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):

Babes, 2417 J St., Sacramento, CA 95816

The first thing you will notice walking through the doors of Babes is a painting of a pink bulldog eyeing a sprinkled donut, adding to the fun atmosphere. All ice cream flavors start with a coconut base and the donuts are made out of a special mix of gluten-free flours Babes developed itself. Eight to ten ice cream flavors rotate daily and nine flavors of donuts change monthly. There are various kinds of ice cream to choose from, so if you want something chocolatey, fruity, or a flavor in between, Babes will have it. Some flavors include cookie dough, mint chip, chocolate peanut butter, pistachio, creamsicle, and raspberry lemon sorbet. As for the donuts, there are classic flavors like chocolate sprinkle and apple fritter, but also more unique ones such as maple pecan, blueberry lemon, and carrot donut hole. If you can’t decide between two of life’s greatest desserts: ice cream and donuts, go to Babes, they are offering the best of both worlds.

Blush Bakeshop, 408 Atwells Ave., Providence, RI 02909

Blush Bakeshop serves donuts, cakes, pizzas, and other great bakes to local customers. Their menu is fully vegan and all their bakes are made from scratch! New menu items can be seen on their Facebook account, and orders can be made online.

Lion Dance Café, 380 17th St., Oakland, CA 94612

Located in downtown Oakland, Lion Dance Café is named after a traditional dance performed in the Chinese culture because it is believed to bring good luck. Well, if you try this restaurant, it will be your lucky day. Most ingredients are made in house such as the seitan (wheat meat), douhua (silken tofu), shaobing (sesame bread), and sambal (chili paste). Try the shaobing sandwich #35 which is grilled seitan with a tomato and ginger relish on a sesame flatbread or the hodo tofu nuggets, which are brined, breaded and fried tofu bites. Keeping to the motto of the restaurant, “Authentic, not traditional,” the menu and atmosphere at Lion Dance Café pays homage to the owner’s culture while also embracing modern influences.

Madame Zuzu’s, 1876 First St., Highland Park, IL 60035

Madame Zuzu’s serves a wide variety of vegan options, from kale power salads to miso tofu bowls. They even provide a kids menu with vegan mac and cheese and almond butter jelly sandwiches, plus desserts! Most importantly, Madame Zuzu’s is known for its menu of teas and other beverages. They make their own, homemade loose leaf teas. One of their most bought teas is the Madame Zuzu’s Tropical Fruit Medley (herbal) tea, which is a blend of Spanish cantaloupe, honeydew, pineapple, hibiscus, Seville orange. They uniquely whip up mushroom coffees.

Pepitas Vegan Cocina, 820 S Interstate 35 E. #101, Denton, TX 76205

Pepitas Vegan Cocina offers authentic vegan versions of traditional Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes. Along with traditional dishes such as tacos, tamales, and quesadillas, they also offer a wide range of Mexican vegan snacks. These include sopapilla, churro, elote, and more.

Pop’s Eat Rite, 123 St. Marks Pl., New York, NY 10009

A colorful walk-up window nestled in Manhattan’s East Village; this vegan burger stop is not only delicious but also convenient. Pick up their famous rendition of the Impossible burger, add a cup of kale and some fries – and head a half a block down to Tompkins Square Park for a picnic outside. Don’t forget a vegan donut or an ice cream on the way out!

The Earthy Kitchen, 9318 East Colonial Dr., A-9, Orlando, FL 32817

The Earthy Kitchen is a completely vegan, selling unique Puerto-Rican cuisine, Florida. Earthy Kitchen is reliant on local produce and only selling vegetables that are in season. Most of their items on their menu will be labeled “pork” or “beef;” however, everything is completely plant-based. They substitute the pork for jackfruit and the beef with their own beefless steaks. Everything that is made is a traditional Puerto-Rican dish, but thrown with a vegan twist, making it a completely sustainable meal. They cook anything from empanadas to mofongo, which is sautéed vegetables in a garlic sauce. They even have dessert!

Tidy Ben’s, 13469 Wetmore Rd., San Antonio, TX 78247

Since sloppy joes are what this restaurant is known for, the menu has a bunch of creative flavors. Keep it simple and classic with the Sloppy Sloppy or get more adventurous with the Sloppy Pizza and Sloppy Fiesta. The sandwiches are made with plant-based “meat” and are piled high on soft Hawaiian slider buns, unless you want to order the Sloppy Tots (sloppy joe filling layered on tater-tots). Tidy Ben’s makes sure to source sustainability, so the ingredients are always fresh and locally sourced.

Have you been gaining weight during these stressful times? If so, you may want to check out the following article from The Vegetarian Resource Group: Weight Control the Vegan Way

Reed Mangels, PhD, RD and Chef Nancy Berkfoff, EdD, RD show you how to control your weight on a vegan diet by providing helpful tips, a chart listing lowfat foods to meet your nutritional needs, a sample menu, as well as delicious recipes.

Enjoy vegan deli salad recipes found in Rachel Haley Himmelheber’s previous Vegetarian Journal article titled “Deli Salads.” Feast on Mexican Cole Slaw; Potato Salad with Thai Peanut Dressing; Asian Slaw; German Potato Salad; Middle Eastern Macaroni Salad; and Pecan and Red Pepper Pesto Macaroni Salad.

Read the article here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2000jul/2000_jul_delisalads.php

To subscribe to Vegetarian Journal in the USA, see: https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php

You can also subscribe to the Kindle version of Vegetarian Journal in the USA and United Kingdom. In the USA, visit: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LBY2Y7K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1544727482&sr=8-1&keywords=B07LBY2Y7K  In the United Kingdom, visit: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07LBY2Y7K/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1544731957&sr=8-1&keywords=B07LBY2Y7K

Lately it seems like there have been many natural disasters occurring. That said, we thought it would be useful to reshare an article Reed Mangels, PhD, RD wrote: Disaster Planning for Vegetarians

    Dr. Mangels includes a list of vegan non-perishable food items to have on hand in case of an emergency, as well as a sample menu.

Do you ever wonder which common vegan foods are high in iron? The following article from includes a chart listing the iron content of selected vegan foods: Iron in the Vegan Diet

The New York Times recently ran an article about fungal leather. See: That Mushroom Motorcycle Jacket Will Never Go Out of Style

Also of interest may be:
https://www.vrg.org/links/LeatherAndClothingAlternatives.htm
https://www.vrg.org/nutshell/leather.htm
https://www.vrg.org/blog/2020/06/18/how-sustainable-is-vegan-leather/

By Julia Rosie Finnecy

Julia is a Vegetarian Resource Group 2020 video scholarship winner. She said: I am interested in vegetarianism because of the impact it has on the environment, and because it encourages people to try new things.

To see her video, go to: https://www.vrg.org/veg_videos.php

By Julia Stanitski, VRG Intern

Are you nervous about heading to college as a vegan? Or are you currently a student at the University of Delaware (UD) in Newark, DE and don’t know where to find vegan options? Here is a survival guide for you to navigate your way to finding food to eat in the dining halls, Trabant University Center, the small market P.O.D.s, and the establishments on Main Street. The information below pertains to UD before COVID-19, but any COVID-related changes to food availability is noted at the bottom of each section.

Dining Halls

There are three dining halls on campus, all of which are all-you-can eat style. These are Caesar Rodney, Russell, and Pencader. Each has a specified Vegan section, serving a wholesome vegan meal for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (different every time!). You will ALWAYS have this option available! Additionally, there is always a fully stocked salad bar filled with beans, all types of veggies, a variety of dressings, and more. Also, grab some fresh-cut fruit and hot rice & beans to take at any time. Keep an eye out for the occasional vegan cookies in the dessert section! Due to COVID-19, only the Pencader Dining Hall on North Campus remains open, providing the option of dining in or take-out. There are designated entrances for students to use and many new levels of safety protocols.

Trabant University Center

Trabant University Center does have vegan options, starting with the snacks on display. There are a variety of granola bars, pretzels and chips, fruit, hummus cups, sandwiches, and wraps that are vegan. My personal favorite is the Buffalo Seitan Wrap and the Falafel Bites. There are cold drinks and smoothies in the fridges that do not contain dairy.

Moving on to the small restaurants in Trabant:

• Greens to Go has customizable salads that can easily be made vegan with different mixes of lettuces, beans, veggies, and dressings.
• Konomi has great grab-and-go sushi where they offer vegetable rolls and seaweed salad.
• Peet’s Coffee has coffee drinks and teas that can be made with a variety of plant milks, such as coconut or soy.
• Chick-Fil-A offers fruit cups.

Sometimes there are pop-up food shops where vegan options can be available, so keep your eyes open! A small Information Desk in Trabant is open daily where they sell a few vegan candies and snacks like chips, too. With COVID-19, all Trabant food shops remain open with online ordering through Grubhub, Monday through Friday for both lunch and dinner.

The P.O.D.s

There are 3 P.O.D.s on campus. These are small markets with snacks, food, drinks, and other convenience items you may need. They are always stocked with energy bars and a huge variety of drinks, cereal, granola bars, healthy snacks, soups, and candy. They also have fresh food! Look out for veggies, fruit, and incredible pre-made vegan meals (yes, vegan!). These meals really come in handy when you are in a rush. My favorite is the vegetable dumplings, because you don’t even have to heat them up! The P.O.D. in the school building, Gore Hall, is smaller and has a limited selection. Due to COVID-19, only the P.O.D. on North Campus is open currently.

Main Street

Main Street is the busy, bright street close to campus where students go to eat, socialize, and hang out with friends. It is filled with so many restaurants and grab-and-go food places – many with vegan options. Here are just a few:

• Daily Veg: a vegan restaurant that has amazing food. They have sandwiches, burgers, salads, smoothie bowls, desserts, and even milkshakes! Yum!
• Homegrown: a very inclusive restaurant that offers countless vegan options. Almost anything on their large (and local) menu can be made vegan! They have incredible nachos, tater tots, breakfast burritos, and my favorite, the Tofu Banh Mi.
• Roots: one of the most popular spots to get lunch or dinner on Main Street. Make your own bowl or salad here, and fill it up with roasted veggies, seasoned beans, homemade sauces, fresh lettuce, and their famous Barbecue Tofu and Miso Tofu.
• Snap Pizza: create your own pizza at Snap and finish it off with vegan cheese. They also have a diverse variety of vegetables and herbs to place on top!
• Ramen Kumamoto: a fun noodle joint that has awesome vegan miso ramen. Just ask your waiter to ensure they don’t add egg! Come here for a BIG portion.
• Other common places on Main Street with vegan options: Chipotle, Qdoba, Mod Pizza, Playa Bowls, and Starbucks.

Even with COVID-19, all of these restaurants remain open with limited seating inside.

As you can see, you will definitely be able to find healthy, vegan food you can eat on and around campus. The options are endless! Let us know if you check out any of the places mentioned.

For information about other schools, see https://www.vrg.org/teen/#college

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 Federal Government workers who would like to donate to The Vegetarian Resource Group through the Combined Federal Campaign, our CFC number is #10601     

Thank you for your support!

By Reed Mangels, PhD, RD

The United States has joined other countries who issue postage stamps highlighting fruits and vegetables. On July 17, 2020 the USPS issued booklets of 20 forever stamps featuring 10 different fruits and vegetables. You’ll find eggplants, figs, carrots, blueberries, tomatoes, and other delights.

     According to the USPS website, the artist who created the stamps used real fruits and vegetables for models and created a still-life composition for each stamp. Because of the relatively short shelf life of the produce, he also took photos of his compositions to finish his work.

     I was lucky enough to find these at the post office. They can also be ordered on the USPS website.