Mo and George Orr Kevin Farmer

TOOWOOMBA'S Mo and George Orr are not your stereotypical salad-ordering vegans, preferring pies, schnitzel and Notzarella cheese toasties instead.

"If you take vegan food to a party, everyone will eat it and love it but not realise it's vegan," she said.

"It can take people by surprise, because a lot of people wouldn't have tried it if you told them beforehand it was vegan.

"It's that perception that stops people."

Mrs Orr is the organiser of Vegans in Toowoomba, the group that brought a Be Vegan billboard to the Toowoomba Range.

Reader poll Could you go the way of the vegan? This poll ended on 24 November 2013. Current Results Too easy, bring me my salad 62% Maybe ... but I'd miss my meat 11% No way, feed me meat 13% Sorry, what? I was too busy chewing on a t-bone 12% This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.

She went vegan around three years ago after seeing a cattle truck in the heat near Broome.

"I made eye contact with the animals and I was shattered," Mrs Orr said.

"I had never thought about the consequences of eating meat."

Mrs Orr said the "Go Vegan" sign at the bottom of the range was further proof that Toowoomba was changing, but still had a lot of work to do.

"The responses to The Chronicle article on the billboard were uninformed and hateful," Mrs Orr said.

The Save Our Planet, Be Vegan billboard.

Owner of Wray Organic Edwina Kent serves vegan cakes and lunch options at her cafe and says there is room for the range of lifestyles to exist in Toowoomba.

"I don't stock food that I couldn't have made myself, and that includes 'fake' cheeses and 'fake' meats," Mrs Kent said.

"I haven't found any 'fake' cheeses that don't have that yuck factor."

Vegan fast facts

What's a vegan?

To most, being vegan is lifestyle, not just a diet. Vegans eat foods with no animal ingredients or by-products, which include removing dairy, meats, butter, honey and various preservatives out of the diet.

They also don't use products that are tested on animals or have animal ingredients, such as cosmetics and cleaning products and pet food.

Vegans don't wear fur and leather, and don't support the exploitation of animals, which includes events like the upcoming Melbourne Cup. There are a range of reasons for changing to a vegan diet, including health benefits, environmental causes and animal rights.

Places to go for vegan food in Toowoomba

Wray Organic, 98 Russell St

Organic Food Market, 124 Campbell St

Many restaurants around town cater to vegans on request, including Thai and Asian restaurants.

Try a seven-day vegan challenge

Vegetarian sausages, tofu, fallafel balls, curries, dhal and stir-frys are easy options.

Try soy, almond, oat or rice milk on your coffee or breakfast, and swap the big breakfast for cereal or avocado on toast.

Try vegetarian pizzas and lasagne without cheese. Not-meat patties can be bought from most supermarkets.