Despite the present pandemic, The Vegetarian Resource Group continues to be very busy on a daily basis. Below are some examples of successes and activities. Your support through Combined Federal Charity (CFC) or your Local/State Campaign is greatly appreciated! You can also donate directly to VRG at vrg.org/donate

Here’s a sampling of some of our accomplishments and outreach:

● VRG Nutrition Advisor Reed Mangels, PhD, RD, did a webinar on a Plant-Based Diet for 31 Days. Reed also spoke at six virtual seminars for the San Jose Public Library in California. There were separate sessions for teens and parents. VRG interns assisted. Reed also supervised a Mexican graduate student intern from Wageningen University in the Netherlands who completed an extensive project on vegan Latin American foods high in calcium.

● Our VRG volunteer health coach Marcia Schveibinz conducted a webinar for the Lafayette, Louisiana Public Library.

● VRG commissioned a YouGov national youth poll to find out how many 8- to 17-year-olds are vegan or vegetarian. Results are published in Vegetarian Journal and at vrg.org

● The Vegetarian Resource Group submitted comments to the Food and Drug Administration on Labeling of Foods Comprised of or Containing Cultured Seafood cells. See: vrg.org/blog/2021/03/10/the-vegetarian-resource-group-submitted-this-testimony-to-the-fda-concerning-labeling-of-seafood-produced-from-cultured-seafood-cells/

● VRG researcher Jeanne Yacoubou did a podcast with one of VRG’s interns discussing the environmental impacts of diets. Based on his questions, Jeanne will also be doing some updated research on chocolate, bone char, and gelatin. We’ll report on this in the future. Jeanne also compiled a list of several recent (2015 to the present) scientific reports that reveal the relationships between dietary choices and our climate crisis. See vrg.org/blog/2021/02/24/vegan-and-vegetarian-diets-and-our-climate-emergency-scientific-updates-2015-2021/

● VRG donated money to Land of Kush (a vegan restaurant in Baltimore, MD) to give away vegan meals to needy individuals. We also sent I Love Animals and Broccoli and El Arco Iris Vegetariano coloring books to a group in Florida coordinating Vegan Restaurant Week in their area, and that wanted to give a packet to families as they picked up meals. VRG exhibited at the Richmond VegFest in Virginia. Finally, VRG hosted over 25 virtual interns/volunteers this past year. They all worked/ are working on a number of exciting projects!

This is just a small sampling of what we are doing at VRG every day. Thank you so much! We couldn’t do this without your support.

You can donate directly to VRG at www.vrg.org/donate

You can also mail donations to The Vegetarian Resource Group, PO Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203 or call in your donation to (410) 366-8343 Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm EST.

Each issue of Vegetarian Journal, Chef Nancy Berkoff pens the Vegan Cooking Tips column. The latest issue focuses on eggplant. She offers a variety of ways to prepare eggplant including making baba ganoush (an eggplant dip), baked eggplant, and grilling eggplant. See: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2021issue4/2021_issue4_cooking_tips.php

Subscribe to Vegetarian Journal in the USA only by visiting https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

Vegetarian Journal Senior Editor Rissa Miller wrote an article called “Vegan Meal Kits & Delivery Services” in the recent issue of Vegetarian Journal. Find out about the variety of companies offering these options here https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2021issue4/2021_issue4_boxed_mealkits.php

Subscribe to Vegetarian Journal in the USA only by visiting https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

The Vegetarian Resource Group is a vegan activist non-profit organization that does outreach all-year-long. For example, VRG has been participating in numerous virtual events throughout the USA by providing speakers on a wide variety of vegan topics. We also send literature free of charge to other groups/individuals doing educational activities in schools, hospitals, camps, restaurants, libraries, offices, etc. Our ability to continue doing this depends on people like you! Your donations allow us to promote the vegan message whenever we’re called upon for assistance. Please consider becoming a monthly, quarterly, or single-time donor to The Vegetarian Resource Group.

Thanks so much for your support. You can make a donation online here: www.vrg.org/donate    

Are you looking for an alcohol-free alternative to gin? New London Light produces a vegan gin alternative and a review of this product can be found in the latest issue of Vegetarian Journal here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2021issue4/2021_issue4_veggie_bits.php

Subscribe to Vegetarian Journal in the USA only by visiting https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

Whether you’re celebrating at home with your own family or throwing a party, here’s some creative mocktails (non-alcoholic beverages) you can serve: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2020issue3/2020_issue3_thirst_quenchers.php

Subscribe to Vegetarian Journal in the USA only by visiting https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

Each issue of Vegetarian Journal includes a column called Scientific Update by Reed Mangels, PhD, where she reviews recent scientific papers related to the veggie life-style. The latest column looks at these topics:

-Lower Risk of Hip Fractures in Vegan Women Using Calcium and Vitamin D Supplements

-Nutritional Content of Plant Milk Varies

Read the reviews here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2021issue4/2021_issue4_scientific_update.php

Subscribe to Vegetarian Journal in the USA only by visiting https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

Be sure to follow The Vegetarian Resource Group on Instagram: @vegetarianresourcegroup

Vegetarian Resource Group College Scholarship

New York City Area $5,000 Vegetarian, Vegan, and Animal Rights Award

The Vegetarian Resource Group will be awarding $30,000 in college scholarships to high school seniors graduating in Spring, 2022. $10,000 of these scholarships specifically will be awarded to students from New York City, Long Island, or Westchester. Deadline is February 20, 2022. We will accept applications postmarked on or before FEBRUARY 20, 2022. Early submission is encouraged.

New York applicants will be judged on positive veg activism, animal rights promotion, and financial need. Payment will be made to the student’s college (U.S. based only). Winners of the scholarships give permission to release their names to the media. Applications and essays become property of The Vegetarian Resource Group. We will ask semi-finalists for more information. Scholarship winners are contacted by email or telephone. Please look at your email.

Vegetarians do not eat meat, fish, or fowl. Vegans are vegetarians who do not use other animal products such as dairy or eggs.

To apply for the New York City Area awards, please send below to The Vegetarian Resource Group, P.O. Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203.

I. When applying, please include the following:

• Name:
• Street address:
• City, State, Zip:
• Email address:
• Phone number:
• Date of birth:
• Date of expected graduation from high school:
• Grade average in high school:
• College(s) applied/accepted to (if known):
• Anticipated major in college:
• Parents’ or Guardians’ names:
• Parents’ or Guardians’ addresses:
• City, State, Zip:
• High school principal:
• Name of one high school teacher:
• Name of high school:
• Address of high school:
• City, State, Zip:
• People in the vegetarian movement, if any, who know you (Please include contact information):
• Extracurricular activities (please describe):
• Favorite subjects in school:
• How did you hear about the scholarship?:
• Type of vegetarian/vegan:

II. Please submit an essay addressing all of the following:

 Use as few or as many words as necessary to best sell yourself. Don’t worry about word count.

1. How you promoted vegetarianism/veganism in your high school and/or community
2. Animal rights activities
3. Your successes
4. Your challenges
5. What you learned/what you would do different
6. How you expect to promote vegetarianism/veganism in college and beyond
7. Your future goals
8. Your strengths
9. Your weaknesses
10. Your “perfect” life in five years
11. Why you should receive this scholarship/financial need
12. How you became vegetarian/vegan and why you are vegetarian/vegan
13. How you define vegetarian
14. Why vegetarianism is important to you
15. What else is important to you
16. What vegetarian foods you would recommend to a non-vegetarian
17. What restaurants you would recommend to a non-vegetarian.

III. Please also attach:

1. A copy of your transcripts or report cards for the past two years. (An official copy is not necessary. Photocopies of your report cards will suffice.)
2. Three or more recommendations (including at least one teacher).
3. Any documentation related to your promotion of vegetarianism in high school and/or community including photographs, newspaper stories, etc.

Please send application and attachments to The Vegetarian Resource Group, P.O. Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203. For more information call (410) 366-8343 or email [email protected].

Don’t spend extra money on express mail. Save it for your college class materials.

If you would like to donate to additional scholarships or internships, go to www.vrg.org/donate

For information about other scholarships, see https://www.vrg.org/student/scholar.htm

Each issue of Vegetarian Journal features a Nutrition Hotline column by Reed Mangels, PhD, RD. The latest column looks at the benefits of sourdough bread. Mangels states, “The main nutritional advantage associated with sourdough breads compared to quick breads (like biscuits and banana bread) and to yeast-raised breads is that some minerals are better absorbed from sourdough breads. To appreciate this advantage, it helps to be familiar with phytates.”

To read the entire column go to: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2021issue4/2021_issue4_nutrition_hotline.php

Subscribe to Vegetarian Journal in the USA only by visiting https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php