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2) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
During this difficult time we hope everyone stays safe and takes precautions to
prevent the spread of this virus. If you need ideas to prepare for extended periods
of self isolation, check out The Vegetarian Resource Group's article on disaster
planning for vegans
[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2020/03/09/disaster-planning-for-vegans/ ]
If you're looking for ideas to keep busy, please reach out to us about virtual
volunteer opportunities: [email protected]
Happy reading!
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3) VEGETARIAN JOURNAL ISSUE 1, 2020
For once we get back to "normal," are you planning a vegan vacation? Maybe you want
to consider Disney. Read more about the Mouse & company's new park-wide vegan
options from Caryn Ginsberg, who sampled everything from soy ice cream sundaes to
vegan bangers and mash! Maybe you're more the athletic type and are sticking to
those fitness resolutions. Spring into the world of the Vegan Power 50K ultra
marathon with Ben Sarsgard and see what it takes to stay the course.
To support exciting journalism that demonstrates the reach of the vegan movement
like these stories, subscribe to the Vegetarian Journal. 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.
The Vegetarian Journal is available in print and on Kindle!
Print subscriptions in the USA: To order online, go to:
[ https://www.vrg.org/member/2013sv.php ]
Kindle USA:
[ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LBY2Y7K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1544727482&sr=8-1&keywords=B07LBY2Y7K ]
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4) VRG BOOTHS AND EVENTS
Come visit us at these VRG booths!
Note: due to possible coronavirus concerns, some events may be cancelled or
rescheduled. Always check on the event websites for the latest information.
At Roots Market
Saturday, June 20, 2020
5805 Clarksville Square Dr, Clarksville, MD
Albany Veg Fest
Sunday, October 4, 2020
Albany Capital Center
Albany, New York 12207
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo
October 18 - 20, 2020
100 S Capitol Ave
Indianapolis, IN 46225
If you're interested in helping us at one of our booths, contact [email protected]
If you would like to donate towards our veggie outreach, donate at:
[ https://www.vrg.org/donate ]
Donations can also be sent to:
The Vegetarian Resource Group
P.O. Box 1463
Baltimore, MD 21203
Or call: (410) 366-8343
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5) OTHER UPCOMING VEGETARIAN/VEGAN EVENTS
Below are upcoming events occurring nationally and internationally. The VRG will not
be at these events but we want to share them with you in case you live in or will be
traveling to the area they are taking place and wish to attend (Note: due to
possible coronavirus concerns, some events may be cancelled or rescheduled. Always
check on the event web sites for the latest information):
The World Wide Vegan Bake Sale
April 15-30, 2020
The Worldwide Vegan Bake sale
mobilizes people around the world
to bake vegan treats and raise funds
for charitable causes, while also
promoting great tasting vegan food.
Whole Health Forum
"Forum Four"
May 17th-21st, 2020
Zichron Yaakov, Israel
Plant-based Prevention of Disease Annual National Conference
May 30th-June 1st, 2020
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, Michigan
Lancaster VegFest
Saturday, June 6th, 2020
Buchanan Park
Lancaster, PA
16th International Vegan Festival
Aug 8 -14, 2021 (7 days)
18th Satvik Vegan Festival
Sunday, 9th August, 2020 (1 day)
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6) SCHOLARSHIP READERS NEEDED
Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, VRG awards $20,000 in college
scholarship money each year to graduating high school students who have promoted
vegetarianism/veganism in their schools and/or communities. The deadline for
submissions was February 20, 2020 and we need volunteers to help with reading student
essays. All you have to do is read over the essay and write 3 or 4 sentences that
provide positive feedback about specific projects, activities, and/or challenges the entrants
overcame. If you can help or for more information please email [email protected]
For information about VRG's College Scholarship, see
[ https://www.vrg.org/student/scholar.htm ]
To support The Vegetarian Resource Group scholarships and internships, donate at
[ https://www.vrg.org/donate ]
or mail to The Vegetarian Resource Group, Box 1463, Baltimore,
MD 21203
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7) PROPOSED CHANGES TO SCHOOL MEALS REDUCE FRUIT AND VEGETABLE SERVINGS
By Reed Mangels, PhD, RD
More than 30 million children in the United States participate in the National School
Lunch Program yearly (1[ https://fns-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/resource-
files/NSLPFactSheet.pdf ]
) and more than 14 million children participate in the School
Breakfast Program (2). These programs are federally funded, operate in public and
nonprofit private schools, and have a stated goal of providing nutritionally
balanced, low-cost or no-cost breakfasts and lunches to children each school day (1,2). Meal
patterns for these programs are established by the USDA.
Children get more than half of their daily calories from school meals so it's
important that these meals provide nutritious food, the kind of food kids need to grow and be
healthy. That means whole grains, beans, vegetables, and fruit.
Changes to school meal requirements that were implemented in school year 2012-2013
resulted in significant improvements in the nutritional quality of school meals (3).
Specifically, more whole grains, greens, and beans were served to children at lunch
and more whole grains and fruit were served at breakfast (3).
A recent proposed rule change (4) would eliminate many of the changes that were made
in 2012-2013. The proposed changes would reduce the amount of vegetables and fruit
required to be served at breakfast and lunch. Fewer red and orange vegetables
(sources of vitamin A) would be required to be served at lunch. The proposed change would allow
pasta made with vegetable flour to be counted as a serving of vegetables. I'm sorry,
but in my mind, there is a difference between pasta and a salad. Children need to become
familiar with vegetables that are presented as vegetables.
If breakfast is served outside of the cafeteria, which many school districts do, the
amount of fruit included would be cut from one cup to a half cup. Since the number of
calories that must be served at breakfast is unchanged, a half cup of fruit could be replaced
with cheaper food like sweet pastries. The proposed changes would allow schools to offer
potatoes as a vegetable every day. Potatoes could take the place of fruit at breakfast. Potatoes are a fine food, but they don't supply the generous amounts of vitamin C, vitamin A, calcium, and iron that other vegetables or that fruits do.
A rationale given for the changes is that children don't like the changes that were
made in 2012-2013 and that they've resulted in more waste. A study conducted by USDA, refutes
this argument and shows that after the 2012-2013 changes, there was either less plate
waste or about the same plate waste as before (3).
Some readers may think this is not their issue. Since most school meals have limited
options for vegans and vegetarians, their children may bring their own breakfasts and
lunches. We still have a long way to go before school meals are vegan. Realistically,
however, for many children, these meals are an opportunity to have access to healthy
food. These proposed changes cut required healthy plant foods from school meals and
are harmful to children's nutrition.
Comments on the proposed changes can be submitted at:
[ https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/01/23/2020-00926/simplifying-meal-
service-and-monitoring-requirements-in-the-national-school-lunch-and-school#open-
comment ]
and must be submitted by March 23, 2020.
References:
1.USDA. The National School Lunch Program. 2017.
[ https://fns-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/resource-files/NSLPFactSheet.pdf ]
2.USDA. The School Breakfast Program. 2017.
[ https://fns-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/resource-files/SBPfactsheet.pdf ]
3.USDA. School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study. 2019.
[ https://fns-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/resource-files/SNMCS_Summary-Findings.pdf ]
4.USDA Food and Nutrition Service. Simplifying Meal Service and Monitoring
Requirements in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. Federal
Register. 85 FR 4094. January 23, 2020.
[ https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/01/23/2020-00926/simplifying-meal-service-and-monitoring-requirements-in-the-national-school-lunch-and-school ]
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8) A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS
Thanks to the following volunteers for all your hard work with The Vegetarian Resource
Group, including 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, photography, performing
nutrition analysis, helping with our newsletters, reading scholarship applications and much more!
- Matt Baker, RN
- Nancy Berkoff, EdD, RD
- Whitney Blomquist
- Casey Brown, RD
- Courtnee Cannon
- Cathy Conway, MS, RD
- Nathaniel Corn
- Anne Custer
- Natalie Evans
- Caryn Ginsberg
- Ruth Goldstein
- Erica Goretzki
- Heather Gorn
- Carole Hamlin
- Julia Hart
- David Herring
- Rebecca Kaplan
- Skyler Kilmer
- Karen Lazarus, MD
- Reed Mangels, PhD, RD
- Julia Mathew
- Laura McGuiness
- Wendy McPherson
- Larry Miller
- Rissa Miller
- Sally Miller
- David Milner
- Katie Nunemaker
- Susan Petrie
- Elly Ren
- Lucia Rivera
- Tonya Rothe
- Marcy Schveibinz
- Brad Scott MBA
- Eric Sharer, RD
- Betsy Todd, RN
- Jill Venezian
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9) SUMMER INTERNSHIPS
The Vegetarian Resource group is accepting applications for summer interns for our
main office in Baltimore, MD. The VRG has one $4,200.00 needs-based internship in our
Baltimore, MD office, as well as unpaid internship positions all year long. For more
information, [ https://www.vrg.org/student/index.php ]
Live in the Roland Park area of Baltimore? We're always looking for affordable or free
housing for our interns! Please let us know if you are interested in hosting an
intern! [email protected]
To support The Vegetarian Resource Group scholarships and internships,
donate at [ https://www.vrg.org/donate ]
or mail to The Vegetarian Resource Group, PO Box
1463, Baltimore, MD 21203
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10) VRG HIGHLIGHTS
The VRG was mentioned in Today's Dietitian: A 2019 survey conducted by The Harris
Poll and The Vegetarian Resource Group found that 2% of people aged 65 and older are
vegetarian or vegan, 37% sometimes or always eat vegetarian or vegan, and 16%
sometimes or always eat vegan.
We sent Save Our Water and assorted other brochures and handouts to an activist in St.
Paul Minnesota for a presentation on how to eat a balanced vegan diet as a strategy
to be environmentally responsible/reduce your carbon footprint. We also donated Vegetarian
Journals, I Love Animals and Broccoli Coloring Books and My Vegan Plate full color
handouts to the North Florida Veg Fest in Tallahassee.
We continue to review and assess hundreds of student scholarship applications in
anticipation of awarding $20,000 in college scholarship money. If you can help with
reading essays please reach out to [email protected] for more information.
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11) VRG WISH LIST
As a non-profit, we can only take on new projects when we are able to get support from
donors and our dedicated volunteers. Right now, we are seeking your support for the
following:
Support VRG every time you shop on Amazon! Simply go to Amazon Smile and select
The Vegetarian Resource Group as your chosen charity. Then every time you make a
purchase a portion of your funds will be donated annually to VRG by Amazon. Support
your dreams of vegan world when you shop online!
[ https://smile.amazon.com/ref=smi_ext_ch_52-1279034_dl?_encoding=UTF8&ein=52-
1279034&ref_=smi_chpf_redirect&ref_=smi_ext_ch_52-1279034_cl ]
Have you wanted to make a gift in honor of a loved one, friend or colleague, but
weren't sure which charities were vegan, pro-environment or pro-animal rights? Consider a
donation to the VRG as a memorial for a loved one, or way to honor someone's actions
with a living tribute. This is perfect for special occasions, such as a wedding,
birthday, anniversary or retirement. We will send an acknowledgement to you and the giftee, and
your kindness will support our educational outreach programs and help promote
veganism.
[ https://www.vrg.org/memandhon.htm ]
We donate tens of thousands of leaflets, brochures, and flyers on vegetarianism every
year both to activists and directly to the public. A donation of $100 can cover the
printing of 1000 brochures, helping us help others spread valuable information about vegan and
vegetarian lifestyles. You can give online at [ https://www.vrg.org/donate/ ]
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12) VRG BOOKSTORE: LOWFAT JEWISH VEGETARIAN COOKBOOK
The Lowfat Jewish Vegetarian Cookbook by Debra Wasserman
This collection of more than 150 recipes will delight your guests and family
with international flavors and tastes of home. Next month's Seder could include
Eggplant Stew over Baked Potatoes, Syrian-style Okra, Russian Fruit Pudding, Vegetarian Kishke
and Garlicky Baked Peppers. Lunches and dinners throughout the year will come to life
with Cream of Mushroom Soup, Broccoli Latkes, Eggless Challah, Spinach Pie, and
Israeli Carrot Salad. Don't forget dessert! Get ready for Apple Spice Cake, Almond
Maple Cookies and Romanian Apricot Dumplings.
Embrace delicious new traditions with The Lowfat Jewish Vegetarian Cookbook, $15.00.
[ https://www.vrg.org/bookstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=13 ]
Also check out:
Vegan Passover Recipes by Chef Nancy Berkoff, EdD, $6.00
[ https://www.vrg.org/bookstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=14 ]
No Cholesterol Passover Recipes by Debra Wasserman $8.95
[ https://www.vrg.org/bookstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=3 ]
All available from our online bookshop at [ https://www.vrg.org/bookstore/ ]
or call 410-366-
8343 for more details.
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13) FOLLOW VRG'S SOCIAL MEDIA
You can keep up with us on ~
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14) ABOUT THE VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP & VRG NEWS
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 ( [
http://www.vrg.org/journal/ ]
)
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] to volunteer
Website: [ https://www.vrg.org/ ]
VRG-NEWS is the e-mail newsletter of The Vegetarian Resource Group. This is an announcement list so subscriber messages are not accepted by the list. If you have a technical question about the list, please contact us at [email protected]. If you have any suggestions, ideas, or corrections to VRG-NEWS, please direct them to [email protected]. Thanks. If you are a new subscriber, you might enjoy reading past issues of VRG-NEWS online at
[ http://www.vrg.org/vrgnews/ ]
The VRG is an educational non-profit group providing information on vegetarianism and veganism. To subscribe to VRG-NEWS, go to
[ http://www.vrg.org/vrgnews/ ]
To unsubscribe, or otherwise manage your subscription to VRG-NEWS, go to
[ http://lists.vrg.org/mailman/listinfo/vrg-news_lists.vrg.org ]
(Go to the bottom of the page where it says "unsubscribe" or "edit options". You do not need a password.)
Copyright The Vegetarian Resource Group 2020 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.
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