Caryn Ginsburg enjoys visiting Disney World and recently contributed an article on vegan food served at Disney World and Disneyland Resorts. Caryn reports: Disney frequently adds vegan foods. The following resource, among others, can help any vegan visitor plan a truly delicious vacation to Orlando, Florida, or to Disneyland in California: Disney Plant-Based Cuisine: Brochure available at the park. See sample at www.disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/plant-based.

Read Caryn’s full article here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2020issue1/2020_issue1_vegan_kingdom.php

Subscribe to Vegetarian Journal in the USA only by visiting 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

In the latest issue of Vegetarian Journal, Casey Brown, RD responds to a reader’s question: I am interested in going vegan, but I have Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). I’m not sure what I would be able to eat if I went vegan?

Read the entire article including Casey’s response here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2020issue1/2020_issue1_nutrition_hotline.php

Subscribe to Vegetarian Journal in the USA only by visiting 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

Little Fig Bake Shop is a vegan wholesaler ran by Melanie Molinaro that supplies delicious vegan baked goods to several veggie establishments in Baltimore. Enjoy their donuts, brownies, cookies, cakes, and more.

They also manufacture an incredible vegan fried chik’n product and do custom orders. You can contact them at [email protected]

For more information, see:

https://www.instagram.com/littlefigbakeshop/?fbclid=IwAR3_GouycuugtZmgXqHYwSYa1AAHQC7tdYAzIkjMglS18egtrvnWtoRIc3s

Recent discussion topics include:

– Our son is about to turn one. My wife and I eat a plant-based diet, but are feeling a bit lost and a little scared as we prepare to transition the baby off of formula and on to “real” food as his primary source of nutrition, while staying vegan. Help?

– How do you educate young children and tell them the truth about where meat comes from and how animals are badly treated, but not terrify them?

– Just got back from my son’s one-year check-up, and the only concern the doctor had about a plant-based diet was the amount of fat (or lack thereof) in whatever plant-based milk we may choose to transition to. Anyone know of any brands/varieties that have comparable fat to whole cow’s milk and also hit the other main important points (protein, calcium, vitamins D and B12)?

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. 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.

By Lucía Rivera, VRG Intern

Nestled among blocks of storefronts in the Hillcrest section of San Diego, CA, Veganic Thai Café awaits visitors with warm lights and an abundance of vegan Thai food. I visited one Sunday afternoon while hungry for a delicious midday meal, which I happily received by the end of my stay.

     The restaurant has an elegantly designed interior, with a unique mural covering one wall of the restaurant. After entering, the waitress quickly sat me and my party of three near the kitchen and filled our glasses with water.

     When reviewing the menu, I noted the statements on the front page describing the key aspects of their menu. Their vegan menu products “contain no meat, dairy products, honey, eggs, and animal products,” although they did mention when asked that they do not pay attention to whether their sugar is vegan or not. Additionally, as noted in their name, this café likes to incorporate organic tofu and vegetables into their recipes. Their extensive menu was broken up into appetizers, salads, soups, curries, specialties, noodles and fried rice, stir-fried, desserts, and beverages.

     My table decided to order two appetizers of summer rolls and soy chicken satay. The summer rolls were fresh and served with plum sauce and peanut sauce. Their tofu was not fried, so I would recommend this order specifically for people who prefer soft textures. Additionally, the satay “chicken” (fried soy protein coated with curry on a kabob stick) was a very nice mix of great flavors and textures, and a good start to the meal.

     For the main course, I ordered the green apple salad with soy “chicken.” While this is usually prepared with a spicy lime dressing, I asked for the dressing on the side. I truly enjoyed my salad, which had carrots, red onions, cashews, lettuce, tomato, soy chicken, green onions, and of course green apple slices. It was a light meal that still provided protein and nutrients through the fresh vegetables. With every crunch of crisp green apple, I became more pleased with the dish. I was also pleased with the size of the plate and the relative amount of soy chicken to vegetables.

     While I stuck to soy chicken, Veganic Thai Café offers several other forms of soy “meats,” such as faux shrimp, beef, duck, and tofu. This variety is perfect for a family like mine where some members are used to non-vegan foods because the replacement proteins very closely resemble the food they imitate. Veganic Thai Café also caters to a wide range of spice tolerance, offering a mix of non-spicy and spicy menu items, with a 1-10 range for the latter.

     Overall, my meal at Veganic Thai Café was satisfying and I would recommend for vegans, vegetarians, or omnivores in San Diego to stop by and get a taste of their own.

Several years ago, The Vegetarian Resource Group created an article on how to be prepared for a disaster. At the time, we were thinking of cases where there was a threat of a tornado, hurricane, etc. Today we’re seeing countries having to confine individuals due to the spread of a virus. The information we published is still helpful and includes a sample menu as well as list of supplies to have on hand. The article can be found here: https://www.vrg.org/nutshell/disaster.htm

According to Good Planet Foods, White Castle will be offering non-dairy cheese on any slider, starting in March 2020 in New Jersey and New York City restaurants, before moving nationally.

For information on other restaurant chains, see https://www.vrg.org/fastfoodinfo.php

For information on vegetarian/vegan restaurants in the USA and Canada, see 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.

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:

Globally Local

252 Dundas St., London, ON N6A 1H3 Canada

1141 Highbury Ave. North, London, ON N5Y 1A5 Canada

492 College St., Toronto, ON M6G 1A4 Canada

Globally Local is a 24 hour vegan drive thru. Specializing in vegan fast food, this restaurant offers sides, “chickUN,” all day-breakfast, dessert, burgers, tacos and more. All the ingredients used in specific dishes can be found on their website, where you can also place orders. Globally Local also uses a variety of faux meats including house-made chickpea burgers, soy taco meat, house-made sausage, gyro meat and more! These are used in dishes like the “Vopper” burger and “Famous Style Fries”.

Happy Soul

531 13th St. West, Bradenton, FL 34205

Happy Soul offers delicious vegan, soy-free, and gluten-free foods. On top of the creative food found on their rotating schedule, they also offer special homemade drinks like almond milk, kombucha, lemonade, and their most popular, the homemade tea varieties. The restaurant also provides desserts from the attached Sugar Cubed bakery shop like cookies and whole cakes. Customers can sit inside or enjoy the weather with their outdoor seating, and customers can also purchase wholesale food or catering services for events.

Kindred

7537 Maple St., New Orleans, LA 70118

Kindred many local favorites and comfort food staples prepared completely vegan. With a focus on classics like the Poboy Sandwich, Fried Chicken Sandwich, and Cheeseburgers, anyone is sure to find a plant-based favorite here. Kindred also specializes in cocktails and blended frozen drinks to enjoy along with their hearty dishes. Be sure to check out their dessert selection as well.

Lifestyle Café

891 Oak St., Columbus, OH 43205

Waffles, pastries, overnight oats to endless options of delicious sliders that include Bang Bang Shrymp, Sloppy Mo, Beyond Brat, Krabby Patty, and more. A BLT or Kale salad are another delicious option on the menu. This plant-based, wholefood kitchen also offers daily fresh gluten-free options. Be sure to take in your own cup to receive a discount on one of the amazing homemade blends of beetroot, turmeric, chocolate and a large selection of local teas. Weekend brunch at this warm little spot is a must!

Modern Times at The Belmont Fermentorium

600 SE Belmont St., Portland, OR 97214

This is a café and brewery tasting room. Five out of seven entrees are made with Beyond “meat” products. The Reuben fries are topped with seitan and there’s also a Panang fried rice made with vegan spicy soy chicken.

Planetary Burger

3088 Main St., Vancouver, BC V5T 3G5 Canada

Burgers, Fries & Shakes! Not sure which burger to get? Try the tasting flight of sliders to get an idea of what is offered (beet burger, spicy cauliflower burger, mushroom burger, or and classic cheeze burger). Fries are baked, not fried and super tasty. Cashew and coconut-based milkshakes come in chocolate, vanilla, coffee, blueberry açai, and strawberry flavor and are sweetened using dates, maple syrup, and agave. This spot ranks high on the list by the locals so be sure not to miss!

SoBe Vegan

401 North Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

And

110 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139 (reopening in Spring)

Calling itself the “ultimate vegan quick casual restaurant,” SoBe Vegan aims to offer a variety of healthy, vegan American style food to its visitors. SoBe Vegan now offers healthy burgers, hot dogs, salads, “chick’n” and 6 different flavors of shakes. With beer and wine offered for adults, a kids menu for children, and dog-friendly, this restaurant is great for families who want to help SoBe Vegan meet their goal of helping the younger generation.

Sweet Soul Bakery

454 Lake Ave., St. James, NY 11787

The mission of this little Long Island, New York bakery is simple–create delicious and satisfying food that is appealing to vegans and non-vegans alike. They offer tasty desserts and treats for everyday and special occasions without preservatives or artificial ingredients, while using organic ingredients whenever possible. Stop in to try the soup of the day, like Loaded Baked Potato or Spicy Zucchini and follow them on Facebook for special events like a Vegan Egg Sandwich pop up!

Spring Café

153D Centre St., New York, NY 10013

Small vegan brunch & comfort food café. Sells burgers, salads, breakfast sandwiches, smoothies, sides, and bao buns. Uniquely, they serve a sandwich made with a Filipino purple yam called ube. Lots of interesting vegan burgers to choose from as well.

Nothing beats a simple graphic to get the vegan message out! The Vegetarian Resource Group created My Vegan Plate to display on outreach tables at various events. If you live in the United States, you can request copies of this handout to distribute by emailing us at [email protected]

You can view the handout here: https://www.vrg.org/nutshell/MyVeganPlate.pdf

This same handout can also be read in Spanish here: https://www.vrg.org/images/miplatovegano.jpg

We also have a version you can print out for kids to color on: https://www.vrg.org/nutshell/MyVeganPlateCP.pdf

Donations towards this outreach are always appreciated: www.vrg.org/donate

How often have you wanted to make a gift in honor of a loved one or friend but weren’t sure which charities are vegan-friendly, pro-environmental, or pro-animal rights? Please remember The Vegetarian Resource Group. You can make a gift in memory of a loved one or as a living tribute to honor someone you care about on a special occasion, such as a wedding or birth. We’ll send an acknowledgment to you and to the recipient(s) you choose. Your gift will support educational programs and help promote veganism.

Make checks payable to The Vegetarian Resource Group and mail to PO Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203, or donate at vrg.org/donate.