Nothing beats adding a condiment to a vegan burger, sandwich, samosa, salad, etc. Chef Nancy Berkoff provides recipes for making vegan condiments in your own home. You can prepare Agave Mustard, Last Minute Ketchup, Mint Chutney, Harissa, Vegan Mayonnaise, BBQ Sauce, and Caponata.

Read the entire article here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2017issue1/2017_issue1_vegan_condiments.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

By Amy Dell, VRG Intern

Earlier in August, The Vegetarian Resource Group had a booth at DC VegFest at Nationals Park! Former intern Julia, volunteer Marcy, and two new VRG volunteers, Shriya and her husband, and I all worked together to distribute information to current vegans, the veg. curious, and family members of vegans.

We gave away about 800 copies of the Vegetarian Journal, hundreds of vegan pamphlets, and other resources like VRG’s I Love Animals Coloring Books, our protein flier, and information about our upcoming pre-Thanksgiving vegan dinner.

Throughout the day, we talked to thousands of people, answering questions about veganism, giving cookbook recommendations, and networking with other non-profits and activists. Many of the people that stopped at the table were interested in information about healthy vegan recipes and asked questions related to their specific health concerns, such as how to increase protein in a vegan diet or how to reduce sodium intake. It was really inspiring to see so many people taking positive steps towards a healthy life by exploring veganism! Although I’m not a dietitian and couldn’t give nutrition information, I was able to point people towards articles on our website www.vrg.org addressing these issues. 

To intern for The Vegetarian Resource Group, see https://www.vrg.org/student/index.php

To support The Vegetarian Resource Group outreach, donate at www.vrg.org/donate

Recent discussion topics include:

– What is your number one challenge you face raising your children vegan? Some of the responses included:

When my kid finds out not everyone makes compassionate choices.

School doesn’t provide vegan lunches.

I find it’s challenging when she goes to a friend’s house. We often send her food so she is more comfortable. She is 12 and very strict with her food choices – so getting other parents and her friends to understand and support is helpful.

My baby is 8 months and my husband is not vegan. It’s going to be extremely hard and would love to see if anyone has any advice on how to handle/cope.

Peer pressure/bullying about food choices.

Getting toddler to eat specific foods so I know they are getting enough b12.

– Where to Buy Vegan Shoes for Children

-Plus more!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/VRGparentsandkids/ is intended to be a group that offers support for families raising children on vegan diets and for vegan kids. We envision it as a place to get advice about a wide-variety of topics: pregnancy, birthday parties, school lunches, Halloween, non-leather apparel, cruelty-free products, summer camps, and more. Please use it as a place to share your wisdom, seek advice, or just find a sympathetic ear. The goal is to offer support.

Consequently, any profane, defamatory, offensive, or violent language will be removed. Feel free to disagree, but do so respectfully. Hateful or discriminatory comments regarding race, ethnicity, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or political beliefs will not be tolerated. We expect that posts should relate to vegan diets and lifestyles. The Vegetarian Resource Group reserves the right to monitor all content and ban any user who posts in violation of the above rules, any law or regulation, SPAM, or anything otherwise off topic.

Please share this information with any veggie families that you know! Thanks.

In the USA right now, many people have an abundance of ripe tomatoes in their garden and might be searching for new vegan recipes featuring fresh tomatoes. Nava Atlas offered several suggestions in a previous Vegetarian Journal in her article titled “Tomato Heaven”. You can prepare the following recipes: Salsa Ranchera (Raw Tomato Salsa), Fresh Summer Tomato Sauce, Simmered Tofu with Leeks and Tomatoes, Curried Potato-Tomato Salad, Spiced Tomato and Peach Relish, and Fresh Tomato and Corn Soup.

Read the entire article here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2001jul/2001_jul_tomato_heaven.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

Nothing beats a simple graphic to get the vegan message out! The Vegetarian Resource Group created My Vegan Plate to display on outreach tables at various events. If you live in the United States, you can request copies of this handout to distribute by emailing us at [email protected]

You can view the handout here: https://www.vrg.org/nutshell/MyVeganPlate.pdf

This same handout can also be read in Spanish here: https://www.vrg.org/images/miplatovegano.jpg

We also have a version you can print out for kids to color on: https://www.vrg.org/nutshell/MyVeganPlateCP.pdf

Donations towards this outreach are always appreciated: www.vrg.org/donate

Once again, the greater Baltimore area and a few other locations in Maryland can enjoy Vegan Restaurant Week. For details on this event see: https://www.mdveganeats.com/

Some of the participating restaurants in Baltimore include:

Golden West Café (Fried Chicken Mac and Cheese; Aztec Steak Quesadilla; Waffle Monster Redux; Tofu Benedict; and more)

Greener Kitchen (Vegan Cheesesteaks; Kale Salad; baked goods; and more)

Harmony Bakery (Chickpea Tart; Vegan Quiche; Quinoa burger; Mock Crabcakes; gluten-free vegan baked goods; plus more)

Land of Kush (vegan Mac and Cheese; Collard Greens; Vegan Crab Cakes; Curry Chickun; Kush BBQ Ribs; and more)

Miss Shirley’s (Avocado Toast; Oh Snap! Quinoa Salad; Gluten-Free Griddle Cakes; Apple Sage Sausage & Hash Skillet; Be More Beyond Burger; plus more)

Roland Park Bagels (Vegan Pizza Bagels; Breakfast Powerhouse; Beyond Burgers; Falafel Pita Pocket; and more)

Stall 11 (Korean BBQ Cauliflower Bites; Buddha Bowl; Funghi Philly; Shroom Burger; Seasonal Quinoa Pancakes on weekends; plus more)

In Howard County Great Sage is participating (Artichoke Spinach Dip; Chopped Salad & Tex Mex Quesadilla; Yasai Noodle Bowl; Bourbon Street Burger; Chocolate Lava Cake; Carrot Cake; plus much more)

In Montgomery County Lion & Dove Winery is participating.

The Vegetarian Resource Group has compiled a list of Senior Independent Living, Assisted Living, Nursing Home, and Other Senior Facilities in the USA that will accommodate vegetarians and in some cases vegans. This is a work in progress and if you know of any establishments that should be added to this list, please let us know. Our goal in this project is to persuade senior establishments to offer more vegan options on a regular basis. Sometimes by just asking you put the thought on their radar. We were successful in doing the same thing 15 years ago when we urged college campuses to do the same thing.

Below are two recent additions to our list. You can find the entire list here: https://www.vrg.org/seniors/senior_vegan.php

AdventHealth Care Center Orlando North
730 Courtland Street
Orlando, FL 32804
(407) 975-3800
Nursing Home, Rehab
This facility serves vegetarian meals to all of the residents about once a month. When a resident is vegetarian, they try their best to accommodate. Food examples: hummus, beans, vegetable wraps, a cottage cheese fruit plate, chef’s salad w/o meat, meatless crumble, meatless chicken nuggets, veggie burgers, and black bean burgers. They are willing to accommodate vegans.

CherryWood Village
1417 SE 107th Ave
Portland, OR 97216
(503) 408-0404
Retirement Community
Serves three options for each meal, and one option is always vegetarian. They can make vegan items with some substitutions, but it is not already vegan. There is good communication between the residents and the kitchen about what is in the food, and the residents can always ask for ingredients that are in items. Example foods: black bean burgers (with or without cheese), avocado toast (with or without egg), burritos, and vegan gluten-free bread.

To support this type of project, please donate here: www.vrg.org/donate

Tofubox in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, NY, offers a wide variety of veggie Asian dishes that are highly affordable. It is a vegetarian restaurant; however, most dishes are vegan-friendly.

Start with dim sum options including spring rolls, vegetable dumplings, and more. Soup options featured are pumpkin soup, miso soup with mushroom and tofu, and hot and sour soup. Also enjoy rice- or noodle-based dishes such as Szechuan spicy noodle, Singapore style noodle, or cedar pine-nut fried rice. Main dishes include box sets where you pick one protein (such as hot and spicy yuba, kung pao tofu, drunken seitan, and others) along with brown or purple rice and other toppings including veggies and beans. Finally, Tofubox offers chef’s specials including eggplant pot, Buddha’s delight, Szechuan soy protein, shiitake in garlic sauce, and other options. Also enjoy fresh juices and smoothies.

Tofubox is located at 632 Grand St., Brooklyn, NY 11211. They are open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday. Closed Monday. They also do catering and can be reached at (718) 388-4232 or by visiting www.tofuboxbrooklyn.com.

Reviewed by Marcy Schveibinz

Young readers will enjoy this rhyming tale about a ferocious lion who was pretty ordinary until the day he injures himself. He becomes unlike other lions that can run fast to catch their prey and now must rely on plants for food. He learns from other strong plant-eating animals and realizes that he too can be strong without eating animals. The injury helps him to reflect on the harm he was causing other animals. He realizes a fringe benefit of eating plants is kindness and in the end embraces his new lifestyle. The story teaches readers about different animals that thrive only on plants and helps them to identify with the lion in how he showed compassion toward other living beings. Another moral of the story that kids will also learn is that you can turn an unfortunate situation into something positive.

An Unordinary Lion (ISBN 978-1093275704) is published by Dragana Vucic Dekic for young readers ages appropriate for ages 4-8. This 29 page soft cover picture book retails for $9.95 and can be purchase online. For more information about other books by the author, visit the author’s blog at https://momthemuse.com.

The Vegetarian Resource Group will host a vegan dinner at Su Xing, about a six minute walk from the Pennsylvania Convention Center, on Sunday, October 27, 2019, during the annual meeting of The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Meet vegetarian dietitians from around the country. The public is invited.

MENU
APPETIZER: seitan on stick with BQ sauce
SOUP: (choice of): hot and sour soup or tofu and vegetable soup
MAIN DISHES:
chow fun (rice noodle dish)
tofu with black bean sauce
stir-fried spinach
stir-fried string beans
rice
DESSERT: fruit
BEVERAGES: tea and water

MUST RESERVE AND PAY IN ADVANCE
Send $25 per person (includes tax and tip) with attendee names to The Vegetarian Resource Group, PO Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203. Call (410) 366-8343. Or pay at www.vrg.org/donate and write “Philadelphia VRG Dinner” and attendee names on the “Comments” box.