1) SUPPORT VEGAN EDUCATION OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND STUDENTS

Donate at [ http://www.vrg.org/donate ] .

2) WISH LIST

We received this note:

"As part of our dietetic internship program, we offer free community nutrition classes to minority and underserved groups. We like to give all the participants goody bags to take home with samples, additional information, and healthy recipes to help put what they learned in the class into practice. We would love to be able to include your coloring book in our goody bags for our Spanish speaking underserved groups. Is there any way that we could get some of the coloring books for our dietetic interns to have as resources for our community classes? "

VRG has given away over 5,000 of these coloring books, and now needs to reprint. ($1,500 needed). If we can raise $750 for a match we have, we can reprint. Please make donations at

[ http://www.vrg.org/donate ]

and write in the comments that this is for the Spanish coloring book. Thank you. See the front cover at:

[ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2016/01/11/latino-outreach-by-the-vegetarian-resource-group/ ]

We are also seeking support for:

• Volunteers to read scholarship entries for our 2018 contest. Please contact [email protected]
• Reprinting I Love Animals and Broccoli Coloring Book ($2,000 needed)
• Reprinting Be Kind to Animals Bumper Sticker ($900 needed)
• Vegetarian Resource Group Outreach Booth at American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, attended by 10,000 health professionals. We're able to educate and put materials into the hands of 1,000 registered dietitians and other health professionals. ($4,000 needed)

You can make a donation at

[ http://www.vrg.org/donate ]

and specify in the comments section what you would like your donation to go to. Or, mail to

VRG
PO Box 1463
Baltimore, MD 21203

or call (410) 366-8343

Thank you for the donors who enabled us to reprint My Vegan Food Plate. These have been used by health professionals, teachers, low income feeding programs, health fairs, and in school textbooks. An activist just picked up a copy in Ft. Lauderdale and requested 500 PLUS for a festival in Tallahassee, Florida.. We will now be able to send these. Thank you!

See: [ http://www.vrg.org/nutshell/MyVeganPlate.pdf ]

3) COMPUTER SUPPORT

VRG is looking for a volunteer or paid staff member in Baltimore to help maintain website and keep computer software/hardware up to date and running smoothly. Five to ten hours per week.

Please send resume, cover letter, and salary requirements to [email protected].

4) VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP RESEARCH AND NEWS

• ETHICAL INVESTING
• FEEDING A VEGAN TODDLER
• VEGAN MEALS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS
• VEGAN ALTERNTIVES IN HOSPITALS
• VEGAN BOOTS
• AND MORE

ETHICAL INVESTING

[ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2017/12/05/ethical-investing/ ]

VEGAN ALTERNATIVES IN HOSPITALS

[ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2017/12/04/vegan-alternatives-in-hospitals/ ]

WRITING ARTICLES FOR UNIVERSITY NEWSPAPERS TO PROMOTE THE VEGGIE LIFESTYLE

[ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2017/11/30/writing-articles-for-university-newspapers-to-promote-the-veggie-lifestyle/ ]

FOODPLAY TRACKER BANDS: ENCOURAGES INDIVIDUALS TO EAT AT LEAST 5 COLORFUL FRUITS AND VEGGIES EVERY DAY

[ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2017/11/30/foodplay-tracker-bands-encourages-individuals-to-eat-at-least-5-colorful-fruits-and-veggies-every-day/ ]

ORDERING VEGAN FOOD AT NON-VEGAN RESTAURANTS

[ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2017/11/28/ordering-vegan-food-at-non-vegan-restaurants/ ]

YOUR FAVORITE COFFEE DRINK TURNED VEGAN

[ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2017/11/27/your-favorite-coffee-drink-turned-vegan/ ]

FRUITIVE: CERTIFIED ORGANIC VEGAN RESTAURANT IN VIRGINIA AND WASHINGTON, DC

[ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2017/11/24/fruitive-certified-organic-vegan-restaurant-in-virginia-washington-dc/ ]

VEGAN MEALS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS

[ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2017/11/23/vegan-meals-for-college-students/ ]

SCHOOL LUNCH ADVICE FROM A 10-YEAR-OLD: BEYOND THE PB&J!

[ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2017/11/22/school-lunch-advice-from-a-10-year-old-beyond-the-pbj/ ]

VEGAN MEALS DELIVERED TO YOUR HOME FROM TRIFECTA

[ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2017/11/21/vegan-meals-delivered-to-your-home-from-trifecta/ ]

FEEDING A VEGAN TODDLER

[ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2017/11/21/feeding-a-vegan-toddler/ ]

HOW YOUNG VEGANS CAN FIND VEGAN FRIENDS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA

[ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2017/11/20/how-young-vegans-can-find-vegan-friends-through-social-media/ ]

WE'VE COMPILED A LIST OF ONLINE SHOPS AND STORES SELLING VEGAN BOOTS IN THE USA

[ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2017/11/17/weve-compiled-a-list-of-online-shops-and-stores-selling-vegan-boots-in-the-usa/ ]

5) A WINNER OF THE VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP 2017 VIDEO CONTEST

Theo Lumpkins said,

“Vegetarianism has been my goal for almost as long as I can remember, and my reality for nearly 4 years. Everyday of my life I am reminded of the beauty of living a plant based life, and I want everyone to experience the joy just like I do, for themselves, and for our planet.”

See: [ http://www.vrg.org/veg_videos.php#Lumpkins ]

The deadline for the next video contest is July 15, 2018
See: [ http://www.vrg.org/videoscholarship.php ]

For information about VRG’s College Scholarship Contest, see:

[ http://www.vrg.org/student/scholar.htm ]

To support The Vegetarian Resource Group scholarships and internships, donate at

[ http://www.vrg.org/donate ]

6) THE VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP OFFERS $20,000 IN COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS

Due to the generosity of an anonymous donor, The Vegetarian Resource Group each year will award $20,000 in college scholarship money to graduating U.S. high school students who have promoted vegetarianism/veganism in their schools and/or communities. Vegetarians do not eat meat, fish, or fowl. Vegans are vegetarians who do not use other animal products such as dairy or eggs.

One award of $10,000 and two awards of $5,000 will be given. Entries may only be sent by students graduating from high school in spring 2018.

Deadline is February 20, 2018.

We will accept applications postmarked on or before February 20, 2018. Early submission is encouraged.

Applicants will be judged on having shown compassion, courage, and a strong commitment to promoting a peaceful world through a vegetarian/vegan diet/lifestyle. Payment will be made to the student's college (U.S. based only). Winners of the scholarships give permission to release their names to the media. Applications and essays become property of The Vegetarian Resource Group. We may ask finalists for more information. Scholarship winners are contacted by e-mail or telephone. Please look at your e-mail.

If you would like to donate to additional scholarships or internships, go to

[ http://www.vrg.org/donate ]

7) UC BERKELEY REACTS TO IMPOSSIBLE BURGER

I was one of the first people to try the Impossible Burger at a small burger joint in Oakland, CA. Close to a year later, I learned the company was doing a tour and stopping by my beloved alma mater, University of California, Berkeley.

The event was marketed like a concert of sorts, calling for Berkeley Bears to come try a burger for free! They offered burgers on a first come, first served basis and set up shop in front of the famous campanile on our campus.

Curious to see my campus's reaction to a free vegan burger, I asked a friend to update me about the line's formation. UC Berkeley did not disappoint! The line had several hundred people in it, all eager to try one of the newest additions to the Clean Meat Movement.

Hopefully Beyond Burger is next to the Berkeley campus!

-Laura M

8) MARYLAND AREA EVENTS

VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN MEET-UPS IN BALTIMORE, MD

The Vegetarian Meet-up happens at

Mango Grove
8865 Stanford Boulevard
Columbia, MD 21045

on the first Sunday each month at 12:30 PM.

The Vegan Meet-up takes place at

Mr. Chan Szechuan
1000 Reisterstown Rd.
Pikesville, MD 21208

on the third Wednesday every month at 7 PM.

If you are vegan or vegetarian and would like to eat great food while socializing with others who share your interests, attend a meet-up!

For more information about EarthSave's Vegan and Vegetarian Baltimore Meet-ups, see:

• [ http://www.meetup.com/vegetarian-9/ ]
• [ http://www.meetup.com/The-Baltimore-Vegan-Meetup-Group/ ]

DINEKIND

Dinekind Harford meets monthly to share information on the benefits of a plant-based diet. For more information, visit:

[ http://www.dinekindharford.com/ ]

MARYLAND EVENTS

Maryland and DC veg events can be found at

[ https://www.mustloveveg.com/events/ ]

WHOLE FOOD FOR OPTIMAL HEALTH - BALTIMORE SUPPORT GROUP

This group meets on the second Friday of each month at 6:30 PM at

The Park Heights Community Health Alliance
4151 Park Heights Ave.
Baltimore, MD 21215

They typically show one or more short educational videos, often a cooking demonstration of something delicious and easy. And, of course, support, discussion, advice, and recipes, beginners welcome. Please bring a vegan dish to share if you can.

Please RSVP and visit at

[ https://www.meetup.com/Whole-Food-for-Optimal-Health-Potluck/ ]

If you have any questions, contact: Margie (mobile: 410-375-5803, [email protected])

FORKS OVER KNIVES MONTHLY POTLUCKS

This group is for those interested in trying or for those already committed to a whole food, plant based diet with none or very little oil, salt, or refined sugar. There is a monthly potluck where we sample delicious and healthy dishes, share recipes, learn, and connect with like-minded individuals.

For more information about the next event, visit:

[ http://www.meetup.com/Columbia-MD-Forks-Over-Knives-Meetup/ ]

BALTIMORE VEGAN DRINKS MONTHLY MEETUP

Baltimore Vegan Drinks is a happy hour for vegans, vegetarians, and the veg-curious. There’s no cover charge, and there are 100%-vegan snacks, entrees and more. And of course there are awesome vegan drinks! Our group is part of a national Vegan Drinks outfit with events in dozens of cities. Vegan Drinks’ mission is to bring together diverse people to build new friendships and promote the sharing of resources.

Join us at

Charm Kitty Cafe!
3300 Clipper Mill Rd.
Baltimore, MD 21211

The event will be held on January 23, 2018 from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM.

For more information about Vegan Drinks, visit:

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

MONTHLY COOKING CLASSES

Taking place on Sunday, December 10, 2017 from 10 AM to 1 PM in Fairfax Station, VA, is a cooking class all about desserts and candy-making! Learn to make dairy-free desserts and heartfelt, vegan candy from your kitchen. Past classes have included some of the following:

5-Layer Squares cranberry nut bread holiday cookies pistachio fingers gingerbread sun catcher ornament cookies rugelach cranberry cheesecake coconut cupcakes

key lime pie pecan pie chocolate peanut butter cups nut brittle almond joys peppermint patties tootsie rolls

No meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, or honey. $55/person; $100/two people; $50/VSDC, VRG, or COK members. Demonstration classes include recipes, organic food samples, manufacturers' samples coupons. Gift certificates are available for purchase.

Email [email protected] or call 703-643-2713 for space availability. Make checks payable to

Mimi Clark
9302 Hallston Ct.
Fairfax Station, VA 22039

Sorry, no phone or e-mail reservations and no walk-ins. Seventy-two hour cancellation policy for refund or credit. Class subject to cancellation if minimum enrollment is not met.

Check website for monthly class updates:

[ http://www.veggourmet.wordpress.com ]

Upcoming class: January 7, 2018 for One-Pot Meals.

BINGO TO HELP THRIVE BALTIMORE THRIVE

Better Health Better Life and Thrive Baltimore invite you out for a night of fun to help support its community outreach. $20 at the door will cover a delicious meal provided by PEP Foods (http://www.pepfoodsinc.com/) and 8 games of bingo. The bingo prizes include merchandise, restaurant gift certificates, and cash prizes.

Our last bingo event brought out 150 people and we raised over $3,000 which helped us put up 4 vegan billboards in Baltimore City. Everyone had an incredible time while helping to create a healthier, more compassionate Baltimore City.

For more information, visit:

[ https://www.facebook.com/events/901285116688071 ]

FOODS THAT HEAL SEMINAR WITH FOOD SAMPLES

Sunday, December 10, 2017, 4 PM
South Carroll Seventh-Day Adventist Church
2020 W Liberty Road, Rte 26 Westminster, MD 21157

RSVP AT 770-827-5514

[email protected]

9) BECOME A MONTHLY DONOR FOR VRG

The Vegetarian Resource Group greatly appreciates the support given by our monthly donors. You can join our monthly giving group with a minimum gift of just $10 a month by going to

[ http://www.vrg.org/donate ]

You will be part of a network of givers who support our outreach efforts on an ongoing basis. These donations allow us to continue vegan education in a wide variety of venues including schools, doctor and dietitian offices, libraries, various professional conferences, animal rights events, health fairs, environmental festivals, and much more. Thank you for your support!

10) AMAZONSMILE

Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Vegetarian Resource Group whenever you shop on AmazonSmile. AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know. Same products, same prices, same service.

Support your charitable organization by starting your shopping at

[ http://smile.amazon.com/ch/52-1279034 ]

11) MATCHING DONATION

Don't forget that many employers will match your donation to nonprofits such as The Vegetarian Resource Group, often up to $5,000. A partial list of employers that match can be seen here at www.vrg.org/donate by checking "employer to match" and clicking on "Please Select."

12) A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE VRG VOLUNTEERS

Thank you to the following VRG Volunteers for all of your hard work with The Vegetarian Resource Group's activities including HTML work, restaurant guide entries, writing blog posts, speaking at events and staffing booths:

Matt Baker, RN Chef Nancy Berkoff, EdD, RD Whitney Blomquist Casey Brown Bekah Campbell Catherine Conway Heather Francis Suzanne Hengen Laneece Hurd Ashley Kerckhoff Emily Klesitz Rebecca Lordon Reed Mangels, PhD, RD Nina Matlasz Laura McGuiness

David Milner Bobbi Pasternak, MSN, RN Marcia Pearson Karen Peissinger Carol Porter Michaela Sadlowski Brad Scott Mayur Shah Elsa Spencer, PhD Robin Tate Tina Urban Ilana Wolf Emily Wood, RD Abbie Young

If you're interested in becoming a volunteer and contributing your talents to The VRG, please email our Vegan Volunteer Coordinator, at: [email protected].

13) ABOUT THE VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP

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 The Vegetarian Resource Group national email newsletter, please visit:

[ http://lists.vrg.org/mailman/listinfo/vrg-news_lists.vrg.org ]

We are also on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!! See:

Facebook	[ http://www.facebook.com/thevegetarianresourcegroup/ ]
	[ https://www.facebook.com/groups/VRGparentsandkids/ ]
Instagram	[ https://www.instagram.com/vegetarianresourcegroup/ ]
Twitter	[ 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: [ http://www.vrg.org/donate ]

Copyright The Vegetarian Resource Group 2017 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 go to

[ http://lists.vrg.org/mailman/listinfo/vrg-maryland_lists.vrg.org ]

If you do not wish to receive the Local Email Newsletter, visit

[ http://lists.vrg.org/mailman/listinfo/vrg-maryland_lists.vrg.org ]

Instructions for unsubscribing will appear at the bottom of the page. See Unsubscribe or edit options.