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VegFest is Portland's "go-to" vegan event, with vendors, cooking demonstrations, free samples and a slew of speakers.

(VegFest)

VegFest is an opportunity for local vegans and plant-based eaters to celebrate their diets, learn new recipes, and completely gorge on free samples.

It's also a great opportunity to hear from some of the top names in veganism and nutrition, which is why this year's festival has lined up ten speakers for the two-day event, which will take over the Convention Center Sept. 27 and 28. Headlining that run of speakers is New York Times best-selling author Dr. Joel Fuhrman.

Dr. Joel Fuhrman

You may have heard of Dr. Fuhrman, from his best-selling book, "Eat to Live," one of his two PBS shows, "3 Steps to Incredible Health" and "Dr. Fuhrman's Immunity Solution," or from one of his appearances on "The Dr. Oz Show," "The Today Show," "Good Morning America" or "Live with Kelly."

You might even know him from his brief, but successful, career in figure skating.

Fuhrman earned a medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania before becoming a superstar of the pop nutrition world with what he called the Health Equation: H=N/C, or health equals nutrition divided by calories. Most nutritionists agree that nutrient-dense diets are always a good idea, but some scoff at the idea of Fuhrman's breaking it down into a slim and sexy formula.

But slim and sexy seems to be right up Furhman's alley. The so-called "Nutritarian" boasts solutions to weight loss and access to "the fountain of youth" on his website. His Nutritarian diet promises to "reverse disease, reduce high blood pressure, lose unwanted weight, lower your cholesterol levels, prevent heart disease and cancer and improve your health."

He's quick to denounce fad diets, but also quick to promote his own brand of cook books, health foods and multivitamins.

But if you hack through all the TV appearances and heavy-handed marketing you can see Fuhrman has a point. Basic nutrition relies on eating raw, nutrient-dense food, and staying away from the no-nutrient nonsense that drags us all down (I'm looking at you, soda).

Hopefully he'll bring that core philosophy to next weekend's VegFest, the "go-to" event for Portland's vegans, hardcore and casual alike. Other speakers lined up include Caroline Trapp, a diabetes nurse practitioner, Ellen Jaffe Jones, known as "The Broccoli Rep," and Sharon Palmer, editor of acclaimed health newsletter "Environmental Nutrition."

Of course, it's entirely possible to do VegFest without listening to a single word an acclaimed speaker has to say. With cooking demonstrations, film screenings, a farmer's market and all those glorious free samples, you can forge your own path through the nutritious, sometimes complex world of veganism.

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VEGFEST 2014

When: Sept. 27 and 28, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Where: Oregon Convention Center (map it)

Admission: $8

--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB