Freya Smith Dinshah | |
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| Born | 1941 (age 82–83) Epsom, England |
| Occupation | Advocacy |
| Genre | Cookbook |
| Subject | Veganism, ahimsa |
| Notable works |
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| Notable awards | Vegetarian Hall of Fame, 1990 [1] |
| Spouse | Jay Dinshah (1960–2000) |
| Children | 2 |
| Website | |
| www | |
Freya Smith Dinshah (born 1941) is the author of The Vegan Kitchen , president of the American Vegan Society in Malaga, New Jersey, and editor of American Vegan magazine (formerly Ahimsa).
Freya Smith was born in Epsom, [2] England in 1941 to Grace Smith, who was active in The Vegan Society. There, she attended the Rosebery School for Girls.[ citation needed ]
Dinshah cofounded the Epsom Animal's Friends and Epsom Youth Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament groups. [2] Dinshah and her husband formed the American Vegan Society in 1960. [3] [ better source needed ]
In 1961, Dinshah and her husband participated in the American Natural Hygiene Society Convention, held in Chicago. [2] The following year she and her husband moved the American Vegan Society from New Jersey to California. [2] Her The Vegan Kitchen (1965) was, according to food historian Karen Page, the first American book to use the word "vegan." [4] : 17
In 1974, Dinshah along with Jay Dinshah, Helen Nearing, Scott Nearing and others founded the North American Vegetarian Society in order to host the 23rd World Vegetarian Congress in Orono, Maine in 1975. [5]
Dinshah organized the vegan food for 1500 attendees at the World Vegetarian Congress, where her husband Jay Dinshah was elected president.[ citation needed ] She was in charge of catering and authored a vegan (then termed ‘total-vegetarian’) cookbook for the event.[ citation needed ] All food for the Congress was all-vegan, as is the base for many vegetarian and vegan conferences today,[ citation needed ] but in 1975, foodservice had separate, clearly-marked, small containers of milk and cheese for those who insisted on having them. [2] [5]
In 2020, the Portland Press Herald printed a report about the history of the 1975 event and said Dinshah's use of fresh food at the event was unusual for the time: "In addition to being fresh and seasonal, the food at the congress was very simple with little seasoning in order to accommodate the needs of all the various vegetarians in attendance, some of whom eschewed salt, sugar, white flour or spices." [5]
In 1990, along with her husband, she was the first inductee in the North American Vegetarian Society's Vegetarian Hall of Fame. [1] [ better source needed ]
After her husband died in 2000, Dinshah assumed leadership of American Vegan Society and became its president. [6] [7] She edits American Vegan (formerly Ahimsa) magazine.[ citation needed ] She has been a frequent speaker at vegan and vegetarian conferences. [8] [ better source needed ]
She met Jay Dinshah, who by 1957 had also become a vegan [11] and who had founded the American Vegan Society in 1960, [2] in England in February 1960. She married him in August of that year. [12] [ better source needed ] The couple had two children. She was widowed in 2000. [11]
Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products—particularly in diet—and an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals. A person who follows the diet or philosophy is known as a vegan.
A lacto-vegetarian diet is a diet that abstains from the consumption of meat as well as eggs, while still consuming dairy products such as milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, ghee, cream, and kefir.
World Vegan Day is a global event celebrated annually on 1 November. Vegans celebrate the benefits of veganism for animals, humans, and the natural environment through activities such as setting up stalls, hosting potlucks, and planting memorial trees.
The International Vegetarian Union (IVU) is an international non-profit organization whose purpose is to promote vegetarianism. The IVU was founded in 1908 in Dresden, Germany.
The practice of vegetarianism is strongly linked with a number of religious traditions worldwide. These include religions that originated in India, such as Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism. With close to 85% of India's billion-plus population practicing these religions, India remains the country with the highest number of vegetarians in the world.
World Vegetarian Day is observed annually around the planet on October 1. It is a day of celebration established by the North American Vegetarian Society in 1977 and endorsed by the International Vegetarian Union in 1978, "To promote the joy, compassion and life-enhancing possibilities of vegetarianism." It brings awareness to the ethical, environmental, health, and humanitarian benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle. World Vegetarian Day initiates the month of October as Vegetarian Awareness Month, which ends with November 1, World Vegan Day, as the end of that month of celebration. Vegetarian Awareness Month has been known variously as "Reverence for Life" month, "Month of Vegetarian Food", and more.
Hom Jay Dinshah was an American veganism activist and natural hygiene proponent who was the founder and president of the American Vegan Society and the editor of its publication the Ahimsa magazine (1960–2000).
The earliest records of vegetarianism as a concept and practice amongst a significant number of people are from ancient India, especially among the Hindus and Jains. Later records indicate that small groups within the ancient Greek civilizations in southern Italy and Greece also adopted some dietary habits similar to vegetarianism. In both instances, the diet was closely connected with the idea of nonviolence toward animals, and was promoted by religious groups and philosophers.
Maud Russell Lorraine Freshel was a Boston socialite, designer, and animal rights and vegetarianism activist. She also went by her initials, M. R. L., which she later spelled Emarel.
Helen Knothe Nearing was an American author, advocate of simple living and a lifelong vegetarian.
The American Vegan Society (AVS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes veganism in the United States. It was founded in 1960 by H. Jay Dinshah. The date of the earlier The Vegan Society (UK)'s founding, November 1, is now celebrated annually as World Vegan Day.
Veggie Pride is an international event that celebrates and promotes vegetarianism.
Michael A. Klaper is an American physician, vegan health educator, conference and event speaker, and an author of articles and books of vegan medical advice. Graduating from medical school in 1972, Klaper became a vegan ten years later and subsequently became active in the area, publishing three books advocating veganism and serving as a founding director of the Institute of Nutrition Education and Research.
Dugald Patterson McDougall Semple was a Scottish advocate of simple living and animal welfare, naturalist, prolific author, and fruitarian. He is sometimes credited with co-founding the vegan movement in 1944 without using the term "vegan".
The North American Vegetarian Society (NAVS) is a charity and activist organization with the stated objectives of supporting vegetarians and informing the public about the benefits of vegetarianism.
The Farm Vegetarian Cookbook is a vegan cookbook by Louise Hagler, first published in 1975. It was influential in introducing Americans to tofu, included recipes for making and using tempeh and other soy foods, and became a staple in vegetarian kitchens.
Avery Yale Kamila is an American journalist and community organizer in the state of Maine. Kamila has written a food column for the Portland Press Herald /Maine Sunday Telegram and its affiliated newspapers since 2009.
The Vegan Museum is a nonprofit travelling exhibition about veganism and vegetarianism. The exhibition tours different locations in and around Chicago. The Vegan Museum documents the history of the vegan and vegetarian movement in the United States.
Catherine T. Nimmo was an American chiropractor, naturopath and vegan activist.
Brenda Davis is a Canadian registered dietitian and advocate of plant-based nutrition. She has co-authored several popular books on vegan diets.
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