Sugimoto Forest-Grown Shiitake Powder can be used on roasted vegetables, in gravies or sauces, over seitan and tofu, or atop your favorite Buddha bowl. Read our review in Vegan Journal here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2023issue4/2023_issue4_veggie_bits.php

To subscribe to Vegan Journal visit: https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

By Chef Nancy Berkoff, EdD, RD

We received this question from a reader:
I wonder if management at a few memory care/skilled nursing facilities would provide any worthwhile information on how those with dietary preferences due to veganism, religious beliefs, etc. could make those known in advance of becoming a resident? And if management could provide any insights on how to ensure that your requests are followed?

Dr. Berkoff replied:

There is little uniformity in memory care/skilled nursing facilities dietary policies. Facilities need to follow federal, state, and local laws and mandates, but the provision of services or enforcement vary from area to area, facility to facility.

So, the suggestion would be to consider requests on a case-by-case (or facility-to-facility) basis. Depending on the facility’s policy, a doctor’s order for a specific type of diet (vegan, kosher, gluten-free, etc.) could be helpful to establish the “official” need. Prior to admission, it could be helpful to have a forthright and detailed conversation with the person “in charge” of ensuring dietary requests are followed. Request a copy of the vegan foods the facility offers on a regular basis, to ensure the selection is nutritious, varied and meets the patient’s needs.

Visiting with the facility’s administrator to ascertain who is responsible for day-to-day patient care could be a helpful step. Obtain names, title and their weekly schedule to have a go-to person. Depending on the facility, beyond the dietary/food service staff or nursing staff, a social worker, case manager, patient services coordinator could be a useful advocate. Depending on the location, there may be an area ombudsman or patient advocate’s office, who might be contacted if reasonable dietary requests are not being honored on a regular basis.

Note from the Editors: If any readers have experience with this situation either as a health professional or family of a resident, please share with us.

The contents of this email, our website and our other publications, including Vegetarian Journal and Vegan 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.

The latest issue of Vegan Journal includes a review of Keith Aker’s latest book Embracing Limits. Akers argues that the cause of environmental destruction, at its core, is the human desire for limitless growth and expansion. Read Anna Markulis’s review here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2023issue4/2023_issue4_book_reviews.php

To subscribe to Vegan Journal visit: https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

photo from couch

Avesu is a German company that sells a wide variety of belts in different colors. Check their site to see which countries they deliver to.

https://www.avesuveganshoes.com/vegan-accessories/misc-belts-com.html

Bhava Studio is an American company offering women’s belts.

https://bhavastudio.com/collections/belts

Corkor is a Portuguese company that sells women’s and men’s belts made out of cork. They deliver worldwide.

https://www.corkor.com/collections/womens-cork-belts

https://www.corkor.com/collections/mens-cork-belts

Couch offers belts for men and women in America.

https://www.couchguitarstraps.com/belts-bags/vegan-belts

Doshi is an American company that sells both men’s and women’s belts.

https://doshi.shop/collections/belts

https://doshi.shop/collections/womens-vegan-wallets-and-belts

Ethical Wares is a company in Wales, UK. They sell a variety of belts and deliver worldwide.

https://www.ethicalwares.com/accessories/belts/

Freerangers is a British company offering belts in several colors.

https://www.freerangers.co.uk/belts

Kat Mendenhall is an American company selling belts in various colors. You also get to choose the type of non-leather grain you want your belt to be made out of.

https://katmendenhall.com/product-category/belts/

MooShoes is an American company selling a variety of belts.

https://www.mooshoes.com/collections/belts

Nae is a Portuguese company that ships belts worldwide.

https://www.nae-vegan.com/en/accessories/belts_619-468.html

Nomadic State of Mind is an American company that sells belts made out of rope.

https://shop.nomadicstateofmind.com/category-s/165.htm

Terraluv & Nice Shoes is a Canadian company that sells a wide variety of belts.

https://terraluv.com/product-category/accessories/belts/

Truth Belts is a Canadian company that specializes in belts for men and women.

https://truthbelts.com/

photo from Vegan Chic

Vegan Chic is an American company that sells belts for men and women.

https://www.veganchic.com/vegan+belts/search.aspx

Veganline is a British company that sells belts in different colors and with different buckles and ships to various countries.

https://veganline.com/belts

Vegan Scene is an American company that sells belts for women and men in various colors.

https://veganscene.com/collections/belts

Vegetarian Shoes is a British company selling a variety of vegan belts.

https://www.vegetarian-shoes.co.uk/accessories/belts/10043_0c.html

The Vegetarian Site is an American company selling a wide variety of belts.

https://store.thevegetariansite.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=96

Vivari is an American company that sells men’s belts.

https://vivariwear.com/collections/shop

Cauli Crunch Crumbs are here to revolutionize your savory dishes. They come in Original, Savory Cheese (vegan), 7 Spice (Asian), and Taste of Italy flavors. Read our review in Vegan Journal here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2023issue4/2023_issue4_veggie_bits.php

To subscribe to Vegan Journal visit: https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

We recently had a chance to dine at Strong Hearts in Syracuse, New York. They are located not too far away from Syracuse University. The Reuben sandwich we sampled consists of thin sliced house seitan, sauerkraut, mozzarella, and house 1,000 island dressing on vegan butter toasted rye bread. We ordered it with a side of their Herbed Potato Salad, which was delicious. Their vegan milk shakes come in so many flavors, you won’t know which one to try!

Further restaurant info can be found here:

Syracuse location: https://stronghearts315.com/

Buffalo location: https://www.stronghearts716.com/

Tia Lupita has produced chips made out of nopales cactus. They come in Chipotle, Habanero, Hot Sauce, Salsa Verde, and Sea Salt varieties. Read our review in Vegan Journal here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2023issue4/2023_issue4_veggie_bits.php

To subscribe to Vegan Journal visit: https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

Mushroom Medley Toasts photo by Rissa Miller

Are you getting tired of avocado toast and looking for some other creative toasts? Raise a Toast by Jason Yowell includes recipes for Frico Caprese; Mushroom Medley Toasts with Herbed Cashew Cheeze (photo by Rissa Miller); Seitan “Brat” Crostini; Sweet Potato Toasts with Beet Purée; BLT Toasts; and Sweet Cream & Fruit Tartine.

Read the entire article here: Raise a Toast

To subscribe to Vegan Journal in the USA, see: https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

photo by Rissa Miller

Have you ever wondered what the cost comparison is between vegan meat-like burgers and meat-based burgers? In the most recent issue of Vegan Journal Reed Mangels, PhD, RD, with the help of Mae Y. Soon, obtained price information from Instacart that allowed us to determine the least and most expensive veggie meat and veggie burgers in seven different American cities in comparison to the cost of animal meats and burgers. Read the entire article here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2023issue4/2023_issue4_vegan_burgers.php

To subscribe to Vegan Journal visit: https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

By Reed Mangels, PhD, RD

A reader contacted us and asked, “Since many people are cutting down on their use of added salt (eliminating added salt in some cases), how can vegans be sure they are getting enough iodine in their diet?”

This is a reasonable concern since the iodine content of plant foods is often low and their iodine content depends on factors such as the concentration of iodine in the soil where the plants were grown (1). Iodine is an essential mineral that is needed for the thyroid gland to work properly. Not getting adequate iodine can have negative effects on the thyroid gland. Iodine deficiency in infants and children can result in poor growth and development.

Prior to the 1920s, in the United States, an iodine-deficiency disease called endemic goiter was relatively common. The incidence of endemic goiter fell sharply after iodized salt was introduced in the United States. Salt iodization is not mandatory in the United States but there are requirements for the amount of iodine that is added to iodized salt. Iodized salt provides about 76 micrograms of iodine in a quarter teaspoon. About half of the US population uses iodized salt (2). If you avoid added salt, your diet may be low in iodine, much like the diet of Americans prior to 1924.

“Well,” you may be thinking, “I eat some salty processed foods. I must get iodine from that.” Actually, most processed foods as well as products from fast food establishments are not made with iodized salt. If a food manufacturer does use iodized salt, the iodized salt must be listed as an ingredient (3).

Sea vegetables can be a source of iodine although the amount is inconsistent. Sometimes, sea vegetables are very high in iodine and that can cause health issues. The bioavailability of iodine from sea vegetables is also quite variable (4).

If you are vegan and don’t use iodized salt regularly, I recommend that you use a supplement containing iodine. Many multi-vitamin/mineral supplements contain iodine and iodine is also available as a separate supplement. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for iodine for adults is 150 micrograms per day. If you choose to use an iodine supplement you should look for one providing approximately this amount.

References

1. Ershow AG, Skeaff SA, Merkel JM, Pehrsson PR. Development of databases on iodine in foods and dietary supplements. Nutrients. 2018;10(1):100.
2. Institute of Medicine, Food and Nutrition Board. Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 2001.
3. Pennington JA, Young B. Iron, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, and iodine in foods from the United States Total Diet Study. J Food Compost Anal. 1990;3:166-184.
4. Dominguez-Gonzalez MR, Chiocchetti GM, Herbello-Hermelo P, et al. Evaluation of iodine bioavailability in seaweed using in vitro methods. J Agric Food Chem. 2017;65:8435–8442.

To read more about iodine see:

Iodine in the Vegan Diet

Iodine in Prenatal Supplements

Iodine in Plant Milks

Food Sources of Iodine

The contents of this website and our other publications, including Vegetarian Journal and Vegan 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.