Notes from the Scientific Department

Thanks to the following volunteers who staffed The VRG booth at the National Restaurant Association meeting: Dina Aronson, MS, RD; Jim and Maggie Dunn; Hester Kohl; Lisa Martin; Jeff Olichwier; and Stephanie Schueler.

New ADA Position Paper on Vegetarian Diets

The American Dietetic Association, in collaboration with Dietitians of Canada, has updated and published its position paper on vegetarian diets. VRG nutrition advisor Reed Mangels, PhD, RD, was a co-author of the paper, and VRG nutrition advisor Suzanne Havala Hobbs, DrPH, RD, was content advisor. The paper, along with a new food guide for North American vegetarians co-authored by Mangels, was published in the June 2003 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. The updated position paper reconfirms ADA's position that "appropriately planned vegetarian diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases."

VRG in the News/VRG Outreach

VRG nutrition advisor Reed Mangels, PhD, RD, was interviewed by The Dayton Daily News for a story about school lunches for teen vegetarians, by The Boston Globe for a story about vegetarian kids, and by Boston Parents Magazine for another story about vegetarian children. She was also interviewed for a feature about vegetarian diets and iron status for the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. VRG nutrition advisor Suzanne Havala Hobbs, DrPH, RD, was a guest with Marian Burros on The People's Pharmacy radio program for a show that focused on the role of comfort foods in the diet. She was interviewed by Daughters magazine for a story about vegetarian diets for teens, as well as by The Des Moines Register for a story about raw foods diets. She gave a lecture to the North Carolina Department of Prisons about vegan diets for inmates, and she presented a session about food politics at the annual meeting of the North Carolina Dietetic Association.

Mangels and Havala Hobbs Nominated for U.S. Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are developing the sixth edition of Nutrition and Your Health: Dietary Guidelines for Americans. A notice published on May 15, 2003, in the Federal Register announced the establishment of a Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. Both VRG nutrition advisors Reed Mangels, PhD, RD, and Suzanne Havala Hobbs, DrPH, RD, have been nominated for seats on this committee. Selections will be posted at <www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines>. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans are the cornerstone of federal nutrition policy and consumer education programs and are updated every five years.