VRG-NEWS: The Vegetarian Resource Group Newsletter
Volume 17, Issue 7

July 2013

CONTENTS

  1. HOW TO START A SCHOOL OR COMMUNITY GARDEN
  2. CALL A DIETITIAN DAY JULY 20, 2013
  3. NEW VEGAN RESTAURANTS IN THE U.S.
  4. VEGGIE OPTIONS ON HOLLAND AMERICA LINE’S BOSTON TO MONTREAL CRUISE
  5. NO MORE MEAT WINS VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP VIDEO SCHOLARSHIP
  6. A GREEK VACATION
  7. HOW DO I DEAL WITH THE FRUSTRATIONS OF BEING AN ACTIVIST?
  8. VRG'S VEGAN VIETNAMESE DINNER IN HOUSTON, OCT 20
  9. DONATE TO VRG THROUGH WORKPLACE CAMPAIGNS
  10. NYC VEGAN PROFESSIONAL BOOTCAMP
  11. JOB OPPORTUNITIES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE GREATER GOOD

1) HOW TO START A SCHOOL OR COMMUNITY GARDEN

How to Start a School or Community Garden
By Laura McGuiness, VRG Intern

When I decided to restore my school garden, I was lucky enough to already have somebody who possessed a lot of useful knowledge about gardening: my mom. If you are thinking about starting a garden and are not blessed with a friend or family member that possesses knowledge about gardens, start researching!

Information about starting a school garden is available online, in bookstores, and even in libraries. Most public libraries are free, so stop by your local one, sign up for a membership, and head on over to the 635’s (The Dewey Decimal classification for horticulture!).

Organizing a Group of People

It is easy to decide to restore/start a garden in your school or community. I just woke up one day and decided I was tired of seeing that once-glorious plot of land sitting neglected behind our biology building. I also decided that I was sick of staring at the school’s only vegan lunch option: peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. That is when I got the idea to start a school garden. I could simultaneously encourage others to grow vegetables as well as prove to the school district that students really did care about healthy lifestyles and would appreciate a more vegan and vegetarian-friendly lunch option.

For the rest of the story, go to [ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2013/07/09/how-to-start-a-school-or-community-garden/ ]

2) CALL A DIETITIAN DAY 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.

3) NEW VEGAN RESTAURANTS IN THE U.S.

See [ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2013/07/01/new-vegan-restaurants-in-the-u-s/ ]

4) VEGGIE OPTIONS ON HOLLAND AMERICA LINE’S BOSTON TO MONTREAL CRUISE

Former Vegetarian Journal Senior Editor Keryl Cryer recently let us know about a cruise she took on Holland America Line from Boston to Quebec that offered an incredible veggie menu with many vegan options. Appetizers include Sushi Roll, Vietnamese Vegetable Spring Roll, and a Middle Eastern plate including hummus, stuffed grape leaves, and tabbouleh. Vegan soups include Asian Noodle, Roasted Butternut Squash, and Pasta Fagioli. They also have vegan salads including Spicy Lentil and Garbanzo Salad.

For the rest of this article see [ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2013/06/28/veggie-options-on-new-holland-boston-montreal-cruise/ ]

5) NO MORE MEAT WINS VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP VIDEO SCHOLARSHIP

Noam Lautman is one of the winners of our 2013 video scholarship! Noam stated, “I became interested in vegetarianism when I was about 10 years old. My uncle and his family took me to an upscale fish restaurant where they ordered lobster on a bed of rice. I had never seen such a thing before, and it was quite a shock to see a whole lobster sitting there, just as advertised, on a bed of rice. I could hardly look at it and went to eat at another table. Later my father told me that to cook a lobster, people buy it live and dump it in boiling water. That was my introduction to trying to eat in a more humane manner.”

To see videos, go to: [ http://www.vrg.org/veg_videos.php ]

6) A GREEK VACATION

Dear Vegetarian Society
I am Giannis Fournaros sales manager of Porto Club services I have just created a new site on facebook: [ https://www.facebook.com/portoclub.gr?ref=3Dtn_tnmn ] Mr. Portokalakis and I would like to offer a gift to the Vegetarian Resource Group community for the year 2013.

Our gift is 32% on any of the vegetarian / vegan packages shown on the: [ http://www.portoclub.gr/vegetarian-vegan-lifestyle-vacation-cooking.html ]

7) HOW DO I DEAL WITH THE FRUSTRATIONS OF BEING AN ACTIVIST?

By Kitty Jones, VRG Intern

First of all, you deserve serious props for everything you do and have done for the vegan and vegetarian movement. Being veg in and of itself is a marvelous achievement. Nevertheless, perhaps now more than ever, there are so many causes and issues worth fighting for around the world. There are also countless actions you can take and decisions for you to make to address these issues. The vegan movement ties in not only animal cruelty issues, but also human health problems and environmental degradation. Being an activist opens you up to all kinds of new information, a lot of which is negative and can be completely overwhelming at times. However, keep in mind that you are a single individual and can only do so much; yet you can do something and make a significant difference in the world. Maintaining your optimism and emotional health is very important if you’re going to be an effective, long-term activist. Luckily there are many ways to avoid burning out.

See the rest of this article at [ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2013/07/02/how-do-i-deal-with-the-frustrations-of-being-an-activist/ ]

8) VRG'S VEGAN VIETNAMESE DINNER IN HOUSTON, OCT 20

We're hosting a vegan networking dinner during the annual meeting of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics! The restaurant is walking distance to the Houston Convention Center. VRG's Nutrition Advisor Reed Mangels and VRG staff will participate in a discussion.

WHERE Cafe Th 2108 Pease Street Houston, TX 77003

WHEN Sunday, October 20, 2013, 6 PM

MENU

  • Spring rolls with tofu
  • Vegetable Noodle Soup with rice noodles, tofu, and vegetables
    • including squash, portabello mushrooms, and bok choy
  • Yellow Curry with cauliflower, green beans, carrots, and potatoes
  • Vermicelli with Lemongrass Stir-Fried Tofu with tomatoes, onions,
  • and bell peppers Rice Tea
Cost: $25 per person. Includes tax and tip.

Menu subject to change. Please reserve early as seating is limited. Please send $25 to The Vegetarian Resource Group, P.O. Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203. Or pay online at [ https://www.vrg.org/donate ] and write in Th Dinner and the attendees' names in the comments. Or call (410) 366-8343 between 9 AM and 5 PM Eastern time, Monday to Friday to pay with a credit card. Refunds only if we can replace your seat.

9) DONATE TO VRG THROUGH WORKPLACE CAMPAIGNS

Donate to VRG through The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC)

Federal government employees can support The Vegetarian Resource Group through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). Look for us under Health & Medical Research Charities of America during the next campaign drive.

Please also remember VRG in other workplace fund drives, matching gifts, etc.

10) NYC VEGAN PROFESSIONAL BOOTCAMP

DATE & Time: Saturday, August 24, 2013, 8:30 am to 6 pm

WHERE: 115 W 28th Street – 8th Floor New York, NY 10018

DETAILS: These all-day training sessions designed to provide vegan entrepreneurs, authors, chefs, personal trainers, coaches or aspiring business owners with the tools and tips needed to launch and maintain a successful business

SPEAKERS: New York City Speakers Include: Chef Fran Costigan, Dan Benzaquen from PlantBased Solutions, Donna Oaks from Cow Jones Industrials, Victoria Moran author of Main Street Vegan, Kristin Lajeunesse from Will Travel For Vegan Food, and Stephanie Redcross from Vegan Mainstream.

COST: $135.00 for all day bootcamp

CONTACT: 858-523-8345 and/or [ http://veganprofessionalevents.com/project/new-york-ny-bootcamp/ ]

11) JOB OPPORTUNITIES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE GREATER GOOD

By Kitty Jones, VRG Intern

If you are still a student, you should look through some of these jobs to help you explore career paths and what course of study/experience you need to pursue to obtain jobs which interest you. See the full article at [ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2013/07/12/jobs-opportunities-that-contribute-to-the-greater-good/ ]

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 ]
Like us on Facebook: [ http://www.facebook.com/thevegetarianresourcegroup ]
Follow us on Twitter: [ http://twitter.com/VegResourceGrp ]
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!

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Contents of VRG-NEWS are copyright 2013 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.