Vegan Chili Fries For Those on a Budget

For short cooking video, see https://youtu.be/84T8Nph3NGU

Enjoy this Chili Fries recipe and other low-cost vegan dishes from Skyler Kilmer. See: https://www.vrg.org/blog/2020/10/15/vegan-at-the-dollar-tree-store/

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

photo from & Beer – A Mushrooms Restaurant

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:

& Beer, 21 East 7th St., New York, NY 10003

Expand your palate at & Beer, a peculiar pairing of beer and mushrooms will be found. Chef Juan Pajarito has created a menu solely focusing on fungi. You can spot familiar mushrooms like baby trumpet paired with mole de pipian, cashew sour cream, broccoli rabe, onion pearls, or lion’s mane stuffed dumplings. Have you heard of Hen of the woods mushrooms? Well make your way to & Beer and discover the exotic flavors that can be achieved with mushrooms. Finally, be sure to check out one of their delicious dessert options!

Bloom Sushi Counter, XMarket, 804 W. Montrose Ave., Chicago, IL 60613

Bloom Sushi Counter is located inside XMarket where, if you’re a vegan, you might feel like the proverbial kid in a candy store. A couple of Bloom Sushi Counter’s Appetizers are Crispy Kale Dumplings with mixed vegetables, sesame and black vinegar, or Sweet & Sour Tempeh Rangoon. Nigiri selections include Tomato Dill, Preserved Melon Tuna, or BBQ Eggplant. Drumroll please for Maki. The Dragon Roll with Avocado, cucumber, eggplant, tempura asparagus and “eel” sauce, or their 312 Roll of Burdock root, hijiki, cucumber, hearts of palm and chipotle aioli, are a couple of choices. If Dessert is tugging at your sleeve, there’s Bloom Sushi’s Crispy Coconut Rice with Miso coconut dulce de leche and shiso.

Chicago Not Dogs, XMarket, 804 W. Montrose Ave., Chicago, IL 60613

Features many meat analogue items such as Hot Roast Bef & Cheeze, Chili Cheeze Dog, Fried Chick’n Sandwich; weekly specials such as Metball Sandwich, and Specialty Sandwiches such as Footlong Sub and Italian Breaded Stak Sandwich, and Starters such as a Bowl of Chili, with Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies for dessert.

June, 4589 SW Watson Ave., Beaverton, OR 97005

Cocktails are the name of the game with several imaginative choices. To start off with a blast, Cannonball fires away with bourbon, apple brandy, cardamom infused coffee liqueur, orange, and mole bitters. Beau Paysage features vodka, herbal liqueur, cantaloupe, lemon, and mint. One of several Nonalcoholic Cocktails, Odyssey blends citrusy, bittersweet, spicy Pathfinder Hemp & Root with blueberry, lemon, and soda. There’s also a wide selection of canned, bottled and Draft beer, as well as wine. Hungry? Small Bites include Turmeric Roasted Brussels Sprouts with hazelnuts and miso-curry ranch and battered, fried Kale pakora with mango chutney and soy yogurt. If you’re craving Fries with an Indian flavor twist, you might try Masala Fries dressed in cilantro-mint aioli and Tandoori beet ketchup, or their Deluxe Masala Fries that builds on the above, but swaps the Tandoori beet ketchup for roasted red pepper chutney and tomato chutney and adds tempeh and caramelized onions. Plates also include June Burger—a Beyond and lentil patty with salad fixings, beet ketchup and green chutney aioli. There’s a Salad and Sandwich option too. Cheers to Dessert! Raise a glass to Ginger Cardamom Cake with blueberry-mint compote or battered, fried Banana Pakora with Strawberry-citrus compote and mango chutney—both served with vanilla ice cream.

La Jaca, 700 Van Ness Ave., Fresno, CA 93721

A family-owned business that started as a food truck and then opened its brick-and-mortar location. La Jacka offers vegan Mexican cuisine with jackfruit as a star ingredient. If you are new to vegan dining or just haven’t yet experienced the wonders of the jackfruit, a good place to start might be with their Cali Jack Burrito, made with beans, avocado, pico de gallo, vegan cheese and crema, chipotle, and a choice of jackfruit flavor (such as asada or chile verde). Too hungry to wait for lunch? Then grab the Breakfast Nacho, made with vegan nacho cheese and a tofu scramble with jackfruit, bell peppers, zucchini, beans and cheese. There are non-jackfruit options too, like the Shrimp Taco Combo and the Loaded Cheese Flautas, as well as a variety of refreshing drinks, including a Mango Fresca and a Vegan Horchata.

María Cruz – Plant Based Cuisine, 314 S. 16th St., McAllen, TX 78501

Maria Cruz is inspired by southern Mexican flavors. It is a nice place to catch up on work with some coffee or have brunch with the pals. They have fresh juices for your choosing and hot teas to warm you up as well as vegan egg options for brunch. It’s hard to find Quesabirrias but at Maria Cruz you can get that, taco pirate, street tacos, and Mexican entrees you thought you would never see again. They also offer burger options.

Vibe Vegan Bistro, 4507 Furling Ln., Destin, FL 32541

Chef Divaldo Delima Jr., and co-owner Ami Sievers have a passion for fresh, healthy, and consciously crafted Vegan food served in a supportive and relaxed atmosphere. No blaring TV’s here as the focus is on people, food, and healthy interactions. The breakfast choices range from familiar burritos and wraps, to savory tartines or chia puddings with fresh fruit. For a special treat by the Gulf try the crab cake Benedict. Vibe Bistro always utilizes fresh locally sourced ingredients from local suppliers and specialty farmers. For an over-the-top experience join Chef Divaldo for one of his Chef’s Choice Dinners (by reservation). Each week he creates a unique meal utilizing the highest quality and freshest ingredients in artful, inventive, and flavorful combinations that you just cannot find on a standard menu.

Have you ever wondered if an ingredient listed on a food label is vegan or not? The Vegetarian Resource Group has an online guide to food ingredients that lets you now whether a specific food ingredient is vegan, vegetarian, non-vegetarian, typically vegan, typically vegetarian, may be non-vegetarian, or typically non-vegetarian.

You can search through this guide here: https://www.vrg.org/ingredients/index.php

To support this type of difficult research, please consider making a donation to The Vegetarian Resource Group: vrg.org/donate

By Reed Mangels, PhD, RD

There are times when people’s protein needs are higher. For example, in pregnancy, the recommendation for protein is 25 grams higher than it is when someone is not pregnant. That’s an increase of about 50%. Older adults may have higher protein needs than younger adults. Athletes may have somewhat higher protein needs than non-athletes (1). It’s entirely possible to meet protein needs with a vegan diet. Sometimes, choosing a higher protein plant milk can help to meet protein needs.

We’ve identified some higher protein plant milks. Since plant milks are often also used as a source of calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin B12, we’ve included information about whether the milks we identified are fortified with these nutrients.

West Life Smoothie Blend plain unsweetened and chocolate provide 16 grams of protein per cup. Fortified with calcium (320-330 mg/cup), vitamin D (4.3-4.4 mcg/cup), and vitamin B12 (1.1 mcg/cup).

Edensoy unsweetened organic provides 12 grams of protein per cup of milk. Fortified with calcium (40 mg/cup) but not with vitamin D or vitamin B12.

Pacific Foods Ultra Soy has 10 grams of protein in a cup. Fortified with calcium (280 mg/cup), vitamin D (2.5 mcg/cup), and vitamin B12 (1.5 mcg/cup).

Edensoy Extra Original provides 10 grams of protein per cup. Fortified with calcium (280 mg/cup), vitamin D (1.1 mcg/cup), and vitamin B12 (2.9 mcg/cup).

Silk Protein original and chocolate adds pea protein to a blend of almond milk and cashew milk and has 10 grams of protein in a cup. Fortified with calcium (450 mg/cup) and vitamin D (2.5 mcg/cup). Does not provide vitamin B12.

Orgain Protein Almondmilk lightly sweetened vanilla and unsweetened vanilla adds pea protein and has 10 grams of protein in 1 cup. Fortified with calcium (250 mg/cup) and vitamin D (2.5 mcg/cup). Does not provide vitamin B12.

Edensoy original organic provides 10 grams of protein per cup of milk. Fortified with calcium (90 mg/cup) but not with vitamin D or vitamin B12.

Pacific Foods organic unsweetened soymilk has 9 grams of protein in a cup. It is not fortified with calcium, vitamin D or vitamin B12.

West Life organic unsweetened plain and organic unsweetened vanilla provide 9 grams of protein per cup. Organic plain soymilk has 8 grams of protein in a cup. None of these products are fortified with calcium, vitamin D or vitamin B12.

Good Karma Flaxmilk + Protein, shelf-stable, vanilla adds pea protein to flaxmilk has 8 grams of protein in 1 cup. Fortified with calcium (320 mg/cup), vitamin D (2.3 mcg/cup) and vitamin B12 (1.4 mcg/cup). Other Good Karma products, even those with added protein, only have 5 grams of protein in a cup.

Ripple Kids original and unsweetened is based on pea protein and has 8 grams of protein in a cup. Fortified with calcium (455 mg/cup), vitamin D (6 mcg/cup), and vitamin B12 (1.1 mcg/cup).

Ripple also makes a pea protein-based milk for adults that has 8 grams of protein in a cup. It is available in original, unsweetened original, vanilla, unsweetened vanilla, and chocolate flavors and in refrigerated and shelf-stable cartons. Fortified with calcium (440 mg/cup), vitamin D (5-6 mcg/cup), and vitamin B12 (1.1-2.5 mcg/cup). Fortification varies between refrigerated and shelf-stable products.

West Life organic plain or vanilla soymilk with calcium and vitamin D has 8 grams of protein per cup. Fortified with calcium (300-310 mg/cup), vitamin D (4.8 mcg/cup), and vitamin B12 (1.1 mcg/cup).

Edensoy cocoa organic provides 8 grams of protein per cup of milk. Fortified with calcium (90 mg/cup) but not with vitamin D or vitamin B12.

Reference

1. Larson-Meyer DE, Ruscigno M. Plant-Based Sports Nutrition. Expert Fueling Strategies for Training, Recovery, and Performance. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics; 2020.

We often depend on product and ingredient information from company statements. It is impossible to be 100% sure about a statement, information 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.

Thanks to Debra Wasserman for gathering some information that was used in this article.

To read more about plant milks see:

VRG Sends in Testimony to FDA on Labeling of Plant-based Milk Alternatives

Choosing a Plant Milk? Check the Nutrition Facts Label

Does Your Favorite Plant Milk Provide Vitamin B12?

Non-dairy Milks: Nutrients of Importance in Chronic Kidney Dysfunction

 Share this handy poster with family and friends. You can also print it out and post it on your refrigerator. See: https://www.vrg.org/nutshell/VeganDietsinaNutshellPoster.pdf

Marian from New York is a VRG video contest winner. She said: I am interested in vegetarianism for environmental reasons. A goal of mine is to reduce pollution by raising awareness about the devastating effects of the meat industry. By advocating a vegetarian lifestyle, I believe the public can counteract the ethical dilemmas introduced by factory farming.

Her video is at https://www.vrg.org/veg_videos.php#coloradoriversolution

The deadline for the next video contest is July 15, 2024. See https://www.vrg.org/videoscholarship.php

For information about VRG’s college scholarships, see https://www.vrg.org/student/scholar.htm

To donate towards The Vegetarian Resoutce Group internships and scholarships, donate at www.vrg.org/donate or join at https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

By Reed Mangels, PhD, RD

Imagine a pair of spooky eyes staring up at you from a plate of pale orange strands (or, could it be hair?), topped with red sauce. Then picture “bones” to dip into more red sauce (blood?) and you have the makings of a Halloween dinner.

Vegan Eye Balls (Adapted from Vive le Vegan! By Dreena Burton)

(makes 18 balls)

7 ounces firm or extra-firm tofu, torn or cut into pieces

1 Tablespoon cider vinegar

1 Tablespoon reduced sodium soy sauce

1½ Tablespoons catsup

1 teaspoon minced garlic (or to taste)

1 teaspoon oregano

1 Tablespoon nutritional yeast flakes

1 Tablespoon olive oil plus additional oil for baking sheet

Pepper to taste

1½ cups breadcrumbs

½ cup quick-cooking oats (uncooked)

18 pitted olives (pimiento stuffed olives are a nice touch, but black or green olives would also work)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and drizzle on a little olive oil. In a food processor, purée tofu until smooth. Add remaining ingredients except breadcrumbs, oats and olives and process until smooth. Transfer mixture to a bowl and stir in breadcrumbs and oats. Let sit for 5 minutes to firm up. The mixture should hold together – add more breadcrumbs if necessary.  Form mixture into balls about the size of a golf ball, carefully pressing an olive into each ball, and place on the baking sheet, olive facing up. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden.

Spaghetti Squash

You can start baking this while you prepare the “eye balls.” Cut a spaghetti squash in half lengthwise and place cut-side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 30-45 minutes, until squash is soft. Remove from oven and let cool enough to handle. Remove seeds. Use a fork to comb through the squash, separating the strands. Place the strands in a serving bowl.

Top the spaghetti squash (or you can use regular spaghetti) with pasta sauce (homemade or your favorite vegan brand) and then add a couple of “eye balls.”

Breadstick “Bones” (Adapted from The Farm Vegetarian Cookbook, edited by Louise Hagler)

(makes 15 small breadsticks)

1 teaspoon vegan sugar

1 Tablespoon baking yeast

6 Tablespoons warm water

1 Tablespoon olive oil

1 cup all-purpose flour

½ cup wheat flour

½ teaspoon salt

2 Tablespoons nutritional yeast flakes

In a medium bowl, combine sugar and baking yeast and add warm water. Stir and let proof for 5 minutes. Add olive oil, all-purpose flour, wheat flour, salt, and nutritional yeast and stir, adding water or flour to make a smooth dough. Knead dough for 5 minutes. Form dough into relatively thin bones shapes (or just make thin breadsticks), place on a parchment paper-covered baking sheet, and let rise for an hour. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake for 9 minutes or until done. Serve with a small bowl of pasta sauce for dipping.

Happy Halloween!

Recent topics brought up include:

– Looking for vegan Halloween treats to handout? Here’s some suggestions.

– We’re hosting a big, FREE anti-dairy Halloween Party on October 21st at Pioneer Square in downtown Portland, Oregon! We’ll have a kids table and trick-or-treating PLUS the first 1,000 attendees get a FREE Lush product and carton Oatly! Please share!

– My 15-year-old son will be hosting a vegan Halloween party for mostly pre-vegan kids 12 years of age and up courtesy of our local group Northern Vegans. So we are looking at providing some party favors and some kid-friendly vegan literature. Any suggestions to where or what we can use?

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 Adventist Nutrition and Dietetics International Association

The Adventist Nutrition and Dietetics International Association will hold a virtual health symposium October 28 and October 29, 2023. Webinars will provide the latest updates on plant-based nutrition. For details see www.adventistdietetics.org