A Wanaka business owner is doing her bit to increase public awareness about plant-based eating. 

Olivia Faid, owner of Balance Me, has organised a second Meatless Monday event for this coming Monday (May 31).

The first Meatless Monday Community Showcase was held at Alchemy at the end of March. It was an eating and cooking demonstration that allowed people to try food they'd never eaten before. 

Olivia organised the event and was joined by 10 other local, "successful, women-run" businesses. Welcome drinks were provided by Swig Kombucha and Borage and Bee, canapes were provided by The People’s Bread and Taste of Alps, and Balance Me gave a live cooking demonstration and served a canape dinner. 

After the main meal, attendees were treated to a tea show from Revology and sweet treats from Good Roots. Honest Wholefood Co identified simple changes that can be made in order to live a more sustainable life.

The first Meatless Monday event in March. PHOTO: The People's Bread

Everything was donated, and Olivia was overjoyed by the success of the evening, but what really impressed her was witnessing the "strong support system between women".  

Olivia started to look at what she ate when she worked as a ski instructor in Canada. She noticed that people's performance changed after lunch: Half her clients would be "killing it" and the other half would be complaining about feeling tired, and wanting to stop early. 

She started wondering what they ate for lunch. "I knew there was something more to this. You're meant to be giving yourself energy and calories, and you're meant to be able to excel when they burn."

She discovered it was people eating plant-based lunches who felt best. Now, adopting a plant-based diet is an experience she's helping others enjoy.

Through her business, Olivia hopes to educate people about the options available and show them how to make use of what's available. She caters for events, provides weekly meal delivery, and offers in-home meal preparation that serves as a learning opportunity as well as a pathway to a delicious home-cooked meal.

She sees Balance Me as a stepping stone for people who don't have the time, energy or space to even think about starting to cook food, but they don't want to order take-aways anymore. 

The second Meatless Monday Autumn Edition will take place at Alchemy on Monday (May 31) from 6-9pm. Tickets are available here.