By Reed Mangels, PhD, RD

The American Heart Association recently issued a scientific statement “2021 Dietary Guidance to Improve Cardiovascular Health.” This statement replaces their earlier recommendations which were published 15 years ago. While the focus of this statement is heart health, it also considers dietary effects on cancer, diabetes, kidney function, and Alzheimer’s disease as well as environmental effects of food choices.

Based on all of these considerations, the American Heart Association recommendations include:

• “Choose healthy sources of protein – mostly protein from plants (legumes and nuts)”
• “Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, choose a wide variety”
• “Choose foods made mostly with whole grains rather than refined grains”

While these guidelines do not call for a vegan or vegetarian diet, they do encourage choosing more plant foods and illustrate the importance of plant foods for a healthy diet.

These guidelines also address ultra-processed foods and say, “Choose minimally processed foods instead of ultra-processed foods” with the caveat that some healthy foods may be categorized as ultraprocessed. In contrast to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025 issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services a year ago, the American Heart Association guidelines address the environmental impact of commonly consumed animal products, especially red meat.

To read the entire text of the American Heart Association’s Guidelines see 2021 Dietary Guidance to Improve Cardiovascular Health: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.

To read more about our take on ultra-processed (and processed) foods see:

Beware of Diets Based on Ultra-Processed Foods

Vegan Processed Foods: Embrace Them? Shun Them?

Octopuses, crabs, and lobsters are capable of experiencing pain or suffering, according to a review commissioned by the UK government, which has added them to a list of sentient beings to be given protection under new animal welfare laws. The report by experts at the London School of Economics looked at 300 scientific studies to evaluate evidence of sentience, and they concluded that cephalopods (such as octopuses, squid and cuttlefish) and decapods (such as crabs, lobsters and crayfish) should be treated as sentient beings.

The report said lobsters and crabs shouldn’t be boiled alive.

For more information, see: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/lobsters-octopus-and-crabs-recognised-as-sentient-beings?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_source=994c7ffd-9c00-4347-9563-bc9a0754ecad&utm_content=immediately

https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/22/europe/uk-sentient-beings-crabs-octopus-and-lobsters-scn/index.html.

Here’s recipes for mock crab cakes.
https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2016issue4/2016_issue4_john_shields.php

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.

The Vegetarian Resource Group maintains an online Guide to Vegan/Vegetarian Restaurants in the USA and Canada. Here are some recent vegan restaurant additions. The entire guide can be found here: http://www.vrg.org/restaurant/index.php

To support the updating of this online restaurant guide, please donate at: www.vrg.org/donate

Here are some new additions to VRG’s guide (Note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic many are doing take-out and/or delivery now):

Boulevard of Greens, 2700 Horne St. #110, Fort Worth, TX 76107

Their menu includes bowls, pumpkin pie, cookies, muffins juices, and more.

Eden Café & Bakeshop, 109 Main St., Batavia, NY 14020

Cauliflower wings, buffalo cauliflower wraps, nachos, carrot dogs, burgers, and more may be found on their menu.

Honest Pastures, 1328 N. Great Neck Rd. #104, Virginia Beach, VA 23454

If you are looking for yummy vegan sandwiches, Honest Pastures offers delicious options that you can design. Choose your choice of bread, plant-based meats, plant-based cheeses, and a variety of toppings such as vegetables and sauces. The sandwiches go perfectly with one of the mocktails, limeades, and sodas they offer. Honest Pastures Inc. is also widely known for its unique vegan meat products that you can purchase on their website or order for local pick-up. You can find them at the Old Beach Farmers Market during the market season.

Littleburg Vegetable Kitchen, 5 Sanborn Ct., Somerville, MA 02143

Littleburg is a meal delivery service, however you may sit at the pub next door while waiting for your meals. Every Monday, a new menu with main courses, sides, and desserts is released. Zucchini fries, mushroom pita, coconut cake, and pistachio-dipped zucchini tenders are sample dishes. The cuisine is creative and the service is welcoming.

Norma’s Plant-Based Cuisine, 351 S. State Rd. 434, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714

Located inside a bookstore, Norma’s serves foods such as Impossible picadillo, stir-fried veggie rice, Asian salad/wraps, pizzas, and more. There are various indoor seating options that are both spacious and inviting.

The Natural Oasis, 288 Monroe Ave., Rochester, NY 14607

Breakfast bowls, BLTs, chipotle curry soup, paninis, wraps, sandwiches, and other items are among the menu’s offerings. They do not provide alcoholic beverages; however, you are welcome to bring your own.

The Stand, 85 Mill Plain Rd., Fairfield, CT 06824

The Stand is a nice cozy cafe with lots of bird-themed wall art. It is located in an outdoor shopping center near a highway. Some of the dishes they offer include Seitan Bagel Sandwich, Breakfast Burrito, Grilled Tempeh Reuben, Tofu Banh Mi, Skinny Buddah Bowl, Miso Kale Salad, Hummus Plate, Cookies, and Smoothies.

The Walrus, 948 Edgewood Ave. South, Jacksonville, FL 32205

The Walrus food selections include pesto panini, VLT, chocolatey smoothies, and much more. The atmosphere is hip and romantic with a stylish interior as well as outdoor dining. Great live music, open mic, and showcases of local artists.

Yeah! Burger, 1168 Howell Mill Rd., Ste. E, Atlanta, GA 30318

All-day breakfast offerings include Breakfast Burritos, Pancakes & Sausage, plus more. For lunch and dinner enjoy items such as Buffalo Chicken Salad, Cobb Salad, Chicken Tenders, Southern Chick, Hand-Cut Fries, Onion Rings, Organic Baked Beans, Napa Slaw, and so many other dishes.

Are you searching for non-leather vegan shoes, bags, belts, etc.? If so, check out this list maintained by The Vegetarian Resource Group of online vegan shops worldwide selling these items: https://www.vrg.org/nutshell/leather.php#mailorstores

Through December 31, 2021, you can give a gift membership to The Vegetarian Resource Group (includes a 1-year subscription to Vegetarian Journal) for $15 each. Offer is valid in the USA only!

This is a terrific way to share the vegan message, as well as support VRG outreach. Gift subscriptions can be done online by simply typing in your message and the name and address of each gift recipient in the comments field. Go to: www.vrg.org/donate 

By Reed Mangels, PhD, RD

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the world’s largest organization of nutrition and dietetics practitioners, publishes the Nutrition Care Manual® This manual, which may also be referred to as a diet manual, is used by many hospital nutrition departments and dietetics practitioners. It is a web-based publication that includes comprehensive information about different diets (including diets for those with kidney disease, diabetes, heart disease, and many other conditions) as well as nutrition education materials. Nutrition education materials include sample menus that can be given to clients to help them visualize the foods that are included in their diet. While the Nutrition Care Manual has included a section on vegan/vegetarian diets for a long time, there were no resources for those needing to modify their diet so that it was both vegan/vegetarian and suitable for use with conditions like allergies, hypertension, or stroke. That has changed. The Nutrition Care Manual now has vegan and lacto-ovo vegetarian menus for every type of sample menu. So, for example there is a sample menu that is vegan and that meets the needs of someone with a wheat allergy, one that is vegan and suitable for someone with chronic kidney disease, and so on.

This resource is available for purchase. Many hospitals subscribe to it so hospitalized vegans can suggest that their dietitian check the Nutrition Care Manual if they have questions about how to combine a vegan diet with a diet to treat a medical condition.

 For more information, go to the Nutrition Care Manual website.

If you’re visiting Israel, you might want to dine at Meshek Barzilay. This vegan restaurant offers a wide variety of delicious dishes. Appetizers include Tempura Vegetables, Avocado Panjabi, Indonesian Salad, and much more. Main dishes include Seitan and Cashew Cheese Pizza, Masala Dosa, Lasagna, Veggie Burger, plus more. Dessert options are Drunken Pear, Tiramisu, Cocoa Fantasy, and more. They also have a separate kid’s menu, as well as an outside patio area.

For information see: https://www.meshekbarzilay.co.il/en/ or https://www.facebook.com/meshekbarzilay/

Here is a video a friend made showing how to make a tempeh sausage. It’s a very easy recipe that anyone can try.  –Shared by Betsy Shipley

For other vegan cooking videos (produced by The Vegetarian Resource Group, see: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvSyCToa_i9fA4D5CLCAFWw

This children’s book conveys warmth, welcome, and reassurance for little vegans as they navigate a non-vegan world. Vegan Family brings the familiar alphabet format into play with cute, vibrant illustrations by Broussard which embrace the expected, like V is for vegetables, but also integrating true vegan ideals, like E is empathy. Children of varying ethnic backgrounds are represented, giving Vegan Family a sense of inclusivity and Bonica also tackles emotional challenges, like feeling different or alone. Child readers will find this book upbeat and encouraging–I found it to be those things and I’m well past the target age group! 

Vegan Family (ISBN: 978-1-6657-0010-8) is published by Archway Publishing. It has 28 pages and retails for $11.99. Reviewed by Rissa Miller/Senior Editor