1) VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP RESEARCH AND NEWS

• WHOLE FOODS SHORTAGES?
• ONE-SERVING VEGAN DISHES
• RUBY TUESDAY'S SALAD BAR; VEGGIE OPTIONS AT PANERA BREAD
• VEG JOBS
• VEGAN VALENTINE'S DAY CANDY
• ONE SERVING VEGAN DISHES
• ALDI VEGAN LINE
• WARM VEGAN SOUPS
• AND MORE...

VEGAN RESTAURANT WEEK IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 2/9/18 THROUGH 2/18/18

[ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2018/01/31/vegan-restaurant-week-in-baltimore-maryland-2918-through-21818/ ]

RUBY TUESDAY SALAD BAR

[ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2018/02/06/ruby-tuesday-salad-bar/ ]

NEW VEGGIE ITEMS AT PANERA BREAD

[ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2018/02/02/new-veggie-items-at-panera-bread/ ]

PETA'S SUPER BOWL ADVERTISEMENT

[ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2018/02/01/petas-super-bowl-advertisement/ ]

VEG JOB POSTING: TEMPORARY SUMMER JOBS AT CAMP IN VIRGINIA

[ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2018/01/31/veg-job-posting-temporary-summer-jobs-at-camp-in-virginia/ ]

GETTING VEGAN FOOD INTO RESTAURANTS

[ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2018/01/30/getting-vegan-food-into-restaurants/ ]

6 CRUELTY-FREE ANTI-AGING PRODUCTS THAT ARE CHEAPSKATE APPROVED

[ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2018/01/29/6-cruelty-free-anti-aging-products-that-are-cheapskate-approved/ ]

YOU CAN PURCHASE VEGAN VALENTINE'S CANDY ONLINE!

[ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2018/01/26/you-can-purchase-vegan-valentines-day-candy-online/ ]

WHOLE FOODS SHORTAGES?

[ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2018/01/24/whole-foods-shortages/ ]

ONE-SERVING VEGAN DISHES

[ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2018/01/23/one-serving-vegan-dishes/ ]

DOMINO'S AUSTRALIA ADDS VEGAN PIZZA LINE

[ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2018/01/18/dominos-australia-adds-vegan-pizza-line/ ]

VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT FOR SALE

[ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2018/01/15/vegetarian-restaurant-for-sale/ ]

ALDI ROLLS OUT VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN PRODUCT LINE

[ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2018/01/12/aldi-rolls-out-vegan-and-vegetarian-product-line/ ]

NOTHING BEATS A BOWL OF WARM SOUP DURING THE WINTER! TRY THESE RECIPES

[ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2018/01/10/nothing-beats-a-bowl-of-warm-soup-during-the-winter-try-these-recipes/ ]

VARIOUS ETHNIC CUISINES NATURALLY OFFER DELICIOUS VEGAN FOOD. HERE'S SOME RECIPES!

[ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2018/01/09/various-ethnic-cuisines-naturally-offer-delicious-vegan-food-heres-some-recipes/ ]

2017 VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP SCHOLARSHIP WINNER WRITES ABOUT HER FIRST SEMESTER IN COLLEGE

[ http://www.vrg.org/blog/2018/01/08/2017-vegetarian-resource-group-scholarship-winner-writes-about-her-first-semester-in-college/ ]

2) A WINNER OF THE VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP 2017 VIDEO CONTEST

Logan Mason stated, “I am very interested in getting the best out of my body and vegetarianism has the benefits I am looking for. Studies have shown that human bodies are better meant for a herbivore diet, and vegetarians are some of the healthiest people around.

See: [ http://www.vrg.org/veg_videos.php#Mason ]

The deadline for the next video contest is July 15, 2018.
See [ http://www.vrg.org/videoscholarship.php ]

For information about VRG’s College Scholarship Contest,
see [ http://www.vrg.org/student/scholar.htm ]

To support The Vegetarian Resource Group scholarships and internships, donate at
[ http://www.vrg.org/donate ]

3) $20,000 IN VEGETARIAN COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS — FEBRUARY 20, 2018 DEADLINE

The Vegetarian Resource Group awards $20,000 in college scholarships to high school seniors who have promoted vegetarianism. Deadline is February 20th of each year. For details, see
[ http://www.vrg.org/student/scholar.htm ]

To support additional scholarships, donate at

[ http://www.vrg.org/donate ]

Indicate purpose of donation in the comments.

If you would like to sponsor an ongoing scholarship, contact Charles at [email protected]

4) NEEDS BASED PAID INTERNSHIP IN BALTIMORE — ELEANOR MILTIMORE WOLFF SCHOLARSHIP

The Vegetarian Resource Group has one needs based paid internship ($3,500 stipend) in Baltimore this summer for eight weeks. To apply send a resume, writing sample, and cover letter addressing your need, vegetarian knowledge, past activism, short term and long term goals, and what you hope to learn from the internship. Send to Att. Internship; [email protected]

Indicate if applying for the needs based internship. For more information, see
[ http://www.vrg.org/student/index.php ]

5) MEET OUR NEW VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

My name is Ginny Slothour-Hudnall, and I’m happy to introduce myself as VRG’s new Volunteer Coordinator! I grew up in York, PA, relocated to Arkansas after college via Teach for America (an AmeriCorps program), and converted to vegetarianism—and Unitarian Universalism—after meeting my husband, Gene, in Little Rock, where he had been vegan for over a decade. We moved to Baltimore just a few months after getting married so that I could pursue an MBA at the University of Maryland. In our free time, we both enjoy volunteering at First Unitarian Church. If you're interested in contributing your time & talents to The Vegetarian Resource Group, please email me directly at [email protected]. You can also reach me at [email protected], or by calling 410-366-8343 between the hours of 9:30 & 2:30, Mon-Thurs. I look forward to getting to know you!

6) CHOCOLATE SEDER

Join Congregation Beit Tikvah in the Roland Park section of Baltimore for a Chocolate Seder
Friday, April 6, 2018, 6:30 PM start
(Dairy and Vegetarian)

$18 per person and $10 under 13
RSVP by April 3, 2018
[email protected]

7) EAGLES AND BEAGLES

According to The Baltimore Sun, former Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith, who will now have two Super Bowl rings thanks to the Philadelphia Eagles’ victory over the New England Patriots, is still making his presence known in Baltimore.

Smith, who last spring made a donation to BARCS that covered the adoption fees for every dog and cat at the animal shelter’s Pawject Runway fundraiser, is now featured on a billboard for the Show Your Soft Side campaign.

The ad is in support of the “Beagle Bill,” which according to the Beagle Freedom Project, “would require Maryland research institutions to release healthy dogs and cats to animal rescue groups when they are no longer needed for research.”

For information, see
[ http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/nfl/bs-sp-torrey-smith-beagle-20180205-story.htm ]

8) PERFECT PITA VEGAN MENU OPTIONS

BY JEANNE YACOUBOU, MS

With over 15 locations in Virginia, Washington, DC, and Maryland, Perfect Pita is a family-owned business founded in 1994. Today Perfect Pita also operates Perfect Daughter®, a catering service run by the founder's daughter. Viewers may learn more about the family business through the video on the site's About Us page: [ http://theperfectpita.com/about/ ]

Perfect Pita restaurants and catering company offer a Mediterranean-American cuisine. For locations, visit: [ http://theperfectpita.com/locations/ ]

Perfect Pita's menu

[ http://theperfectpita.com/menu/ ]

has a special vegan section including: white bean salad, shepherd salad, tabouli, stuffed grape leaves, falafel, navy bean soup, and hummus.

For more information, see: [ http://theperfectpita.com/menu/ ]

9) PROPOSED LEGISLATION — ELEPHANTS IN MARYLAND

Prohibiting a person from knowingly using, or causing the use of, an elephant to participate in a certain traveling animal act; establishing that a certain prohibition does not apply to a certain elephant exhibition at a nonmobile, permanent institution or facility; establishing a civil penalty for violation of the Act; providing that a person who violates the Act may be issued a certain citation; establishing certain requirements for a citation issued under the Act; etc.

For more information, see
[ http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmMain.aspxid=hb0618&stab=01&pid=billpage&tab=subject3&ys=2018RS ]

10) FROM THE GROUND UP FILM

My name is Santino Panico and I am the producer, writer, and director of “From The Ground Up,” a feature documentary film about plant-based athletes. “From the Ground Up” is a film that offers a tangible solution to the average person confronting major world issues including animal ethics, health crises, and environmental degradation. This film is an independent project in its purest form and that spirit permeates throughout. I am proud of the finished project and believe it can impact far and wide. Below is the website so you can view the trailer.

See [ https://www.fromthegroundupfilm.com/ ]

11) VRG HIGHLIGHTS

• Elsa Spencer (PhD, Nutrition) represented the Vegetarian Resource Group in an outstanding radio interview for Radio One’s WOLB, discussing veganism and answering callers’ questions.
• The Vegetarian Resource Group helped a European start-up find information on co-packers who specialize in vegetarian products.
• VRG helped a Wellness Ambassador from American University find vegan Registered Dietitians to speak at a vegetarian/vegan campus event and connected a reporter from the Santa Monica Daily Press with another dietitian for an article tackling Myths about Veganism.
• VRG supported the SacTown VegFest this year in Sacramento as a Root-level Sponsor!

12) MARYLAND AREA EVENTS

VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN MEET-UPS IN BALTIMORE, MD

The Vegetarian Meet-up happens at

Mango Grove
8865 Stanford Boulevard
Columbia, Maryland 21045

on the first Sunday each month at 12:30 PM.

The Vegan Meet-up takes place at

Mr. Chan Szechuan
1000 Reisterstown Rd.
Pikesville, MD 21208

on the third Wednesday every month at 7 PM.

If you are vegan or vegetarian and would like to eat great food while socializing with others who share your interests, attend a meet-up!

• [ http://www.meetup.com/vegetarian-9/ ]
• [ http://www.meetup.com/The-Baltimore-Vegan-Meetup-Group/ ]

DINEKIND

Dinekind Harford meets monthly to share information on the benefits of a plant-based diet. For more information, visit: [ http://www.dinekindharford.com/ ]

MUSTLOVEVEG.COM

[ http://www.mustloveveg.com ] is a one stop calendar site for vegan and vegetarian events. If you are looking to network, socialize, and/or engage in social activism you will find plenty of opportunities here. Whether you are vegan, vegetarian, or interested in trying vegetarianism/veganism, you will find many exciting and fulfilling events. Maryland and DC veg events can be found at [ https://www.mustloveveg.com/events/ ]

WHOLE FOOD FOR OPTIMAL HEALTH - BALTIMORE SUPPORT GROUP

This group meets on the second Friday of each month at 6:30 PM at the

Park Heights Community Health Alliance
4151 Park Heights Ave.
Baltimore, MD 21215

They typically show one or more short educational videos, often a cooking demonstration of something delicious and easy. And, of course, support, discussion, advice, and recipes, beginners welcome. Please bring a vegan dish to share if you can.

Please RSVP and visit at
[ https://www.meetup.com/Whole-Food-for-Optimal-Health-Potluck/ ]

If you have any questions, contact: Margie (mobile: 410-375-5803, [email protected])

WELLNESS COACH

Marcy Schveibinz is a national board certified health and wellness coach and owner of Columbia Nutrition LLC (www.columbianutrition.com). For the past 4 years she has been applying her knowledge and skills from her training as a coach as well as a degree in nutrition to help clients lose weight and adopt a healthy lifestyle in many areas of wellness. She is currently accepting clients for one-on-one weekly or monthly coaching. She can be contacted by phone: 410-935-8353 or email: [email protected]

FORKS OVER KNIVES MONTHLY POTLUCKS

This group is for those interested in trying or for those already committed to a whole food, plant based diet with none or very little oil, salt, or refined sugar. There is a monthly potluck where we sample delicious and healthy dishes, share recipes, learn, and connect with like-minded individuals.

For more information about the next event, visit:
[ http://www.meetup.com/Columbia-MD-Forks-Over-Knives-Meetup/ ]

BALTIMORE VEGAN DRINKS MONTHLY MEETUP

Baltimore Vegan Drinks is a happy hour for vegans, vegetarians, and the veg-curious. There’s no cover charge, and there are 100%-vegan snacks, entrees and more. And of course there are awesome vegan drinks! Our group is part of a national Vegan Drinks outfit with events in dozens of cities. Vegan Drinks’ mission is to bring together diverse people to build new friendships and promote the sharing of resources.

Join us at

Wicked Sisters!
3845 Falls Rd.
Baltimore, MD 21211

The event will be held on February 13, 2018 from 7:00PM to 9:00PM.

For more information about Vegan Drinks, visit:

• [ https://www.facebook.com/BaltimoreVeganDrinks ]
• [ http://baltimorevegans.com/ ]

DIRECT ACTION EVERYWHERE

Direct Action Everywhere is an international network of activists who engage in its namesake to disrupt speciesism in places where its normalcy is celebrated, such as restaurants & grocery stores, and occasionally festivals or other relevant events. Open rescues are regularly performed, so we can relay stories of rescue and investigation with the public as well as call for animal liberation for all. Fundamentally, as a local chapter, we serve to get the issue of animal rights on the table in our area through creative protest.

This month, on February 11^th, 2018 from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM, there will be a vegan lunch where you can get to know one another, learn more about DxE, and plan some logistics for the coming year. Then you can go to a place that normalizes violence towards animals to speak out on their behalf in a creative way according to the model action plan. This event will take place at

Red Emma's Bookstore Coffeehouse
30 W North Ave.
Baltimore, MD 21201

For more information, visit: [ https://www.facebook.com/DxEBaltimore/ ]

EARTHSAVE BALTIMORE

Saturday, February 24th, 6-8 PM is an Earthsave dinner in Towson that will feature a vegan potluck and the presentation “Navigating Health Care as a Vegan,” by Registered Dietitian Mark Rifkin, who will share his expertise and recipes in the popular Facebook support group "Ask A Vegan Dietitian", where you can ask nutrition questions and get solid answers from an RD with years of experience in the vegan lifestyle. Mark is especially adept at reading and evaluating nutrition research. We're sure to hear some good info and useful health care advice especially geared for vegetarians and vegans.

Dinner guests may choose to either bring a dish made without animal products (to serve 8) plus $5 (members pay just $2) donation; pay $15 (members pay just $12) to enjoy dinner and presentation; or pay $5 for presentation only. We eat first, then make announcements, and then show presentation. Let us know in advance, if possible, if you plan to pay for dinner rather than bring a dish. RSVP by calling 410-252-3043, or emailing [email protected]. Meetings held at

Towson Presbyterian Church
400 W Chesapeake Ave.
Towson, MD, 21204

Directions AND parking:
[ http://www.towsonpres.org/index.php/about-tpc/map-directions ]
Please RSVP and join us!

MONTHLY COOKING CLASSES

No meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, or honey. $55/person; $100/two people; $50/VSDC, VRG, or COK members. Demonstration classes include recipes, organic food samples, manufacturers' samples coupons. Gift certificates are available for purchase.

Email [email protected] or call 703-643-2713 for space availability. Make checks payable to

Mimi Clark
9302 Hallston Ct.
Fairfax Station, VA 22039

Sorry, no phone or e-mail reservations and no walk-ins. Seventy-two hour cancellation policy for refund or credit. Class subject to cancellation if minimum enrollment is not met.

Check website for monthly class updates: [ http://www.veggourmet.wordpress.com ]

Upcoming class: February 11, 2018 for Comfort Foods.

13) VISIT VRG AT THESE OUTREACH BOOTHS

American University VegOut

Washington, D.C.
Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Maryland Dietetics in Health Care Communities (MD-DHCC) Spring Conference

Maryland Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Clarksville, MD
Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Washington DC
October 21-23, 2018

Vegetarian Resource Group Vegan Dinner

Washington, DC
Sunday, October 21, 2018 at 6 PM

Vegetarian Resource Group Annual Pre-Thanksgiving Potluck

Baltimore MD
Sunday, November 18, 2018

To volunteer at VRG booths, please contact Ginny at [email protected]

North Florida VegFest

Tallahassee, FL
Saturday, March 17, 2018

(VRG will not have a booth, but is sending materials.)

14) VRG WISHLIST

As a non-profit, we can only take on new projects when we are able to get support from donors & our dedicated volunteers. Right now, we are seeking support for the following:

• Volunteers to help with reading scholarship applications (needed for Feb-Apr). Contact Ginny at [email protected] or [email protected]
• Vegetarian Resource Group Outreach Booth at American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, attended by 10,000 health professionals. We're able to educate and put materials into the hands of 1,000 registered dietitians and other health professionals. ($50 to give out copies of Vegetarian Journal and other resources to ten dietitians) ($4,000 to have a booth)
• Monthly recurring donations help us anticipate our resources for the year! Please consider becoming one of our regular donors here:
  [ http://www.vrg.org/donate ]

You can make a one time, quarterly, monthly, or an annual donation. To make a donation, call (410)-366-8343 M-F 9:00-5:00, mail a check to

The Vegetarian Resource Group
PO Box 1463
Baltimore MD, 21203

or visit [ http://www.vrg.org/donate ] .

Please be sure to let us know which project you would like your contribution to fund. Thank you for supporting The Vegetarian Resource Group!

15) A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS

Thank you to the following VRG Volunteers for all of your hard work with The Vegetarian Resource Group, including reading scholarship entries, writing blog posts and editorials, doing media interviews, performing nutrition analysis, doing HTML, helping with our newsletters, submitting conference abstracts, and more!

• Nancy Berkoff, EdD, RD
• Whitney Blomquist
• Shannon Borgoyn
• Casey Brown
• Heather Francis
• Suzanne Hengen
• Laneece Hurd
• Dane Indvik
• Teagan Kim
• Reed Mangels, PhD, RD
• Julia Mathew
• Laura McGuiness
• David Milner
• Marcia Schveibinz
• Elsa Spencer, PhD
• Robin Tate

16) VEGAN MAGAZINE EDITOR/LAYOUT JOB

Vegan group seeks Senior Editor in Baltimore to edit and lay out 36-page Vegetarian Journal four times a year, plus periodic miscellaneous tasks, such as designing brochures, t-shirts, decals, etc. Averages about five to eight hours per week. Proficient in InDesign. Send writing sample, design sample, resume, and cover letter addressing vegan knowledge, short and long term goals, and magazine editing and layout experience. Reply to editor job at [email protected] $14/hour.

17) COMPUTER/IT JOB

VRG is looking for a part-time person about ten hours per week in Baltimore to help maintain website and keep computer software/hardware up to date and running smoothly. Familiarity with networking and software/hardware support in a PC environment helpful. Problem solver and enjoy troubleshooting computer issues. Experience in HTML and CSS (cascade style sheets).

Helpful skills:

• Experience in coding HTML and CSS
• fundamentals of structured Query language (SQL)
• fundamentals of TCP/IP networks
• basics of MS windows Workstation configuration

Desired skills:

• PHP and MySQL
• Javascript
• Perl scripting
• Wordpress

and added plus: Database design and administration

Responsibilities:

• Maintain website
• Maintenance such as maintaining backups
• Update email network
• Update database
• Work with volunteers.
• Send out email newsletters
• Update hardware as necessary

Reply to IT/Computer job at [email protected] $15/hour.

18) BECOME A MONTHLY DONOR FOR VRG

The Vegetarian Resource Group greatly appreciates the support given by our monthly donors. You can join our monthly giving group with a minimum gift of just $10 a month by going to

[ http://www.vrg.org/donate ]

You will be part of a network of givers who support our outreach efforts on an ongoing basis. These donations allow us to continue vegan education in a wide variety of venues including schools, doctor and dietitian offices, libraries, various professional conferences, animal rights events, health fairs, environmental festivals, and much more. Thank you for your support!

19) 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 at:

[ http://www.vrg.org/journal/ ] )

To sign up for the The Vegetarian Resource Group national email newsletter, please visit:

[ http://lists.vrg.org/mailman/listinfo/vrg-news_lists.vrg.org ]

We are also on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!!

Facebook	[ http://www.facebook.com/thevegetarianresourcegroup/ ]
	[ https://www.facebook.com/groups/VRGparentsandkids/ ]
Instagram	[ https://www.instagram.com/vegetarianresourcegroup/ ]
Twitter	[ http://www.twitter.com/VegResourceGrp/ ]

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/ ]

To donate: [ https://www.givedirect.org/donate/?cid=1565 ]

Copyright The Vegetarian Resource Group 2018 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.

If you were forwarded this message and would like to sign up for our monthly local email newsletter, please go to

[ http://lists.vrg.org/mailman/listinfo/vrg-maryland_lists.vrg.org ]

If you do not wish to receive the Local Email Newsletter, visit

[ http://lists.vrg.org/mailman/listinfo/vrg-maryland_lists.vrg.org ]

Instructions for unsubscribing will appear at the bottom of the page. See Unsubscribe or edit options. (You do not need a password).