MENU

Salad: Caesar Salad with house-made lemon-Dijon dressing

Entrée: One Choice of Penne Puttanesca (tomato, basil, caper, olive, roasted red pepper), Quiche Lorraine (crispy tempeh, roasted garlic, shallot, tofu, mozzarella, kale salad), or Enchiladas (shredded Gardein, green pepper, brown rice, black bean, cheddar, sour cream)

Dessert: One Choice of Chocolate Nirvana Chocolate Cake, Seasonal Cheesecake, Coconut Cake, Chocolate Macaroons, Apple Crumb Pie
A La Mode, or Ice Cream Sundae

COST: $22 for Paid-up VRG members. $50 for non-members

PLEASE reserve with a credit card by calling (410) 366-8343; mailing a check to VRG, P.O. Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203; or paying online
at https://www.givedirect.org/give/givefrm.asp?CID=1565
Please write Sublime dinner in the notes section.

Seating is limited. Refunds will only be made if we can replace your seat. We look forward to seeing you!

Veteran volunteer Reed Mangels, PhD, RD, and author of recently published Everything Vegan Pregnancy will be at the booth on Saturday and Terri Carlo will be hosting our booth on Sunday. The ladies will be happy to provide insight into the projects of The Vegetarian Resource Group and sustaining a healthy vegan or vegetarian lifestyle. Stop on by and be sure to grab your free copy of Vegetarian Journal, sign up for our national mailing list, and take advantage of our discounted prices for cookbooks and Journal memberships!

The Boston Vegetarian Food Festival is FREE to the public and if you are in the area you will not want to miss these two days of vegetarian fun! Expect free food samples, hundreds of exhibitors, great guest speakers, demonstrations, activities for the kids, and endless learning opportunities!! Another great feature, free parking and a subway stop across the street!

For more information:
http://www.bostonveg.org/foodfest/foodfest.html

The menu includes: tea, choice of veggie hot & sour soup or veggie wonton soup, veggie egg roll, white and brown rice, and 5 main dishes served family style: crispy orange seitan, tempeh with kale, garlic szechuan green beans, yuba with eggplant and basil, grilled tofu with black bean sauce and broccoli.

$20 per person. Reserve your spot today by calling (410) 366-8343 or by mailing a check to PO Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203.

PLEASE RSVP BY FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14.

*Refund made only if your seat is replaced*

*Menu subject to change*

For more information email Mary at vrg@vrg.org

I was delighted to attend the annual Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE) for the American Dietetic Association (ADA), which was held this year in San Diego, CA. During part of the conference, I helped out at VRG’s booth in the Expo area. Since I am doing my internship long distance in Denver, CO, it was wonderful to meet Reed Mangels, Dr. William Conway and Catherine Conway, all of whom were working the booth throughout the course of the conference and are valuable VRG contributors.

It was wonderful to see so many people come up to the booth, despite it being in between a fish vendor and a fast food marketer. Most visitors took the Vegetarian Journal initially, but were really captured by all of the materials and books that were on the table as well. These included educational pamphlets, Vegetarian My Plate flyers, coloring books/pages, and an assortment of the books.

What was even more encouraging were the Registered Dietitians or other nutrition professionals that came by just to comment that they always pointed their patients, clients, and friends in the direction of the VRG website for more information on becoming a vegetarian. They know that the information is invaluable in regards to beginning a vegetarian diet, or even improving upon a current lifestyle.

I also attended the session of the conference that highlighted the new Evidence Analysis Library on vegetarianism, entitled “Vegetarians in the Library: What’s the Evidence?” The presenters detailed the new section of the Evidence Analysis Library on the ADA website. Their presentation included much of the research and surveys that the VRG has done in the past, further highlighting the importance of this organization.

In the evening, the VRG also hosted a delightful vegan dinner at Royal India in downtown San Diego that I was privileged to attend as well. Not only was the food excellent, but the connection with other vegetarian dietitians and supporters of the VRG was unique. This conference was only a small part of my internship with the VRG, but it will probably make the biggest impact on not only my knowledge of the organization, but also the evidence behind the vegetarian diet as well.

To support The Vegetarian Resource Group outreach,
please donate at https://www.givedirect.org/give/givefrm.asp?CID=1565
or
http://www.vrg.org/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=4

Open to vegetarians, vegans, and the curious, this is the 12th annual weekend of this award winning event! $8 suggested donation at the door. Kids, students, and seniors free!

Veteran volunteer, Phil Becker will be hosting our booth both days. Be sure to stop on by and grab your free copy of Vegetarian Journal, sign up for our national mailing list, and take advantage of our discounted prices for cookbooks and Journal memberships!

Cathy Conway MS, RD and Reed Mangels PhD, RD speaking at the Vegetarian Resource Group dinner in San Diego during the Annual Meeting of the American Dietetic Association in 2011.

To find out about upcoming events, subscribe to our email newsletter.

Sponsored by The Vegetarian Resource Group during the American Dietetic Association Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo
Meet Reed Mangels, PhD, RD, Catherine Conway, MS, RD, and other vegetarian dietitians.

BUFFET MENU:
Salad
Samosas
Veggie Pakora
Aloo Gobi
Bengan Bhartha
Green Beans Masala
Veggie Mango Pineapple
Channa Masala
Peas Pulao Rice
Rice
Salad

RESERVATIONS AND PAYMENT MUST BE MADE IN ADVANCE. Refunds will only be made if we can replace your seat.

Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Telephone:
E-mail:
Attendees:
___ Number of adults X $25 before August 20, 2011= $_____
___ Number of adults X $35 after August 20, 2011= $_____
___ Children X $20 before August 20, 2011= $_____
___ Donation for outreach to dietitians $_____

Please send payment to The Vegetarian Resource Group, P.O. Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203; Call (410) 366-8343 9-5 AM Eastern Time, Monday to Friday, or pay at online here. Please write San Diego dinner in the notes field and the name of attendees.
(The early registration price is limited to the first fifty registrants.)

My name is Jessica Friend and one of my first assignments as a VRG summer intern was to attend a community event that VRG participated in to advocate vegetarianism.

Mary Hebranson, the Community Outreach Director at VRG, asked me if I would be interested in attending EcoFair in Reisterstown, MD. The fair was only about 15 minutes from my home in Owings Mills, so of course I would go.

Driving on to the grounds for EcoFair, I had no idea what to expect but I had lots of questions. Would it rain? Would there be lots of people? How would the VRG booth look? Turning the corner, I was pleasantly surprised. Kayam Farm, where the fair was held, sits on several acres of green pastureland. I could see a big pavilion in the center of the grounds. Underneath, various vendors were set up on picnic tables.

As I approached the pavilion I spotted the VRG table pretty quickly because it was definitely one of the more colorful booths there. An array of pamphlets showcased fruits and vegetables from every color of the rainbow. Red tomatoes, orange squash, yellow bananas, green peppers, blue blueberries and purple eggplants. Displayed on the left side of the table were several of the books that VRG publishes including Meatless Meals for Working People and Simply Vegan. On the right side of the table there was a display dedicated to educating people on the effects of eating meat on the environment.

I walked around the table and introduced myself to Mark Rifkin. Mark is one of the dietitians that work with The Vegetarian Resource Group. He would be overseeing the booth that afternoon.

Right away, Mark informed me that one of the most important rules of tabling is … “Don’t be afraid to speak to the people!” Mark noted that most people who approach a table won’t ask any questions without a little prompting. So a nicely placed “Do you have any questions?” is an icebreaker. Throughout the afternoon, I put Mark’s insightful tip into practice.

Some of the visitors to the VRG table included; a woman who inquired about tips for feeding a picky vegetarian baby, Mark suggested she try different textures of tofu; and a man who approached the table looking for recipes, explaining that he had just gone vegetarian several months ago. I handed him a pamphlet of four easy to make vegan recipes that Mark had brought and a copy of the restaurant guide that VRG publishes. Some people were just interested in receiving literature on vegetarianism or copies of the Vegetarian Journal.

The fair had live entertainment, and a buffet lunch which included chicken, French fries, cookies, brownies, lemonade, but also a vegan option, salad and an assortment of wraps.

Towards the end of the day, the traffic at our table slowed and I took advantage of this to take a look around the fair. I visited the MOM’s organic market table for free samples of their chocolate chip cookies, tried a vegan smoothie at the buffet and visited a few other vendors’ tables including Save The Bay and Parks and People.

If you’re in the Maryland area, I encourage you to check out EcoFair 2012.

To volunteer at VRG booths around the country, e-mail vrg@vrg.org.
To support VRG outreach, you can make contributions at https://www.givedirect.org/give/givefrm.asp?CID=1565

As a summer intern at The Vegetarian Resource Group, I have already been exposed to so many new experiences, and learned new skills, all in my first three weeks. One of the most interesting experiences that I have had so far was to help set up and participate in tabling for a VRG booth at the Federal Hill Jazz and Blues Festival in Baltimore, Maryland.

Before the festival, I worked with Mary, one of VRG’s staff members, to pack books and materials for the table. I learned that a lot goes into the planning and packing for one of these events, and how important it is to bring a variety of literature for people to peruse and take with them. The VRG has such a wealth of pamphlets and books, and they even have coloring books for children (and adults).

The day of the festival, I met Mary in the morning on a block in Federal Hill to set up our booth. It was an exciting festival to be working at, as there were several food, craft, and jewelry vendors, as well as live music all day. There were not many non-profits present, so it was important for us to be there. It was kind of surprising and ironic though, when we saw that they gave our table a spot right across from the pit beef and BBQ vendors. This did not daunt us, however, and we proceeded to set up our table with a brightly colored tablecloth and all of the information we had packed.

Working the table turned out to be a great experience. It was fun to connect with so many people who were vegetarian, vegan, or interested in learning more. Everyone who approached us was friendly, and many had their own stories to tell. Several people came up and said, “Oh, my sister is a vegan” or “My son wants to go vegetarian” and got a copy of the Vegetarian Journal for them or signed them up for the mailing list. It was nice to see so many people looking out for each other. We also met a few dietitians, some of whom already knew about the VRG and were interested in learning more to tell their clients.

Many people brought their children, so we gave away many coloring books. My favorite part was talking to the people who said they had always wanted to try to go vegetarian, but didn’t know how to start. Luckily, we had lots of great resources on hand, such as “Vegetarianism in a Nutshell” and a thorough ADA position paper full of information about nutrition. I also got to learn about several Baltimore vegetarian and vegan restaurants that I can’t wait to try out!

Another VRG volunteer named Dorothy came later in the day to help Mary and I table. She is a vegan, and was really enthusiastic about talking to people, and I learned a lot from her. It was good to have a volunteer, a staff member, and an intern all working one booth, because we all brought different experiences to the table (no pun intended).

The VRG does booths across the country, and at all different kinds of events, and I think it was important to work this particular festival to reach out to people who might not normally have access to information about vegetarianism or even know that the resources are out there. It was great to work with Mary and Dorothy, and get out in the community to speak directly with people. I hope to be able to work more events like this in the future!

The Vegetarian Resource Group (VRG) is a non-profit organization which educates the public about vegetarian and vegan diets. A vegetarian does not eat meat, fish, or fowl. A vegan is a vegetarian who also does not use other animal products such as dairy or eggs.

To learn more about the Vegetarian Resource Group and vegetarian and vegan diets, please visit www.vrg.org or write to The Vegetarian Resource Group, P.O. Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203.

If you are interested in volunteering at a booth like the one above, please e-mail vrg@vrg.org. For a list of other ways to volunteer and get involved with the VRG, please visit http://www.vrg.org/getinvolved.php.

Donations from individuals like you help the VRG continue to sponsor outreach booths like the one mentioned above in your community. To donate, please go to https://www.givedirect.org/give/givefrm.asp?CID=1565.

WHEN: Saturday, June 11, 2011; 10 am – 4 pm
WHERE: Pecore Hall and St. Stephen’s Campus, Houston, Texas
WEB: http://www.vegansocietyofpeace.org/vegfesthouston
EMAIL: info@vegansocietyofpeace.org
PHONE: (832) 3030-VEG