A federal court blocked the state of Arkansas from enforcing its meat label law that doesn’t allow companies to use words like “burger, and “roast” to describe products that are not made from animals, such as veggie burgers, even if modified by qualifiers such as “vegan,” “veggie,” or “plant-based.” For information, see: https://www.aclu.org/blog/free-speech/arkansas-made-it-illegal-call-veggie-burger-burger-were-suing

Also, you may be interested in The Vegetarian Resource Group FDA testimony on a related topic:  https://www.vrg.org/blog/2019/11/22/vegetarian-resource-group-testimony-submitted-to-food-and-drug-administration-fda-on-horizontal-approaches-to-food-standards-of-identity-modernization/

Are you looking to put a new spin on your New Year’s Eve/Day meal? If so, a previous Vegetarian Journal article by Anna Lam serves up a number of creative Southern-style ideas including Cornbread Flapjacks with Jalapeño-Mayhaw Jelly, Hoppin’ Johns, Turnip Greens, and Seitan Ham.

Find the recipes here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2017issue4/2017_issue4_new_year.php

And have a terrific 2020!

The recent issue of Vegetarian Journal includes the column Veggie Bits where we review vegan products. We reviewed Vegetarian Traveler ProteinToppers packets (each variety is a dry blend of toasted beans and/or seeds and boasts at least 15 grams of protein), That’s It Truffles (dark chocolate covered truffles with minimal, wholesome ingredients), Coconut Bliss Popsicles, and No Evil Plant Meat products.

Read the reviews for each of these products here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2019issue4/2019_issue4_veggie_bits.php

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

You can also subscribe to the Kindle version of Vegetarian Journal in the USA and United Kingdom.

In the USA, visit: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LBY2Y7K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1544727482&sr=8-1&keywords=B07LBY2Y7K In the United Kingdom, visit: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07LBY2Y7K/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1544731957&sr=8-1&keywords=B07LBY2Y7K

When making your end-of-year donations, please remember The Vegetarian Resource Group. We greatly appreciate your support. Visit: www.vrg.org/donate

Here are some of the ways your donation will be used throughout the year to come:

$25 Sponsors sending Vegetarian Journal for a year to a Vegetarian/Vegan or Animal Rights Group located overseas in a poor country.

$50 Would go towards reprinting copies of our various vegan brochures/handouts.

$100 The cost to send a box of vegan literature to a student vegetarian/animal rights/ environmental organization for outreach on their campus.

$200 Allows VRG to send Vegetarian Journal for a year to 20 high school students applying to the Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship.

$500 Will enable us to give runner-up scholarships to high school seniors who promote veganism.

Thank you and happy 2020!

Each issue of Vegetarian Journal features a column called Scientific Update where Reed Mangels, PhD, RD and other guest reviewers review recent scientific literature related to the veggie lifestyle. In the latest issue of the magazine one review looks at Canada’s Food Guide. Reed says, “Health Canada, a department of the Canadian government, recently released Canada’s Food Guide. In contrast to the United States’ MyPlate, there’s no dairy group. Instead, the Canadian Food Guide calls for “making water your drink of choice.” Dairy products are included under the general heading of Protein Foods where plant proteins are featured prominently.” You can see the Canadian guide here: https://food-guide.canada.ca/en/

Another review Reed did is on a study that looked at the topic of diets based on ultra-processed foods.

And finally, Lauren Capano, Dietetic Intern, College of Saint Elizabeth did a review on a study that looked at recreational runners on a vegan diet. Lauren says, “Physical activity is an important component of health and well-being. Nutrition is key for sustaining and improving physical fitness. Many active people are adopting vegan or vegetarian lifestyles, but how do these diets affect performance compared to the traditional omnivorous diets of some athletes?”

You can read all the reviews here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2019issue4/2019_issue4_scientific_update.php

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

You can also subscribe to the Kindle version of Vegetarian Journal in the USA and United Kingdom.

In the USA, visit: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LBY2Y7K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1544727482&sr=8-1&keywords=B07LBY2Y7K  In the United Kingdom, visit: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07LBY2Y7K/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1544731957&sr=8-1&keywords=B07LBY2Y7K

The promo is for a 6-count Variety Medley only. Your promo code is: VGR25. The regular cost for the 6-ct Variety Medley is $35.99 PLUS shipping for a total cost of around $50.00.

The promo code provides a discount and FREE shipping at the final cost of $25.00 (50% off).

Go to: https://www.vegetariantraveler.com/product/medley-variety-6case/

Vegetarian Traveler® was formed by founders Christy and Chuck. They have been vegetarians for decades and found that, like many of us, eating away from home presented a challenge. They developed Toasted Bean Blends that offer single-serve, convenient, shelf-stable vegan proteins using simple ingredients.

See: https://www.vegetariantraveler.com/product/medley-variety-6case/

Offer ends December 31, 2019!

By Reed Mangels, PhD, RD

From a reader: A relative told me that older people (I am in my 70s) should take vitamin B12 as methylcobalamin instead of cyanocobalamin. She also said that I should eat eggs once a week instead of taking a vitamin B12 supplement. Is this correct?

Your relative is correct that vitamin B12 is important – it’s an essential nutrient. You can read more about vitamin B12 on our website.

My favorite source for most items related to vitamin B-12 is veganhealth.org. This website has materials developed by several vegan dietitians including Jack Norris, Ginny Messina, and myself. Jack knows a tremendous amount about vitamin B12. He provides a good discussion of the different forms of vitamin B12 here and here. He concludes, “Cyanocobalamin is a well-studied, reliable, inexpensive form of vitamin B12.” The National Institutes of Health concludes, “Existing evidence does not suggest any differences among forms [of vitamin B12] with respect to absorption or bioavailability.” I think cyanocobalamin is the form that has been shown to reverse a vitamin B12 deficiency in older people and would recommend using that form unless you have a condition that contraindicates use of cyanocobalamim.

Although eggs do contain a bit of vitamin B12, vitamin B12 is poorly absorbed from eggs. Additionally, because 10 to 30% of people older than 50 years are estimated to have low stomach acid which decreases vitamin B12 absorption from food, the Institute of Medicine recommends that vitamin B12-fortified foods or a vitamin B12 supplement be used to meet much of the vitamin B12 requirement for those 51 and older.

The contents of this posting, our website, and our other publications, including Vegetarian Journal, are not intended to provide personal medical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a qualified health professional. We often depend on product and ingredient information from company statements. It is impossible to be 100% sure about a statement, info can change, people have different views, and mistakes can be made. Please use your best judgment about whether a product is suitable for you. To be sure, do further research or confirmation on your own.

Due to the generosity of an anonymous donor, The Vegetarian Resource Group each year will award $20,000 in college scholarship money to graduating U.S. high school students who have promoted veganism/vegetarianism in their schools and/or communities. Vegetarians do not eat meat, fish, or fowl. Vegans are vegetarians who do not use other animal products such as dairy or eggs.

One award of $10,000 and two awards of $5,000 will be given. Entries may only be sent by students graduating from high school in spring 2019. Deadline is February 20, 2020. We will accept applications postmarked on or before February 20, 2020. Early submission is encouraged!

Applicants will be judged on having shown compassion, courage, and a strong commitment to promoting a peaceful world through a vegan/vegetarian diet/lifestyle. 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 may ask finalists for more information. Scholarship winners are contacted by e-mail or telephone. Please look at your e-mail.

For details on the contest, see: http://www.vrg.org/student/scholar.htm

Nothing beats fresh homemade vegan cookies that can be shared with friends, co-workers, and your family. A previous Vegetarian Journal article titled “Cookies, Cookies, Cookies,” by Peggy Rynk provides a wide variety of cookie recipes including Cranberry-Applesauce Bars, Almond Sugar Cookies, Maple Pecan Bars, Cinnamon-Chocolate Chip Bars, Gentle Ginger Cookies, Banana-Raisin Spice Squares, Soft Molasses Cookies, Pineapple-Lemon Cookies, Unbaked Oatmeal-Peanut Butter Fudgies, Whole Wheat Raisin-Nut Strips, and Citrus Slices. Start baking now!

Find the entire article here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2004issue4/2004_issue4_cookies.php

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

You can also subscribe to the Kindle version of Vegetarian Journal in the USA and United Kingdom.

In the USA, visit: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LBY2Y7K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1544727482&sr=8-1&keywords=B07LBY2Y7K In the United Kingdom, visit: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07LBY2Y7K/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1544731957&sr=8-1&keywords=B07LBY2Y7K

For information on this adult coloring book, see:
https://fourscorepress.com/