1) NOTE FROM THE EDITORS

Due to generous donors, we are giving out $50,000 in college scholarships in 2025 to high school seniors who have promoted vegetarianism/veganism. The deadline was February 20, 2025. If you would like to help read a few essay submissions, please let us know.
Please also share February 20, 2026 as the deadline for next year. See past winners at [ https://www.vrg.org/student/scholar.htm ]

We recently sent in testimony concerning the new Dietary Guidelines report, and have just run a new national 2025 poll. Info will be upcoming.

Please support our research and outreach by joining The Vegetarian Resource Group or giving Vegan Journal gift subscriptions. [ https://www.vrg.org/member/ ]

2) THE VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP RESEARCH AND NEWS

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF PRECISION FERMENTATION

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2024/02/07/the-environmental-impacts-of-precision-fermentation-part-1/ ]

FDA'S NEWLY RELEASED GUIDANCE FOR INDUSTRY ON ALLERGEN LABELING INCLUDES GUIDANCE FOR GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOODS

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2025/02/10/fdas-newly-released-guidance-for-industry-on-allergen-labeling-includes-guidance-for-genetically-engineered-foods/ ]

VEGAN RESTAURANTS IN NEW ORLEANS

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2025/02/07/are-you-going-to-new-orleans-for-the-super-bowl-heres-a-list-of-vegan-restaurants/ ]

HOW LONG CAN LEFTOVERS STAY IN THE REFRIGERATOR?

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2025/02/06/how-long-can-leftovers-stay-in-the-refrigerator/ ]

SCRAMBLED EGGS WITHOUT EGGS

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2025/02/05/eggs-arent-necessary-to-make-scrambled-eggs-or-omelets/ ]

VEGAN RESTAURANTS IN MIAMI BEACH

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2025/02/05/heading-to-miami-beach-this-winter-visit-these-vegan-restaurants/ ]

PURCHASING VEGAN CHOCOLATE ONLINE

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2025/02/03/where-to-purchase-vegan-chocolate-online-for-valentines-day-4/ ]

DIETARY GUIDELINES ADVISORY COMMITTEE SCIENTIFIC REPORT

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2025/01/31/2025-dietary-guidelines-advisory-committees-scientific-report-recommends-eating-more-beans-peas-and-lentils-and-eating-less-red-and-processed-meat/ ]

THE "CRAAP TEST"

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2025/01/30/the-craap-test/ ]

LAMARA IN NEW ORLEANS

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2025/01/29/lamara-serves-up-socal-in-the-big-easy/ ]

JUST SALAD RESTAURANT CHAIN

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2025/01/28/just-salad-restaurant-chain-vegan-options/ ]

STARBUCKS OFFERS FALAFEL

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2025/01/27/starbucks-offers-falafel/ ]

VEGAN RESTAURANTS ADDED TO VRG U.S. AND CANADA RESTAURANT GUIDE

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2025/01/24/vegan-restaurants-added-to-the-vegetarian-resource-groups-guide-to-veggie-restaurants-in-the-usa-and-canada-204/ ]

FDA ISSUES DRAFT GUIDANCE FOR INDUSTRY ON LABELING OF PLANT-BASED ALTERNATIVES TO ANIMAL-DERIVED FOODS

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2025/01/22/fda-issues-draft-guidance-for-industry-on-labeling-of-plant-based-alternatives-to-animal-derived-foods/ ]

VEGAN FOOD IN JAPAN

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2025/01/21/vegan-food-in-japan/ ]

SAVE MONEY BY PREPARING VEGAN DISHES WITH LENTILS OR SPLIT PEAS

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2025/01/21/save-money-by-preparing-vegan-dishes-with-lentils-or-split-peas/ ]

SAVORY VEGAN PIES

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2025/01/20/pies-you-can-prepare-at-home/ ]

COLLARD GREENS

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2025/01/17/enjoy-collard-greens/ ]

HIGHER PROTEIN PLANT MILKS

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2025/01/16/higher-protein-plant-milks-updated/ ]

STEARIC ACID

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2025/01/14/cvs-brand-ibuprofen-stearic-acid-from-beef-tallow/ ]

THE VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP INTERNSHIP

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2025/01/13/the-vegetarian-resource-group-internship-3/ ]

SOFT VEGAN DIETS AFTER DENTAL SURGERY

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2025/01/09/soft-vegan-diets-after-dental-surgery/ ]

PLANT MILKS FORTIFIED WITH VITAMIN B12

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2025/01/08/2024-update-plant-milks-with-vitamin-b12/ ]

SOME PLANT-BASED DAIRY ALTERNATIVE CAN QUALIFY TO BE LABELED AS HEALTHY ACCORDING TO AN UPDATED FDA RULE

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2025/01/06/some-plant-based-dairy-alternatives-can-qualify-to-be-labeled-as-healthy-according-to-an-updated-fda-rule/ ]

HOTELS AROUND THE WORLD OFFERING VEGAN FOOD

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2025/01/03/hotels-around-the-world-offering-vegan-food-2/ ]

VEGAN BALLET

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2024/12/04/cynthia-king-vegan-dancer-and-ballet-shoe-entrepreneur/ ]

SARPINO'S PIZZERIA

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2024/12/05/sarpinos-pizzeria-offers-vegan-options/ ]

PROTEIN FOR VEGAN CHILDREN

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2024/12/09/protein-for-vegan-children-2/ ]

VRG INTERN ATTENDS ANNUAL FNCE MEETING OF THE ACADEMY OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2024/12/06/vrg-intern-attends-fnce-annual-meeting-of-the-academy-of-nutrition-and-dietetics/ ]

THE VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP 2024 COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2024/12/12/read-about-the-vegetarian-resource-groups-2024-scholarship-winners-in-vegan-journal/ ]

CAN VEGAN DIETS MEET THE NUTRITIONAL NEEDS OF PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYERS?

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2024/12/17/can-vegan-diets-meet-the-nutritional-needs-of-professional-football-players/ ]

CAN A VEGAN DIET BE AN ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DIET?

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2024/12/24/can-a-vegan-diet-be-an-anti-inflammatory-diet/ ]

PHOSPHORUS AND VEGAN DIETS

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2024/12/25/thinking-about-phosphorous/ ]

VEGAN BRAZILIAN MEAL PLAN

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2024/09/23/vegan-brazilian-meal-plan-2/ ]

3) 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 ]

• Chef Nancy Berkoff, EdD, RD
• Amy Burger
• Cathy Conway MS RD
• Keryl Cryer
• Heather Francis JD
• Carole Hamlin
• Jessica L. Langenhan MD MBA
• Reed Mangels PhD RD
• Laura McGuiness MLIS
• Whitney McVerry
• julie Neild
• Mae Y. Seon
• Elsa Spencer PhD
• Cheryl Van Beek
• Neha Vivek

4) THE ACADEMY OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS PUBLISHES A POSITION PAPER ON VEGETARIAN DIETARY PATTERNS FOR ADULTS

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals, recently published a position paper about vegetarian dietary patterns for adults. According to AND, "a position paper is a critical analysis of current facts, data and research literature on a specific issue with high, or at least moderate, quality evidence." Position papers from AND are based on systematic reviews of the research literature. Reed Mangels, PhD, RD was one of a team of people who developed and authored this position paper.

The position paper begins with a paragraph summarizing AND's position. Here's what it says:
It is the position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics that, in adults, appropriately planned vegetarian and vegan dietary patterns can be nutritionally adequate and can offer long-term health benefits such as improving several health outcomes associated with cardiometabolic diseases. Vegetarian dietary patterns exclude meat, poultry, and seafood, and vegan dietary patterns exclude all foods of animal origin. Registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) and nutrition and dietetics technicians, registered (NDTRs) play a pivotal role in providing meal-planning strategies and evidence-based nutrition information to clients currently following vegetarian or vegan dietary patterns or who may benefit from and express interest in following vegetarian or vegan dietary patterns. RDNs and NDTRs can work with their clients to create tailored, lifestyle-oriented, nutritionally balanced, and culturally suitable vegetarian and vegan dietary patterns that optimize health benefits while reducing concerns about nutrient inadequacies. This position was approved in January 2025 and will remain in effect until December 31, 2032.

The paper goes on to provide information about the role of vegetarian, including vegan, diets in the prevention and management of chronic diseases, key nutrients for vegetarians, and vegetarian diets for older adults and for those with food insecurity. It includes recommendations for dietitians who work with vegetarians and vegans and with clients who are interested in or who could benefit from these diets. The paper says that AND "will advocate for policies and legislation that support equitable access to more plant-based foods in a variety of settings (e.g., schools, childcare nutrition programs, federal assistance programs) and within clinical care to meet the cultural, customary eating pattern, religious, and sustainability preferences of individuals."

Information from VRG's poll of the number of vegetarian adults is included in the paper and several of VRG's resources, such as My Vegan Plate and Vegan Diets in a Nutshell are listed as helpful resources for practitioners.

5) MARYLAND NEWS

You may want to try:
Slutty Vegan, 2424 Distillery St., #2124. Baltimore, MD 21230
The Slutty Vegan offers creative vegan burgers and hot sandwiches, along with sides and dessert. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
[ https://sluttyveganatl.com/ ]

ALL EARTH VEGAN DESSERTS
Waverly (Baltimore), Clarksville, or Olney Farmers Markets.
Visit [ https://allearthdesserts.com/ ]

SWAP OUT THE SWINE
5604 York Rd., Baltimore, MD 21212
Keeping pigs safe, one plate at a time! Many dishes are listed gluten-free. They offer scratch-made sides including Smoky Baked Beans slow cooked in a slightly tanged hickory sauce; Ginger Glazed Whole Green Beans sautéed with soy, sweet onions, and bell peppers; and Miss Pat's Vegan Potato Salad. Some platters are Chicken Shrooms, mesquite smoked, dry rubbed chicken fingers--choose "noney" mustard or ranch dipping sauce; Shroomacon BLT crispy mushroom bacon with salad fixings on country white or whole grain bread; and Pulled Mushroom Sandwich showcasing BBQ pulled shrooms on a vegan brioche with fresh coleslaw. Take-out only!
[ http://www.swapouttheswine.com/carryout-menu ]

RUSCOMBE MANSION VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN LUNCHES ON WEDNESDAY
Go to [ https://ruscombe.org/co-op-cafe/ ]

For Maryland events, check:
HOLISTIC WELLNESS AND HEALTH
[ https://www.holistic-wellnessandhealth.com/events-2/ ]

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/ ]

6) OTHER EVENTS

FARM MEATOUT EVENTS
[ https://meatout.org/ ]

VEGETARIANS OF CENTRAL FLORIDA EARTHDAY APRIL 19, 2025
[ http://www.cfearthday.org/ ]

7) 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 ~

• Facebook: [ https://www.facebook.com/thevegetarianresourcegroup ]
• Instagram: [ https://www.instagram.com/vegetarianresourcegroup/ ]
• Twitter: [ https://twitter.com/VegResourceGrp ]
• Parents Vegan Facebook Group: [ https://www.facebook.com/groups/VRGparentsandkids/ ]

8) 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 2025 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.