youth!” Liu Ling Ling, who was in high spirits, exclaimed. A six-year vegetarian diet has allowed her to become healthier and younger from the inside out, which is life-changing. However, she also pointed out that a lot of determination is needed to entirely abandon a meat diet for a vegetarian one in the early stage of transition.
When asked how she began her journey towards vegetarianism, Liu Ling Ling provided a recount of her journey. Her youngest son was the first to become a vegetarian in her family due to his allergy to seafood. Liu Ling Ling’s mother then persuaded the couple to become vegetarians like their son. Just as they had officially set their minds to do so, Liu Ling Ling was coincidentally presented with a two-week vegetarian trial. She was initially invited by nutritionist Goh Ling Chih to a week-long detox by having vegetarian meals. She then participated in an event at Fo Guang Shan in Taiwan and continued her journey of being a vegetarian for another week.
Liu Ling Ling decided to continue being a vegetarian and has been one ever since. However, she described her first month into vegetarianism as “pitiful” as she felt as if she was unable to eat a lot of things and could only eat grass to fill her stomach.
She realised afterwards that there are many vegetarian options available in Thai, Korean, Chinese, Western and many other cuisines. It was as delicious as meals with meat and aided in smooth bowel movements. She used humorous descriptors and had a display of rich emotions on her face during her sharing, which drew endless laughter and applause from the audience present.
Liu Ling Ling (on the right) generously shares her six-year journey of vegetarianism with the audience, constantly drawing laughter and applause with her articulate and humorous sharing.
Having overcome various obstacles that stood in her journey of vegetarianism, she said, “All of us know the importance of doing good deeds. In fact, not consuming meat is a form of good deed. By doing so, we are saving lives.”
She encourages everyone to be compassionate. In order to lead a happy life, one only needs to eat their fill. “Don’t let our bodies become a graveyard for animals where they are left to rot and decompose.”
Liu Ling Ling asked the audience to imagine themselves as pet owners. Would they be willing to eat them? No, and that same reason behind the answer, love, should be extended to other animals.
She recommended the audience to try going meatless for a month and observe the changes in their body and mind. Liu Ling Ling used a metaphor of a drop of water to describe humans. If everyone were to be kind and have love in their hearts, then drops of water can combine to form a river and this will contribute to the society becoming a nicer place to live in.
The carefully designed and crafted photo wall with the animal protection theme has attracted people to take perfect snaps with it.
Unravelling the mystery of vegetarianism
Thinking of becoming a vegetarian or willing to try having vegetarian food but not sure how to eat healthily? That’s ok. Being a vegetarian often comes with the concern of becoming unhealthy and having imbalanced nutrition. Among which, vitamin B12, an essential nutrient for a person’s body, is one that is often questioned. At the vegetarian food seminar, nutritionist Goh Ling Chih revealed the misconceptions surrounding vegetarianism.
Goh Ling Chih explained that vitamin B12 is produced by microorganisms, not animals or plants. As such, humans and animals who require the intake of vitamin B12 need to obtain it through direct or indirect means such as consuming meat. She then posed another question, “Rather than obtaining “second hand” vitamin B12 from animals, shouldn’t we source for its origin and take some supplements?”
She pointed out that the vegetarian sources of vitamin B12 include B12 nutritional supplements, nutritional yeast, spirulina, tempeh, miso, shiitake mushroom and plant-based milk.
At the health seminar, nutritional therapist Goh Ling Chih debunks the myths surrounding vegetarianism.
According to Ms Goh, having a plant-based diet is a healthier and better option. This is because a plant-based diet contains the seven categories of nutrients that the human body needs: sugar, protein, fat, minerals (trace elements), vitamins, dietary fibre and phytochemicals. On the other hand, an animal-based diet contains excessive amounts of fat and protein and lacks minerals, fibre, and phytochemicals
“The more you eat, the more energetic and younger you become. There are countless benefits to being a vegetarian.” She ended off by sharing her thoughts and experience of being a vegetarian for ten years. The journey started with herself, it then grew to accommodate and influence her family and friends into becoming vegetarians. She encourages non-vegetarians to take their first steps into vegetarianism. They can start by trying a new vegetarian dish every Monday and gradually increase their intake in subsequent weeks.
There are many stalls at the Zero Market that sell a variety of products such as sustainable products, fruits and vegetables. One vendor is seen introducing some reusable and environmentally-friendly cosmetic products to a customer.
Nutritious vegetarian dishes, simple yet delicious
“First, prepare one tablespoon of black rice, cereal and kidney beans each. Next, pour these ingredients into a cup and fill the cup with hot water. Finally, mix well and enjoy the drink.” Jian Xiang Yun, a volunteer at Tzu Chi, demonstrated the steps in making a one minute instant drink to start the day healthy. Black rice is rich in anthocyanins, while kidney beans are rich in protein and iron.
She then continued to make colourful Vietnamese rice paper rolls using Jing Si instant rice which can be immediately consumed after submerging in boiling water for a few minutes.
“The first step is to soak the butterfly pea flower in hot water to obtain its natural blue food colouring. The next step is to pour the natural food colouring into the Jing Si instant rice. The final step is to add coconut oil and Jing Si Vegan Seasoning Powder (Cabbage Flavour) to bring out the flavours and wait for 15 minutes.”
Jian Xiang Yun said that choosing a range of coloured vegetables will result in a rich texture. This can be a fun family-bonding activity which is suitable for young and old alike and the recipe can be modified to make sushi rice balls (Onigiris).
Jian Xiang Yun is demonstrating the use of no-cook Jing Si instant rice to make Vietnamese rice paper rolls.
These simple recipes, which are both nutritious and delicious, are beginner-friendly and allow easily sustained efforts in keeping a vegetarian diet. Jian Xiang Yun prepared her final dish, sliced fish noodles which is popular in Singapore. Jian Xiang Yun added a disclaimer that this "sliced fish noodle" was a pure vegetarian recipe, and no fish were harmed in the making. She also used Jing Si Yam & Job's Tears instant mix and Oats & Job's Tears instant mix to replace unsweetened condensed milk, making everyone enjoy the dish even more.
The Jing Si Vegetarian Fish Bee Hoon Soup is so visually appealing that it makes the audience excited to try the dish. Some are seen taking photos of the dish.
The exciting and informative sharing session where audiences were educated on nutritional facts and were presented with simple and easy vegetarian recipes will continue to be included in subsequent “Super Veggies Super Fun” events. Let’s not forget that the Zero Market will take place on the first and third Saturdays of the month for charitable causes and for the public to experience the wonders of vegetarian food while fulfilling the wishes of children!
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