1) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
To see our 2024 scholarship winners, go to [ https://www.vrg.org/student/scholar.htm ]
Thank you to everybody who helped judge, as well as Whitney who coordinated this huge task. Next year's deadline is February 20th.
Look in a future Vegan Journal for VRG summer intern Akua Oppong's upcoming article on West African vegan meals. Thank you to VRG Nutrition Advisor Reed Mangels, PhD, RD, for supervising this project, and appreciation to Cathy and Jason for housing our other intern from Texas.
top
top
3) WHY I LOVE WRITING RESTAURANT PROFILES FOR VRG'S ONLINE GUIDE
By Cheryl A. Van Beek, VRG volunteer
Writing about restaurants that serve vegan fare to be added to VRG's online guide to veggie restaurants in the USA and Canada is a wonderful experience. It combines so many of my fervent passions-helping, health, food, writing, animal welfare, and more. I'm grateful that writing these pieces provides me the opportunity, in my own small way, to support VRG, an organization I admire and appreciate, in their mission to promote a vegan lifestyle. Aligning my actions with my values while helping others is truly gratifying.
Having experienced how challenging it can be to find eateries that sync with my health and ethical concerns, budget and palette (especially while traveling), I appreciate VRG's guide providing a valuable resource for diners that I am happy to help with.
Writing these entries for VRG allows me to celebrate the courage, creativity, and dedication of restauranteurs who strive to contribute to a healthier world that is kinder to animals and our planet. Often when I speak to them, they enthusiastically share their unique experiences and particular motivation. Connecting with them and hearing their stories is thought provoking and inspiring which increases my desire to help their businesses thrive by making others aware of them. For the rest of the article, go to [ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2024/06/06/why-i-love-writing-restaurant-profiles-for-vrgs-online-guide/ ]
To see VRG's online restaurant guide for the USA and Canada, go to [ https://www.vrg.org/restaurant/index.php ]
top
4) 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, 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] To support The Vegetarian Resource Group's outreach, donate at [ https://www.vrg.org/donate ]
- Aarnie Alper MD
- Jeff Bourdier
- Amy Burger
- Danielle Choma
- Cathy Conway MS RD
- Keryl Cryer
- Chis Dunmall
- Heather Francis JD
- Carole Hamlin
- Emily Klesitz
- Jessica Langeham
- Sundari Maharajh
- Jason Mathias
- Reed Mangels PhD RD
- Laura McGuiness MLIS
- Wendy McPherson
- Whitney McVerry
- Ashely Monti
- Julie Neild
- Odette Olivares MSN
- Akua Oppong
- Priscila Reis
- Nadely Requena
- Mae Seon
- Elsa Spencer PhD
- Cheryl Van Beek
- Neha Vivek
top
5) VRG OUTREACH
We were asked permision to reprint VRG's "Vegan My Plate" [ https://www.vrg.org/nutshell/MyVeganPlate.pdf ]
in The Dental Hygienist's Guide to Nutritional Care.
Thank you to Whitney McVerry for doing a VRG booth at the Wilmingon North Carolina VegFest.
VRG Nutrition Advisor Reed Mangels will be a speaker for the Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group Spotlight session at the annual FNCE meeting of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The session is based on two systematic reviews of topics in vegetarian nutrition, namely, Vegetarian Nutrition for Disease Management and Vegetarian Nutrition for Disease Prevention, that were conducted for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Evidence Analysis Library. The session is tentatively titled Exploring the Rewards and Challenges of Vegetarian Diets: A Fresh Look at the Academy's Position. Reed Mangels and Nanci Guest are the speakers for the session. Its 10/6/24 from 3:30-5pm in Minneapolis, MN.
VRG's Video Contest Deadline is July 15, 2024. See [ https://www.vrg.org/videoscholarship.php ]
Thank you to Nadely Requena and Akua Oppong for helping with our booth at the AVA animal rights summit.
Thank you to Arnie Alper MD, who did a booth for us at the Sant Cruz VegFest. He was quoted in the Santa Cruz Sentinel about the event.
Heather Francis and Emily Klesitz did a VRG booth at the New England Veg Fest. Heather said: It amazes me to meet people who know the group and have been members for years and years. People love the VRG! Can't wait to table for VRG at Boston VegFest! As for hot topics, I got a number of questions on a good B12 supplement. These articles may be of assistance. [ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2013/07/26/b12-doses/ ]
[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2015/04/29/do-vegetarians-vegans-lacto-vegetarians-lacto-ovo-vegetarians-have-to-take-vitamin-b12-supplements/ ]
[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2018/07/10/does-your-favorite-plant-milk-provide-vitamin-b12/ ]
A lot of people were interested in the recipes in the journals because they were simple but also seemed delicious. I got questions on what I eat protein wise. People are interested in eating vegan but have diabetes and were interested in our books and Vegan Menu for People with Diabetes [ https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2003issue2/2003_issue2_diabetes.php ]
Vegan diets for kids/teenagers is always a fun topic. Also, a lot of people are interested in vegan groups in their area.
UPCOMING VRG BOOTHS
- Vegan Roots Fest in Charlottesville, VA in September, 2024 [ http://www.veganrootsfest.org/#date ]
- Boston Veg FoodFest in MA in September, 2024 [ https://bostonveg.org/foodfest/ ]
- Richmond VegFest in Richmond, VA in October, 2024 [ https://www.facebook.com/RichmondVegFest/ ]
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics FNCE CONFERENCE in Minneapolis, MN in October, 2024 [ https://www.eatrightpro.org/events/fnce ]
- Food Is Medicine Health Conference in Santa Cruz, CA in October, 2024 [ https://foodasmedicinesantacruz.org/ ]
Here's a great idea for outreach: Gaia and Loki Restaurant [ https://www.gaiaandloki.com/ ]
in Jersey, City New Jersey ordered several hundred of our Be Kind to Animals - Don't Eat Them bumper stickers. They are stapling them to all their takeout orders. "Issuing bumper stickers for all our to go bags is a subtle way to invite our community to join us on our journey towards a vegan lifestyle and combat animal cruelty."
To suport VRG veg education and research, join at [ https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php ]
Donate at [ https://www.vrg.org/donate ]
If you work for a company that matches donations, please request the match form.
If you have to make Required Minimum Distributions from your IRA, you may want to consider making a donation to VRG through a Qualified Charitable Distribution.
top
6) VRG NETWORKING DINNER IN MINNEAPOLIS
Sawatdee Thai Restaurant
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Sunday, October 6, 2024, 6 PM
Come meet dietitians from The Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group and VRG members. The public is invited. You must preregister. You can pay at [ https://wwww.vrg.org/donate ]
Write in names of attendees and that this is for the Networking dinner.
BUFFET
Vegetarian Spring Rolls
Fried Tofu
Red Curry with Tofu
Summer Pad Thai
Combination Vegetable Dish with broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, onions, napa, water chestnuts, tomatoes, and mock duck.
Brown Rice and White Rice
Coffee or tea and water
Mango and Sticky Rice
Cost: $30 for VRG and Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group members before September 15, 2024. $35 for others. $20 for two to ten year olds. Other drinks can be purchased from the restaurant separately.
PLEASE PAY AT [ https://www.vrg.org/donate ]
and write in the Comments: Networking Dinner with the Attendee names. Or call (410) 366-8343. Or mail payment to The Vegetarian Resource Group, P.O. Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203.
We look forward to seeing you there!
top
7) OTHER EVENTS
VEGETARIAN NUTRITION DIETETIC PRACTICE GROUP AT ACADEMY OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS FNCE MEETING
The VN Spotlight session is based on two systematic reviews of topics in vegetarian nutrition that were conducted for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Evidence Analysis Library. The session is tentatively titled Exploring the Rewards and Challenges of Vegetarian Diets: A Fresh Look at the Academy's Position. Reed Mangels and Nanci Guest are the speakers for the session. It is 10/6 from 3:30-5pm
From Food Play Productions
Help your kids make friends with veggies! We're pleased to share with you sample pages from our brand-new coloring book. Just click HERE to download your sample pages! [ https://t.e2ma.net/click/pcc63f/1d5acb/he4inq ]
The League of Humane Voters(R)/NY (LOHV(R)/NY) is working to pass a bill that will ban live animal markets in New York State. Below is a link to their Memorandum of Support for background information.
[ http://lohvny.org/LOHVNY-MEMORANDUM-OF-SUPPORT-A959-S4311-Live-Animal-Market-Ban.pdf ]
FOOD AS MEDICINE HEALTH CONFERENCE IN SANTA CRUZ
Sunday, October 20, 2024
For information, go to [
https://foodasmedicinesantacruz.org/ ]
If attending, visit The Vegetarian Resource Group booth, staffed by Reed Mangels, PhD, and Arnold Alper, MD.
top
8) MARYLAND NEWS
New vegan take-out places in Baltimore:
These three are take-out only!
Plant Baked by Sarah, 400 E. 29th St., Baltimore, MD 21218
[ https://www.plantbakedbysarah.com/ ]
Plant Baked by Sarah is a Boutique Vegan and services the greater Baltimore and DC Metro Area. Sarah uses fresh fruit and pure extracts to craft made to order vegan Signature and Custom Celebration Cakes including Wedding Cakes and Cupcakes, as well as Smash cakes for the wee ones! She strives to coordinate her confections with clients' taste and dietary and décor preferences. Let's talk Flavors. For Cakes, there's Rich Chocolate, Vanilla Bean, Almond, Lemon, Carrot, Cinnamon Mocha, Snickerdoodle, and more. Besides the basics, Buttercream choices include Maple Cinnamon, Cookies and Cream, Peanut Butter, Raspberry, Cream "Cheese," and more. Filling options are Lemon Curd, Raspberry, Strawberry and Chocolate Ganache. Cakes are nut free unless otherwise noted. Gluten-free is an additional charge. View her webpages and social media and prepare to be swept up in the beauty of multi-petal Blossom Cupcakes and other artistic creations and to see how this former environmental and chemical engineer has transferred her skills to take flavors from nature and alchemize flour into flowers. [ https://www.facebook.com/plantbakedbysarah ]
Oleum, 210 S. Central Ave., Baltimore, MD 21202
[ https://www.oleumkitchen.com/ ]
Oleum is located in the old Stratford University and there's free parking. They strive to create globally inspired cuisine with seasonal, local ingredients. They do their best to honor special requests. Some of their Small Plates are: sweet & savory, crisp, panko Fried Eggplant drizzled with coconut nectar and maldon sea salt flakes, crispy, house blended, Falafel with fresh herbs and lime tahini sauce, and Batata Harra--pan fried spiced, Lebanese potatoes, with cilantro, sumac, Aleppo pepper, and house garlic sauce to name a few. Mains include several pasta dishes like Penne a la Vodka which sports organic san Marzano tomatoes, fresh parsley, and cashew cream. Al dente Roasted Red Pepper Rigatoni combines a creamy blend of roasted red peppers, smoked paprika, garlic, onion, soy cream, mozzarella, and fresh basil. There's also semolina Trofie Pesto Pasta with a creamy house sauce, roasted cherry tomatoes, basil, and chili flakes as well as other pasta dishes. There are lots of Pizza possibilities. If you're hungry and creative, Build Your Own (BYO) Neapolitan style pizza, beginning with 12" hand stretched house dough, a base of house marinara and house cheez. Next, choose any two toppings and then build from there with options like Blue Cheez, garlic roasted chickpeas, mushrooms, spicy Italian sausage, Tempeh bacon, black olives & more. If you prefer a chef-designed pizza, Verano offers cashew white cream sauce, sundried tomatoes, roasted artichoke hearts and spicy greens in lemon, EVOO and grated parmes'n. The spicy Gabriel hosts house pine nut pesto, sausage, peppers, and more. Mushroom fans may face a tough decision between Fungus Amungus and The Forager. Both feature double fermented crusts, but the former is marinara based with an exotic blend of mushrooms, garlic, parsley, and house cheez while the latter has an herby white sauce, Violife feta, and morel mushrooms. Children might enjoy the 6-inch Kids Cheez Pizza with house marinara and mixed mozzarella. Á La Carte Sides include Muhammara--a dip of fire roasted red peppers, walnuts, garlic, tomato, pomegranate molasses, sumac, Aleppo pepper, panko & parsley, a few Hummus variations, and more. There are also a couple of Salads and a Soup. You may want to leave room for Desserts like spiced Oleum Carrot Cake with cream cheese icing and pecans, Tiramisu featuring tofu mascarpone, dark rum, espresso, and cacao, a made to order Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie and a two layer German Chocolate Cake layered with coconut pecan caramel and cacao buttercream.
KINDEE Vegan Thai Food, 3326 Greenmount Ave., Baltimore, MD 21218 [ https://www.kindeeveganthaifood.com/ ]
There is a take out window and no place to wait inside, so we recommend delivery if you are not from the immediate neighborhood.
Also of interest:
CISU VEGAN RESTAURANT RECENTLY OPENED IN HANOVER, MARYLAND
We had the pleasure of dining at Cisu a casual vegan restaurant that opened a few months ago in Hanover, Maryland. They are not too far from Arundel Mills Mall and 10 miles from BWI airport.
Customers self-order at the counter and your meal is brought to your table. On our visit we dined on Hot & Crispy Eggplant, Malaysian Curry, and Basil Q-Tofu along with a Thai Tea. The food was delicious and the portions were generous.
They are open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner. For more information on the restaurant see: [ https://www.cisuvegetarianbistro.com/ ]
Vegan Challah, babka, "hamantaschen," black and white cookies, plus other items in the DC area or mail order. [ https://www.bakedbyyael.com/collections/vegan ]
Catalog Coffee in Hampden, Baltimore has 4 vegan sandwich options at lunch time and are clearly marked: [ https://www.catalogcoffeebmore.com/lunch ]
LAND OF KUSH TO ADD SECOND LOCATION
[ https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/culture/food-drink/land-of-kush-second-location-3LJD7G3ACRBS7AVYL3DYIWUONQ/?schk=YES&rchk=YES&utm_source=The+Baltimore+Banner&utm_campaign=ac5e1be239-NL_ALRT_EC_20240430_1617&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-ac5e1be239-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D&mc_cid=ac5e1be239&mc_eid=685ad07814 ]
Maryland Votes for Animals [ https://voteanimals.org/category/legislation/ ]
EARTHSAVE MEETINGS AND RESTAURANT GATHERINGS [ https://www.facebook.com/groups/EarthsaveBaltimore/ ]
VEG SOCIETY OF DC EVENTS [ https://vsdc.org/ ]
VEGAN OPTIONS AT MARYLAND LOYOLA UNIVERSITY [ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2024/04/24/vegan-options-on-loyola-university-of-maryland-campus/ ]
top
9) FOLLOW VRG'S SOCIAL MEDIA
Our Videos can be found here:
[ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvSyCToa_i9fA4D5CLCAFWw ]
You can keep up with us on ~
top
10) ABOUT VRG/SUPPORT VEGAN EDUCATION
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 Vegan Journal (formerly Vegetarian Journal), a print magazine, is a benefit of membership in The VRG.
(For more information, please see the Vegan Journal online ( [
http://www.vrg.org/journal/ ]
)
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] to volunteer
Website: [ https://www.vrg.org/ ]
To donate: [ https://www.vrg.org/donate ]
Donate crypto: [ https://every.org/vrg/donate/crypto ]
Or text 'give' to 80660vegan (80660 83426)
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. If you are a new subscriber, you might enjoy reading past issues of VRG-NEWS online at
[ http://www.vrg.org/vrgnews/ ]
The VRG is an educational non-profit group providing information on vegetarianism and veganism. To subscribe to VRG-NEWS, go to
[ https://www.vrg.org/vrgnews/ ]
To subscribe to VRG-NEWS, you just need to type in your email address at
[ https://www.vrg.org/vrgnews/index.php#subscribe ]
Then click subscribe.
If you do not wish to receive the National Email Newsletter, visit
[ https://www.vrg.org/vrgnews/index.php#unsubscribe ]
See Unsubscribe at the TOP RIGHT OF THE PAGE. You only need to type in your email address where it says unsubscribe. Then click on Unsubscribe. A confirmation message will be emailed to you.
OR YOU CAN JUST EMAIL [email protected] and let us know that you want to unsubscribe from the national email newsletter.
Copyright The Vegetarian Resource Group 2024 The contents of this newsletter, and our other publications, including Vegan 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.
top
