Veggie Bits

Vegetarian Food Festival

Vegetarian Visions will hold a vegetarian food festival in New York City on May 22-24, 1998. For more information, call Vegetarian Visions at (212) 971-0653.

Medicare to Test Ornish Program

In September of 1997, Medicare officials announced that they will test the heart disease prevention program developed by Dr. Dean Ornish.

Up to 1,000 patients nationwide will be tested, and if the program is deemed effective, Medicare may reimburse hospitals for enrolling heart patients in Ornish's program. Said Ornish, "For the first time, Medicare has agreed to study in a demonstration project a nonsurgical, nonpharmacologic, alternative approach to medical care."

As reported by Reuters' Health Information on February 14, 1997, heart patients enrolled in the Ornish program cost Mutual of Omaha a maximum of slightly more than $5,000 per person annually. However, "... for those patients not on the Ornish plan," the insurers say, "treatments for heart problems cost double or triple that amount."

Forty-five insurance companies currently pay for the Ornish program.

Stark Sisters Granola

If you're looking for great granola that's made with organic grains and without preservatives, try Stark Sisters Granola. Unlike many granolas which are sweetened with honey, Stark Sisters is sweetened with Vermont maple syrup.

Many publications have raved about the great taste of Stark Sisters granola, and rightfully so. But Stark Sisters also comes in environmentally friendly packaging and is available in five delicious flavors: Maple Almond, Maple Raspberry Blueberry, Nutty Maple Molasses, Maple Chocolate Peanut, and Maple Chocolate Berry.

For more information, contact Stark Sisters at 40 Beharrell St., Concord, MA 01742, or call either of the sisters at (508) 371-2011 (Deb) or (908) 879-0259 (Mary).

Above All Whole Grain Soda

Above All Whole Grain Soda contains eight essential vitamins, 19 amino acids, and 10 different minerals. Available in five different varieties, Above All contains no preservatives, no caffeine, and no fat. Above All is lightly carbonated and is sweetened with unrefined cane sugar and juices from concentrate.

Above All is available in Bountiful Berry, Real Rootbeer, Caribbean Lime, Orange Creme, and Strawberry Coconut.

For more information, telephone the Lifestyle Beverage Corporation at (708) 503-5433.

Healthyburger

Knox Mountain Foods has introduced the Healthyburger, available in four different varieties. Healthyburger is fat-free, made from vital wheat gluten, fresh ground wheat berries, shiitake mushrooms, and nutritional yeast. Healthyburger can be found in the frozen foods section (just brown and serve) of your natural foods store and comes in Original, Original Ground, Pepper, and Tex-Mex.

To learn more about Healthyburger and the rest of Knox Mountain Foods' product line, call (888) 566-9686.

After the Fall

After the Fall has introduced a new addition to its line of juices. A carrot and orange juice blend from four concentrates, 24 Karrot Orange is 100% juice and contains 200% of the U.S. RDA of Vitamin A and 150% of Vitamin C.

Additionally, After the Fall is now producing a line of sparkling, non-alcoholic juices. Perfect for any occasion, the sparkling juices come in 750 ml bottles and are available in four varieties: Mimosa d'Amore, Vermont Harvest Moon Apple Cider, Kosher Fruit of the Vine Concord Grape, and Sangria de la Noche.

Look for 24 Karrot Orange and the sparkling juices at your local natural foods store. For more information, contact After the Fall Products at (410) 939-2011.

Seeds of Change

Seeds of Change produces several different types of products, all of which are certified organic. Seeds of Change makes salad dressings, soup mixes, pasta sauces, rice and grain blends, and salsas. Except for the Tahini Cilantro Salad Dressing-which contains honey-all products are vegan. Best of all, you don't have to have a background in chemistry to decipher the short list of ingredients.

Try Raspberry Vinaigrette Salad Dressing, Quinoa Tortilla Soup, Spicy Roasted Garlic Pasta Sauce, Basmati Rice Pilaf, and Sun Dried Tomato Salsa, just a few of the products offered by Seeds of Change.

Look for the full range of Seeds of Change products at your local natural foods store, or you can contact the company at (888) 762-7333. Their internet address is: www.seedsofchange.com

Earth Friendly Baby

Earth Friendly Baby produces an all natural lavender cleansing bar for babies. Earth Friendly is gentle and lightly scented.

Earth Friendly bars contain no synthetic ingredients, no artificial coloring or preservatives, and are 100% plant-derived and biodegradable. The company does not conduct animal testing. All ingredients and herbal extracts are french milled to ensure longevity.

Look for Earth Friendly at natural products stores or write to Earth Friendly Baby, PO Box 400, Charlotte, VT 05445. You can call Earth Friendly at (802) 425-4300 or send faxes to (802) 425-4900.

Now & Zen

Now & Zen is a vegan restaurant and caterer in San Francisco. The company now offers a series of seven different delicious vegan dessert cakes. Now & Zen uses natural liquid sweeteners and organic whole grain flour in its cakes, and ingredients such as tofu, applesauce, and raw nuts replace the usual dairy ingredients of butter, cow's milk, and eggs. Available varieties include: Lemon Chiffon, Raspberry Teasecake, Chocolate Almond Raspberry Torte, Blueberry Teasecake, Black Forest, Toasted Almond Rum Torte, and Zesty Orange Creme.

Now & Zen also offers The Great UnTurkey, a frozen "unbird" perfect for holidays and other special dinner occasions. The five-pound UnTurkey is made of seitan, dressed in "skin" made from yuba (bean curd skin), stuffed with bread stuffing, and accompanied by a quart of gravy. The UnTurkey serves eight hungry adults and comes fully cooked; just reheat and eat.

For more information on Now & Zen's products, write to Now & Zen, 121 S. Maple Ave. #7, South San Francisco, CA 94080. You can telephone Now & Zen at (800) 335-2011.

Drake's Ducks

Drake's Ducks makes several varieties of pesto sauce, including two, Chili Tomato Pesto and Cilantro Pumpkin Seed Pesto, which are vegan. Made with all natural ingredients, these flavorful pestos are excellent on sandwiches and pasta or used as a condiment.

To learn more, call Drake's at (800) 53-DUCKS.

Green Guru International Cuisine

Green Guru International Cuisine offers an array of eight frozen, all-natural vegetarian dishes, five of which are vegan. Both Thai offerings, Vegetable Pad Thai and Vegetable Gaeng Daeng, are vegan. Three of the Indian dishes, Vegetable Biryani, Channa Masala, and Naan Bread, are also vegan.

For further information, write to Deep Foods, Inc., 1090 Springfield Rd., Union, NJ 07083. You can call Deep Foods at (800) 468-6499.