Reed Mangels, PhD, RD and Chef Nancy Berkoff, EdD, RD wrote an article in a previous issue of Vegetarian Journal that shows individuals how to lose weight on a vegan diet. This piece was written to provide suggestions for vegans, or people who are interested in following a vegan diet, who want to lose weight. The weight loss plan is designed for non-pregnant adults. If you have a medical condition such as kidney disease, heart disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure, please consult your health care professional to make sure these ideas will work for you.
This article features two eating plans. The first has
approximately 1,500 calories and is designed for most women who want to lose
1-2 pounds per week. The second has about 1,900 calories and is designed for
most men who want to lose 1-2 pounds per week. One to two pounds per week is a
safe rate of weight loss that is more likely to be maintained.
We previously ran an article in Vegetarian Journal showing that vegan meal plans can be both low-cost and nutritious. Often people claim it’s too expensive to be vegan. This is not true. Like any diet, it depends upon the types of food you choose to eat.
The meal plans found in this piece were devised for three
specific populations: young adults, older adults, and a family of four. If you
do not fit into one of these categories, you may still use the ideas in the
article to develop a meal plan that is just right for you. Each plan features
an array of meal ideas that are quick and easy to prepare, that contain the
nutrients your body needs, and that won’t put a huge dent in your wallet.
The Vegetarian Resource Group is a vegan activist non-profit
organization that does outreach all-year-long. For example, VRG tables at
different events throughout the USA and also sends 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 or quarterly donor to The Vegetarian Resource Group.
Thanks so much for your support. You can become a monthly or
quarterly donor online here: vrg.org/donate
The Vegetarian Resource Group maintains an online Guide to
Vegan/Vegetarian Restaurants in the USA and Canada. Below are some recent
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:
Alice
40 Adeline St.
Ottawa, ON K1S 3L3 Canada
From the mind of Chef Briana Kim,
Alice is an upscale vegan restaurant with beautifully plated dishes which
you’ll find nowhere else. Call well in advance for reservations. This would be
great for a date night, or for special occasions which call for something more
high-end.
Foodhisattva
2158 South Taylor Rd.
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
Here we have a vegan pop-up that’s
decided to settle down. Located in Cleveland Heights, Foodhisattva serves
American food with a Asian twist, like their Bangkok Tacos, Bulgogi
Cheesesteak, and Chick’n Katsu Sando. You can follow them on Facebook or Instagram
as well to get updates about their specials.
Fork My Life
6558 Gateway Ave.
Sarasota, FL 34231
Fork My Life is both a vegan cafe and
a vegan bakery, which is great for those of us looking for something both
savory and sweet. The menu includes hot sandwiches like the grilled cheeze or
chick’n parm sandwich, small plates like mac and cheeze and loaded nachos, and
a variety of cupcakes and cookies too numerous to list. They also have custom
smoothies, and even vegan milkshakes! They even sell artisan vegan meats and
cheeses.
Plant Matter Café
717 Richmond St.
London, ON Canada N6A 3H1
A restaurant’s name doesn’t always
clearly communicate what you’ll find there, but it does at Plant Matter Café.
Entrees include classic cafe fare like Cubano sandwiches, cobb salads, and
avocado toasts. The drinks are what make this cafe stand out, however. It’s not
just coffee that’s available, but also juice shots, smoothies, and a full bar.
The Boombox Bakeshop
520 Adelaide St.
London, ON N6B 3J4 Canada
The Boombox Bakeshop is a vegan
bakery offering daily cupcakes and special order cupcakes and cakes. Flavor
options abound, from your basic chocolate and vanilla, to lemon lavender, maple
pecan, and more! Plenty of gluten free options are available as well.
Urban Beets Kitchen and Juice Bar
5616 Olde Wadsworth Blvd.
Arvada, CO 80002
The menu rotates daily at Urban
Beets, an eclectic vegan restaurant and juice bar. There are a few regular
items (there’s often an avocado toast du jour), but what’s available depends
more on what’s in stock. Prior entrees have included kung pao, tempeh riblets,
roasted cauliflower and mushroom fajitas, wet-style breakfast burritos, and on
and on. They also have beer and cocktails, including vegan Bloody Marys. Check
them out if you’re looking for something a bit different.
Included you’ll find vegan nutrition information on the basic needs during pregnancy, basic needs during breastfeeding, as well as the basic needs for infants, toddlers, and school-age kids. There’s also a sample vegan meal plan for vegan pregnancy, a vegan feeding schedule for babies ages 4-12 months, and diet plans for children at various ages.
Doshi was founded to provide smart, fashionable, and
quality vegan bags and accessories. We meet the needs of
ethically and environmentally conscious professionals and fashionistas.
See more at https://doshi.shop For a 15% discount on your first order over $50, use discount code vrg15
Christopher Place Employment Academy of Baltimore is a program through Catholic Charities which aims to educate and train previously homeless men so that they may build the skills and finances to succeed in their communities. I had the pleasure of meeting a fine group of these men when I went with Vegetarian Resource Group volunteer Marcy Schveibinz to help her teach a weekly vegan cooking class. When Marcy and I arrived, we were greeted with smiles and curiosity; the attitude in the building was so positive and homey.
Everyone knows and loves Marcy and they were so
excited to hear what she was going to be cooking up next. On that day, vegan
mac and cheese was on the menu! The class included meal prep, cooking, and
nutrition advice, like where to get certain vitamins and how to read labels. As
we were cooking, we all talked about various aspects of veganism including the
differences in nutrition of plant-based and animal-based products. Their homework
assignment, which was to look over a climate-related pamphlet, sparked
conversations about environmental impacts and speciesism as well. Though there
were serious topics, humor and understanding cleared away inhibitions.
Preparing meals together has always been a way
for people to unite and nourish each other’s stomachs and souls. This was no
different, and although many of the men concluded that they would rather make
‘normal’ mac and cheese instead of the vegan version, we left happy knowing that
they could revisit veganism at any time and not be completely clueless. This
environment seemed the most productive for bringing in an idea such as veganism
because there was no risk and the reward was yummy free food! Though the group
was not willing to drop the hat and declare veganism right away, they made an
open and honest effort to understand why and how to be vegan. For me, all it
took was the tiniest bit of information for me to eventually reach my own vegan
conclusion. My experience at Christopher Place made me realize that the
smallest of actions can bring about some of the greatest change.
The Vegetarian Resource Group (VRG) is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public on veganism and the interrelated issues of health, nutrition, ecology, ethics, and world hunger. We have been helping health professionals, food services, businesses, educators, students, vegans, and vegetarians since 1982. In addition to publishing the Vegan Journal, VRG produces and sells a number of books.
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