1) NOTE FROM EDITOR

To all VRG Maryland newsletter readers - Have a Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanzaa, and Happy New Year! I challenge you to make at least one healthy homemade vegan dish for your holiday meal this season!

2) VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP RESEARCH AND NEWS

• Homemade vegan candy
• Vegan gift ideas for the holiday season
• $78 million in bailout funds for pork producers
• Vegan 'meatballs' at home
• VRG offers high school seniors scholarships. February 20, 20120 deadline
• Homemade vegan quickbreads
• Vegan lunch options for kids
• Vegan foods for Latinos
• Eating disorders
• Testimony on FDA horizontal approaches to foods standards of identity
• 50% Discount on Protein Toppers
• Biovailability of calcium sources
• Vegan cranberry recipes
• Tempeh options in school lunches
• Johnny Rockets Gardein burger
• Kosher marshmallows and gelatin
• Vegan casseroles
• Vegan roasted vegetable recipes
• and more!

JOIN THE VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP ON INSTAGRAM!

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2019/12/05/join-the-vegetarian-resource-group-on-instagram/ ]

YOU CAN MAKE HOMEMADE VEGAN CANDY

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2019/12/05/you-can-make-homemade-vegan-candy/ ]

SUPPORT THE VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP THROUGH THE 2019 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN (CFC)

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2019/12/04/support-the-vegetarian-resource-group-through-the-2019-combined-federal-campaign-cfc/ ]

VEGAN GIFT IDEAS FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2019/12/04/vegan-gift-ideas-for-the-holiday-season/ ]

GIVING TUESDAY WAS DECEMBER 3RD - IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO SUPPORT THE VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP!

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2019/12/03/giving-tuesday-is-december-3rd-this-year-please-support-the-vegetarian-resource-group/ ]

$78 MILLION IN BAILOUT FUNDS FOR PORK PRODUCERS

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2019/12/03/78-million-in-bailout-funds-for-pork-producers/ ]

JOIN THE VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP'S PARENTS AND KIDS FACEBOOK GROUP!

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2019/12/02/join-the-vegetarian-resource-groups-parents-and-kids-facebook-group-20/ ]

YOU CAN MAKE VEGAN 'MEATBALLS' AT HOME!

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2019/12/02/you-can-make-vegan-meatballs-at-home/ ]

YOU CAN GIVE A GIFT MEMBERSHIP THAT INCLUDES THE VEGETARIAN JOURNAL TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS!

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2019/11/29/please-give-a-gift-membership-including-vegetarian-journal-to-family-and-friends-3/ ]

YOU CAN MAKE HOMEMADE VEGAN QUICKBREADS

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2019/11/29/you-can-make-homemade-vegan-quick-breads/ ]

SUPPORT THE VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP THROUGH AMAZON SMILE

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2019/11/28/support-the-vegetarian-resource-group-through-amazon-smile-14/ ]

VEGAN LUNCH OPTIONS FOR KIDS

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2019/11/28/vegan-lunch-options-for-kids/ ]

VRG OFFERS ONE $10,000 PLUS TWO $5,000 SCHOLARSHIPS TO GRADUATING USA HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS - DEADLINE TO ENTER IS FEBRUARY 20, 2020

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2019/11/27/vrg-offers-one-10000-scholarship-plus-two-5000-scholarships-to-graduating-usa-high-school-seniors-deadline-to-enter-is-february-20-2020-2/ ]

50% DISCOUNT ON PROTEIN TOPPERS 6-COUNT VARIETY MEDLEY

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2019/11/27/50-discount-on-protein-toppers-6-count-variety-medley-2/ ]

SUPPORT THE VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP YEAR ROUND - BECOME A MONTHLY, QUARTERLY, OR SINGLE TIME DONOR

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2019/11/26/support-the-vegetarian-resource-group-year-round-become-a-monthly-quarterly-or-single-time-donor-4/ ]

VEGAN FOODS FOR LATINOS

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2019/11/26/vegan-foods-for-latinos/ ]

VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP TESTIMONY SUBMITTED TO FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION ON HORIZONTAL APPROACHES TO FOOD STANDARDS OF IDENTITY MODERNIZATION

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2019/11/22/vegetarian-resource-group-testimony-submitted-to-food-and-drug-administration-fda-on-horizontal-approaches-to-food-standards-of-identity-modernization/ ]

SUBSCRIBE TO VEGETARIAN JOURNAL ON KINDLE IN THE USA AND UK

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2019/11/20/subscribe-to-vegetarian-journal-on-kindle-in-the-usa-and-uk-2/ ]

VEGAN RESTAURANTS ADDED TO THE VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP GUIDE TO VEGGIE RESTAURANTS IN THE USA AND CANADA

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2019/11/15/vegan-restaurants-added-to-the-vegetarian-resource-groups-guide-to-veggie-restaurants-in-the-usa-and-canada-26/ ]

EATING DISORDERS

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2019/11/20/eating-disorders/ ]

NEW VEGAN-THEMED BOOK FOR CHILDREN

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2019/11/19/new-vegan-book-for-children/ ]

VEGAN RECIPES FEATURING CRANBERRIES

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2019/11/18/vegan-recipes-featuring-cranberries/ ]

BIOAVAILABILITY OF DIFFERENT VEGAN CALCIUM SOURCES

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2019/11/14/bioavailability-of-different-vegan-calcium-sources/ ]

THE VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP DOES A VEGAN COOKING DEMO AT A COMMUNITY COLLEGE SUSTAINABILITY EVENT

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2019/11/13/the-vegetarian-resource-group-does-a-vegan-cooking-demo-at-a-community-college-sustainability-event/ ]

ENJOY SOME VEGAN ROASTED VEGETABLE RECIPES

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2019/11/13/enjoy-some-vegan-roasted-vegetable-recipes/ ]

STOP BY THE TASTY IN PHILADELPHIA, PA FOR A DELICIOUS VEGAN BRUNCH

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2019/11/12/stop-by-the-tasty-in-philadelphia-pa-for-a-delicious-vegan-brunch/ ]

ENJOY ROOT VEGETABLES THIS TIME OF YEAR

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2019/11/11/enjoy-root-vegetables-this-time-of-year/ ]

JOHNNY ROCKETS GARDEIN BURGER

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2019/11/08/johnny-rockets-gardein-burger/ ]

SOY-BASED TEMPEH OPTIONS IN SCHOOL LUNCHES

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2019/11/07/soy-based-tempeh-options-in-school-lunches/ ]

THE VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP EXHIBITS AT ORACLE CORPORATIONS HEALTH AND WELLNESS FAIR

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2019/11/06/the-vegetarian-resource-group-exhibits-at-oracle-corporations-health-and-wellness-fair/ ]

ENJOY THESE VEGAN CASSEROLE RECIPES

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2019/11/06/enjoy-these-vegan-casserole-recipes/ ]

VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP'S 2019 VIDEO CONTEST WINNER: THE POWER OF PLANT-BASED DIETS

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2019/10/08/the-vegetarian-resource-groups-2019-video-contest-winner-the-power-of-plant-based-diets/ ]

KOSHER MARSHMALLOWS AND GELATIN

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2019/11/05/kosher-marshmallows-and-gelatin/ ]

IF YOU LIVE IN THE USA, JOIN THE VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP AND RECEIVE A FREE COPY OF SIMPLY VEGAN

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2019/08/29/if-you-live-in-the-usa-join-the-vegetarian-resource-group-and-receive-a-free-copy-of-simply-vegan/ ]

DELICIOUS VEGAN DISHES YOU CAN MAKE FROM PEARS

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2019/11/04/delicious-vegan-dishes-you-can-make-from-pears/ ]

3) VRG BOOTHS AND EVENTS

Come visit us at these VRG booths!

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo

October 18-20, 2020
Indianapolis, IN

If you are interested in helping us at one of our booths, contact [email protected]

4) OTHER MARYLAND/DC AREA EVENTS

PCRM KICKSTART INTENSIVE
January 10-11, 2020
Grand Hyatt Washington
Washington, D.C.

Register today for the Kickstart Intensive program where you'll get the information and tools you need to reclaim your health with the power of your plate!

To register: [ https://bit.ly/2DRnt0y ]

JEWISH VEG NEW DC CHAPTER
For updates: [ https://www.facebook.com/groups/JewishVegDC?mc_cid=390a70b9cc&mc_eid=9346dc739f ]

BALTIMORE VEGAN BOOK CLUB
For updates: [ https://www.facebook.com/pg/Baltimore-Vegan-Book-Club-1686226734809409/events/?ref=page_internal ]

NO MEAT ATHLETE
See [ https://www.facebook.com/groups/BaltimoreNMA/ ]

BALTIMORE VEGAN DRINKS

For Vegan Drinks events see [ https://www.facebook.com/pg/BaltimoreVeganDrinks/events/?ref=page_internal ]

DINEKIND

Dinekind Harford meets monthly to share information on the benefits of a plant-based diet. For more information, visit: [ http://www.dinekindharford.com/ ]

VEGEVENTS

Maryland and DC veg events can be found at [ https://www.vegevents.com ]

WHOLE FOOD FOR OPTIMAL HEALTH - BALTIMORE SUPPORT GROUP

See: [ https://www.meetup.com/whole-food-for-optimal-health-potluck/ ]

EARTHSAVE NEWS & EVENTS

Govan's Presbyterian Church, Baltimore, MD

We have a wonderful venue for our Earthsave events - Govans Presbyterian Church is in a quiet neighborhood, next to the historic Senator Theater on York Road in Baltimore. The church parking lot is spacious, well lit, and conveniently located near the entry to the Fellowship Hall, where you will see our large Earthsave banner. Hope you will join us there soon!

You might also like to join one of the two discussion groups that Earthsave hosts at local restaurants. Check out the Baltimore Vegetarian Meetup [ https://www.meetup.com/vegetarian-9/ ] and Baltimore Vegan Meetup group [ https://www.meetup.com/The-Baltimore-Vegan-Meetup-Group/ ] and join us when you can!

For more information: [ https://earthsavebaltimore.org ]

FORKS OVER KNIVES MONTHLY POTLUCKS

This group is for those interested in trying a whole food plant-based diet or for those who already eat this way. This is a diet with none to very little oil, salt, or refined sugar. Sample delicious and healthy dishes, share recipes, learn, and connect with like-minded individuals.

For more information about the next event, visit: [ http://www.meetup.com/columbia-md-forks-over-knives-meetup/ ]

MONTHLY COOKING CLASSES

Check website for monthly class updates: [ http://www.veggourmet.wordpress.com ]

SOUTH CARROLL SUPPER CLUB
South Carroll Seventh-Day Adventist Church
Taylorsville, MD

Email Deborah Jamieson for event information: [email protected]

5) OTHER EVENTS

SEDONA VEGFEST
January 18-19, 2020
Sedona, AZ.
healthyworldsedona.com/vegfest2020.

LANCASTER VEGFEST
Saturday, June 6th, 2020
Buchanan Park
Lancaster, PA

6) VEGDINING CARD

VegDining is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and to mark the occasion, is donating 20% of its revenue from sales of VegDining Cards all year long to veg groups around the world, including VRG. The VegDining Card offers discounts at dozens of vegetarian restaurants and other businesses around the world.) See [ http://VegDining.com/VRG ] If you're a VRG member, you'll receive 20% off the regular price of the card ($25).

7) NEW LEAF VEGAN MENTORING PROGRAM

Know someone who wants to go vegan but doesn't know where to start? New Leaf is a free program that matches people with a compassionate mentor who can help make the vegan journey easy and fun! Interested in being a vegan mentor? More info: [ https://newleafvegans.org/ ]

8) VEGETARIAN JOURNAL FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

The holidays are almost here! Consider gifting subscriptions of Vegetarian Journal to your friends, family or neighbors - or yourself! Each quarterly issue is packed with the latest scientific updates, vegan recipes to please a variety of eaters as well as other great articles and outreach news. Subscriptions: To order by phone, call 410-366-8343 or online at [ https://www.vrg.org/donate ] and indicate in the comments section to whom the subscription should be sent, their address, and any message you want sent.

9) THE VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP'S 2019 VIDEO CONTEST WINNER: LIVING THE VEGETARIAN LIFESTYLE

LIVING THE VEGETARIAN LIFESTYLE

Dharshan Varia stated: I am interested in vegetarianism because of the overwhelming health benefits I have seen associated with this diet. Additionally, morally, it does not sit well with me that we must kill animals and let them suffer for personal satisfaction when there are other plant-based options available. In the past few years, I have been really interested in vegetarian restaurants and cooking. I have learned how to effectively substitute plant-based proteins for meats while still maintaining the overall flavor of a meal. I believe that vegetarianism is a growing trend and I hope that my interest in vegetarianism will allow people to learn about environmental, health, and moral benefits associated with vegetarianism.

To see VRG 2019 video contest winners and rules for 2020, go to [ https://www.vrg.org/veg_videos.php ]

The deadline for the next video contest is July 15, 2020.
See: [ http://www.vrg.org/videoscholarship.php ]

Video scholarships have been given in honor of W.M. Zahn, who was a great mentor.

For information about VRG's College Scholarship Contest (One $10,000, two $5,000 awards), see [ http://www.vrg.org/student/scholar.htm ]

To support The Vegetarian Resource Group scholarships and internships, donate at [ http://www.vrg.org/donate ] or The Vegetarian Resource Group, Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203.

10) VRG OFFERS SCHOLARSHIPS FOR GRADUATING HS SENIORS, February 20, 2020 DEADLINE

Due to the generosity of an anonymous donor, The Vegetarian Resource Group each year will award $20,000 in college scholarship money to graduating U.S. high school students who have promoted vegetarianism in their schools and/or communities. Vegetarians do not eat meat, fish, or fowl. Vegans are vegetarians who do not use other animal products such as dairy or eggs. One award of $10,000 and two awards of $5,000 will be given. Entries may only be sent by students graduating from high school in SPRING 2020.

Deadline is FEBRUARY 20, 2020.

We will accept applications postmarked on or before FEBRUARY 20, 2020. Early submission is encouraged.

Applicants will be judged on having shown compassion, courage, and a strong commitment to promoting a peaceful world through a vegetarian diet/lifestyle. Payment will be made to the student's college (U.S. based only). Winners of the scholarships give permission to release their names to the media. Applications and essays become property of The Vegetarian Resource Group.

For application information, see [ https://www.vrg.org/student/scholar.htm ]

11) VRG HIGHLIGHTS

In October The Vegetarian Resource Group had a booth at the Annual Meeting of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in Philadelphia. We placed vegan information into the hands of over 1,000 dietitians and health professionals. There was notable interest in our vegan pregnancy brochure, vegan teen brochure, and Vegan My Plate. A former VRG college scholarship winner Nora came by the booth, and said she was able to continue her nutrition degree because of our award. See Nora's scholarship information at [ https://www.vrg.org/student/2007winners.htm ] It was also fun to meet our scholarship winner from 2017, who is currently attending University of Pennsylvania, and visited our booth, as well as participated in our dietitian networking dinner. Read her scholarship essay here: [ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2017/05/08/new-jersey-high-school-senior-receives-10000-vegetarian-resource-group-college-scholarship/ ] An extra bonus was seeing Maria, one of our former dietetic interns. She is now a registered dietitian, and as part of her job is seeing patients referred by a doctor, who believes his patients should be on a vegan diet. Learn more about Maria's internship at VRG here: [ https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2016issue3/2016_issue3_veggie_world.php ]

Thank you to Karen, who did an outreach booth for us in Buffalo, NY in November; Phil who coordinated a booth in San Francisco, CA; and Matt, who helped with our pre-Thanksgiving potluck in Baltimore. Also, appreciation to Reed Mangels, who sent in testimony for VRG to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) concerning Standards of Identity for foods. Of special interest is whether plant-based meat and dairy products can be called meat or dairy, such as soy, oat, or almond milk.

To support VRG outreach, please donate at [ https://www.vrg.org/donate ]

12) YEAR END DONATIONS

Please support our ongoing vegan education, reasearch, outreach to health professionals, and assistance to young people.

You can give online at [ https://www.vrg.org/donate/ ] or send a check to

VRG, PO Box 1463,
Baltimore, MD 21203.

13) A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS

Thanks to the following VRG volunteers for all your hard work with The Vegetarian Resource Group, including accounting, posting to social media, writing blog posts, research, presentations, running booths, restaurant research, clerical work, writing HTML, contributing to our vegan parents group, doing media interviews, editing, performing nutrition analysis, helping with our newsletters, and more!

• Matt Baker
• Nancy Berkoff, EdD, RD
• Whitney Blomquist
• Casey Brown, RD
• Terry Carlo
• Cathy Conway, MS, RD
• Nathaniel Corn
• Keryl Cryer
• Amy Dell
• Natalie Evans
• Carole Hamlin
• Skyler Kilmer
• Reed Mangels, PhD, RD
• Julia Mathew
• Rissa Miller
• David Milner
• Katie Nunemaker
• Karen Peissinger
• Mark Rifkin
• Lucia Rivera
• Tonya Rothe
• Marcy Schveibinz
• Brad Scott
• Elsa Spencer, PhD
• Stuart Stahler

14) A CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

To volunteer at VRG, please contact us at [email protected]

To support The Vegetarian Resource Group's outreach, donate at [ https://www.vrg.org/donate ]

15) BECOME A MONTHLY VRG DONOR

To bolster The Vegetarian Resource Group's outreach efforts, consider signing up for a regularly scheduled donation. Monthly and quarterly donors support our work, while allowing us to better budget by providing more predictable and steady funding. You can become a monthly or quarterly donor online here: [ https://www.vrg.org/donate ]

16) ABOUT THE VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP

Our health professionals, activists, and educators work with businesses and individuals to bring about healthful changes in your school, workplace, and community. Registered dietitians and physicians aid in the development of nutrition-related publications and answer member and media questions about vegetarian diets. The Vegetarian Resource Group is a non-profit organization. Financial support comes primarily from memberships, donations, bequests, and book sales. The Vegetarian Journal, a print magazine, is a benefit of membership in The VRG. (For more information, please see the Vegetarian Journal online at:

[ https://www.vrg.org/journal/ ] )

To sign up for the The Vegetarian Resource Group national email newsletter, please visit:

[ http://lists.vrg.org/mailman/listinfo/vrg-news_lists.vrg.org ]

We are also on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!!

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

VRG Parents and Kids

If you would like to make a donation, become a member, volunteer, or find out more about The VRG, contact us at:

The Vegetarian Resource Group
P.O. Box 1463
Baltimore, MD 21203
Phone: (410) 366-8343
FAX: (410) 366-8804 E-mail: [email protected]
Website: [ https://www.vrg.org/ ]

To donate: [ https://www.givedirect.org/donate/?cid=1565 ]

Copyright The Vegetarian Resource Group 2019 The contents of this newsletter, 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 own best judgment about whether a product is suitable for you. To be sure, do further research or confirmation on your own.

If you were forwarded this message and would like to sign up for our monthly local email newsletter, please go to

[ http://lists.vrg.org/mailman/listinfo/vrg-maryland_lists.vrg.org ]

If you do not wish to receive the Local Email Newsletter, visit

[ http://lists.vrg.org/mailman/listinfo/vrg-maryland_lists.vrg.org ]

Instructions for unsubscribing will appear at the bottom of the page. See Unsubscribe or edit options. (You do not need a password).