Veggie Bits
Charter School in Florida Offers Veggie Meals
The Alachua Learning Center, a state-funded public school, opened last September in Alachua, Florida. The K through 8 school's program uses a Florida Standard Curriculum, but the Center is also able to teach skills through whatever content they consider appropriate, as long as it remains non-sectarian. They integrate of universal aspects of Krishna consciousness, which they say is a positive conduit for such values as peacefulness, self-control, tolerance, respect for all life, responsibility, and compassion. The 96 students share six classrooms, all multi-age, the advanced students helping beginners and the older assisting the younger ones, creating a harmonious, family-like atmosphere.
All meals served at the school are vegetarian, prepared by certified brahmanas in the temple kitchen. They are approved for school distribution under the USDA Free/Reduced Meals program.
No Gel Jell-O
Admit it. You miss Jell-O. You miss that wiggly, neon, translucent staple of your childhood dessert repertoire. Becoming a vegetarian meant that you had to give up some of the things that made you happy, made you a kid, made you American. Fortunately, your friendly neighborhood food scientists from Purdue University have developed NuSoy, a wiggly Jell-O substitute that is fortified with calcium and vitamin C. The inventors, Ryan Howard and Faye Mulvaney, have developed three flavors (orange, cherry, and lemon), and are currently working with a company to improve the formula and develop other flavors. They won $4,500 from the "Innovative Uses for Soybeans" competition sponsored by Purdue's Agronomy Department and the Indiana Soybean Board, and the hearts of millions of grown-up vegetarians can't wait to "watch it wiggle" again. Although the products are not available yet, we anxiously await their debut.
Staff and Volunteers Needed for Vegetarian Kitchen
Legacy International's Global Youth Village, a youth-leadership summer camp situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, has openings for the food service staff in their vegetarian kitchen. The 80 youth and 40 counselors enjoy their sugar- and meat-free meals family-style. Some positions are paid and others are volunteer. Twice a session, a poultry dish (not vegetarian) is provided to those who wish to partake in it, but it is prepared outside of the premises.
For more information, please visit: www.globalyouthvillage.org
