By Dane Indvik
5th Grade Elementary Student

Your family has already chosen to leave the tuna sandwiches, deli meats, and other harmful animal products out of your lunchbox. Good for you! However, I am sure the kids are getting bored of having peanut butter and jelly sandwiches every day for lunch, just like I was. I want healthy meals that taste great, but school mornings are rushed and my mom is busy, so we have to come up with quick, tasty, and packable vegan lunches. I have compiled the most delicious and practical ideas that I use for my everyday school lunches to share with you.

The key to an easy vegan school lunch is simple–a good quality thermos. Personally, I am not a big fan of the packed sandwich, so this has made all the difference for me. Thermoses keep my lunch hot or cold, depending on what is inside. Another beauty of the thermos is that it is perfect for packing leftovers from whatever great vegan dinner I had the night before.

My Favorites to Pack in a Thermos:

Variations on beans and rice. Choose one or more item from each category below:

Grain
Quinoa
Brown Rice
Couscous

Protein
Black or Pinto Beans
Soy Chorizo
Lentils

Sauce/Spice
Salsa
Sauce
Soy Sauce

Tip: To save time we often use pre-cooked lentils, canned beans, and/or frozen rice. Add a frozen or fresh vegetables to the above items for extra nutrition. Dane’s favorite: Red quinoa, black beans, and tomatillo salsa.

2) Variations on pasta and sauce. Choose one or more item from each category below:

Pasta
Udon/Soba Noodles
Gnocchi
Whole Wheat Pasta

Protein
Baked Tofu
Shelled Edamame
White Beans

Sauce
Teriyaki Sauce and Almond Butter Mix
Vegan Pesto
Marinara Sauce

Add frozen or fresh vegetables to the above items. I love to top all of my pasta dishes with Faux Parmesan. We make it with raw cashews, nutritional yeast, garlic and salt, all whirred in a blender.
Dane’s favorite: Soba noodles, teriyaki tofu, shredded carrots, and soy sauce.

3) Variations on the sandwich–be creative! A good Tupperware container will keep your sandwich or wrap from getting soggy.

Bread
Rye Bread
Whole Wheat Tortillas
Whole Wheat Wrap

Filling
Smashed Avocado
Hummus
Almond Butter

Extra
Lemon and Salt
Spinach and Pickles
Sliced Banana

Spread the filling on the tortilla/wrap, layer on extras, and roll it up into a pinwheel. Slice in half to pack in a sandwich Tupperware container. Dane’s favorite: White bean hummus and dill pickle in a tortilla wrap.

Because these lunch creations are so hearty, I only need a piece of fruit, some sliced carrots, or a few edamame in the pod to go along with my thermos. Easy!

We often make a double batch of grains or pasta at night so they are ready for more than one lunch.

My mom I and hope you enjoy these quick, tasty, and packable vegan lunches! They will be the perfect fuel for your activism toward a healthy and compassionate planet. Keep up the good work!

Dane Indvik is a 10-year-old vegan, animal rights activist, and writer that resides on the Central Coast of California. He has worked with the Head of Food Services for his school district to get vegan lunches on the menu, helped organized a Veg Fest, and is founding his own non-profit organization. Additionally, he volunteers for various local organizations including an animal sanctuary. Feel free to contact him at [email protected].

Go to trifectanutrition.com/vrg

Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals (11/22-11/27)
Deal: 40% Off First Delivery + 6 Free Vegan Muffins on all future deliveries.

Black Friday. Code: “VEGANMEALS”. Cyber Monday: code “EATVEGAN”.

trifectanutrition.com/vrg

By Ashley Kerckhoff, B.S.

Hello, I’m Ashley and my family follows a whole food, plant-based, “vegan,” diet. We became vegan when I was pregnant with our now 16-month-old daughter. I originally made my commitment to this way of eating for environmental sustainability reasons, and later came to learn about all the amazing health implications that come as well. Feeding a young child (especially a toddler) can be tricky, especially when taking out an entire food group. But, that’s exactly what we did and I feel confident knowing that I’m putting nutritious and delicious foods in her little tummy.

I may not be the only mom in the vegan world that has encountered a similar situation at one point or another. During snack time at the park, a play-date, or another fun-filled mom and child outing, a question arises from the non-vegan mother inquiring about what snacks I feed my vegan child. To her surprise, we eat more than just fruit for snacks. I continue to tell her that I’ve come to find that my daughter loves a variety of different vegan snacks that are healthy, easy, and transportable. One great snack is hummus with either veggies or a whole-grain pita. My daughter is a late teether so softer veggies (like steamed carrots or tomatoes) is what we go towards. She also loves homemade vegan muffins (let your kids help make them, they will love it and it fills up play time on those rainy days!), Lara bars, green smoothies (get in those colorful veggies) and homemade protein balls (Plant-Powered Families by Dreena Burton has a great recipe). If your kiddo has plenty of teeth and you are confident your child can chew these items without choking, trail mix (nuts and dried fruit only) is another great, healthy snack! Also, I always make sure to add a good source of vitamin C to her snacks (as well as meals) in order to increase iron absorption.

What about breakfast hits for young children? Besides oatmeal or a sugary and processed cereal of some kind, most households enjoy animal products for breakfast whether it be eggs, yogurt, sausage, or bacon. What seems to be a HUGE hit with my daughter are smoothies! They are so versatile (not to mention quick and easy to make) with nutrition and flavor that both child and mom are happy! We tend do a combination of oats, frozen banana, almonds or peanut butter, chia or flax seeds, a pinch of cinnamon, and unsweetened soy milk (soy milk is usually fortified with vitamin B12, an essential supplement for vegans, which is why we give this non-dairy milk to our daughter). Full of amazing nutrients, this smoothie is both filling, tastes great, and is so quick to throw together on busy mornings. Adding a spoonful or two of canned pumpkin plus some nutmeg gives it a nice fall twist (and an extra serving of veggies!). My daughter also likes non-dairy yogurt such as unsweetened (to avoid all the added sugars) soy or coconut milk yogurt with added toppings like granola and seasonal fruit. Finding a great chia pudding recipe is also a huge life saver as its super easy to make, keeps well in the fridge for a while, and similar to yogurt, is a blank canvas for adding whatever whole food toppings your child likes. Little tip: get your young child involved in the topping-picking process. It gets them involved in the kitchen, lets them be creative, and teaches them about healthy eating. They will also be more likely to eat the snack if they help make it!

For more information, see:
http://www.vrg.org/nutshell/kids.php
https://www.facebook.com/groups/VRGparentsandkids/

You can also order the book Plant-Powered Families by Dreena Burton from The Vegetarian Resource Group Book catalog: http://www.vrg.org/catalog/

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.

By Ilana Wolf

Transitioning to a vegan lifestyle is harder if you feel like the only vegan in your school or town. Young vegans are already dealing with finding themselves and making friends, now add on a lifestyle change. Being vegan doesn’t mean you can only socialize with other vegans, but the connection can help make the lifestyle seem less isolating. Instagram is one of the greatest tools for finding friends. The vegan community on Instagram is huge and spans across the world. I created a second account just for my food as a way to become part of the online community. Since creating my account, I’ve connected with so many wonderful people, all passionate about living a more cruelty-free life.

When communicating with people online, be careful about what information you give out. Do not give out personal contact information. Remember that everything on the internet is public and doesn’t go away. Future employers and colleges will see this information and what you post today, will still affect you in the future. If you’re meeting someone new, talk to a parent first, don’t go alone, and, make sure someone knows where you are and that it’s in a public place. Don’t assume an online profile is true.

If you’re a little hesitant about reaching out, start by following more accounts. Begin liking and commenting on their photos and you’ll see how friendly people are. To find more people in your area, check out local vegan restaurants and cafés. I like looking through their tagged photos to see posts from people in the area. Even if you’re still in school, and feel alone being vegan, there’s a whole world of people out there who share your passion. Don’t be afraid to look outside of your town for friends. You might be surprised at how many people 10 minutes away, that you would never have met, share the same interests as you.

Another tip is to look for potlucks and meet-up groups through Instagram, Facebook, and Meetup. If you look on Meetup, you can search by location and use vegan as a keyword to see what’s around. I’ve been to meet-ups in my state and nearby city that I’ve found just through Instagram posts. We’re all looking for connections, no matter how old we are. Through social media, I’ve met friends younger and older than me. Sometimes it’s just commenting on someone’s post, or mutually following each other, or maybe you become really good friends. It’s all about making a vegan lifestyle a lifelong commitment you’re excited about.

Becoming vegan has forced me to seek out new friendships. If you’re open to meeting new people you will find them. Search for local vegan or animal protection organizations and look for upcoming events. Volunteering at events is another great way to network and meet new people. Check to see if there are events at local restaurants.

Are you searching for a new pair of vegan boots this winter? If so, there are many vegan online stores and storefronts offering a wide variety of boot styles.

Alternative Outfitters
https://www.alternativeoutfitters.com/
High and low-cut boots for women.

Bhava Studio
https://bhavastudio.com/
Women’s boots and booties in various styles including a hiking boot.

Blowfish Malibu
https://blowfishshoes.com/
Women’s boots.

Brave Gentle Man
https://www.bravegentleman.com/
Men’s casual, dress, and work boots.

Charmone Shoes
https://charmone.com/
They sell women’s boots.

Cri de Coeur
https://cridecoeur.myshopify.com/
Women’s low and high boots and botties.

Drizzle + Shine
https://www.drizzleandshine.com
Water resistant ankle boot.

Elizabeth Detroit
http://www.elizabethdetroit.com/
Boots for women.

Kat Mendenhall Boots
http://katmendenhall.com/
Men’s and women’s cowboy boots.

Mink
http://www.minkshoes.com
Custom faux fur boot.

MooShoes
https://www.mooshoes.com/
A wide variety of dress, work, rain, and snow boots for men and women.

Neuaura
http://www.neuaurashoes.com
Women’s dress and casual boots.

Pangea Vegan Products
http://www.veganstore.com/
Men’s hiking boots and women’s hiking and winter boots.

Reneu Shoes
http://www.reneushoes.com/
Boots for women.

Sudo Shoes
http://www.sudoshoes.com/
A wide variety of dress, work, rain, and snow boots for men and women.

Unicorn Goods
https://unicorngoods.com/
A wide variety of dress, work, rain, and snow boots for men and women.

Vegan Chic
http://www.veganchic.com/
A wide variety of dress, work, rain, and snow boots for men and women.

Vegan Scene
https://veganscene.com/
Women’s and men’s low boots.

The Vegetarian Site
http://www.thevegetariansite.com/index.htm
Men’s hiking and work boots and women’s work boot.

Through December 31, 2017, you can give a gift membership to The Vegetarian Resource Group (includes a 1-year subscription to Vegetarian Journal) for $15 each (40% discount). This offer is valid in the USA only!

It’s a terrific way to share the vegan message, as well as support VRG. Gift subscriptions can be done online by simply paying $15 per gift and typing in your message and the address(s) of the gift recipient(s) in the comments field. Go to:
Gift Subscriptions

Plant-Powered Families by Dreena Burton features over 100 family-friendly whole-food vegan recipes as well as helpful tips. You can start your morning off with Creamy Breakfast Rice Pudding, Savory Chickpea “Omelets,” Cinnamon French Toast, Double Chocolate Orange Banana Muffins, or Pumpkin Seed and Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Breakfast Bars.

Lunch fixes include Chickpea Nibbles, Simplest Marinated Baked Tofu, and Southwest Quinoa Salad, Red Lentil Hummus, Artichoke Spinach Dip, and Ultimate Cashew Cheese. For dinnertime you can prepare Smoky Bean Chili, Creamy Fettuccine, Hummus Tortilla Pizzas, Artichoke Sunflower Burgers, Home Fries, Apple Lentil Dal, and Ultimate Teriyaki Stir-Fry.

Sweet treat options are Pumpkin Chia Pudding, Crazy Brownies, “Nicer” Krispie Squares, Vanilla Bean Almond Butter Fudge, Fudgesicles, Chocolate Sweet Potato Cake, Dreamy Baked Bananas, and Apple Nachos Supreme.

You can order the book in The Vegetarian Resource Group Book Catalog. See:http://www.vrg.org/catalog/

The Vegetarian Resource Group is hosting our 36th Annual Pre-Thanksgiving Vegan Potluck Dinner on Sunday, November 19th, 2017 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 $4 and children eat free!

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!

For information, see:
VRG’s Pre-Thanksgiving Vegan Potluck

Below is a list of some of the restaurants, caterers, and groups offering vegan meals/potlucks for Thanksgiving (both before and on that day) alphabetically by state. If you’re looking for some new recipes to prepare for Thanksgiving, visit: http://www.vrg.org/recipes/vegan_thanksgiving.php
We wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!

ALASKA
Alaska Vegan Society, Palmer, AK
http://alaskaveg.org/OccasionalPages/ThanksgivingDinner.html

ARIZONA
Green New American Vegetarian, Phoenix and Tempe, AZ
http://greenvegetarian.com/thanksliving-2017

CALIFORNIA
Café Gratitude, CA (various locations)
https://cafegratitude.com/

Native Foods, CA (various locations)
https://www.facebook.com/NativeFoods/photos/a.165120935908.118928.110189285908/10155875439580909/?type=3&theater

Veggie Grill, CA (various locations)
https://www.veggiegrill.com/thanksgiving.html

Chico Vegans, Chico, CA
https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3118198

Akasha Restaurant, Culver City, CA
https://www.akasharestaurant.com/menu/thanksgiving-2017/

Real Food Daily, Los Angeles and Pasadena, CA
https://www.realfooddailyla.com/thanksgiving-to-go-menu

Raven’s Restaurant at The Standford Inn, Mendocino, CA
https://ravensrestaurant.com/ravens-thanksgiving-dinner-2017/

San Francisco Veg Society, San Francisco, CA
http://www.sfvs.org/events/#

The Gentle Barn, Santa Clarita, CA
http://www.gentlebarn.org/events/upcoming-events/a-gentle-thanksgiving-ca-2017

Bay Area Vegetarians, Vallejo, CA
http://www.bayareaveg.org/events.htm?EID=3149#3149

COLORADO
Native Foods, CO (various locations)
https://www.facebook.com/NativeFoods/photos/a.165120935908.118928.110189285908/10155875439580909/?type=3&theater

Vegan Society of Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO
https://www.meetup.com/CS-Vegan-Society/

WASHINGTON, DC
DC Vegan Catering, Washington, DC
https://www.facebook.com/dcvegancatering/photos/pb.544127152355587.-2207520000.1509386214./1200673493367613/?type=3&theater

FLORIDA
Sublime, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
http://sublimerestaurant.com/tg17/

ILLINOIS
Chicago Diner, Chicago, IL
https://chicago-diner-webstore.myshopify.com/

INDIANA
Fort Wayne Veg, Fort Wayne, IN
https://www.facebook.com/pg/fortwayneveg/events/?ref=page_internal

MARYLAND
The Vegetarian Resource Group Pre-Thanksgiving Potluck, Baltimore, MD
https://www.facebook.com/pg/thevegetarianresourcegroup/events/?ref=page_internal

Land of Kush, Baltimore, MD
https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheLandofKush/menu/

One World Café, Baltimore, MD
https://www.facebook.com/One-World-Cafe-191474677552909/

DC Veg Society, Bethesda, MD
http://www.vsdc.org/activities/thanksgiving/

Poplar Spring’s Thanksgiving with the Turkeys, Poolesville, MD
https://www.facebook.com/events/287314151467530/

MASSACHUSETTS
Berkshire Vegan Network, Lenox, MA
http://www.all-creatures.org/bvn/events-20171023.shtml

MICHIGAN
Northern Vegans, Negaunee, MI
https://northernvegans.com/upcoming-events-2/

MINNESOTA
The Herbivorous Butcher, Minneapolis, MN
https://www.theherbivorousbutcher.com/collections/thanksgiving-feast

VIGOR, Rochester, MN
https://www.facebook.com/VegInformationGroupofRochester/

MISSOURI
The Gentle Barn, Dittmer, MO
http://www.gentlebarn.org/events/upcoming-events/a-gentle-thanksgiving-missouri-2017

NEW JERSEY
Good Karma, Red Bank, NJ
http://www.goodkarmacafenj.com/thanksgiving

NEW YORK
Chickpea and Olive, Brooklyn, NY
http://www.chickpeaandolive.com/

Woodstock Farm Sanctuary, High Falls, NY
http://woodstocksanctuary.org/category/events/

Blossom, New York, NY
http://www.blossomnyc.com/thanksgiving-2017/

The Cinnamon Snail, New York, NY
http://cinnamonsnail.com/thanksgiving-menu-2017/

Urban Vegan Kitchen, New York, NY
http://www.urbanvegankitchen.com/

Asha Sanctuary, Newfane, NY
http://www.ashasanctuary.com/thanksliving-celebration.html

Hudson Valley Vegans, Rhinebeck, NY
http://www.hvvegans.org/events–happenings.html

Farm Sanctuary, Watkins Glen, NY
https://www.farmsanctuary.org/events/celebration-for-the-turkeys/

Animal Advocates of Western NY, Williamsville, NY
http://www.animalswny.org/events-activities

NORTH CAROLINA
Triangle Vegetarian Society Thanksgiving Dinner in Durham, NC
https://www.trianglevegsociety.org/thanksgiving/index.php

Wilmington Vegan, Wilmington, NC
http://wilmingtonvegan.com/

OHIO
Cleveland Vegan, Lakewood, OH
http://clevelandvegan.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Thanksgiving-Dinner-Night.pdf

OREGON
Veggie Grill, OR (various locations)
https://www.veggiegrill.com/thanksgiving.html

NWVeg, Portland, OR
http://nwveg.org/thanksgiving

PENNSYLVANIA
Miss Rachel’s Pantry, Philadelphia, PA
http://www.missrachelspantry.com/thanksgiving-2017/

Eden Cafe, Scranton, PA
https://www.facebook.com/edenavegancafe

TENNESSEE
The Gentle Barn, Knoxville, TN
http://www.gentlebarn.org/events/upcoming-events/a-gentle-thanksgiving-tennessee-2017

TEXAS
The Green Vegetarian Cuisine, San Antonio, TX
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2017-vegan-thanksgiving-feast-tickets-37592836185?aff=erelexpmlt

VIRGINIA
GreenFare, Herndon, VA
https://greenfare.com/event/celebrate-thanksgiving-at-greenfare-organic-cafe/

Vegetarian Society of Richmond, Richmond, VA
http://www.vegetarianrichmond.org/events/2017/11/23/vegan-thanksgiving-potluck

WASHINGTON
Veggie Grill, WA (various locations)
https://www.veggiegrill.com/thanksgiving.html

Café Flora, Seattle, WA
http://cafeflora.com/

Plum Bistro, Seattle, WA
http://plumbistro.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Plum-Bistro-Thanksgiving.pdf

WISCONSIN
The Green Owl Café, Madison, WI
http://www.greenowlcafe.com/events/

Citizens United for Animals, Milwaukee, WI
http://cufa-usa.org/event/2017-vegan-thanksgiving/

The Vegetarian Resource Group is an activist non-profit organization that does outreach all-year-long. VRG tables at different events throughout the USA and also sends literature free of charge to other groups/individuals doing educational activities in schools, hospitals, camps, restaurants, libraries, etc. 2017 has been an especially busy year for VRG outreach. Our ability to continue doing this depends on people like you! Your donations allow us to promote the vegan message whenever we’re called upon for assistance. Please consider becoming a monthly or quarterly donor to The Vegetarian Resource Group.

Thanks so much for your support. You can become a monthly or quarterly donor online here: vrg.org/donate