VRG-NEWS: The Vegetarian Resource Group Newsletter
Volume 15, Issue 11
November 2011

CONTENTS

  1. DOUBLE YOUR SUPPORT FOR VEGETARIAN OUTREACH -- MATCHING DONATIONS!
  2. SAVORY THANKSGIVING TORTE
  3. INTRODUCING PEOPLE TO THE VEGETARIAN OR VEGAN LIFESTYLE
  4. STUDENT SEEKS INFORMATION ON VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN CULTURE
  5. VEGAN RESTAURANTS AROUND THE U.S.
  6. VEGETARIAN AND VEGAN LIVING IN YOUR TWENTIES
  7. ALL-VEGETARIAN ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY IN NH
  8. MARYLAND FAMILY MAGAZINE EXPLORES VEGAN THANKSGIVING TRADITIONS
  9. VEGETARIANS IN THE HOSPITAL: HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR STAY WITH THE NUTRITION YOU NEED
  10. THE VRG IN THE NEWS
  11. ARE YOU LOOKING FOR SOME NEW RECIPES FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON?
  12. VRG'S VISA PLATINUM REWARDS CARD
  13. About The Vegetarian Resource Group
  14. About VRG-NEWS

EDITOR'S NOTE: A NEW HOME FOR VRG-NEWS

For the last 15 years VRG-NEWS has been hosted at listserv.aol.com. Late last month, though, we received notice from AOL that they were shutting down this service, and we were forced to move to a new list host. Hopefully, all this will mean to you is a change in the "From:" header. However, as with all new things, there may be some glitches or complications that we haven't anticipated, so we appreciate your patience during this transition.

As always, if you have any questions or feedback regarding VRG-NEWS, send an email to [email protected].

1) DOUBLE YOUR SUPPORT FOR VEGETARIAN OUTREACH -- MATCHING DONATIONS!

In honor of The Vegetarian Resource Group's 30th anniversary, a generous donor has committed to matching up to $15,000 in total contributions. So your donation is automatically doubled!

Please show your support for vegetarian outreach, by giving via our online donation form [ https://www.givedirect.org/give/givefrm.asp?CID=1565 ], and writing "matching donation" in the comments field.

You can also donate by calling (410) 366-8343 Monday to Friday, Eastern Time, or mailing a check to The Vegetarian Resource Group, P.O. Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203.

Thank you!

2) SAVORY THANKSGIVING TORTE

by Zel Allen

I don't know if Thanksgiving is wild and crazy to the max at your house, but it sure is in mine--in a good way, that is. It's our family reunion time so I have family flying in from all parts of the globe for this nutty feast. All the bedrooms are full and the kitchen is in a constant state of activity. It's been our thing for years so we really look forward to Thanksgiving week--a time that's filled with lots of cooking going on, great aromas drifting through the house, lots of eating, and lots of laughing.

Visit our blog for the recipe: [ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2011/11/18/savory-thanksgiving-torte/ ]

3) INTRODUCING PEOPLE TO THE VEGETARIAN OR VEGAN LIFESTYLE

By: Brittany Estes-Garcia

Brittany Estes-Garcia is a writer who has been a vegetarian her entire life and recently became a vegan. She is looking to promote an animal free diet through writing.

Introducing someone to veganism or vegetarianism, a lifestyle we all know is healthier for ourselves and the planet as a whole, is quite rewarding. Throughout my young life I have been able to do this several times, and no matter the outcome, I felt proud to at least be able to give someone a new perspective on things.

I've always been an activist. I remember the first time I put together a petition was when I was in 2nd grade and an older staff member at the private school I was attending was going to be let go because of his age. I got signatures from teachers and students alike, but despite my efforts, he was still fired. Nonetheless, I gave him the petition, which seemed to help his spirits, and I didn't let that change my activist viewpoint.

Because of this experience, it's not surprising that this is how I have continued to live my life. When I was in 5th grade, I spent hours talking to my friends about vegetarianism (as I didn't become a vegan until I was a sophomore in high school). I had heard of videos that exposed factory farming, and even though I had a weak stomach and hadn't seen them myself, I had read enough about factory farms to know the truth. I wrote essays about vegetarianism for school; although my teachers seemed impressed with my enthusiasm, they never told me their views on the subject. One day that year during lunch my friend and I got into a discussion about what her dad did for work.

To read the rest of the article, visit our blog:

[ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2011/11/03/introducing-people-to-the-vegetarian-or-vegan-lifestyle/ ]

4) STUDENT SEEKS INFORMATION ON VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN CULTURE

Michelle Sweeney, a student at SUNY-Empire State College is looking for information about Vegan and Vegetarian culture for her research project. If you have a few minutes, please fill out her ten question survey here: [ https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dHlUZW1RZVlmSmExeGdOZDRCNGFzY0E6MA ].

5) VEGAN RESTAURANTS AROUND THE U.S.

These vegan restaurants were recently added to our online restaurant guide. To find restaurants in your area, visit: [ http://www.vrg.org/restaurant/index.php ]

Adama Vegan Comfort Cuisine
[ http://www.adamavegan.com ]
428 Chapala St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 560-1348
Vegan/natural foods. Adama Vegan Comfort Cuisine offers vegan food in a cozy, warm atmosphere. Enjoy Jackfruit Tacos, Chipotle Panini, or Pumpkin Pecan Pancakes. Adama is closed between lunch and dinner, so please call ahead for hours. Open Tuesday through Friday for lunch and dinner. Open Saturday and Sunday for three meals. Closed Monday. Full service, take-out, fresh juices, smoothies, espresso/cappuccino, soymilk, beer/wine/alcohol, VISA/MC/AMEX/DISC, $-$$.

Sweet Pea Cafe
[ http://www.sweetpeacafetallahassee.blogspot.com ]
832 W. Tharpe St., Tallahassee, FL 32303
(850) 692-3476
Vegan. Sweet Pea Cafe is an all-vegan eatery offering local and organic foods as often as possible. Enjoy such items as Tempeh Reuben, Buffalo Fried Tofu, or Black Bean Quinoa Burger. Open Tuesday through Friday for lunch and dinner. Open Saturday and Sunday for brunch and lunch. Closed Monday. Limited service, take-out, fresh juices, soymilk, espresso/cappuccino, beer, special beverages, VISA/MC, $.

The Wandering Buddha
[ http://www.thewanderingbuddha.com ]
2239 St. Claude Ave., New Orleans, LA 70117
(504) 945-9428
Vegan. The Wandering Buddha offers traditional Korean vegan cuisine. Feast on Cold Buckwheat Noodles with vegetables, Braised Tofu, or Stir-Fried Glass Noodles with vegetables. The chef, whose mother is from South Korea, creates delicious, vegan versions of the dishes her mother prepared for her growing up. The restaurant is located a few blocks from the French Quarter in the Hi-Ho Lounge. You can dine in the bar or out on the covered patio. The bar offers live music weekly and entertainment on weekends. Cash only. Got a craving for some vegan Korean food? If so, head over to Open Tuesday through Sunday for dinner through late night. Closed Monday and Thursday. Full service, take-out, delivery, soymilk, beer/wine, alcohol, non-alcoholic beer, $$.

Please help us keep our restaurant guide current and accurate. Restaurants continually change locations, new ones open, and others close. To let us know about any restaurants we should add, delete, or if our existing entry should be changed, please complete the form here: [ http://www.vrg.org/travel/restupdate.php ]

If you would like to volunteer with maintaining and updating The Vegetarian Resource Group restaurant guide, email us at [email protected]. Thank you!

6) VEGETARIAN AND VEGAN LIVING IN YOUR TWENTIES

By Candice DeForest

Life in your twenties can be chaotic. You may be transitioning from college to a full-time job, or just leaving home for the first time and figuring out how to balance grocery shopping, planning meals, cooking and attempting to be healthy on a budget. As a vegetarian or vegan, this can seem particularly daunting as there may be a perception of health food as expensive or unaffordable. I'll admit, I've pushed grocery shopping to the bottom of my priority list at times and managed to surprise myself with an everything-in-the-pantry inventive black bean burger! (You'd be surprised at how few ingredients you actually need to whip up a tasty, easy meal.)

To read the rest of the article, visit our blog: [ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2011/11/08/vegetarian-and-vegan-living-in-your-twenties/ ]

7) ALL-VEGETARIAN ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY IN NH

Pyareo Home is an assisted living facility in New Hampshire that is strictly vegetarian. There are seven residential spaces. They said there is absolutely no meat prepared in the kitchen or anywhere else on the grounds. They can accommodate vegan diets. Pyareo is located in the quiet mountain woodlands of the NH Lakes Region in the town of Sanbornton. For more information, please see their website pyareohome.org [ http://pyareohome.org/ ] or call them at (603) 934-2300.

If you know of a vegetarian-friendly retirement community, assisted living facility, or nursing home, please let us know! You can email us at [email protected].

Thanks!

8) MARYLAND FAMILY MAGAZINE EXPLORES VEGAN THANKSGIVING TRADITIONS

Maryland Family Magazine interviewed The VRG and some Maryland vegan families for their article Everything but the turkey: Vegan families find food enough to fill their Thanksgiving tables [ http://www.marylandfamilymagazine.com/2011/11/01/everything-but-the-turkey-vegan-families-find-food-enough-to-fill-their-thanksgiving-tables/ ].

If you're looking for ideas for your own vegan holiday feast, a good place to start is our article What Do You Do For Thanksgiving? [ http://www.vrg.org/recipes/vegan_thanksgiving.php ] in our recipes section.

9) VEGETARIANS IN THE HOSPITAL: HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR STAY WITH THE NUTRITION YOU NEED

By Megan Salazar -- VRG Dietetic Intern

Whether you are on the way to the hospital for a planned surgery or in an ambulance for an unexpected hospital visit, the last thing that may be on your mind is what you are going to eat while in the hospital. As a vegetarian or vegan, it can be tricky to manage your diet and preferences if you are not aware of the options. There are a variety of things to consider and ways to be prepared if you are planning a hospital stay or just want to be familiar with your options for a future event.

To read the rest of the article, visit our blog: [ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2011/11/15/vegetarians-in-the-hospitalhow-to-make-the-most-of-your-stay-with-the-nutrition-you-need/ ]

10) THE VRG IN THE NEWS

Niki Gianni, winner of one of the college scholarships The VRG awarded in 2011, has been featured on the front page of CNN.com: Young vegetarians: Getting the nutrition they need [ http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/21/health/young-vegetarians-nutrition/index.html?hpt=hp_c2 ]

VRG Research Director, Jeanne Yacoubou, was quoted in a recent article in the Los Angeles Times about the disclosure of nutrition and ingredient information in restaurants: Restaurants are super-sizing their nutritional disclosures [ http://mobile.latimes.com/p.p?a=rp&postId=1043866&m=b&sessionToken=&postUserId=7&pageNumber=1 ]

Katherine Sweet, a blogger for LadyLux.com [ http://ladylux.com ] interviewed The VRG and others for her article, "Vegetarianism: Saving the world by cutting out meat [ http://www.ladylux.com/style/site/article/vegetarianism-saving-the-world/ ]".

To support The VRG's research and outreach efforts, donate here: [ https://www.givedirect.org/give/givefrm.asp?CID=1565 ]

For information about vegan and vegetarian options in quick service and fast food chains, visit: [ http://www.vrg.org/fastfoodinfo.htm ]

For information about food ingredients, see: [ http://www.vrg.org/ingredients/index.php ]

11) ARE YOU LOOKING FOR SOME NEW RECIPES FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON?

If so, The Vegetarian Resource Group offers cookbooks that will help you create scrumptious meals.

Ethnic cuisine is sure to excite your family and friends. The Tropical Vegan Kitchen [ http://www.vrg.org/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=58 ] features perfect holiday snacks including Thai-Style Glazed Cashews and Caribbean-Spiced Popcorn. Main dish ideas include Jackfruit and Spice Rice with Pistachios and Coconut and Roasted Vegetables in African Peanut Sauce with Fufu. Finally, for dessert be sure to try the Hawaiian Macadamia Lace Cookies and Papaya-Pineapple Strudel.

Vegan Soul Kitchen [ http://www.vrg.org/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=30 ] offers some unique appetizers. You can prepare Roasted Winter Squash Seeds, Crispy Okra Strips with Lime-Thyme Vinaigrette, Black-Eyed Pea Fritters with Hot Pepper Sauce, or Little Banana-Maple Pecan Cornbread Muffins. You'll also find some hearty entrĂ©es in this cookbook including Tempeh, Shiitake Mushroom, and Cornmeal Dumpling Stew, Baked BBQ Black-Eyed Peas, and Pan-Fried Grit Cakes with Caramelized Spring Onions, Garlic, and Thyme. For dessert, serve your guests Coconut-Pecan Pralines or Maple Yam-Ginger Pie.

Nona's Italian Kitchen [ http://www.vrg.org/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=80 ] offers an amazing collection of traditional Italian dishes made vegan. Recipes include Almond Ricotta, Hot Garlic Dip for Raw Vegetables, Stuffed Crepes, Crispy Eggplant Croquettes, Lemon-Rosemary Breast of Tofu, and even vegan Tiramisu. There are also chapters on roasting vegetables and making fresh pasta.

12) VRG'S VISA PLATINUM REWARDS CARD

VRG's new affinity Visa® Platinum Rewards credit card is now available! When a cardholder activates the card, VRG receives $50. Then for the life of the program, VRG will receive a portion of every dollar that each cardholder charges. The VRG Visa® Platinum Rewards card offers qualified cardholders benefits including no annual fee, a low APR and reward points for shopping at participating merchants. Add your support with every purchase when you use the The Vegetarian Resource Group Visa® Platinum Rewards card. To apply, see: [ http://www.cardpartner.com/app/vrg ]

Click here [ http://www.vrg.org/credit_faqs.php ] to view FAQs about VRG's new Visa® Platinum Rewards Card such as: Is there an annual fee? What is the APR on the card? What can I redeem for with my points earned?

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.)

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 ] Donate: [ https://www.givedirect.org/give/givefrm.asp?CID=1565 ]

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.

ABOUT VRG-NEWS

VRG-NEWS is the e-mail newsletter of The Vegetarian Resource Group. This is an announcement list so subscriber messages are not accepted by the list. If you have a technical question about the list, please contact us at [email protected]. If you have any suggestions, ideas, or corrections to VRG-NEWS, please direct them to [email protected]. Thanks!

To subscribe, unsubscribe, or otherwise manage your subscription to VRG-NEWS, visit [ http://lists.vrg.org/mailman/listinfo/vrg-news_lists.vrg.org ]

If you are a new subscriber, you might enjoy reading past issues of VRG-NEWS online at [ http://www.vrg.org/vrgnews/ ].

Contents of VRG-NEWS are copyright 2011 by The Vegetarian Resource Group. The newsletter may be freely distributed in electronic or print form provided its contents are not altered and credit is given to The Vegetarian Resource Group, P.O. Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203.