The VRG's Maryland Newsletter by Laura McGuiness
March, 2020
- VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP RESEARCH AND NEWS
- VRG BOOTHS AND EVENTS
- MARYLAND/DC AREA EVENTS
- UPCOMING EVENTS (NO VRG BOOTHS)
- MARYLAND STATE SENATOR, MARY WASHINGTON, DISTRICT 43 CO-SPONSORS BILL TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GASES
- VEGETARIAN JOURNAL ISSUE 1, 2020
- SUMMER INTERNSHIPS
- SCHOLARSHIP READERS NEEDED
- PROPOSED CHANGES TO SCHOOL MEALS REDUCE FRUIT AND VEGETABLE SERVINGS
- VRG BOOKSTORE
- WISH LIST
- SUMMER RESEARCH ASSISTANT POSITIONS AT CENTER FOR A LIVABLE FUTURE
- VRG HIGHLIGHTS
- A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS
- MATCHING DONATIONS
- ABOUT VRG
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2) VRG BOOTHS AND EVENTS
Come visit us at these VRG booths!
Maryland Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (MAND) 2020 Annual Meeting
Monday March, 23rd, 2020
Martin's West
6817 Dogwood Rd,
Baltimore, MD 21244
Marymount Health Fair
Saturday April, 4, 2020
9:00 am to 11:00 am
Marymount University ballston Campus,
1000 North Glebe Road, Arlington, VA 22201
NYC Veggie Pride Parade 2020
Sunday, April 12, 2020
Parade lines up starting at 11:00 am
40 Gansevoort Street, Manhattan
Parade starts at 12:00 noon & ends at 1:00 pm
Union Square Park
Fairfax Veg Fest – "For People, Animals & Our Planet"
Sunday April 19, 2020
10:00 am to 5:00 pm
200 Spring Street
Herndon, Virginia 20170
Maryland Dietetics in Health Care Communities
Spring Workshop
Tuesday April 28, 2020
Clarksville, MD 21029
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo
October 18 - 20, 2020
Indiana Convention Center
100 S Capitol Ave
Indianapolis, IN 46225
If you're interested in helping us with one of these booths, please contact us at [email protected].
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3) MARYLAND/DC AREA EVENTS
DC Vegan Passover Seder
Monday April 13, 2020 at 6:00 pm
Sixth & 1 600 1 ST NW
Washington DC, 20001
Cooking Up History: The Vilna Vegetarian Cookbook
There will be a Cooking Demonstration with Guest Chef Joan Nathan renowned cookbook author and expert on Jewish foodways at 1:00 pm Friday May 1st, 2020 in the Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza, 1 West, Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, Constitution Avenue, between 12th and 14th Streets North West.
Join Joan Nathan and Smithsonian food historian Ashley Rose Young as they prepare dishes from largely unknown culinary educator and author Fania Lewando's Vilna Vegetarian Cookbook and explore the history of Vilna, the devastating impacts of the Holocaust on the city's Jewish population, and one woman's efforts to sustain her community through food. Fania Lewando lived in Vilna, Lithuania in the early 20th century. In 1938 she authored one of first Jewish cookbooks dedicated to vegetarianism. For more information click here: [ https://www.yivo.org/Cooking-Up-History ]
Presented in partnership with the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
Baltimore 2020 Vegan Burger Smackdown & Fun Fest
Sunday, June 14, 2020
Location to be announced
Americans Eat 50 Billion Burgers Year! Most are animal-sourced. Let's Change That! Everyone Benefits!! 'People, Planet, Animals'. More info here: [ https://www.botanicuisine.com/vegan-burger-slider-smackdown-1.html ]
JEWISH VEG NEW DC CHAPTER
For updates:
[ https://www.facebook.com/groups/JewishVegDC?mc_cid=390a70b9cc&mc_eid=9346dc739f ]
BALTIMORE VEGAN BOOK CLUB
For updates:
[ https://www.facebook.com/pg/Baltimore-Vegan-Book-Club-1686226734809409/events/?ref=page_internal ]
BALTIMORE VEGAN DRINKS
For Vegan Drinks events see [ https://www.facebook.com/pg/BaltimoreVeganDrinks/events/?ref=page_internal ]
DINEKIND
Dinekind Harford meets monthly to share information on the benefits of a plant-based diet. For more information, visit: [ http://www.dinekindharford.com/ ]
VEGEVENTS
Maryland and DC veg events can be found at [ https://www.vegevents.com ]
EARTHSAVE NEWS & EVENTS
Govan's Presbyterian Church, Baltimore, MD
We have a wonderful venue for our Earthsave events - Govans Presbyterian Church is in a quiet neighborhood, next to the historic Senator Theater on York Road in Baltimore. The church parking lot is spacious, well lit, and conveniently located near the entry to the Fellowship Hall, where you will see our large Earthsave banner. Hope you will join us there soon! You might also like to join one of the two discussion groups that Earthsave hosts at local restaurants. Check out the Baltimore Vegetarian Meetup [ https://www.meetup.com/vegetarian-9/ ]
and Baltimore Vegan Meetup group [ https://www.meetup.com/The-Baltimore-Vegan-Meetup-Group/ ]
and join us when you can! For more information: [ https://earthsavebaltimore.org ]
FORKS OVER KNIVES MONTHLY POTLUCKS
This group is for those interested in trying a whole food plant-based diet or for those who already eat this way. This is a diet with none to very little oil, salt, or refined sugar. 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/ ]
MONTHLY COOKING CLASSES
Check website for monthly class updates: [ http://www.veggourmet.wordpress.com ]
SOUTH CARROLL SUPPER CLUB
South Carroll Seventh-day Adventist Church
Taylorsville, MD
Email Deborah Jamieson for event information: [email protected]
ST. PATTY'S DAY PARTY
Tuesday, March 17, 2020, 5-9 PM
Fresh baked soda bread, loaded pub fries, bangers and mash, tofu corned beef and cabbage, Irish Stew
Live music by The Greentop Rambers
New Deal Cafe, 113 Centerway, Greenbelt, MD
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4) UPCOMING EVENTS (NO VRG BOOTHS)
Currently no VRG booth at these events
The World Wide Vegan Bake Sale
April 15 - 30, 2020
The Worldwide Vegan Bake sale mobilizes people around the world to bake vegan treats and raise funds for charitable causes, while also promoting great tasting vegan food.
Berkeley Earth Day
Sunday April 19
2150 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA
Lancaster VegFest
Saturday, June 6th, 2020
Buchanan Park
Lancaster, PA
St. Louis VegFest
Saturday, August 29, 2020
11:00 am to 6:00 pm
Langenberg Field
Forest Park. St Louis MO
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5) MARYLAND STATE SENATOR, MARY WASHINGTON, DISTRICT 43 CO-SPONSORS BILL TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GASES
Requiring the Maryland Green Purchasing Committee to develop on or before January 1, 2022, a certain methodology, in consultation with the Department of the Environment and the Department of General Services, for a unit to estimate greenhouse gas emissions that occur through the life cycle of certain food; requiring each unit to report to the Committee on the unit's progress in reducing the greenhouse gas emissions associated with food procured by the unit on or before August 1, 2024 and each August 1 thereafter.
More info here: [ http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0478?ys=2020RS ]
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6) VEGETARIAN JOURNAL ISSUE 1, 2020
Planning a vegan vacation? Maybe you want to consider Disney. Read more about the
Mouse & company's new park-wide vegan options from Caryn Ginsberg, who sampled
everything from soy ice cream sundaes to vegan bangers and mash! Maybe you're more
the athletic type and are sticking to those fitness resolutions. Spring into the
world of the Vegan Power 50K ultra marathon with Ben Sarsgard and see what it takes
to stay the course. To support exciting journalism that demonstrates the reach of
the vegan movement, like these stories, subscribe to the Vegetarian Journal. Each
quarterly issue is packed with the latest scientific updates, vegan recipes to
please a variety of eaters as well as other great articles and outreach news.
The Vegetarian Journal is available in print and on Kindle!
Print subscriptions: To order by phone, call 410-366-8343 or online,
[ https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php ]
Kindle USA:
[ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LBY2Y7K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1544727482&sr=8-1&keywords=B07LBY2Y7K ]
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7) SUMMER INTERNSHIPS
The Vegetarian Resource group is accepting applications for summer interns for our
main office in Baltimore, MD. The VRG has one $4,200.00 needs-based internship in
our Baltimore, MD office, as well as unpaid internship positions all year long. For
more information, [ https://www.vrg.org/student/index.php ]
Live in the Roland Park area of Baltimore? We're always looking for affordable or
free housing for our interns! Please let us know if you are interested in hosting an
intern! [email protected]
To support The Vegetarian Resource Group scholarships and internships,
donate at [ https://www.vrg.org/donate ]
or mail to The Vegetarian Resource Group, PO Box
1463, Baltimore, MD 21203
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8) SCHOLARSHIP READERS NEEDED
Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, VRG awards $20,000 in college
scholarship money each year to graduating high school students who have promoted
vegetarianism/veganism in their schools and/or communities. The deadline for
submissions was February 20, 2020 and we need volunteers to help with reading
student essays. All you have to do is read over the essay and write 3 or 4 sentences
that provide positive feedback about specific projects, activities, and/or
challenges the entrants overcame. If you can help or for more information please
email [email protected]
For information about VRG's College Scholarship, see [ http://www.vrg.org/student/scholar.htm ]
To support The Vegetarian Resource Group scholarships and internships,
donate at [
https://www.vrg.org/donate ]
or mail to The Vegetarian Resource Group, Box 1463,
Baltimore, MD 21203
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9) PROPOSED CHANGES TO SCHOOL MEALS REDUCE FRUIT AND VEGETABLE SERVINGS
More than 30 million children in the United States participate in the National
School Lunch Program yearly
(1[ https://fns-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/resource-files/NSLPFactSheet.pdf ]
)
and more than 14 million children participate in the School Breakfast Program (2).
These programs are federally funded, operate in public and nonprofit private
schools, and have a stated goal of providing nutritionally balanced, low-cost or
no-cost breakfasts and lunches to children each school day (1,2). Meal patterns for
these programs are established by the USDA.
Children get more than half of their daily calories from school meals so it's
important that these meals provide nutritious food, the kind of food kids need to
grow and be healthy. That means whole grains, beans, vegetables, and fruit.
Changes to school meal requirements that were implemented in school year 2012-2013
resulted in significant improvements in the nutritional quality of school meals (3).
Specifically, more whole grains, greens, and beans were served to children at lunch
and more whole grains and fruit were served at breakfast (3).
A recent proposed rule change (4) would eliminate many of the changes that were made
in 2012-2013. The proposed changes would reduce the amount of vegetables and fruit
required to be served at breakfast and lunch. Fewer red and orange vegetables
(sources of vitamin A) would be required to be served at lunch. The proposed change
would allow pasta made with vegetable flour to be counted as a serving of
vegetables. I'm sorry, but in my mind, there is a difference between pasta and a
salad. Children need to become familiar with vegetables that are presented as
vegetables.
If breakfast is served outside of the cafeteria, which many school districts do, the
amount of fruit included would be cut from one cup to a half cup. Since the number
of calories that must be served at breakfast is unchanged, a half cup of fruit could
be replaced with cheaper food like sweet pastries. The proposed changes would allow
schools to offer potatoes as a vegetable every day. Potatoes could take the place of
fruit at breakfast. Potatoes are a fine food, but they don't supply the generous
amounts of vitamin C, vitamin A, calcium, and iron that other vegetables or that
fruits do.
A rationale given for the changes is that children don't like the changes that were
made in 2012-2013 and that they've resulted in more waste. A study conducted by
USDA, refutes this argument and shows that after the 2012-2013 changes, there was
either less plate waste or about the same plate waste as before (3).
Some readers may think this is not their issue. Since most school meals have limited
options for vegans and vegetarians, their children may bring their own breakfasts
and lunches. We still have a long way to go before school meals are vegan.
Realistically, however, for many children, these meals are an opportunity to have
access to healthy food. These proposed changes cut required healthy plant foods from
school meals and are harmful to children's nutrition.
Comments on the proposed changes can be submitted at
[ https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/01/23/2020-00926/simplifying-meal-service-and-monitoring-requirements-in-the-national-school-lunch-and-school#open-comment ]
and must be submitted by March 23, 2020.
References
1. USDA. The National School Lunch Program. 2017.
[ https://fns-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/resource-files/NSLPFactSheet.pdf ]
2. USDA. The School Breakfast Program. 2017.
[ https://fns-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/resource-files/SBPfactsheet.pdf ]
3. USDA. School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study. 2019.
[ https://fns-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/resource-files/SNMCS_Summary-Findings.pdf ]
4. USDA Food and Nutrition Service. Simplifying Meal Service and Monitoring
Requirements in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. Federal
Register. 85 FR 4094. January 23, 2020.
[ https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/01/23/2020-00926/simplifying-meal-service-and-monitoring-requirements-in-the-national-school-lunch-and-school ]
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10) VRG BOOKSTORE
THE LOWFAT JEWISH COOKBOOK By Debra Wasserman
This collection of more than 150 recipes will delight your guests and family with
international flavors and tastes of home. Next month's Seder could include Eggplant
Stew over Baked Potatoes, Russian Fruit Pudding, Vegetarian Kishke, and Garlicky
Baked Peppers. Lunches and dinners throughout the year will come to life with Cream
of Mushroom Soup, Broccoli Latkes, Eggless Challah, Spinach Pie, and Israeli Carrot
Salad. Don't forget dessert! Get ready for Apple Spice Cake, Almond Maple Cookies
and Romanian Apricot Dumplings.
Embrace delicious new traditions with The Lowfat Jewish Vegetarian Cookbook, $15.00.
Available from our online bookshop at [ https://www.vrg.org/bookstore/ ]
or call
410-366-8343 for more details.
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11) WISH LIST
As a non-profit, we can only take on new projects when we are able to get support
from donors and our dedicated volunteers. Right now, we are seeking your support for
the following:
Support VRG every time you shop on Amazon! Simply go to Amazon Smile and select The
Vegetarian Resource Group as your chosen charity. Then every time you make a
purchase a portion of your funds will be donated annually to VRG by Amazon. Support
your dreams of vegan world when you shop online!
[ https://smile.amazon.com/ref=smi_ext_ch_52-1279034_dl?_encoding=UTF8&ein=52-1279034&ref_=smi_chpf_redirect&ref_=smi_ext_ch_52-1279034_cl ]
Have you wanted to make a gift in honor of a loved one, friend or colleague, but
weren't sure which charities were vegan, pro-environment or pro-animal rights?
Consider a donation to the VRG as a memorial for a loved one, or way to honor
someone's actions with a living tribute. This is perfect for special occasions, such
as a wedding, birthday, anniversary or retirement. We will send an acknowledgement
to you and the giftee, and your kindness will support our educational outreach
programs and help promote veganism. [ https://www.vrg.org/memandhon.htm ]
We donate tens of thousands of leaflets, brochures, and flyers on vegetarianism
every year both to activists and directly to the public. A donation of $100 can
cover the printing of 1000 brochures, helping us help others spread valuable
information about vegan and vegetarian lifestyles. You can give online at
[ https://www.vrg.org/donate/ ]
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12) SUMMER RESEARCH ASSISTANT POSITIONS AT CENTER FOR A LIVABLE FUTURE
The Center recruits a limited number of student Research Assistants positions to
work during the summer. The positions provide programmatic, research, and
administrative assistance to CLF staff members. Responsibilities for each position
include a range of duties and activities, such as conducting web-based research,
report writing, data cleaning and data entry, data analysis, literature review, and
event planning. Performing administrative support activities is part of each CLF
Research Assistant's scope of work, but will generally involve no more than 20
percent of work hours. Research Assistants are encouraged to attend CLF-sponsored
seminars, lectures and other activities scheduled throughout the summer.
Applications for CLF student summer research assistants must be received by 8:00
a.m. on Monday, March 30, 2020. Process and additional information will be provided
to selected shortlisted applicants only o/a April 15, 2020.
For more information about how to apply, please visit:
[ https://clf.jhsph.edu/employment/summer-jhu-research-assistants-clf ]
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13) VRG HIGHLIGHTS
Sent free materials on vegetarian/vegan diet and lifestyle to inmates in Florida,
Tennessee, California, Washington, New Jersey, California, and Oklahoma
Answered questions about veganism from a College Student in The UK. Receiving and
Answering Scholarship Applications on a continuing basis. Applicants will be judged
on having shown compassion, courage, and a strong
commitment to promoting a peaceful world through a vegetarian/vegan diet/lifestyle.
One award of $10,000 and two awards of $5,000 will be given. If you can help with
reading essays, please reach out to [email protected] for more information.
Donated Vegan Teen pamphlets to the Vegetarian Society of North Jersey, and English
and Spanish language vegetarian/vegan coloring books for the 'Kid's Zone' of the
South West Florida Veg Fest in Cape Coral Florida. Sent Vegetarian Journals, I Love
Animals Coloring Books and My Vegan Plate handouts to the North Florida Veg Fest in
Tallahassee Florida. We sent Save Our Water and assorted other brochures and
handouts to an activist in St Paul Minnesota for a presentation on how to eat a
balanced vegan diet as a strategy to be environmentally responsible/reduce your
carbon footprint.
VRG nutrition advisor Reed Mangels wrote for the Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetic
Practice Group newsletter an article with suggestions concerning how dietitians and
dietetic students could get the most out of volunteering for nonprofits.
There are many ways for current and future dietitians to promote vegan nutrition.
The VRG was mentioned in Today's Dietitian concerning our 2019 survey conducted by
The Harris Poll and The Vegetarian Resource Group that found
2% of people aged 65 and older are vegetarian or vegan, 37% sometimes or always eat
vegetarian or vegan, and 16% sometimes or always eat vegan.
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14) A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS
Thanks to the following volunteers for all your hard work with The Vegetarian
Resource Group, including posting to social media, writing blog posts, research,
presentations, running booths, restaurant research, clerical work, writing HTML,
contributing to our vegan parents group, doing media interviews, editing,
photography, performing nutrition analysis, helping with our newsletters, reading
scholarship essays, and more! To volunteer at VRG, please contact us at
[email protected]
- Matt Baker, RN
- Nancy Berkoff, EdD, RD
- Whitney Blomquist
- Casey Brown, RD
- Courtnee Cannon
- Cathy Conway, MS, RD
- Nathaniel Corn
- Anne Custer
- Natalie Evans
- Caryn Ginsberg
- Ruth Goldstein
- Erica Goretzki
- Heather Gorn
- Carole Hamlin
- Julia Hart
- David Herring
- Rebecca Kaplan
- Skyler Kilmer
- Karen Lazarus, MD
- Laura McGuiness
- Wendy McPherson
- Reed Mangels, PhD, RD
- Julia Mathew
- Larry Miller
- Rissa Miller
- Sally Miller
- David Milner
- Katie Nunemaker
- Susan Petrie
- Elly Ren
- Lucia Rivera
- Tonya Rothe
- Marcy Schveibinz
- Brad Scott MBA
- Eric Sharer, RD
- Betsy Todd, RN
- Jill Venezian
To volunteer at VRG, please contact Emilio at [email protected]
To support The Vegetarian Resource Group’s outreach, donate at [ https://www.vrg.org/donate ]
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15) MATCHING DONATIONS
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 [ https://www.vrg.org/donate ]
by checking "employer to match" and
clicking on "Please Select."
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16) 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:
[ https://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!!
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/donate/?cid=1565 ]
Copyright The Vegetarian Resource Group 2020 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. (You do not need a password).
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