VRG-NEWS: The Vegetarian Resource Group Newsletter
Volume 19, Issue 7

July 2015

By Shani Stewart

CONTENTS

  1. LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
  2. VISIT VRG AT THESE OUTREACH BOOTHS
  3. VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP RESEARCH AND NEWS VEGAN SNACKS FOR ATHLETES, DIETETIC INTERNS VISIT VRG, WENDY'S TESTS NEW BLACK BEAN BURGER, AND MORE
  4. A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR AMAZING VRG VOLUNTEERS
  5. CHARLES VILLAGE FESTIVAL BY IVY GROB
  6. CHARLES VILLAGE FESTIVAL BOOTH BY NAVAAL MAHDI
  7. NATIVE FOODS CAFÉ BY IVY GROB
  8. REFLECTION ON INTERNSHIP AT THE VRG BY MYRIAL HOLBROOK
  9. MY INTERNING EXPERIENCE AT VRG BY NAVAAL MAHDI
  10. WELCOME TO THE HEALTHY AGING RESEARCH STUDY
  11. NEW VEGAN TOUR - USA'S PACIFIC NORTHWEST
  12. BECOME A MONTHLY DONOR FOR VRG
  13. ABOUT THE VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP
  14. ABOUT VRG NEWS

1) LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Hello Everyone,

As we slide into July, we gear up for gatherings with family and friends to celebrate festivities like the 4th of July. We enjoy our backyard barbecues and picnics just as much as everyone else, and even more in some cases. We get to share delicious vegan dishes like Spicy Quinoa & Black Bean Burgers, Beet and Avocado Deviled "Eggs," and even Grilled Peaches with Ginger Coconut Caramel with our loved ones. We may even manage to convert a few folks. Either way we know that we are having the best celebration possible, because we are consuming the delicious and most nutritious foods that Mother Nature has to offer.

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2) VISIT VRG AT THESE OUTREACH BOOTHS

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3) VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP RESEARCH AND NEWS VEGAN SNACKS FOR ATHLETES, DIETETIC INTERNS VISIT VRG, WENDY'S TESTS NEW BLACK BEAN BURGER, AND MORE

STAFFING THE BOOTH: AN INTERN'S TAKE ON WHAT IT'S LIKE BEHIND THE TABLE
http://www.vrg.org/blog/2015/05/19/manning-the-booth-an-interns-take-on-what-its-like-behind-the-table/ ]
VEGAN SNACKS FOR ATHLETES
http://www.vrg.org/blog/2015/05/20/vegan-snacks-for-athletes/ ]
GRADUATE STUDENT LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO FILL OUT A SURVEY
http://www.vrg.org/blog/2015/05/20/graduate-student-looking-for-people-to-fill-out-a-survey/ ]
DIETETIC INTERNS VISIT THE VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP
http://www.vrg.org/blog/2015/05/21/dietetic-interns-visit-the-vegetarian-resource-group/ ]
THE VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP VIDEO CONTEST DEADLINE IS JULY 15, 2015
http://www.vrg.org/blog/2015/05/21/the-vegetarian-resource-group-video-contest-deadline-is-july-15-2015/ ]
VEGANS NEEDED FOR REALITY SHOW
http://www.vrg.org/blog/2015/05/22/vegans-needed-for-reality-show/ ]
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR SOME TERRIFIC VEGAN RECIPES FOR THIS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
http://www.vrg.org/blog/2015/05/22/are-you-looking-for-some-terrific-vegan-recipes-for-this-memorial-day-weekend/ ]
WHERE'S THE BEEF? NOT IN THIS BURGER: WENDY'S TESTS NEW BLACK BEAN BURGER
http://www.vrg.org/blog/2015/05/26/wheres-the-beef-not-in-this-burger-wendys-tests-new-black-bean-burger/ ]
VEGAN HAWAIIAN LUAU
http://www.vrg.org/blog/2015/05/27/vegan-hawaiian-luau/ ]
MY VEGAN TIME WITH CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE
http://www.vrg.org/blog/2015/05/27/my-vegan-time-with-carnival-cruise-line/ ]
PINKBERRY
http://www.vrg.org/blog/2015/05/28/pinkberry/ ]
HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR ALEX HERSHAFT'S JOURNEY FROM THE WARSAW GHETTO TO THE ANIMAL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
http://www.vrg.org/blog/2015/05/28/holocaust-survivor-alex-hershafts-journey-from-the-warsaw-ghetto-to-the-animal-rights-movement/ ]
VISIT THE VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP'S BOOTH AT THE CHARLES VILLAGE FESTIVAL IN BALTIMORE CITY
http://www.vrg.org/blog/2015/05/29/visit-the-vegetarian-resource-groups-booth-at-the-charles-village-festival-in-baltimore-city/ ]
HOW OFTEN DO AMERICANS EAT VEGETARIAN MEALS? AND HOW MANY ADULTS IN THE U.S. ARE VEGETARIAN?
http://www.vrg.org/blog/2015/05/29/how-often-do-americans-eat-vegetarian-meals-and-how-many-adults-in-the-u-s-are-vegetarian-2/ ]
NATIONAL DONUT DAY IS JUNE 5TH -MAKE VEGAN DONUTS AT HOME
http://www.vrg.org/blog/2015/06/01/national-donut-day-is-june-5th-make-vegan-donuts-at-home/ ]
HEALTHY AGING RESEARCH STUDY
http://www.vrg.org/blog/2015/06/01/study-about-diet-and-wellness/ ]
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR SOME QUICK AND EASY SNACK IDEAS
http://www.vrg.org/blog/2015/06/02/are-you-looking-for-some-quick-and-easy-snack-ideas/ ]
WHAT FDA LEARNED ABOUT DARK CHOCOLATE AND MILK ALLERGIES
http://www.vrg.org/blog/2015/06/02/what-fda-learned-about-dark-chocolate-and-milk-allergies/ ]
GELATIN, CARMINE, AND RENNET LABELING IN THE U.S.
http://www.vrg.org/blog/2015/06/03/gelatin-carmine-and-rennet-labeling-in-the-u-s/ ]
THE ALMOND MILK COOKBOOK, BY ALAN ROETTINGER
http://www.vrg.org/blog/2015/06/03/the-almond-milk-cookbook-by-alan-roettinger/ ]
JOIN THE VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP BY JUNE 7TH, 2015 AND RECEIVE A FREE COPY OF THE COWSPIRACY VIDEO WHILE SUPPLIES LAST
http://www.vrg.org/blog/2015/06/05/join-the-vegetarian-resource-group-by-june-7th-2015-and-receive-a-free-copy-of-the-cowspiracy-video-while-supplies-last/ ]
TACO BELL AND CARMINE UPDATE
http://www.vrg.org/blog/2015/06/05/taco-bell-and-carmine-update/ ]
http://www.vrg.org/blog/2015/06/09/the-chocolate-hoax/ ]
RESTAURARE: A VEGAN RESTAURANT IN TULUM, MEXICO
http://www.vrg.org/blog/2015/06/09/restaurare-a-vegan-restaurant-in-tulum-mexico/ ]
THE VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP BOOTH AT THE CHARLES VILLAGE FESTIVAL - TWO INTERNS SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES
http://www.vrg.org/blog/2015/06/10/the-vegetarian-resource-group-booth-at-the-charles-village-festival-two-interns-share-their-experiences/ ]
VEGGING OUT AS A VEGAN TEEN
http://www.vrg.org/blog/2015/06/10/vegging-out-as-a-vegan-teen/ ]
TRANSITIONING TO VEGAN: WHY I BECAME VEGAN AND MY FAMILY'S REACTIONS
http://www.vrg.org/blog/2015/06/11/transitioning-to-vegan-why-i-became-vegan-and-my-familys-reactions/ ]
COOKING FOR NON-VEGAN PARENTS
http://www.vrg.org/blog/2015/06/11/cooking-for-non-vegan-parents/ ]
PRACTICING MUSLIM CUSTOMS AS A VEGAN
http://www.vrg.org/blog/2015/06/12/practicing-muslim-customs-as-a-vegan/ ]
NATIVE FOODS CAFÉ
http://www.vrg.org/blog/2015/06/12/native-foods-cafe/ ]
A VEGAN TASTE TEST WITH NON-VEGAN TEENS
http://www.vrg.org/blog/2015/06/16/a-vegan-taste-test-with-non-vegan-teens/ ]
SOY BEYOND FOOD: AN OPINION
http://www.vrg.org/blog/2015/06/16/soy-beyond-food-an-opinion/ ]
HOW TO DO A VEGAN CLASS AT A GIRLS INC.
http://www.vrg.org/blog/2015/06/17/how-to-do-a-vegan-class-at-a-girls-inc/ ]
PANERA
http://www.vrg.org/blog/2015/06/17/panera/ ]
VEGAN IN VOLUME IS NOW AVAILABLE IN KINDLE FORMAT
http://www.vrg.org/blog/2015/06/18/vegan-in-volume-is-now-available-in-kindle-format/ ]
ORGANIC VEGAN FERTILIZER
http://www.vrg.org/blog/2015/06/18/organic-vegan-fertilizer/ ]
VISIT THE VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP BOOTH AT THE RICHMOND VIRGINIA VEGFEST
http://www.vrg.org/blog/2015/06/19/visit-the-vegetarian-resource-group-booth-at-the-richmond-virginia-vegfest/ ]
VEGAN RESTAURANTS HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP'S ONLINE GUIDE TO VEGAN/VEGETARIAN RESTAURANTS IN THE USA
http://www.vrg.org/blog/2015/06/19/vegan-restaurants-have-been-added-to-the-vegetarian-resource-groups-online-guide-to-veganvegetarian-restaurants-in-the-usa/ ]

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4) A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR AMAZING VRG VOLUNTEERS

We would like to thank the following volunteers for their amazing work this month on VRG's Vegetarian Restaurant Guide, Outreach Booths and other projects:

  • Matt Baker, R.N.
  • Shani Stewart
  • Laura McGuiness
  • Anne Porterfield Custer
  • Ivy Grob
  • Whitney Blomquist
  • Elsa Spencer
  • Carter Merrick
  • Colin Hickey-Schiappa
  • Bella Wilson
  • Navaal Mahdi
  • Myrial Holbrook
  • Lily Donofrio
  • Eric Sharer, MPH, RD, LDN
  • Reed Mangels, Ph.D., R.D.

You can volunteer for The Vegetarian Resource Group at our office located in Baltimore, MD, local outreach events or even remotely using your computer at home. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Nina at [email protected].

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5) CHARLES VILLAGE FESTIVAL BY IVY GROB

By Ivy Grob

With my fellow VRG staff, interns, and volunteers, I participated in my first outreach booth during the Charles Village Festival, an annual event located in the Wyman Park Dell in Baltimore, Maryland. It was my first look at how an outreach booth operates and truly my first look at Baltimore. I arrived only a week ago from Florida in order to intern with the VRG for the majority of the summer. I first fell in love with the scenery of Baltimore during my drive in, but after working my first booth I can now say I'm in love with the people and the atmosphere. The majority of people I spoke with were so welcoming and friendly, and surprised when I told them that I thought Baltimore was a big city. During the festival, I met a number of people who were already vegetarian and vegan and also a few who were transitioning. It was great to share some tips back and forth about cooking and food choices, and to see that Baltimore has a great community of people who share my beliefs. One woman came up to the booth and said, "I'm a new vegan, show me your absolute favorite cookbook!

The most satisfying experience, though, was to share pamphlets and information to those who said they were not vegetarian, and to have the information be well received. This was truly the opportunity to explain why vegetarianism and veganism is necessary. I was able to share about animal rights and the environmental problems that comes from consuming meat and animal products. Some information was better received than others, but at least the information was presented for the arguers to think about. As I continue in my internship, I hope to continue to spread the message of vegetarianism and veganism at any other outreach booths to whomever I can.

To volunteer at Vegetarian Resource Group booths, contact Nina at [email protected]

To support Vegetarian education, donate at
http://www.vrg.org/member/donate_buttons.php ]

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6) CHARLES VILLAGE FESTIVAL BOOTH BY NAVAAL MAHDI

By Navaal Mahdi

The 2015 19th Annual Charles Village Festival took place on May 30 and May 31 at Wyman Park Dell in Baltimore, Maryland. On these two beautiful warm days, the people of Baltimore and the surrounding areas came together to visit multiple craft and food vendors, play games, listen to some very talented live musicians, and participate in a 5K race as well as the annual Charles Village Garden Walk. The VRG was lucky enough to set up an outreach booth during the festival to talk to the variety of people attending.

When I helped at our booth on Saturday, May 30th, we had visitors who were vegetarian and non-vegetarian, and surprisingly, many of the non-vegetarians who visited us shared that they were in the process of becoming vegetarian or vegan. Folks walking down the pathway that had the booths of different non-profits on either side of it were drawn in by the variety of literature we had at our table, from books starting at $5 to free coloring books and pamphlets about our cause. Many were especially interested in the copies of the Vegetarian Journal that we had on display, and upon learning that there were delicious recipes in each issue, they would ask for their own copyright.

Some visitors were kind enough to share their stories with us; one man explained to Matt, who is a regular volunteer at the VRG, and I that he was really close to being vegan, but found it too difficult to give up eggs for breakfast. Matt and I shared with him some other great vegan breakfasts, like banana pancakes or granola, and we also gave him the idea to mix flax seeds and water to achieve an egg-like consistency for baked goods and such. Another woman wanted to know ways to get protein while being a vegan, so we handed her a copy of the "My Vegan Plate" pamphlet we had available, which helpfully highlights sources of calcium and protein.

Charles Village Festival was a great place to finish off my booth-working experience as an intern. It was heartwarming to hear the kind comments that people gave us about the information we provided, and it was even better to hear that non-vegetarians would make an active effort to incorporate more fruits and vegetables in their diet. I hope to continue to help the VRG at outreach booths as a volunteer after I finish my internship!

My Vegan Plate Handout: [ http://www.vrg.org/nutshell/MyVeganPlate.pdf ]

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

To support VRG outreach, please donate at
http://www.vrg.org/donate ]

To join The Vegetarian Resource Group, please go to
http://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php ]

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7) NATIVE FOODS CAFÉ BY IVY GROB

By Ivy Grob

Recently, I had the opportunity to travel to the nation's capital, and I dedicated the day to becoming a true tourist. When I stepped out of the metro at the Smithsonian station, I knew I had the whole day ahead of me to submerse myself in the history that is present in Washington DC. I headed first in the direction of the Lincoln Memorial, stopping along the way to see the Washington Monument and the World War II Memorial. After saying hi to Honest Abe, I turned around and briefly stopped to see the White House, then continued on the way to the Smithsonian museums. This alone took over three hours and lots of walking (good thing I wore comfy shoes!). So I decided to take a break and head over to Native Foods Café for lunch. I heard about this all-vegan chain restaurant from VRG coordinator Debra Wasserman and I knew I had to try it while I was in town. What's even better than an all-vegan restaurant? An all vegan restaurant that's only a ten minute walk from the Air and Space Museum!

When I arrived I was happy to see the colorful décor and was impressed that the employee explained to me that the menu was 100% vegan (he actually said no meat, fish, dairy or honey) when I told him this was my first time eating there. I ordered the Chicken, Bacon and Avo Club with Seasoned Fries, a Watermelon Fresca, and an Oatmeal Crème Pie.

The food was served very fast and I immediately dug in. The Chicken, Bacon and Avo Club was full of zesty flavor from the chipotle sauce and the meat substitutes were hearty and crispy. This sandwich paired with the Seasoned Fries quickly filled me up, and washing it down with the Watermelon Fresca was a fresh and sweet accompaniment. I didn't save any room for dessert so I took my Oatmeal Crème Pie with me to go and ate it later on after I returned home to Baltimore. This was the true cherry on top for the whole meal. The cookie itself is huge, and reminiscent of the ones I used to eat as a child. I ate the whole thing at once and didn't even find myself regretting it; it was that good.

If you ever find yourself being a tourist in DC, give Native Foods Café a try. Whether you are vegan, vegetarian, or just looking for something new to try, they are a fast and easy option conveniently located nearby to all of the tourist destinations.

For information on more places to eat, see
http://www.vrg.org/restaurant/index.php ]

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8) REFLECTION ON INTERNSHIP AT THE VRG BY MYRIAL HOLBROOK

By Myrial Holbrook

My time in Baltimore at The VRG has been an amazing experience - I've observed and taken part in a non-profit organization and a broader movement, enhanced my nutritional knowledge, and renewed my passion for vegetarianism. I've only been here for three weeks, but the VRG has expanded my horizons professionally and personally.

I started out at the outreach booth at the Baltimore Veg Fest. With that experience, I was already amazed by the number of vegetarians and vegans and their enthusiasm for the cause. I had always been the minority - a vegetarian in mostly-omnivorous Columbus, Ohio. For the first time, I felt that I had become a part of something bigger than my own personal choice to become a vegetarian - I had become part of the movement.

The Veg Fest was a great first experience for my internship with The VRG, but it was only the beginning. On my first office day, Charles led me around the office, a small but mighty powerhouse of the health, nutrition, and ethics that support the veg lifestyle. That day, we were also visited by the University of Maryland dietetic interns. I have never met with a dietitian, so this experience was particularly enlightening. We discussed the ethical dilemmas that a dietitian faces in both corporate and counsel settings, possible vegan meal plans, and the changing needs of clientele. I realized how important it is to make nutritional expertise accessible to the public, for so few people actually take this initiative in their diet planning, even when they really need to.

After the dietetic interns left, I began my work as an intern in earnest. I wrote blog posts and articles on vegan hotspots in my hometown, Columbus, reviews on restaurants here in Baltimore, Veggie Bits on vegan products (free samples here at The VRG are a fabulous perk of the work), my experience and diet as a vegetarian athlete, research into vegan labeling at supermarkets, the new black bean burger at Wendy's, and vegan options at Disney World. I learned to be skeptical about nutritional information, especially in terms of product verification. In my pursuit of information about the new black bean burger at Wendy's, for example, I realized how much probing and investigation this kind of nutritional research requires. I called and e-mailed customer service, press representatives, nutritionists, and corporate authorities of Wendy's and still could not obtain the exact ingredients of the burger to confirm or deny the burger's classification as vegan. I learned how nebulous the definitions of vegan and vegetarian can be depending on the person or corporation, and how you must examine every product carefully to determine if it is suitable for your particular dietary preferences and needs. Before my internship I trusted labels and company statements. Now, however, I realize how important it is to do your own research and confirmation.

In addition to writing articles, I also did design work at The VRG. As editor-in-chief of my high school newspaper, I have some experience with and greatly enjoy page layout design. I was able to put my skills to use in the design of a postcard for The VRG that will be distributed at future booth events. I also did some HTML coding and graphic design for a picnics landing page on The VRG website. This work helped me to understand what a non-profit organization must prioritize on paper and online in terms of vision and message. For example, I went through many versions of the postcard in order to bring continuity and consistency to both sides of the postcard. I also had to develop an effective categorization system for the picnics landing page. Through these projects my focus expanded from novice design to a professional awareness. Debra and Samantha, with their expertise in design, helped me to gain this professional awareness through their careful attention to detail and their helpful edits.

My projects during my internship at The VRG expanded my professional focus, but perhaps the most important aspect of my internship was the networking. Months before my internship even started, Charles was emailing me contacts of present and past interns, possible future professors for me to meet with when I go to Princeton next year, Ohio dietitians, people who shared my language or international interests in Spanish and Chinese, and other figures in the movement. Networking with these amazing people helped me to start thinking about my future path as a vegetarian, a college student, and an instrument of change. Once I arrived at The VRG, I continued to meet wonderful people. I met a holocaust survivor who became an animal rights activist, owners of local restaurants and bakeries, vegans and vegetarians aspiring to bring their lifestyle to kids and retirement homes through personal projects....Meeting these wonderful people was amazing, but I am especially grateful for my connections with The VRG staff--Charles informed me of the factors and motivations in movements and non-profits; Debra conversed with me about design and her experiences in international relations and Spanish; Samantha helped me with my professional designs and gave me delicious samples to try for Veggie Bits; Nina represented a great example of how to conduct outreach for a non-profit and was always willing to provide recommendations for eclectic events in Baltimore; the other interns were accepting and diverse, and I learned so much from our conversations about our experiences with vegetarianism and The VRG. These connections have widened my perspective of the movement and renewed my passion for spreading the vegetarian lifestyle. Through my experience at The VRG, I am thoroughly equipped to bring back what I have learned to my friends and family. Perhaps the knowledge that I share with them will have enough of an impact to finally persuade them to make the switch to vegetarianism and advance the movement.

My experience here at The VRG has been absolutely phenomenal. My only complaint is that it has been too short - three weeks have flown by and I'm ready to continue here. Although I can't stay in Baltimore, I will continue my work for the movement. For me, this internship is only the beginning of my commitment to The VRG and its mission.

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9) MY INTERNING EXPERIENCE AT VRG BY NAVAAL MAHDI

By Navaal Mahdi

Interning at The VRG has been one of the best life experiences I've had thus far because I've been able to learn more about one of my passions. Coming into this internship, I thought myself knowledgeable about vegetarianism considering that I had spent countless hours researching about vegetarianism before finally becoming vegan some months ago. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that there's always been something new to learn in the VRG office.

As a writer, I can ask for nothing more than for someone to give me constructive criticism about my pieces because I love submitting my best work. At The VRG, I've been able to dabble in writing about a variety of topics, from creating vegan recipes to reviewing vegan products, and I've even been able to give some advice to teens along the way. What's even better is that I've been able to interact with non-vegetarians at outreach booths in a professional environment, which means that I have been able to help people learn more about the ethical and health reasons that explain why many vegetarians choose not to eat meat and animal products. Together, both of these experiences have made me more passionate about being vegan, and after working with an organization that helps to spread awareness to so many people around the world about animal cruelty as well as healthy eating, I know that I will always try to do the same in my life.

I came into The VRG wanting to learn how to be firm in my beliefs regarding veganism, and I'm leaving having gained that skill. When someone asks me why I choose to be vegan, I now know how to confidently respond. What's even better is that though I've gained so much knowledge here, I know that there's still a lot out there that I need to learn. I can't wait to continue to learn about my passions because my work with The VRG has taught me that if you keep exploring and advocating for what you love, you'll finally find out your calling. I want to make a positive change in the world, and I'm so motivated to do that Contact The Vegetarian Resource Group if you would like to intern in Baltimore or long distance. You can see the work of past interns at:
http://www.vrg.org/student/index.php ] .

If you would like to support internships, you can donate at
http://www.vrg.org/donate ]

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10) WELCOME TO THE HEALTHY AGING RESEARCH STUDY

Presented as a cooperative project of Benedictine University & Fairleigh Dickinson

If you are between the ages of 45 and 80, please click on the following links to complete our survey:

The goal of this study is to investigate how an individual's dietary and lifestyle choices affect wellness, including hormonal/sexual functioning throughout the middle and later years.

Your responses to this survey are entirely anonymous and will only take about 25 minutes to complete.

Thank you for volunteering to participate in our study!

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11) NEW VEGAN TOUR - USA'S PACIFIC NORTHWEST

Otis Beanery and Vegan Fusion have launched a new vegan culinary and sightseeing tour in the Pacific North-West for fall 2015. The package tour will combine cooking classes and encounters with food businesses with scenic attractions over 18 days from Portland to San Francisco.

"We think the time is right to offer something in this niche," said Vegan Fusion principal Mark Reinfeld. "Travel is increasingly segmented, so we wanted to create something that is exclusively focussed on creating a fabulous and hassle-free experience for vegans. Alan is a student of my Vegan Fusion training courses, and when he came to me with with this concept I knew he had something."

Alan Whykes of Australian-based culinary school Otis Beanery said a lot of work had gone into researching the tour. "Portland (Oregon) and San Francisco are ranked number 3 and 4 in (vegan & vegetarian restaurant website) Happy Cow's top 10 vegan cities of the world, so they were a natural fit for the backbone of the tour," he said. Beyond that, he added, it was a matter of doing mountains of research to identify interesting activities to flesh out the program.

"We want our guests to get to know the local foods and the people involved with various aspects of the food industry. Hence the package is an entire food experience, from hands-on training with top chefs to farm and winery visits to produce markets and co-operatives to quality restaurant dining," Whykes said. "And as a grand finale we finish at the 16th World Veg Festival in San Francisco."

The sightseeing portions of the tour include exploring inner Portland by bicycle, a day in the Columbia Gorge, a river-mouth cruise at Astoria, Oregon coast scenery, Crater Lake and Redwoods National Parks and San Francisco.

The tour is commencing with a small group in 2015, with a view to expanding in the near future. "We'll probably always stay reasonably small, to keep the focus on quality," said Whykes. "Nevertheless we can offer more dates, and we are also doing some background work on an Italy-Slovenia vegan culinary tour that promises to be very interesting indeed. Beyond that, we'll be guided by feedback from our clients about what kind of vegan travel experiences they are looking for."

Further information on the tours can found through:

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12) 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 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!

Go to: [ http://www.vrg.org/donate ]

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13) 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
http://www.vrg.org/journal/ ] )

To sign up for the The Vegetarian Resource Group national email newsletter, please visit:[ http://www.vrg.org/vrgnews/ ]

We are also on Facebook and Twitter

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:
http://www.givedirect.org/give/givefrm.asp?Action=GC&CID=1565/ ]

Copyright The Vegetarian Resource Group 2015 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.

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14) 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.

To subscribe to VRG-NEWS, go to
http://www.vrg.org ] or
http://www.vrg.org/vrgnews/ ]

To unsubscribe, or otherwise manage your subscription to VRG-NEWS, go to
http://lists.vrg.org/mailman/listinfo/vrg-news_lists.vrg.org ]
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