Fuel for the body, food for the soul: How veganism builds community in P.E.I
- Judith Mendiolea Lelo de Larrea
- Jan 21, 2025
- 4 min read
Judith Mendiolea
(Story originally published on The Guardian Jan. 20, 2025)
When Sukriti Chopra moved to P.E.I. six years ago the isolation she felt wasn’t just social — it was culinary.
In a province that loves seafood and potatoes, being vegan felt almost impossible. She couldn’t even find someone to bake her a vegan birthday cake.
Chopra, who had been a vegan for more than a decade, decided to begin co-ordinating vegan potlucks on the Island.
She quickly realized there was a growing plant-based diet community in P.E.I.
“Most of the people who come to our potlucks aren’t vegan, but they’re curious,” Chopra said. “That’s the point — introducing people to a new way of being.”
The tables at these gatherings have been a feast of flavours and cultures: colourful vegan biryani from India, hearty feijoada from Brazil, and South African bobotie, all adapted to plant-based ingredients.
“You get amazing dishes,” Chopra said. “It’s not just about being vegan — you end up exploring diverse tastes and traditions.”
For Chopra, eating responsibly is important.
“Food is just fuel for your body, like petrol for your car. It’s there to keep you going, not to indulge your taste buds at the expense of health or the environment.”
A personal connection
For Krishna Dalwadi, food carries a different kind of power.
“Food has energy. When you drink milk from a cow that is well taken care of, it will have a different effect on you than milk from a cow that has been treated brutally,” she said.
Dalwadi grew up in India, where vegetarianism is rooted in ahimsa, the principle of non-violence toward all living beings. Her family sourced milk from local farmers who treated their cows with care, reflecting a cultural respect for animals.
“In India, even if a lizard comes into your house, you don’t kill it. You try to shoo it away because it’s a living being, too,” said Dalwadi, a vegetarian exploring veganism.
But Dalwadi’s connection to food goes beyond its cultural and spiritual significance. For her, cooking is an act of love and a way to find meaning.
“For a long time, I felt like something was missing in my life. I thought it was romantic love, but I realized it wasn’t that. It’s the act of giving love.”
“When I cook for others — like my roommates, who eat non-vegetarian food — and they say, ‘Oh my God, this food is so good and it’s vegetarian,’ it makes me so happy. By going to the potlucks, I want to feel the same happiness by sharing food and learning from others.”
Dalwadi dreams of one day living a sustainable life.
“I want to produce my own vegetables and fruits, have my own farm where animals are my pets, and live that kind of countryside life,” she said.
A cultural tradition
Both Dalwadi and Chopra’s plant-based lifestyles are deeply tied to their Indian heritage. In Hindu culture, vegetarianism is not only common but often considered a moral imperative. According to a 2021 Pew Research study, nearly 40 per cent of Hindus worldwide follow a vegetarian diet, guided by ahimsa.
Chopra, who has been a vegetarian her entire life, transitioned to veganism at 32 after learning about harmful effects of dairy on health.
“I didn’t go vegetarian to be vegan. I stopped dairy … then people said, ‘Oh, you’re vegan.’ I said, ‘I guess so,’” she said.
Over time, her awareness expanded to include ethical and environmental motivations.
“Forests aren’t being destroyed to build human houses — they’re being destroyed to grow food for animals that are then killed for meat,” Chopra said. “That’s the real environmental cost.”
Plant-based living
In Canada, veganism and vegetarianism are gaining momentum. A 2021 survey by Dalhousie University found that 10 per cent of Canadians identify as vegan or vegetarian, with younger generations driving the shift.
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In P.E.I., however, the transition has been slower, as the Island’s traditional cuisine leans heavily on seafood and meat.
Chopra hopes events like vegan potlucks will help change that. Beyond introducing people to plant-based food, these gatherings build bridges across cultural divides, bringing together people of diverse backgrounds.
“I don’t tell people to stop eating meat,” she said. “I just answer their questions and hope to plant a seed of awareness.”
Chopra’s dream is to inspire others to embrace a lifestyle that is kind to animals, sustainable for the planet, and nourishing for the soul.
“I want people to see that veganism isn’t just about food — it’s about compassion and connection,” she said. “It’s about creating a space where everyone feels welcome — where we can share, learn and grow together
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