Are you looking for some creative ways to prepare dishes featuring radishes? A previous Journal Vegan Cooking Tips column written by Chef Nancy Berkoff, EdD, RD focused on radishes. Read the piece here: Quick and Easy Ideas for Radishes

To subscribe to Vegan Journal in the USA, see: vrg.org/member

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

photo from First Watch Restaurants

On their website, First Watch says the following about their vegan options. (The chain has more than 500 locations in 29 states.)

Please refer to the list below for some options we offer by way of modification. Always ask to speak to a manager and remind the server you would like them to note vegan on the check when ordering. They can make a note and proceed with your check with caution.

• Our potatoes are a hit with our vegan friends
• Dressed Greens
• Fruit
• Black Beans
• Kale Tonic Fresh Juice- Kale, Fuji apple, cucumber, and lemon
• Black Cold Brew
• Our multigrain* is vegan except for honey if you’re comfortable with that. Eliminate it where needed if you don’t consume honey
• We have two dressings in the vegan category – Lemon Balsamic and Citrus Chipotle Vinaigrette
• Avocado Toast – order no bread and you can enjoy the Avocado Smash on top of tomato slices or dry mixed greens. Order without eggs and you can substitute for a different side, i.e. potatoes, black beans, fruit.
• AM Superfoods Bowl – Order without the multigrain toast* if you prefer no honey.
• Market Skillet Hash – order without eggs and cheese. Seasoned First Watch potatoes, house roasted Cremini mushrooms, zucchini, shallots, red peppers, baby spinach-
• Pesto Chicken Quinoa Bowl – Cook with water, order without chicken, cheese or pesto sauce. Protein-packed quinoa, mixed with kale, shredded carrots and house roasted tomatoes.
• Power Breakfast Quinoa Bowl- Cook with water, order without eggs, Italian sausage and cheese. Protein -packed quinoa, house roasted Cremini mushrooms and tomatoes, kale and EVOO.
• Veggie Burger- Order without bun and dijonnaise. A seasoned all-natural patty of brown rice, peppadew peppers, onions, carrots and mushrooms- with fresh smashed avocado, organic mixed greens, tomato and red onion.
• Chicken Avocado Chop Salad- Order without chicken, cheese, tortilla chips and toast. Chopped romaine and arugula, avocado, tomatoes, corn, black beans, with Citrus Chipotle dressing.

See https://firstwatch.com/faqs/
For information about other restaurant chains, see https://www.vrg.org/fastfoodinfo.php
For information about vegan and vegetarian restaurants, see https://www.vrg.org/restaurant/index.php

By Noelle Merveilleux, VRG Intern

I had the opportunity to intern remotely for The Vegetarian Resource Group (VRG). During my time, I was responsible for contributing to The VRG’s blog by submitting relevant articles concerning restaurant reviews and guides, what motivated people at The VRG to go vegan, and exploring different legal careers that could also incorporate veganism in practice. I also had the chance to work with blog editors on product reviews, as well as do some independent research that I found to be a source of educational enrichment.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to have written and interned for this organization. I was initially motivated to go vegan for the sake of animals and I wanted to seek out an opportunity that also would help me in activism. Really, I wanted to share this aspect of veganism on this platform, too, which I’ve achieved, thankfully.

Though the opportunity was remote, I was still able to make the most out of my experience by engaging with fellow interns on a couple of assignments.

For more information about the The Vegetarian Resource Group internships, see https://www.vrg.org/student/index.php

photo from The Vegetarian Site

Are you searching for vegan work boots? The following online stores over safety work boots, including some with steel toes.

Amblers Safety from the UK offers some vegan safety shoes: https://www.amblerssafety.com/collections/vegan

Ethical Wares out of Wales in the UK offers several types of safety boots: https://www.ethicalwares.com/footwear/safety-footwear/

Stitchkraft located in Australia offers a wide variety of safety shoes and boots: https://www.stitchkraft.com.au/collections/vegan-friendly-work-boots-shoes

The Vegetarian Site from the USA offers two types of safety boots: https://store.thevegetariansite.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=84_100

Vegetarian Shoes from the United Kingdom offers safety boots: https://www.vegetarian-shoes.co.uk/mens/mens_boots/10033_0c.html

Veganline located in London, England offers a safety shoe and boots: https://veganline.com/safety-boots-shoes

photo from ZoJu Foods

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:

Fela’s Vegetarian Restaurant, 359 Calle de Diego, San Juan, PR 00923

Despite “Vegetarian” in its name, Fela’s menu, which is updated and posted daily on its Facebook page, is vegan—and proves to doubters that authentic Puerto Rican cuisine can be plant-based, healthy, and still delicious. Served in a casual cafeteria-style setting, the menu offers items such as Papa French con Ajo Asado (French fries with roasted garlic); Arepa de Papa (potato arepas—fried flatbread made from cornmeal); and Pastelon de Amarillo con Lenteja (a yellow cake with lentils). Dessert offerings may include Tembleque (a coconut pudding) and Cheesecake con Guayaba (a guava cheesecake).

HaleLife Bistro, 11270 4th St. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33716

Expanding beyond its vegan, gluten-free bakeries, HaleLife opened a bistro to further the owner’s goal of offering delicious menu options to those with allergies and other specific dietary needs. HaleLife Bistro’s menu is free of dairy, egg, soy, peanut, and tree nuts (minus coconuts). However, these restrictions have by no means limited the tasty options, which include Breakfast All-Day items like Sheet Pan Pancakes topped with homemade fruit compote and served with syrup or the Breakfast Quesadilla that is made with black beans, corn, and a spicy mayo. If you’ve moved past breakfast, lunch and dinner options include Handhelds like the Three-Cheese Grilled Cheese (American, mozzarella, and provolone cheeses) and 10-inch pizzas such as the Spinach and Artichoke White Pizza. Their donut holes are the perfect sweet bite at the end of your meal, with flavors including Cinnamon Sugar and S’mores—and the option to add a sauce (blueberry, strawberry, chocolate, or cream cheese icing).

MOOD, 235 US-1, Tequesta, FL 33469

This women-owned restaurant serves vegan dishes like the “Falafel Pancake,” which is a Middle Eastern flavored pancake with a roasted red pepper spread. Another dish served is the “More Brussels,” which is brussel sprouts and sesame agave sprinkled with toasted peanuts.

Plant Based Zoe, 940 McDaniel St. SW, Atlanta, GA 30310

Interested in trying authentic Haitian cuisine that caters to your vegan preferences? You must try Plant Based Zo! Here you can indulge in a plethora of beloved Haitian dishes, including Djon Djon Rice Platters, Macaroni Gratin, Fritay Platter, and so much more. Plant Based Zo also has several healthy vegan smoothie options, including a berry, green, and tropical flavored smoothie.

Third Kingdom, West Entrance, 21 E. 7th St., New York, NY 10003 

Menu focused entirely on mushrooms in New York’s East Village, with an expansive wine list. Dishes include Yellow Enoki – orange balsamic vinaigrette, couscous, almond, arugula; Lion’s Mane – dumplings, daikon sauce, micro cilantro; Comb Tooth – celery root purée, pickled hon shimeji, coleslaw; Blue Oyster – celery root, fennel, button mushroom puree, charred cipollini, peppercorn sauce; and one dessert – lava cake, rosemary & porcini ice cream, candied shiitake, chocolate crumble. Can accommodate private events with up to 100 people. Outdoor seating available.

Vickie’s Veggie Table, 299 Main St., Ste. 101, Biddeford, ME 04005

Women-owned business that serves dishes like the “Sausage Panini,” which has Impossible sausage, tofu egg, vegan mozzarella, red or hot pepper jelly, and vegan mayo on herbed focaccia bread. Also offers the “Apple-Walnut Chickpea Salad Wrap,” which is chickpea salad, lettuce, spinach, tomato, carrots, and lemon garlic aioli on a sun-dried tomato wrap.

ZoJu Foods, 111 Charter Oak Ave., Hartford, CT 06106

The menu rotates seasonally and they strive to source organic, local food whenever possible. For Starters there are various Empanadillas or Pa’ Los Dedos (AKA Finger Food) such as Maduro Tostones – sweet/savory plantains roasted with a citrus Olive Oil blend, finished with sea salt. A couple of their many Sides are Four cheez, seasoned Baked Mac & Cheez and Jacketed Sweet Potatoes– deep fried and dipped in sea salt. Several Soup choices change weekly and may include house-made, savory and slightly spicy Stone Broth. It features hongos (mushrooms) cilantro, beans and greens. There’s also Chik’n Noodle, Lentil, Split Pea or multi-colored Butternut Squash (or another seasonal Gourd), textured with seeds, in a coconut cream base. Numerous Entrées include Sofrito & Adobo Roasted Garbanzos in aquafaba over arroz con gandules (rice with pigeon peas) and the green of day, Pulled BBQ Jackfruit marinated in housemade sauce served with roasted garlic spinach, Beyond meat…Loaf blend of peppers, onions, housemade sauce, beans and beyond meat, Buffalo marinated Tempeh served with arroz blanco (white rice) and organic spring mix. Zoju Foods offers many breakfast items including, Pancakes & fresh made Waffles both of which may be topped with walnuts, pecans, whipped cream, berry compote and or coconut flakes. Fridays only, cap off your week with cinnamon nutmeg French Toast, available with the same toppings as above. Sautéed and seasoned Tofu Scramble comes with kale, peppers, onions, mushrooms, cheddar and extra crispy home fries. The Scramble can even be made with Pumpkin seed tofu or Chickpeas in place of soy. Another possibility is the Breakfast Burrito with seasoned, stewed pinto and black beans, sautéed spinach, peppers, and onions, served in your wrap of choice. Cheez can be an extra. If all this is making you berry thirsty, Bebidas include homemade Berry Blended Mint Tea or Coconut Cider. To finish off, some Dulces (Desserts) are a variety of rotating Cookies, Mango Sorbet with topping options and an oat-based, maple glazed Apple Crumble, roasted with cinnamon and nutmeg which can be topped with homemade coconut cream or berry compote.

As I am in the Academy of Business and Finance at my school, I was most struck by the discovery that U.S. animal production incurs hundreds of billions of dollars in externalized societal costs, evident in our healthcare system and damaged environment. Within weeks of obtaining this haunting knowledge, I cut out meat from my diet completely and I eliminated dairy and eggs shortly after, becoming fully vegan.

For the past four years, I have been a leader of my school’s veganism club, Sprouting Change. By providing weekly meal plans for the annual Veganuary challenge, I have exposed participants to the fun and approachable side of veganism. Recognizing the need for ongoing year-round support, my team and I also compile comprehensive digital booklets featuring seasonal recipes with plant-based twists. At the end of my sophomore year, at my school’s first-ever climate summit, I gave a presentation of the wide-ranging impacts of animal agriculture with regards to deforestation, land use, greenhouse gas emissions, and water footprint.

A reference for Greta said, “As the summer staff tossed ideas for superlatives for the program’s end of year awards ceremony, they came close to awarding Greta the title of “most likely to convert you to veganism.”  Another of her projects was her podcast called EcoThreads, which explores the intersections of sustainability with different economic, political, environmental, and social issues.

In college, Greta aims to combine her academic and personal interests through a double major in Economics and Environmental Studies.

Support Young Veg Activists

To send support for additional scholarships and internships, donate at www.vrg.org/donate or call (410) 366-8343. You can also send a donation to VRG, P.O. Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203.

Do you know an amazing vegan or vegetarian high school student? If so, let them know about our annual scholarship contest. The deadline for high school seniors is February 20^th of each year. To see scholarship rules and past winners, visit www.vrg.org/student/scholar

Recent topics brought up include:

– Shared an article that a VRG intern wrote on vegan meals for middle and high school kids

– 2 ways to make vegan Easter eggs quickly

– Mentioned kid-friendly vegan and gluten-free cookie mix

– Vegan Vitamin D drops for Babies

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 around the world. 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.

photo from MooShoes

Warm weather has arrived in many parts of the world and you may need a new pair of vegan sandals. Here are online shops selling a wide variety of vegan sandals from various countries:

USA

BC Footwear: American company selling women’s sandals.

https://bcfootwear.com/collections/sandals

Bhava Studio: American company offering women’s sandals.

https://bhavastudio.com/collections/sandals

Matt & Natt: American company selling women’s sandals. Shipped to several countries.

https://us.mattandnat.com/collections/sandals

Mooshoes: American company selling women’s and men’s sandals.

https://www.mooshoes.com/collections/womens-sandals

https://www.mooshoes.com/collections/mens-sandals

Okabashi: American company selling sandals for women and men.

https://www.okabashi.com/collections/womens-sandals

https://www.okabashi.com/collections/mens-sandals

Third Oak: American company offering women’s sandals.

https://explorethirdoak.com/collections/sandals

Vegan Chic: American company selling women’s and men’s sandals.

https://www.veganchic.com/women/vegan+sandals/search.aspx

https://www.veganchic.com/men/vegan+sandals/search.aspx

Europe

Avesu: German company that offers world-wide shipping on sandals for women and men.

https://www.avesuveganshoes.com/vegan-womens-shoes/sandals-com.html

https://www.avesuveganshoes.com/vegan-mens-shoes/sandals-com.html

BioWorld: Company from Spain that offers men’s and women’s sandals.

https://www.bioveganos.com/c182148-sandalias-de-mujer.html

https://www.bioveganos.com/c183577-sandalias-de-hombre.html

Freerangers: British company selling women’s and men’s sandals.

https://www.freerangers.co.uk/ladies-sandals

https://www.freerangers.co.uk/mens-sandals

 Green Laces: Swedish shop offering men’s and women’s sandals.

https://greenlaces.se/produkt-kategori/shop/shop-skor/shop-herr-skor/shop-herr-skor-sandaler/

https://greenlaces.se/produkt-kategori/shop/shop-skor/shop-dam-skor/shop-dam-skor-sandaler/

Vegetarian Shoes: British company selling men’s and women’s sandals.

https://www.vegetarian-shoes.co.uk/womens/womens_sandals/10153_0c.html

https://www.vegetarian-shoes.co.uk/mens/sandals/10094_0c.html

 Will’s Vegan Store: Company from the UK selling women’s and men’s sandals. Can be shipped globally.

https://www.wills-vegan-store.co.uk/collections/vegan-womens-sandals?usf_sort=bestselling

https://www.wills-vegan-store.co.uk/collections/vegan-mens-sandals?usf_sort=bestselling

Canada

Native Shoes: Canadian company selling sandals for women, men, and children.

https://www.nativeshoes.com/womens/sandals

https://www.nativeshoes.com/mens/sandals

https://www.nativeshoes.com/girls/sandals

https://www.nativeshoes.com/boys/sandals

Australia

Holster Australia: Australian company offering sandals for women. Will ship to USA.

https://www.holsterfashion.com/collections/sandals

Vegan Journal is published by The Vegetarian Resource Group. Enjoy in-depth original research, product and book reviews, scientific updates on veggie nutrition, delicious vegan recipes with gorgeous photos, plus so much more. Both long-term vegans and those new to a vegan life-style will enjoy this magazine. To subscribe in the USA only, see: https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php