1) HOST FAMILY NEEDED FOR VEGETARIAN EXCHANGE STUDENT IN BALTIMORE

Magdalena is a vegetarian teenager from Germany and needs a host family for the fall. She is interested in tennis, mountain biking, flute, keyboard, and animals. She needs to be placed with a family in Baltimore County (Pikesville, Towson, Timonium) or Northern Baltimore City so she can attend an appropriate high school.

To find out more about this opportunity, visit www.pax.org [ http://www.pax.org ] Then contact your local PAX community coordinator
Meredith Safford at
410-382-5359 or email
[email protected]

BRING THE WORLD IN BY HOSTING AN EXCHANGE STUDENT!

PAX is a non-profit educational foundation that is dedicated to providing exchange opportunities to teenagers around the world by matching them with placement in a U.S. high school and host family. The students are chosen to participate in the program based on their academic ability, maturity level and English skills.

PAX is looking for families who would like to host a student for this coming academic year (starting in late August of 2013 through the beginning of June of 2014). Their ages range from 15-18 years old. There is no specific requirement to be a host family except that you provide the student with three meals a day, a place to sleep (private rooms are not required), a quiet place to study and a loving and supportive environment. The students are required to follow all rules established in the house and are also expected to help out with chores and participate in family activities.

Students who are selected go through an extensive review process and must demonstrate good academic performance, a clean bill of health, motivation and maturity, as well as a good understanding of the English language.

Students have their own medical insurance and spending money. Host families come in all shapes and sizes and include single parents, retirees, 'empty nesters,' young couples with small children, as well as two parent families with teenagers.

This is an incredible opportunity to "bring the world in" and share a culture that no trip could ever provide. In addition, it is a way for a family to put into practice the values of openly accepting others and extending a helping hand. Host families will play an important role in exposing the students to valued American concepts, such as volunteerism and community action.

To find out more about this wonderful opportunity, visit www.pax.org [ http://www.pax.org/ ] Contact your local PAX community coordinator Meredith Safford at 410-382-5359 or email at [email protected]

2) VEGAN DRINKS, HOMESLYCE, 7PM TO 9PM – BALTIMORE, MD JULY 22, 2013

Vegan Drinks welcomes Vegetarian Resource Group members and will be offering raffle prizes from The Vegetarian Resource Group. For information, see

• [ https://www.facebook.com/BaltimoreVeganDrinks ]
• [ http://bmorevegan.com/ ]

3) CALL A DIETITIAN DAY SATURDAY, JULY 20, 2013

Our next Call-A-Dietitian Day will be Saturday, July 20, 2013, from 12 Noon to 3 PM EST. Appointments are in 15 minute increments.

If you have general nutrition questions, Ed Coffin, RD will be available by telephone. To reserve a 15-minute time slot, please email the VRG office at [email protected] or call (410) 366-8343

Please be advised that these sessions are not individualized nutritional counseling. Such advice should only be provided through direct in-person contact with a qualified health professional. There is no charge, but if you do commit, please call on time. Otherwise you are taking someone else's spot.

Ed Coffin holds a bachelor's degree in clinical nutrition and is a registered dietitian. He has clinical experience from a variety of facilities such as Women Infants and Children and Veteran's Affairs. Ed has worked in nearly every part of the natural and organic foods sector, from logistics to packaging and production.

4) VISIT VRG AT THESE OUTREACH BOOTHS

The Vegetarian Resource Group will be having an outreach booth at the following events.

Local (Maryland Area) Events: School Health Interdisciplinary Program, Thursday, August 1st, Timonium, Maryland [ http://csmh.umaryland.edu/Conferences/ship/ ]

Festival Salvadoreño-Americano; Sunday, August 4th; Wheaton, Maryland [ http://metrolatinousa.com/2013/06/16/festival-salvadoreno-de-wheaton-va-viento-en-popa/ ]

32nd Annual The Vegetarian Resource Group Pre-Thanksgiving Potluck Dinner - Baltimore, MD - 11/24, 5 PM [ http://www.vrg.org/local/201305local.php#thanksgiving ]

National (Outside of Maryland Area) Events: Bethlehem VegFest -- Bethlehem, PA - 9/7 [ http://www.downtownbethlehemassociation.com/calendar/vegfest ]

2013 DC VegFest - Washington, D.C. - 9/28 [ http://dcvegfest.com/ ]

World Veg Festival San Francisco - September 28 and 29, 2013 [ http://www.sfvs.org/wvd/ ]

Annual Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics - Houston, TX - 10/20-10/22 [ http://www.eatright.org/fnce/ ]

VRG's Vegan Vietnamese Dinner at Café Th - Houston, TX - 10/20 [ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2013/04/19/vrgs-vegan-vietnamese-dinner-in-houston-oct-20/ ]

The 18th Annual Boston Vegetarian Food Festival - Boston, MA - 10/26-10/27 [ http://bostonveg.org/foodfest/ ]

Albany Veg Fest 2013 - Albany, NY - 11/16 [ http://www.albanyvegfest.org/ ]

If you would like to volunteer at any of these events, contact Soren at [email protected] .

If you would like to donate towards our veggie outreach, donate at [ http://www.vrg.org/donate ].

Donations can also be sent to The Vegetarian Resource Group, P.O. Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203. Or call (410) 366-8343 . Thank you.

5) BREATHE BOOKS CAFÉ IS NOW OPEN IN HAMPDEN IN BALTIMORE

They are serving vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, and Ayurvedic foods, as well as fair trade coffee and tea. See more information at [ http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs163/1101497121160/archive/1113747425600.html ]

For more information about vegetarian restaurants, see

• [ http://www.vrg.org/restaurant/index.php ]
• [ http://www.vrg.org/travel/baltimoreguide.php ]

6) FARMERS MARKET TABLING

by Kitty Jones, The Vegetarian Resource Group Intern

Last month I tabled at the local farmers market in Baltimore with Karen, another one of The Vegetarian Resource Group's wonderful interns. I feel it was a very effective use of time because people were very receptive and many were thrilled to see us there. Although it was drizzling and grey, the market was bustling and about 50 to 60 vegetarian- and vegan-curious shoppers stopped to talk to us. Everyone was very excited to get our dining guides and other literature. One woman told us that she was making the switch "right now!" In fact, I heard similar comments from a lot of the people we spoke to. I feel our information and even our presence reminded people about healthy vegetarian eating and nudged them in that direction. There were even several people who were already vegan or vegetarian that came over simply to thank us for our work or take fliers to give to their friends. Not a single person had anything negative to say. A few hunters and avid meat-eaters came to talk to us, but even they were acknowledging of the fact that vegetarian eating is healthier and that they themselves should eat more vegetables! I'm very glad we were there to spread the veggie message.

Thank you to Kitty Jones, Karen Leibowitz, and Jenny Saccenti who volunteered at The Vegetarian Resource Group booth.

7) OFF THE HOOK PASTRIES

By Kitty Jones, VRG intern

You simply must visit Don and Renee Gorman’s booth at the Waverly Farmers' Market. Look for the Breathe Cafe sign. I recently discovered this booth and got one of everything - literally! Some of their awesome pastries include brownies, chocolate power balls, cinnamon rolls, baked donuts, cashew cheese pizzas, raw onion bread, and so much more. Most of their pastries are made with spelt flour, which many people believe to be healthier than wheat flour. My absolute favorite things at their booth are their rosemary macadamia cookies, the peach and apple rhubarb crisp with cashew cream, and their granola. They also offer gluten-free, raw, and Ayurvedic goodies. Everything is made by hand using fresh, healthy, organic ingredients and (clearly) love. Renee and Don Gorman are the master bakers behind these magnificent treats. You cannot miss their booth because they are simply beaming with kindness and their generosity draws you toward them. But in case you're not acutely sensitive to the magnetic pull of their generosity; their booth is next to a falafel booth and diagonally across from Zeke's coffee. The Waverly Farmers' Market is every Saturday, year-round, from 7am – noon.

8) LOCAL VEGAN BAKED GOODS

Whether you live in Baltimore City or simply visit the area, here’s a list of some establishments selling vegan baked goods. Enjoy these treats after a long walk, taking in a movie, or when you’re celebrating a special occasion.

One World Café: variety of cakes, cupcakes, brownies, cookies… [ http://www.oneworldcafe.us/ ]

Breathe Bookstore Café: variety of cookies, muffins, raw treats… [ http://www.breathebooks.com/ ]

Liquid Earth: cake and more… [ http://www.liquidearth.com/ ]

Sweet 27: variety of cupcakes, cookies, pie…[ http://sweet27.com/ ]

The Land of Kush: Sweet Potato Cake and Pineapple Upside Down Cake… [ http://www.thelandofkush.com/ ]

9) CHICKEN-FREE STRIPS AT TROPICAL SMOOTHIE CAFE

by Karen Abbe Leibowitz

In addition to their fruit and vegetable smoothies, the chain restaurant, Tropical Smoothie Café, introduced new “Chicken-free” strips, which are now available at all locations. The chain, based in Atlanta, has partnered with Beyond Meat™ to provide a plant-based, cruelty-free mock chicken for their vegetarian and vegan customers. I decided to go and try the chicken-free strips myself at the Columbia, Maryland location. The employees said I could order any sandwich, salad, wrap, or flatbread off the menu, and simply ask for the meat to be replaced with the chicken-free strips. I chose the Jamaican Jerk wrap minus the cheese, which had black beans, corn, asparagus, onion, and “jerk sauce”, wrapped in a flour tortilla. The wrap was spicy and flavorful. The lightly seasoned, smoky flavored chicken-free strips are made up of several layers that create a firm texture without being too tough. I usually like my mock meats less dense than the Beyond Meat® strips, but they are nevertheless a hearty addition to an otherwise chicken-less wrap.

Try the Southwest Chicken wrap, which includes the chicken-free strips (upon request), salsa, southwestern rice with corn, black beans & asparagus, tomatoes, onions, guacamole, and romaine, in a toasted flour tortilla. If you prefer something lighter, opt for the Thai Chicken salad which includes romaine, field greens, Chicken-less strips (upon request), wontons, sesame seeds, carrots & Thai peanut dressing. The chicken-free strips are a nutritionally sound meat substitute too. Seven strips provide 20 grams of protein, sourced from soybeans and peas, and 30% of the recommended daily value of iron. I was beyond full after I finished eating the wrap. While Beyond Meat® strips are not the absolute best mock chicken I've tried on the market, they leave a satisfying taste that makes Tropical Smoothie Café a new favorite vegan restaurant to add to my list.

For information about other restaurant chains, see [ http://www.vrg.org/fastfoodinfo.php ]

10) VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP RESEARCH AND NEWS

Congratulations to Our Video Contest Winner Noam Lautman [ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2013/06/21/no-more-meat-by-noam-lautman-wins-vrg-video-scholarship/ ]

Vegan Options at James Madison University [ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2013/06/19/vegan-options-at-james-madison-university/ ]

P.F. Chang's Menu Items Labeled "Vegetarian" Are Free of Animal Ingredients Including Eggs and Dairy

[ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2013/06/17/p-f-chang%E2%80%99s-menu-items-labeled-%E2%80%9Cvegetarian%E2%80%9D-are-free-of-animal-ingredients-including-eggs-and-dairy/ ]

Vitamin A And Breastfed Babies [ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2013/06/06/vitamin-a-and-breastfed-babies/ ]

11) AN EVENING WITH DAVID ROBINSON SIMON, AUTHOR OF MEATONOMICS

In this program, author David Robinson Simon presents a colorful slide show and overview of MEATONOMICS (Conari Press, 2013). His book explores the unseen economic forces that drive our animal food system, and the strange ways these forces affect our spending, eating, health, prosperity, and longevity.

According to Robinson, among other aspects, you'll learn that consumers have largely lost the ability to decide for ourselves what — and how much — to eat. Instead, those decisions are made for us by meat and dairy producers who control our buying choices with artificially low prices, misleading messaging, and heavy control over legislation and regulation. Discover what makes this bizarre system tick and how it can be fixed.

David Robinson Simon is a lawyer and advocate for sustainable consumption. He works as general counsel for a healthcare company and serves on the board of the APRL Fund, a non-profit dedicated to protecting animals. David received his B.A. from U.C. Berkeley and his J.D. from the University of Southern California. For more information, visit [ http://www.meatonomics.com ].

Wednesday, September 11, 2013
8:00 pm — 10:00 pm
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia, MD
Owen Brown Interfaith Center
7246 Cradlerock Way
Columbia, MD 21045

12) ABOUT VRG

Our health professionals, activists, and educators work with businesses and individuals to bring about healthful changes in your school, workplace, and community. Registered dietitians and physicians aid in the development of nutrition-related publications and answer member and media questions about vegetarian diets. The Vegetarian Resource Group is a non-profit organization. Financial support comes primarily from memberships, donations, bequests and book sales. The VEGETARIAN JOURNAL, a print magazine, is a benefit of membership in The VRG. (For more information, please see the VEGETARIAN JOURNAL online at [ http://www.vrg.org/journal/ ]

To sign up for The Vegetarian Resource Group national email newsletter, please visit: [ http://www.vrg.org/vrgnews/ ]

To sign up for The VRG's Maryland Email Newsletter, please visit: [ http://www.vrg.org/local/ ]

We are also on Facebook and Twitter!! [ http://www.facebook.com/thevegetarianresourcegroup ] [ http://www.twitter.com/VegResourceGrp ]

If you would like to make a donation, become a member, volunteer, or find out more about The VRG, contact us at:

The Vegetarian Resource Group
P.O. Box 1463
Baltimore, MD 21203
Phone: (410) 366-8343
Fax: (410) 366-8804
E-mail: [email protected] , Website: [ http://www.vrg.org ]
To donate:
[ https://www.givedirect.org/give/givefrm.asp?Action=GC&CID=1565 ]

Copyright The Vegetarian Resource Group 2013 The contents of this newsletter, and our other publications, including Vegetarian 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 own best judgment about whether a product is suitable for you. To be sure, do further research or confirmation on your own.

If you were forwarded this message and would like to sign up for our monthly local email newsletter please see our website: [ http://www.vrg.org/local/ ]

If you wish to not receive the Local Email Newsletter, send an e-mail message to [email protected] with the phrase "remove me from local email newsletter."