By Reed Mangels, PhD, RD

Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA) has introduced H.R. 5023, the Peas, Legumes, and Nuts Today Act or PLANT Act.  According to a press release from Representative McGovern, “this act establishes new opportunities for farmers and food companies, creates new jobs in farming communities, advances USDA’s efforts to connect American farmers to new markets at home and abroad, and expands consumer choices at the grocery store, through plant-based food research and production.”

The bill includes a plan to develop a plant-based protein input research program which would allow research grants to improve the nutritional value and flavor of soybeans, wheat, mushrooms, oats, almonds, and other crops.  It also calls for the Secretary of Agriculture to establish an Office of Plant-Based Foods and Innovative Production as a department within USDA. The mission of the Office of Plant-Based Foods and Innovative Production would be “to encourage and promote plant-based protein and plant-based food options and plant protein products including the edible proteins made from plants (such as vegetables, beans, and legumes), fungi, or other nonanimal sources.” The bill was referred to the House Agriculture Committee on July 27, 2023.

Senior Living Dining Roland Park Place

The Vegetarian Resource Group has compiled a list of Senior Independent Living, Assisted Living, Nursing Home, and Other Senior Facilities in the USA that will accommodate vegetarians and in some cases vegans. This is a work in progress and if you know of any establishments that should be added to this list, please let us know. Our goal in this project is to persuade senior establishments to offer more vegan options on a regular basis. Sometimes by just asking you put the thought on their radar. We were successful in doing the same thing 20 years ago when we urged college campuses to add vegan options.

You can find the entire list here: https://www.vrg.org/seniors/senior_vegan.php

Here’s a recent addition to this list:

Roland Park Place

830 W. 40th St.

Baltimore, MD 21211

(667) 401-0085

Independent and Assisted Living

Serves vegetarian options at most meals and vegan options sometimes.

Sample dishes have included vegetable soup, sweet corn soup, Moroccan chickpea soup, a veggie burger, spicy braised tofu, Gobi Manchurian, and vegetable Wellington.

To support this type of project, please donate here: www.vrg.org/donate

Recent topics brought up include:

– Information on a bill introduced to require U.S. schools to provide a substitute for cow’s milk

– Post statingLEAP: Leaders for Ethics, Animals and the Planet has applications open for high school students! There are 25 animal sanctuaries participating this year across the nations.

– Blueberries are in season! You may enjoy watching this video and preparing the Blueberry French Toast Casserole for your family.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/VRGparentsandkids is intended to be a group that offers support for families raising children on vegan diets and for vegan kids around the world. We envision it as a place to get advice about a wide-variety of topics: pregnancy, birthday parties, school lunches, Halloween, non-leather apparel, cruelty-free products, summer camps, and more. Please use it as a place to share your wisdom, seek advice, or just find a sympathetic ear. The goal is to offer support.

Consequently, any profane, defamatory, offensive, or violent language will be removed. Feel free to disagree, but do so respectfully. Hateful or discriminatory comments regarding race, ethnicity, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or political beliefs will not be tolerated. We expect that posts should relate to vegan diets and lifestyles. The Vegetarian Resource Group reserves the right to monitor all content and ban any user who posts in violation of the above rules, any law or regulation, SPAM, or anything otherwise off topic.

Please share this information with any veggie families that you know! Thanks.

What can you pack for a vegan lunch? Whether you’re going to school, work, a picnic, or on a road trip, you need options for lunch. Check out 50 ideas to fill your lunch bag!

See this Vegetarian Resource Group Video at https://youtu.be/kqoFDjQO2fs

More videos at:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvSyCToa_i9fA4D5CLCAFWw
https://www.vrg.org/veg_videos.php

photo from Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant

The Vegetarian Resource Group will host a networking dinner in Denver, Colorado, during the annual FNCE meeting of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Within one mile of the Colorado Convention Center. The public is invited. Participants from Denver and places from around the country will have a chance to share veg related activities they have coordinated.

RIO GRANDE MEXICAN RESTAURANT BUFFET:

Chips and Salsa

Guacamole

Black Beans

Portabella and Squash

Grilled Peppers and Onions

Plain Rice

Pico de Gallo

Selection of Salsas

Flour Tortillas

Soft Drinks, Coffee, Tea

PLEASE RESERVE IN ADVANCE. SEATING IS LIMITED

$30 for The Vegetarian Resource Group and Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group members. $35 for nonmembers. Includes tax and tip.

Please prepay at vrg.org/donate. Write in the comments section names of participants and that it is for the Denver dinner. Or call (410) 366-8343, or mail payment to The Vegetarian Resource Group, P.O. Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203.

Photo from El Cantaro Vegan Taqueria

The Vegetarian Resource Group maintains an online Guide to Vegan/Vegetarian Restaurants in the USA and Canada. Here are some recent vegan restaurant additions. The entire guide can be found here: http://www.vrg.org/restaurant/index.php

To support the updating of this online restaurant guide, please donate at: www.vrg.org/donate

Here are some new additions to VRG’s guide:

Bedhead Vegan Brunch House, 310 E. Goepp St., Bethlehem, PA 18018

Offers vegan eggs, waffles, sandwiches, cinnamon rolls, parfaits, specialty espresso drinks, and other brunch favorites.

El Cantaro Vegan Taqueria, 9123 Kiefer Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95826

El Cantaro Vegan Taqueria focuses on local, seasonal ingredients. While many dishes feature familiar Mexican fare like Tacos, Tortillas, Quesadillas, Burritos, Enchiladas, and Fajitas etc., mushrooms and tahini also appear. Imaginative choices include: BBQ Chikin’ Burrito with rice, pineapple salsa, roasted sesame seeds, cilantro, and homemade BBQ sauce, or Nopal Burrito with cactus in chipotle sauce, Fish Baja Soft Taco of vegan Tuna with cabbage and mango or pineapple salsa, or Enmolada Enchilada featuring Coloradito Mole with parsley and cheese and more. Choose from lots of Appetizers, Tortas (Sandwiches), Sides, a couple of Salads, and Soup. There’s a Kids Menu too. Some frozen Dessert choices are Chocolate Chip Mint, Chocolate Brownie ice cream, or Sorbet. A dessert seemingly reminiscent of a Mexican version of Banana Split is Fried Plantains with vanilla soy ice cream, strawberry sauce, and carob chocolate sauce. Chamoyada is made with mango chunks, mango sorbet, the fruited, sweet-sour-salty vibe of homemade chamoy sauce and chili powder.

FLX Vegan, 368 Exchange St. 368 Exchange St., Geneva, NY 14456

They share a space with the Captains Café in the heart of the Finger Lakes, Dishes offered include nachos, tacos, Big Joe burger, chickpea salad wrap, peach cobbler, and more.

Hangry Planet, 1199 El Camino Real, San Bruno, CA 94066

Wandering the aisles and scrutinizing labels can make a trip to the convenience store anything but quick-and-easy when on the hunt for vegan snacks. But if your weekend road trip takes you in the vicinity of San Bruno, California, you are in luck, because San Bruno is the home of Hangry Planet, a 24-hour vegan convenience store. Located in a Shell gas station, Hangry Planet offers what one would expect at a convenience mart—but veganized—including chocolate sprinkle donuts, personal pizzas and hand pies, corn nuts, instant soups, gum and candy like the vegan-friendly Swedish Fish, and vanilla Oatly soft-serve. And in case you need extra motivation to snack: Hangry Planet reports that 10% of every sale is donated to charities that support animal and human rights.

Healthy as a Motha, 40-05 Skillman Ave., Queens, NY 11104

Healthy as a Motha is a plant-based establishment with an array of delicious options. From dishes like seasoned buffalo oyster mushroom sandwich and mac and cheese to jerk sweet plantain patties or curry chik’n tacos, Healthy as a Motha has a little bit of something for everyone.

Hey Sunshine Kitchen, 3863 Overland Ave., Culver City, CA 90232

They have everything from delicious bowls, hot sandwiches, tacos, salads, and desserts! The restaurant avoids genetically modified foods because of their adverse effects on health and the environment.

The Moody Vegan, 5101 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90027

Enjoy baked goods including brownies, blondies, cookies, coffeecake, lemon olive oil cake, and more. Specials have included mini waffles and breakfast burritos.

Enjoy dining on vegan food throughout Maryland during Vegan Restaurant Month. Some of the participating restaurants in Baltimore include The Land of Kush, Golden West, Harmony Bakery, Wild Heart Bistro, Johnny Rads, and Gangster Vegan Organics. Outside Baltimore be sure to visit Hue Café in Owings Mills, Rasa in Rockville, Apple Core’s Bake Shoppe in Columbia, and Soul-Tarian Café in Hillcrest Heights. For more information, see: https://www.mdveganeats.com/

By Reed Mangels, PhD, RD

DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid. DHA stands for docosahexaenoic acid, but it’s much easier to simply refer to as DHA. The number of pregnant individuals in the United States, whether vegetarian or nonvegetarian, whose intakes of DHA meet the common recommendation for DHA is quite low (1).

Vegan diets don’t contain DHA unless supplements or fortified foods are used; nonvegetarians get DHA from fish.

In pregnancy, DHA supplementation is associated with a reduced risk of having a preterm birth (baby born too early) and a reduced risk of having an infant with an unhealthfully low birth weight (2,3). That’s why many organizations recommend intakes of DHA of 200 to 300 milligrams daily during pregnancy (4). There is some evidence that those with low DHA status (as indicated by lab tests) prior to pregnancy could benefit from as much as 1,000 milligrams of DHA daily (5).

Vegan DHA supplements are made from microalgae. Microalgae is the source of DHA in fish and in fish oil so using a DHA supplement based on microalgae can meet DHA needs without involving fish. DHA derived from microalgae effectively improves DHA status (6).

DHA from microalgae is added to some vegan prenatal vitamin and mineral supplements. Microalgal DHA can also be found in supplements that only contain DHA (or DHA along with other omega-3 fatty acids). In pregnancy, products only supplying DHA would be used along with a vegan prenatal supplement that does not supply DHA. In other words, if your prenatal supplement contains DHA, it’s likely that a separate DHA supplement is not needed. If your prenatal supplement does not contain DHA, you could use a separate DHA supplement.

We looked for prenatal supplements providing DHA and for DHA supplements that were labeled vegan. This is not a comprehensive list but reflects what we found online and in stores.

Prenatal supplements identified as vegan that provide DHA

Buried Treasure Prenatal Plus DHA Daily Multi Vegetarian Safe Liquid Supplement One Tablespoon provides 200 milligrams of a DHA blend; also provides vitamins and minerals. 100 micrograms of vitamin B12 is an appropriate dose in a once daily supplement in pregnancy.

iwi prenatal Two softgels provide 200 milligrams of DHA; also provides vitamins and minerals. 30 micrograms of vitamin B12 is an appropriate dose; supplies iodine but only 100 micrograms (recommendations call for 150 micrograms of supplemental iodine in pregnancy)

Premama Prenatal vitamins One daily capsule provides 78 milligrams of DHA (less than what is commonly recommended); also provides vitamins and minerals; 2.8 micrograms of vitamin B12 once a day is lower than recommendations on VeganHealth

Vegan DHA supplements

Deva Vegan Omega-3 DHA One vegan softgel provides 200 milligrams of DHA

Deva Vegan Liquid Omega-3 DHA 14 drops provide 200 milligrams of DHA

Doctor’s Best Vegan DHA One veggie softgel provides 200 milligrams of DHA

Dr. Fuhrman’s DHA + EPA 0.75 milliliters provide 175 milligrams of DHA

Early Promise Prenatal Gentle DHA One vegetarian softgel provides 200 milligrams of DHA

Garden of Life Vegan DHA One softgel provides 400 milligrams of DHA

Mama Bird Vegan Prenatal DHA Two softgels provide 350 milligrams of DHA

New Chapter Prenatal Vegan Omega-3 Complex One softgel provides 250 milligrams of DHA

New Chapter Vegan Omega-3 Complex One softgel provides 250 milligrams of DHA

Nordic Naturals Vegan Prenatal DHA One softgel provides 250 milligrams of DHA

Nuique Mother & Baby Vegan Algae Omega 3 Two capsules provide 375 milligrams of DHA; shipped from the UK so delivery may take 2 to 3 weeks.

Ovega-3 Plant-based DHA One softgel provides 270 milligrams of DHA

Truvani’s Plant-based Omega One capsule provides 250 milligrams of DHA

Whole Earth & Sea Marine DHA One softgel provides 300 milligrams of DHA

References

1. Nordgren TM, Lyden E, Anderson-Berry A, et al. Omega-3 fatty acid intake of pregnant women and women of childbearing age in the United States: potential for deficiency? Nutrients. 2017;9(3):197.
2. Middleton P, Gomersall JC, Gould JF, et al. Omega-3 fatty acid addition during pregnancy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;11(11):CD003402.
3. Kar S, Wong M, Rogozinska E, et al. Effects of omega-3 fatty acids in prevention of early preterm delivery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized studies. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2016;198:40-46.
4. Mangels R, Messina V, Messina M. The Dietitian’s Guide to Vegetarian Diets, 4^th edition. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning; 2023.
5. Carlson SE, Gajewski BJ, Valentine CJ, et al. Higher dose docosahexaenoic acid supplementation during pregnancy and early preterm birth: A randomised, double-blind, adaptive-design superiority trial. EClinicalMedicine. 2021;36:100905.
6. Sarter B, Kelsey KS, Schwartz TA, et al. Blood docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid in vegans: Associations with age and gender and effects of an algal-derived omega-3 fatty acid supplement. Clin Nutr. 2015;34(2):212-218.

To read more about vegan pregnancy see:

Vegan Nutrition in Pregnancy and Childhood

Pregnancy and the Vegan Diet

Prenatal Supplements for Vegans

The contents of this posting, our website, and our other publications, including Vegetarian Journal and 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 best judgment about whether a product is suitable for you. To be sure, do further research or confirmation on your own.

The Vegetarian Resource Group is a vegan activist non-profit organization that does outreach all-year-long. For example, VRG has been tabling at a wide variety of events throughout the USA. We also send literature free of charge to other groups/individuals doing educational activities in schools, hospitals, camps, restaurants, libraries, offices, etc. Our ability to continue doing this depends on people like you! Your donations allow us to promote the vegan message whenever we’re called upon for assistance. Please consider becoming a monthly, quarterly, or single-time donor to The Vegetarian Resource Group.

Thanks so much for your support. You can make a donation online here: www.vrg.org/donate

Julia Comino interviews Whitney McVerry about her Vegetarian Resource Group internship experience. See video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LG8mXxaVnKM

For more information about Vegetarian Resource Group/Vegan Journal internships, see
https://www.vrg.org/student/index.php

To support The Vegetarian Resource Group internships, donate at www.vrg.org/donate