The Annals of Internal Medicine sent out a press release about “New guidelines: No need to reduce red or processed meat consumption for good health.” According to Marion Nestle, “the press announcement was accompanied by 5 review papers, a sixth with this recommendation, and an editorial. These are posted on the website of their publisher, the American College of Physicians, implying this organization’s endorsement of this guideline. Collectively, these papers challenge dietary advice to eat less processed meat and red meat on the grounds of inadequate science.”

According to Dr. Nestle, “The studies look at previous studies that compared people who eat meat to those who eat less. The authors excluded studies of vegetarians compared to meat-eaters.” Here is her initial response to the studies. https://www.foodpolitics.com/2019/09/eat-as-much-meat-as-you-like/

Marion Nestle is Paulette Goddard Professor, of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health, Emerita, at New York University, which she chaired from 1988-2003 and from which she officially retired in September 2017.  From 1986-88, she was senior nutrition policy advisor in the Department of Health and Human Services and editor of the 1988 Surgeon General’s Report on Nutrition and Health.

Recent discussion topics include:

– Is there anyone who has a good vegan/plant-based cookbook to recommend for families with young children, in SPANISH?

– Someone posted a photo and the caption: Heading to the Dail Museum for a homeschooling event. That means Box Lunches! This is today’s goodies! (Lunches in photo consisted of: The rolls had artichokes, sun dried tomatoes, capers, beet/basil pesto (vegan of course), roasted red peppers, and broccoli sprouts. Then we had walnuts, cranberries, pepitas, almonds, prunes, and, mangos. Carrots and hummus. And dessert was oat/coconut/chocolate chip squares.)

–Someone asked: Any favorite vegan clothing brands for back to school shopping? People suggested:

Raw Apparel; Mighty Vegan Apparel; Monkee Genes; Save Lands; Herbivore Clothing; Nanen; Little Papaya Co.; PETIT TEMBO; BEETxBEET; Vegan Power; VEGAN Happy Clothing; Brand13; Dharma Love by Anastasia Keriotis; 365vegan

-Plus other topics covered!

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.

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:

Earth Plant Based Cuisine

1325 Grand Ave., Ste. 7, Phoenix, AZ 85007

Earth Plant Based Cuisine focuses on serving delicious vegan dishes in a green and natural setting. Aiming to use organic and non-GMO ingredients, Earth Plant Based Cuisine offers a plethora of Mexican-style dishes starring daily handmade tortillas from scratch. Another special menu item is their monster shakes adorned with varying combinations of vegan marshmallows, pretzels, popcorn, and more.

Ms. Beasley’s Catering Company

1415 Tulane Ave., New Orleans, LA 70112

Ms. Beasley’s aims to bring healthy food options to the people of New Orleans. Serving up simple meals like red beans and rice, veggie burgers, quinoa bowls, and the like, she makes good food easy. Follow the truck on Instagram @msbeasleyscatering287 for times and locations.

New Ethic Pizzeria & Café

545 Titus Ave., Rochester, NY 14617

New Ethic Pizzeria abjures the use of animal products entirely. From the “wings” to the pizzas, everything is vegan! Try the Dick Dale: their vegan version of the Hawaiian pizza! Or try the Iggy Popeye, a white pizza made with artichokes, tofu ricotta and, of course, spinach. There are also wings, subs, paninis, and calzones to choose from, so stop by today for a compassionate and peaceful dinner!

Plant Base

370 Pacific Ave. , Jersey City, NJ 07304

Plant Base is an all-vegan restaurant and grocery located in the Bergen-Lafayette neighborhood of Jersey City. The eclectic menu changes daily, but entrees include tofu scramble, vegan quesadillas, baked ziti, sloppy joes, and mac and cheese of all sorts. They do brunch on the weekends, and because they’re a grocery as well, you can also pick up some personal care items. If you’re taking your food to go, however, bring your own container, as Plant Base aims for zero waste!

PLNT Burger

833 Wayne Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910

PLNT Burger is a straight-forward vegan burger shop. The patties are Beyond Meat, the “cheeses” are vegan, and the fries are herb seasoned. Pair it with an oat milk based soft-serve or a sweet tea, and you’ve got a nostalgic masterpiece of a meal.

Renegades of Sunset

254 36th St., Brooklyn, NY 11232

Are they a sandwich shop? A lunch counter? Whatever you call it, Renegades of Sunset is a good place to get a vegan sandwich for lunch. Or a Caesar salad. Or a bowl of mac & cheeze made from scratch. And they’re open late enough for you to grab an early dinner after work. So why don’t you do just that, and decide for yourself?

Sunflower Bakehouse

2414 Lebanon Pike, Nashville, TN 37214

Sunflower Bakehouse is a unique vegan restaurant from the owners of Sunflower Café. They operate on the idea that vegan and gluten-free eating should be both delicious and limitless. This mission is reflected in their variety of menu items ranging from focaccia to brownies and their generous hours. Check out their web site before you head down for a full menu and photos that will make your mouth water!

Vegan Bear

335 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M5B 1R7 Canada

If you’re a vegan shawarma place like Vegan Bear, you don’t have to do a dozen different things. Just do shawarma, and do it right! That’s what they do at Vegan Bear. Wash it down with a kombucha or a kefir water, and enjoy the outdoor seating while the weather’s nice. If you don’t want to leave the house, that’s fine too: they deliver.

Village Taco

7 E. Main St., Alexandria, OH 43001

Village Taco is a little weekend spot with a scrumptious menu of vegan tacos, enchiladas, nachos, burritos, and the like. Fillings include seasoned “chickun”, ground “beaf”, and pulled “porq” made from

vegan sources like jackfruit and gluten. They also put special emphasis on local sourcing, so you know it’s fresh!

Wildseed

2000 Union St., San Francisco, CA 94123

Wildseed is an eclectic vegan restaurant that caters to a variety of delicious options. From the Beyond Burger to the house veggie burger, they offer dishes both the familiar and new. Other dishes include soba noodles in pho broth, Hodo soy tofu skewers, and rigatoni Bolognese. As they say on their website, “eat like you….[care].”

By Lucia Rivera, VRG Intern

As someone with Latin American immigrant parents growing up in the United States, it makes perfect sense that I would visit other areas of the world. This being said, it is never simple, and became significantly less so when I adopted a practically vegan diet. Although this made family trips more complicated, they are still very important to me and decidedly worth any stress. Through my experiences I have learned that there are a magnitude of dishes to eat and tips to use in order to enjoy a trip abroad in Latin America while also sticking to one’s beliefs and dietary choices.

It is important to note that every country, and the various regions within a country, have different styles of food and different staple dishes. For example, in Nicaragua, a country in Central America where I used to visit annually, meat is not as prominent as in countries like Mexico or Argentina. I would find it extremely easy to enjoy the traditional gallo pinto (rice and red beans), platano maduro (fried ripe plantain), and yuca frita (fried yucca root). These are dishes served at every restaurant, along with typical side options of beans, rice, or a tortilla. Vegan options were not at all hard to find, as long as you don’t mind eating similar dishes in a row. Veganism is possible to follow while enjoying the excitement of trying another nation’s food, or maybe even ethnic foods prepared in your home.

On the other hand, in a country like Mexico it may be more difficult to avoid animal products in dishes since a common ingredient is lard. In my experience, the best way to ensure a vegan meal while dining in certain areas of Latin America is to inquire about ingredients used in dishes with the waiters and chefs. Every restaurant has its own way of cooking red rice or preparing refried beans. Depending on your level of comfort with asking questions at new restaurants, that can be a solid solution to the possible variation in recipes you might have thought were vegan. While some meals may be played safe and repeatedly consist of beans, vegetables, and tortillas, other areas like Tijuana in Baja California have become more and more common sites for vegan restaurants. In south San Diego County, the nearest vegan restaurants are actually in TJ. Of course, if you are a big snacker and are going on a long trip, something that can be helpful is to plan ahead and bring along vegan snacks with you to any destination.

Research and planning can be very helpful in other ways as well. A simple google search can provide information about the specific area you are planning on visiting and vegan options available there. Grocery stores are still an effective source for a vegan meal. I can’t count the number of times I had spaghetti and tomato sauce for dinner during my family trips to Central America. In fact, if it is your goal, you can keep a similar diet to yours at home through purposeful dining and shopping. A day’s meals could look like oatmeal or vegan pancakes for brunch and a favorite sandwich for dinner. Travelers still have a lot of liberty in their daily meals, whether that be choosing to indulge in native recipes or sticking to the familiar basics when abroad.

As someone who eats veganized Mexican and Nicaraguan dishes at home, I know what to look for in foreign restaurants, ranging from guacamole without sour cream to rice cooked without chicken broth. It is important to have confidence that a vegan lifestyle can be retained throughout a trip abroad in Latin America.

Despite difficulties, traveling can be a life changing experience and there are so many beautiful things to visit across Latin America. This is precisely why I advise vacationers to take advantage of their time abroad and try some really good, Latin American and vegan food.

For other tips on eating in Latin America, see:

https://www.vrg.org/links/travel.htm#travel-South-America

https://www.vrg.org/links/travel.htm

https://www.vrg.org/nutshell/information_in_Spanish.htm

Annie’s Grants for School Gardens are provided to K-12 school gardens nationwide in the USA. For information, see: https://www.annies.com/grant-faqs

A reader asked about a vegan replacement for Chapstick®. Vegetarian Journal Senior Editor Rissa Miller said to try:

Hurraw https://hurrawbalm.com/

or Pacifica https://www.pacificabeauty.com/

She said, “Both are in my purse right now and are excellent.”

For information about other cruelty free products, go to:
https://www.vrg.org/links/CosmeticsPersonalCareProducts.htm

https://www.vrg.org/links/products.htm#retailer

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.

Chef Nancy Berkoff’s latest Vegan Cooking Tips column in Vegetarian Journal is titled “Quick and Easy Fig Ideas.” Here’s some of what she says:

“When you’ve gone to the market and selected plump, light green or mocha-colored figs, get ready for all the good stuff. These edible pods contain potassium, magnesium, iron, and copper, and have trace amounts of calcium, phosphorus, riboflavin, B6, and zinc. Put aside sports beverages; eat some figs!

Fresh figs are a delight to eat “as is,” on their own. The entire fig is edible, so you can use figs as a transportable snack. If you like, you can chop them and add them to cereal, yogurt, rice, couscous, stuffing, muffin batter, or salad dressings. If you’re looking for an elegant dessert, poach figs in red wine and served chilled.

Here are some ways to use fresh figs:

• Chop fresh figs and toss into cooking oatmeal or other hot cereal and in cooking grains.
• Roast whole figs with maple syrup. Allow figs to caramelize, and serve warm tossed with nuts or sorbet.
• For a fig tart, layer a cooked pie shell with thinly sliced fresh figs. Drizzle with a small amount of agave, rice syrup, or maple syrup and serve.
• Stuff figs with crumbled vegan cheese or crumbled, flavored firm tofu or seitan. Wrap in foil and bake until soft. Serve hot.
• Make fast fig chutney. Simmer chopped figs with chopped onions, raisins, and walnuts (if desired), fresh or dried orange zest, white pepper, and thyme until soft and jam-like. Serve as a condiment for everything!
• Roasting or grilling mushrooms? Add sliced figs for flavor and texture.
• Make a fig and rice pilaf. Sauté minced garlic, minced fresh ginger, chopped chilis, and chopped onion until soft. Stir in rice and chopped figs, and allow to cook until rice is fluffy.”

Read Nancy’s entire column here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2019issue3/2019_issue3_cooking_tips.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

The Vegetarian Resource Group will host a vegan dinner at Su Xing, about a six minute walk from the Pennsylvania Convention Center, on Sunday, October 27, 2019 at 6PM, during the annual meeting of The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Meet vegetarian dietitians from around the country. The public is invited.

MENU
APPETIZER: seitan on stick with BQ sauce
SOUP: (choice of): hot and sour soup or tofu and vegetable soup
MAIN DISHES:
chow fun (rice noodle dish)
tofu with black bean sauce
stir-fried spinach
stir-fried string beans
rice
DESSERT: fruit
BEVERAGES: tea and water

MUST RESERVE AND PAY IN ADVANCE
Send $25 per person (includes tax and tip) with attendee names to The Vegetarian Resource Group, PO Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203. Call (410) 366-8343. Or pay at www.vrg.org/donate and write “Philadelphia VRG Dinner” and attendee names on the “Comments” box.

Silk® sent an ad to subscribers of the School Nutrition Association, letting food service staff know that Silk® has new containers formulated to meet USDA standards and the 8 oz. container has 8 grams of protein.

See: http://www.danoneawayfromhome.com/food-service-products/silk-chocolate-soymilk-single-serve-8oz/?utm_campaign=DNA2019SilkTetra&utm_source=SmartBrief&utm_medium=HTML_Aug&utm_content=Tetra_Footer

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:

Green Culture

1420 Seven Springs Blvd., Trinity, FL 34655

Green Culture is an eco- and health-conscious cafe and juice bar, with organic coffee, cold-pressed juice blends, and smoothies. But that’s not all! Try their sweet acai or dragon fruit bowls for breakfast, or their savory harvest bowls for lunch or dinner! Is a sandwich more your speed? They have Beyond burgers, Impossible burgers, and their own house-made patties too! That’s only the half of it, but why not just go to their website to see the rest? Better yet, stop by yourself!

Mimi & Jones

5149 Park Ave., Montreal, QC H2V 4G3 Canada

Mimi & Jones is a classic diner, but 100% vegan. They have a simple but delicious menu covering items like burgers, nuggets, Caesar salad, and milkshakes. And don’t forget the house-made ravioli! Unlike the traditional diner, however, they also have a full bar!

Mugi

793 Bathurst St., Toronto, ON M5S 1Z5 Canada

Sometimes it can be tricky to eat Thai food as a vegan, with the ubiquity of fish sauce and other animal-based ingredients. But not at Mugi! Here you can get authentic Thai classics like green curry, massaman curry, larb (made with jackfruit), mango salad, and more! They’re not just accommodating, they’re all vegan. Try them today for a tasty, no-hassle dining experience!

Nourishmoi Power Foods

229 Lakeshore Rd. East, Mississauga, ON L5G 1G8 Canada

Nourishmoi Power Foods aims to provide fresh, flavorful, and nutritious foods. That doesn’t mean you can’t get a veggie burger if you want one! But with options like their Waikiki poke, Thai peanut bowl, or ko chang salad, this is not your typical vegan dinner. They have lots of gluten-free options as well, plus a full bar, so there’s something for everyone here!

Sweet Rebellion

145 College Ave., Blacksburg, VA 24060

Sweet Rebellion is a vegan and gluten-free bakery, so you know they have something for you! Go to their Instagram to gaze upon their cookies, cakes, pies, scones, brownies, and more. Or go in person to get one for yourself!

Viridescent

5760 State Hwy. 121, Ste. 140, Plano, TX 75024

Are you looking for variety in taste? Viridescent is a unique addition to the Plano, Texas area where the kitchen is not run by a single chef but several visiting chefs. Although they have a fixed menu filled with delightful vegan entrees, desserts and drinks, the rotating-chef concept brings in the variety you may be looking for. Depending on the day you choose to visit, you can treat your taste buds with either a large, veggie burger or a fully loaded taco or both. Better still, surprise yourself on a Sunday for brunch and order their vegan eggs or pancakes served with homemade nut butter! And finally, do they have desserts to satiate one’s sweet tooth? Yes and, again, based on the “visiting chef” concept. Their vegan ice-creams and frozen desserts, some topped with a beautiful red, button-like rose or two, are catered by Ajae’s Scoops, a local food truck.

Viva La Vegan Tacos

10709 Balboa Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 91344

Viva La Vegan Tacos is a 100% vegan taco cart with a permanent location outside of Bow Tiki Tattoo parlor in Granada Hills. For just $3 a taco, you can choose (or mix and match) between BBQ or southwest style jackfruit, cactus, squash, sweet potato, mushroom, or cauliflower. They come topped with soy-free vegannaise, cilantro, cabbage, grilled peppers and onions, and a choice of salsa. Everything is soy-free, gluten-free, MSG-free, and free of hydrogenated oils or canola oil. Try their homemade fresh juices too. They have limited hours, so check their Instagram before you go!

Well+Fed Louisiana

678 Egan St., Shreveport, LA 71101

Well+Fed is a 100% vegan and gluten-free organic café that specializes in cold-pressed juices and healthy smoothies/smoothie bowls. Their food menu includes seasonal salads, and nutrition-packed sandwiches, like their chickpea salad, spicy chickpea burger, or hummus and veggie. They also have toast with toppings such as hummus, avocado, vegan cream cheese, carrot lox, and PB+J. Weekly specials feature everything from tacos and nachos to poke bowls.

Whipped Urban Dessert Lab

103 N. 3rd St., Brooklyn, NY 11249

Whipped Urban Dessert Lab is bringing its oat milk-based soft serve to NYC! The shop ran by women and minorities provides only oat-based soft serve. They pride themselves on putting innovative spins on regular desserts while providing high-quality foods and avoiding the use of preservatives and artificial colors and flavors. Stop by and try their original vanilla sweet cream on its own, or top it off with one of their natural crumb coats or sauces. You can also enjoy their soft serve fusions, like their coffee waffle crunch, or chocolate peanut butter pretzel.