Each issue of Vegetarian Journal features book reviews. Our latest issue features The Vegucated Family Table and Vegan Revolution.

Read the entire column here: Book Reviews

To subscribe to Vegetarian Journal in the USA, see: vrg.org/member

Each issue of Vegetarian Journal features a column titled Scientific Update, by Reed Mangels, PhD, RD. The latest column covers the topics of Vegetarian Diet Associated with a Lower Risk of Cataract; Vegan Diet Offers Health Benefits Regardless of Blood Type; and Soy Isoflavones Associated with Moderately Reduced Risk of Heart Disease.

Read the entire column here: Scientific Update

To subscribe to Vegetarian Journal in the USA, see: vrg.org/member

Tocaya, with over 20 restaurants in California and Arizona, states that they have vegan and vegetarian options. Some of their selections are Take and Bake Nachos (seasonal), Shredded Kale and Quinoa Salad, Street Corn en Fuego Bowl, Spicy Chick’N Soup, and Mushroom & Jalapeno Quesadillas. You can select Vegan Chick’n, Adobo Tofu and Vegan Mozzarella.

For more information go to https://tocaya.com/menu/ and select vegan.

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

For information about veg restaurants in the U.S. and Canada, see https://www.vrg.org/restaurant/index.php

By Reed Mangels, PhD, RD

There are times during these last days of summer when I crave a frozen dessert. There are no pints of vegan ice cream in the freezer nor do I want to walk or drive to the store. I happily turn to one of my seasonal favorites – banana soft-serve.

     Some preparation is needed for this dessert to happen. It’s based on frozen bananas so when I have overripe bananas on the counter, I peel them, cut them into slices and put them in a container in the freezer.

     When I’m ready for dessert, I take out the equivalent of one frozen banana and put it, unthawed, in the food processor. I add a spoonful of cashew butter or any other nut or seed butter and sometimes a drizzle of maple syrup. I close the food processor and process until the mixture is creamy – it comes together around the blades. Other frozen fruits can be added before processing or you can slice fresh fruit and use it to top the soft-serve. Vegan chocolate chips and nuts are other possible mix-ins or toppings.

     That’s it – in about 3 minutes I have a cold, creamy dessert. It doesn’t keep well so it should be eaten right away. You can double or triple this recipe for more servings.

     The lovely cup holding the soft-serve in the photo is from vegan potter, Molly Cantor. See more of her work here: http://www.mollycantor.com/ and here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MollyCantorPottery

By Lucia Rivera, VRG Intern

Plantega — the New York City program spreading plant-based options throughout local bodegas — cites community interaction and connection as central to its mission and work. Playing a significant role in these interactions are the Plantega Community Advisors (CA): local community members “responsible for community engagement, field marketing, in-store inventory management and quality control,” according to the Plantega website.

Community Ambassador Jailene Encarnacion is one of three CA’s currently working for Plantega, which has ten current locations.

“As a Community Ambassador, it is my job to directly speak and interact with the community, bodega workers and their customers. And as I am now coming up on my 9th month working at Plantega, I can honestly say that no other work I could be doing right now, is as community involved as this one,” Encarnacion said.

Additionally, Encarnacion explained how, after initially being introduced to Plantega, she “ultimately decided to apply for the job, because I like what Plantega stands for. I wanted to make it easier to bring affordable vegan/plant-based food into NYC as a whole, and I knew that this was going to be the best way to do that.”

On a similar note, Community Ambassador Ava Nadel is a four-year vegan familiar with bodegas and her home area, whose passions also align with Plantega.

“As a Brooklyn native and vegan, I am able to represent two unique communities. I’m so happy to represent a NYC staple of my childhood/adolescence. However, I’ve only been vegan for four years — I was always jealous of my non-vegan friends being able to pop into their local bodega and freely order [from] any menu. Plantega has completely changed that,” Nadel stated.

Part of Plantega’s goal is to be both community powering and to empower the community, according to Plantega head Nil Zacharias. For Encarnacion, this goal is reached in part through the way that the Plantega team reflects the NYC communities. Community Ambassadors can also help bridge language divides between the Plantega team and local bodegas, as different NYC neighborhoods very in culture and demographics.

“Although none of what we do is about racial justice, it is important to highlight that the whole team is made up of people of color, just like how NYC is. We represent what NYC looks like. We work with the people that feed NYC, from the most broke resident, to the richest citizen in these five boroughs,” Encarnacion stated.

Furthermore, Nadel explained how “Plantega is 100% a community initiative.” As their website ensures, “Plantega was created by New Yorkers for New Yorkers.” Nadel uses her own experiences to connect with both bodega employees and the bodega customers — who then become Plantega customers.

“Not only has the consumption and demand for plant-based foods increased exponentially, so has the demand for accessibility. Thus, Plantega empowers bodegas to offer exactly that!” Nadel shared. “In order to connect with store owners/workers, you have to remember you weren’t always vegan yourself and that a large portion of the customers base won’t always be people who are 100% vegan; some people like to dabble, some are curious, and some may not have had the same access to resources and education on plant-based foods and veganism you or I may have.”

Regardless of personal experience, Encarnacion enthusiastically recommends for “anyone and everyone” from NYC to apply to be Plantega community ambassadors. Nadel further suggested that “anyone who is sociable and goal minded, who enjoys hopping around the 5 boroughs, […] apply to be a CA. I have increased my knowledge around the plant-based revolution and have built so many connections both within the vegan community and within bodegas!”

In the end, since its conception during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Plantega team has built its program with help of Community Ambassadors and the NYC communities themselves. You can read more about Plantega here: vrg.org/blog/2021/08/19/plantegas-collaboration-with-bodegas-and-activists-promoting-vegan-items-in-latino-grocery-stores/, or learn more about them at their website: https://eatplantega.com.

For resources in Spanish, see vrg.org/nutshell/information_in_Spanish.htm

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

Mod now has what they call dairy-free cheese and plant-based Italian sausage as options for their pizzas. For more information, see https://modpizza.com/menu/#pizzas and https://modpizza.com/allergen/

Here are Mod locations: https://modpizza.com/store-directory/

For info on other quick service restaurants, go to https://www.vrg.org/fastfoodinfo.php

To find veg restaurants in the U.S. and Canada, go to  https://www.vrg.org/restaurant/index.php

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

Breakfast, lunch, brunch, dinner, or an anytime snack! This simple recipe by Leslie Gray Street will come together in a snap and please any crowd. Toss together chopped vegetables like mushrooms, Brussels sprouts and red onion, with shredded hash brown, and flavor with smooth cashew cream and salsa. Everything goes on one sheet pan and after 25 minutes in the oven, your meal is ready to garnish and enjoy! Easy enough for a late night snack. Tasty enough to serve to brunch guests.

Go to this VRG video at https://youtu.be/MgFyjYKAUd0

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

The latest issue of Vegetarian Journal features Nutrition Hotline: When to Start Feeding Infants Solid Foods, by Reed Mangels, PhD, RD.

Read the entire column here: vrg.org/journal/vj2021issue3/2021_issue3_nutrition_hotline.php

To subscribe to Vegetarian Journal in the USA, see: vrg.org/member

The latest issue of Vegetarian Journal features a recipe piece titled “Raise a Toast,” by Jason Yowell. Enjoy recipes for Frico Caprese; Mushroom Medley Toasts with Herbed Cashew Cheeze; Seitan “Brat” Crostini; Sweet Potato Toasts with Beet Purée; BLT Toasts; and Sweet Cream & Fruit Tartine.

Read the entire article here: Raise a Toast

To subscribe to Vegetarian Journal in the USA, see: vrg.org/member

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 (Note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic many are doing take-out and/or delivery now):

Algorithm, Philadelphia, PA (Location varies each day open)

Food truck serving coffee, sandwiches, tacos, and more! They try to use locally produced items as much as possible. Enjoy a seitan cheesesteak sandwich, crispy tofu tacos, spicy house-made kimchi, Korean barbecue fries, bread pudding, and much more.

Dash and Chutney, Chattahoochee Food Works, 1235 Chattahoochee Ave. NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

This Upper Westside neighborhood food stall serves vegan Indian street food from various regions of India. Dishes served include Samosa Chaat, Vada Pav, and a Mumbai Grilled Sandwich.

Kelewele, Dekalb Market Hall, 445 Albee Square W., Brooklyn, NY 11201

Kelewele is a popular Ghanaian street food snack made from plantains. At this establishment, enjoy a wide variety of dishes featuring plantains such as plantains and rice, veggie plantain tacos, baked goods, and even plantain ice cream.

KraVegan, Orange Park Mall Food Court, 1910 Wells Rd., Orange Park, FL 32073

Located in the food court of the Orange Park Mall, the same team behind the KraVegan food truck and bakery (whose cupcakes and specialty items are available here) offers all-vegan versions of comfort food. Their menu is vast, including (but not limited to) buns, tacos, and hoagies with a wide range of fillings; Ribz; Kalamari; Mac n’Cheeze; Ackee Scramble; and gumbo. You can be sure that whichever option(s) you choose will pack in bold, tasty flavors with ample seasoning and carefully selected ingredients cooked with love.  Provides for all the family with both a dedicated kid’s menu and adult drinks on offer.

Om Sabor, Phonobar, 370 Grove St., San Francisco, CA 94132

Located in the Phonobar, Om Sabor offers “cosmic vegan vibrations with universal flavors.” With several different catering menus, happy hour taco Tuesday, and a regular menu, Om Savor provides a variety of options to customers. Try their Chorizo Flautas, Hibiscus Flower Tacos, Guajillo Peanut Curry, and The Lavender Scoop for dessert.

Peaceful Provisions, 383 Main St., Beacon, NY 12508

From blueberry-pistachio to passion fruit tea to cinnamon sugar and many more, Peaceful Provisions offers vegan donuts made with quality ingredients—in addition to other pastries. This family owned business also regularly updated their menu, which can be found on their social media sites alongside great pictures.

The Naughty Vegan, Old Towne Pasadena, 20 East Union St., Ste. 170, Pasadena, CA 91103 and 4th Street Market, 201 E. 4th St., Santa Ana, CA 92701

The Naughty Vegan offers a 100% plant-based, Asian fusion menu. Menu items include a variety of sushi rolls and bowls as well as sides like tempura, rice, and loaded fries. Specialties include naughty rolls such as the nami nami roll with vegan shrimp tempura, sakura’s sweet potato roll with fried sweet potato tempura, and the surf & turf sunny roll with tempura shrimp. House-made seitan beef and chicken are featured in several dishes including the teriyaki chicken and beef broccoli. Located within a food court.

Urban Vegan, 915 Broad St., Newark, NJ 07102

Urban Vegan offers healthy food, using locally-sourced ingredients, in a casual, friendly manner, thereby fulfilling its mission of proving that being vegan can be easy. The only hard part is trying to decide which items to order from the menu that celebrates American regional foods, such as the Southern-inspired biscuits, the Philly cheesesteak, or the all-American burger. The country biscuits are baked daily from scratch. And make sure to leave room for a fruit shake, like the Piña Colada made with coconut milk, pineapple, banana, lime and agave.

Vegan by El Zamorano, 3011 Harbor Blvd. #A, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

This taqueria and Mexican restaurant is affordable, authentic, and best of all, it’s fully vegan. Its purpose is to provide vegan Mexican cuisine to the community of Orange County, putting a new spin on traditional, well-loved foods. Everything is made fresh by experienced chefs. Choose from one of their many inexpensive tacos, such as the classic chorizo taco, or the more unique hibiscus taco. Also offered are a selection of burritos, tortas, quesadillas, and more. There’s something for everyone to enjoy, including gluten-free and soy-free options.