By Jeanne Yacoubou, MS

Plaza Azteca is a chain of family owned and operated Mexican restaurants located (at the time of this writing) in seven East Coast states: Virginia (23), Pennsylvania (9), North Carolina (3), Connecticut (2), Massachusetts (1), Maryland (1), and New Jersey (1). Their first restaurant opened in Virginia Beach, VA in the 1990s.

The VRG received an email from a reader who dined recently at the Midlothian, VA Plaza Azteca. He wrote:

“…I wanted to share that the rice used by this chain is cooked in either chicken broth or with a chicken broth bouillon. I spoke with a manager at the Plaza Azteca in Midlothian, Virginia to verify. She brought out the cooks and we asked how the rice was prepared. The biggest concern is that their menu had a ‘Vegetarian’ section and all ‘vegetarian’ dishes are served with a side of rice.

I would also like to add that I initially asked my waiter if the rice was vegetarian, he said yes, I specifically asked if it was cooked in stock and his hesitation in answering made me question his knowledge.”

The VRG wanted to determine if the rice at Plaza Azteca is prepared with animal broth so we first sent an email through their website contact form,
and then called the Midlothian, VA restaurant. First we learned from employees that there isn’t a corporate office that handles inquiries such as ours. The menu should be the same in all restaurants but may vary.

When we asked specifically about the rice, we learned that “white rice” offered with the vegan menu option is not made with animal stock. It’s “just water, garlic and salt.”

“Rice” on the menu is not vegetarian. It’s “yellow in color due to spices and is prepared in chicken stock.”

We called Plaza Azteca a second time to learn more about its “vegan burrito bowl” listed on its online menu. In September 2019 we were informed that the online menu is not current. Now they offer a vegan bowl and a vegan burrito called Burrito Vegano. The vegan bowl consists of soy meat, rice, black beans, guacamole, corn, onions, poblano peppers, mushrooms, vegan cheese, and pico de gallo sauce. The vegan burrito has the same components of the vegan bowl placed inside of a wheat tortilla. The “soy meat” is a “plant-based protein.”The “vegan cheese” is “tofu.” The white rice, black beans, guacamole, corn, onions, mushrooms, poblano peppers, and pico de gallo sauce are vegan.

The VRG asked if there are any animal flavors, fats or stock in any vegan bowl or burrito component. We were informed that there were not. They replied to our question about kitchen protocols that the soy meat “is grilled on a clean surface away from meat products.”

In another conversation, they read off the labels of the soy meat, soy cheese, and tortilla. The soy meat is PlantFare^® brand. The soy cheese is West Soy^® brand. They called the cheese “tofu” on several occasions during our call. Both appear to be all-plant soy products from what we gathered from reading off the labels while we spoke.

We asked specifically if the wheat tortilla contained L-cysteine or egg or dairy products. They read the label while we were on the phone, spelling out the names and concluded L-cysteine, dairy (whey or casein) or egg ingredients were not present.

The manager also confirmed that the soy meat and vegetables are grilled separated in vegetable oil away from all meat products.

When we asked if gelatin was in the guacamole, the reply was that they make their own and do not add gelatin.

They use the menu put out by the Plaza Azteca corporate office. All restaurant locations should offer the same menu but call before visiting to avoid surprises.

When we asked if guests could substitute a meat product with the soy meat in other menu dishes, we were told that it could be done, but advised that patrons should make the request upon ordering. Their rep also pointed out that vegan diners should request the white rice in these menu substitutions since the yellow rice is prepared with chicken broth.

VRG readers should check with the manager at any Plaza Azteca restaurant if in doubt about any menu options or ingredients. Here is the website list of locations: https://www.plazaazteca.com/locations-hours

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

For information about vegan and vegetarian restaurants in the USA and Canada, see https://www.vrg.org/restaurant/index.php

By Gene Slothour-Hudnall

Uno is testing the Beyond Meat burger, as well as Daiya Vegan Cheese in shredded form, that can be used either for pizza or with a burger. The menu is currently in test at their Springfield, Revere, Wrentham, Nashua 1&2, Astoria, Clifton, Ellicott City, and Merrifield locations. It launches to all locations on 10/22/2019.

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 other chains, see https://www.vrg.org/fastfoodinfo.php

To find vegetarian and vegan restaurants, go to https://www.vrg.org/restaurant/index.php

by Lucia Rivera, VRG Intern

When I first stopped eating meat at the age of seven I was much less informed on vegan foods as I am now, at the age of fifteen. I also never made my own food, leaving my parents to please my past self with requests for meat-free meals. Yes, accommodations had to be made, but I nostalgically remember many dishes I loved during the earlier years of my childhood.

For example, I still recall the delicious vegetable soup that became a comfort dish to my younger self; full of potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, and spices. Young kids, and even teenagers, can be easy to please with warm soup for dinner. Besides home cooked recipes, there were products my parents would buy for the whole family from grocery stores. Before I became a vegetarian, a family favorite was veggie corn dogs from Trader Joes. Almost any traditional meat dish can now be found “veganized” in the frozen food section of a local grocery store, and items like vegan corn dogs that are available today are especially attractive to young kids. Anything in a unique shape or that one can eat with their hands has an extra element of fun!

As part of a Latinx household, beans were also always on the menu, with so many different ways to prepare them! Perhaps a cultural staple in some families, beans can be adopted by any parents who want to serve their young kids a vegan meal that is delicious and full of nutrients as well. On tostadas topped with tomato and avocado, or in a bowl with broth, beans can be best friends to young kids and parents.

Along with vegan store-bought items and vegan staples that can be blended into a range of recipes, vegan snacks for kids are actually everywhere, starting with fruit! Looking back on my early childhood, I absolutely adored going to the backyard to pick ripe guavas from our tree, and most importantly eating them after. Watermelon, bananas, mandarins, tomatoes, and avocados were just the beginning. Applesauce was great on the go, as were raisins, craisins, and nuts. Kids wouldn’t be kids without also indulging in snacks like potato chips, rice cakes, pretzels, and tortilla chips, but those are all vegan-friendly too.

When going out I easily learned to order the veggie burger or veggie delight in place of sliced turkey and orange chicken, respectively. Perhaps surprisingly, a lot of kids are flexible with their diet if you give them the chance to be, and can be willing to try something new if it’s sold to them in a convincing manner. I was definitely willing to try an alternative lunch provided by my elementary school instead of what my friends were served so that I could help my animal friends.

Otherwise, school lunches ranged from a thermos full of pasta to peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, with diced fruit cups to the side. No matter what you have to eat, lunches at school are a part of childhood that will be remembered later on. For me, I recall presenting my lunch with friends as if I was on a fancy cooking show, and thoroughly being excited to have the chance to choose my own lunches as I got older.

Overall, despite the general pickiness of younger kids, there are a very wide variety of vegan foods that can become nostalgic favorites over time. Below are just a few of the meals and snacks that could please the vegan kid in your life:

Meals:
–    Vegan pizza
–    Pasta with tomato sauce
–    Vegetable or lentil soup
–    Nut butter and banana sandwiches
–    Vegan waffles/pancakes
–    Veggie burgers/dogs

Snacks:
–    Apple slices and peanut butter
–    Trail mix
–    Fruit salad
–    Smoothies
–    Fruit popsicles
–    Carrot sticks (with your choice of dressing or dip)

For more suggestions, Join VRG’s Parents’ Group. See: https://www.facebook.com/groups/VRGparentsandkids/

Also, go to https://www.vrg.org/family/tips_for_young_vegans.php

VEGGIE HAPPY has compiled a list of veggie food served at NFL and other stadiums. See: https://www.veggiehappy.com/listings/

Are you looking for places to purchase vegan candy, chocolate, and other treats for Halloween? Here’s some online sources that sell vegan goodies with a Halloween theme, as well as items sold in stores:

Amy’s: https://www.amys.com/our-foods?vegan=1&onthemenu[0]=candy&items=24 Three types of chocolate candy bars.

Natural Candy Store: https://www.naturalcandystore.com/category/vegan-candy Variety of chocolate, lollipops, and more.

No Whey Chocolate: https://www.nowheychocolate.com/Halloween_Chocolate_s/150.htm Wide variety of vegan chocolates that are allergy-friendly as well.

Enjoy Life Foods: https://enjoylifefoods.com/collections/seasonal Vegan chocolates made from rice milk or dark chocolate.

Vegan Essentials: https://store.veganessentials.com Variety of chocolates.

Yum Earth: https://yumearth.com/products/lollipops Organic lollipops, as well as hard candies.

A Vegetarian Resource Group member let us know about this senior community with vegan options.

La Posada
Park Center Inc.
350 East Morningside Road
Green Valley, AZ 85614 USA
(520) 648-8131
[email protected]
Assisted Living, Independent Living, Memory Care
Always several vegan items on menu. Sample vegan dishes are vegan lentil
soup, vegan burger, vegan pad Thai, spaghetti squash with mushrooms,
spaghetti marinara, tacos with refried beans no lard, crepe with vegetables (per a resident, without eggs), rolled eggplant stuffed with hummus, and tofu scramble.

For information about other senior facilities with vegetarian options in the USA, see: https://www.vrg.org/seniors/senior_vegan.php

If you know of others, please send information to [email protected]
THANK YOU!

Recommendations developed by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Academy of Pediatrics and American Heart Association (1).

By Reed Mangels, PhD, RD

Recent headlines included “What Should Young Children Drink? Mostly Milk and Water, Scientists Say” and “Milk and Water Are OK for Kids — Juice and Plant-Based Drinks Aren’t.” These headlines accompanied news stories about the new recommendations for beverages for babies and children developed by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Academy of Pediatrics and American Heart Association (1).

Not surprisingly, the recommendations call for babies age 0-12 months to only drink breast milk or infant formula, with small amounts of water added once solid foods are introduced. This is based on evidence that other beverages including plant milks and cow’s milk are not good choices for babies under a year old. Fruit juice is either avoided (for those under a year) or limited to a half cup or less of 100% fruit juice daily for 1-3 year olds (up to ¾ cup for 4-5 year olds). It’s better for kids to eat fruit rather than drinking juice.

So far, so good. Then things start to get confusing. The full report (identified as being for professionals) says, “Unsweetened plant milks/non-dairy beverages are not recommended for exclusive consumption in place of dairy milk (with the exception of soy milk); consume only when medically indicated or to meet specific dietary preferences.” (2)  Our interpretation – unsweetened soy milk can be used to replace dairy milk but other plant milks should only be used if medically indicated or for those avoiding cow’s milk. The version of the report for professionals seems to have a more nuanced stance than the more widely publicized recommendations aimed at parents and care-givers.

Recommendations for parents and care-givers list plant-based/non-dairy milks as something children age 1-5 years should not drink as full replacements for cow’s milk. The reasoning given is that “with the exception of fortified soy milk, many plant-based/non-dairy milk alternatives lack key nutrients found in cow’s milk.” (1). If fortified soy milk has the key nutrients found in cow’s milk, why isn’t it promoted as an alternative to cow’s milk? Is it simply that dairy products are more commonly used in this country? What sort of recommendations would be made if the dominant culture was one that did not give children animal milk?

We have other questions with the new recommendations. For example, the report says, “Even when these [plant] milks have extra nutrients added to them, our bodies may not absorb those nutrients as well as they can from regular milk.” (1) The evidence for this statement is questionable. Two studies have reported that the calcium in fortified soymilk is as well-absorbed as the calcium in cow’s milk (3, 4). We could not find research looking at the absorption of other nutrients from fortified soymilk or other plant milks. It’s not clear from the report which nutrients may not be well-absorbed. Additionally, pea protein-based milk has a similar amino acid profile to soy milk and fortified products are available. Why weren’t pea protein-based milks included as recommended beverages?

Here’s what we recommend in terms of beverages for infants and children if your family wants to avoid dairy consumption:

Birth to age 1: Breast milk or infant formula; add sips of water when solid foods are started.

Age 1 to 5:
•    Breast milk or infant formula can be continued; full-fat, unsweetened fortified soy milk or pea protein-based milk can replace or be used along with breast milk or infant formula provided the toddler is growing well and eating a variety of foods. Choose a soy milk or pea protein-based milk that is fortified with calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin B-12.
•    Water
•    Limit 100% fruit juice to no more than ½ cup per day for 1 to 3 year olds, no more than ¾ cup per day for 4 to 5 year olds.
•    Avoid:
o    Caffeinated drinks like coffee, tea, energy drinks, soda
o    Diet drinks
o    Sugar-sweetened drinks including soda, fruit drinks, fruit flavored drinks, fruit-ades, sports drinks, energy drinks, sweetened waters, and sweetened coffee and tea drinks
o    Plant milks other than fortified soy or pea protein-based milks as the child’s primary beverage: If there is a medical reason, such as allergy, for using beverages such as nut milks, rice milks, or other plant milks as the primary beverage, consult with a registered dietitian or other health care professional to be sure the child’s overall diet is nutritionally adequate.

References
1. Healthy Drinks. Healthy Kids. https://healthydrinkshealthykids.org/parents/
2. Healthy Beverage Consumption in Early Childhood. https://healthydrinkshealthykids.org/app/uploads/2019/09/HER-HealthyBeverageTechnicalReport.pdf September, 2019.
3. Zhao Y, Martin BR, Weaver CM. Calcium bioavailability of calcium carbonate fortified soymilk is equivalent to cow’s milk in young women. J Nutr. 2005 Oct;135(10):2379-82.
4. Tang AL, Walker KZ, Wilcox G, Strauss BJ, Ashton JF, Stojanovska L. Calcium absorption in Australian osteopenic post-menopausal women: an acute comparative study of fortified soymilk to cows’ milk. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2010;19(2):243-9.

For more information on raising vegan children, see
https://www.vrg.org/family/kidsindex.htm#nutrition
https://www.facebook.com/groups/VRGparentsandkids/

According to Market Watch, McDonald’s Corp. is testing a Beyond Meat  plant-based burger made by the company in Canada.

The burger is called the P.L.T., which stands for plant-lettuce-tomato, and will be sold in 28 restaurants starting Sept. 30 in southwestern Ontario. The trial will run for 12 weeks.

There is now a vegan Ensure. See: https://ensure.com/nutrition-products/ensure-plant-based-protein/vanilla-shakehttps://ensure.com/nutrition-products/ensure-plant-based-protein/vanilla-shake

For other products, see https://www.vrg.org/seniors/#meal

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 is hosting our 37th Annual Pre-Thanksgiving Vegan Potluck Dinner on Sunday, November 24th, 2018 at 5 PM. The event is taking place at:

The Vegetarian Resource Group is hosting our 37th Annual Pre-Thanksgiving Vegan Potluck Dinner on Sunday, November 24th, 2018 at 5 PM. The event is taking place at:

North Baltimore Mennonite Church
4615 Roland Avenue
Baltimore MD 21210

We will be showing appreciation for turkeys by not eating them! Come join us for a variety of festive, delicious vegan dishes! Please bring a vegan dish – free of meat, fish, poultry, dairy, eggs, honey, or any other animal by-products – that serves 4 per adult attending.

Adult admission is $5 and children eat free! Any questions call (410) 366-8343 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm.

Also, you may want to bring a vegan canned good for the church that will be used for feeding the hungry. We hope to see you there!