1) VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP RESEARCH AND NEWS

• PFIZER-BIONTECH COVID-19 VACCINE INGREDIENTS
• VEGAN "FISH" PRODUCTS
• CHOLESTEROL IN PLANTS?
• BEST LATIN AMERICAN WEBSITES WITH INFORMATION ON CALCIUM IN THE VEGAN DIET
• MAS VEGGIES TAQUERIA: VEGAN MEXICAN DELIVERY SERVICE
• MERRELL MEN'S ALTALIGHT WATERPROOF HIKING BOOTS AND OTHER VEGAN-FRIENDLY SHOES FOR MEN AND WOMEN
• HUMMUS PASTA WITH ROASTED VEGGIES
• VEGAN SWEET POTATO BISQUE
• and so much more!

VEGAN DIETS IN A NUTSHELL POSTER

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2021/02/26/vegan-diets-in-a-nutshell-poster-2/ ]

BEST WEBSITES IN ENGLISH WITH INFORMATION ON CALCIUM IN THE VEGAN DIET FOR LATIN AMERICANS

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2021/02/26/best-websites-in-english-with-information-on-calcium-in-the-vegan-diet-for-latin-americans/ ]

FIVE VEGAN TIKTOK CREATORS TO WATCH

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2021/02/25/five-vegan-tiktok-creators-to-watch/ ]

MY VEGAN PLATE

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2021/02/24/my-vegan-plate/ ]

VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN DIETS AND OUR CLIMATE EMERGENCY: SCIENTIFIC UPDATES [2015-2021]

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2021/02/24/vegan-and-vegetarian-diets-and-our-climate-emergency-scientific-updates-2015-2021/ ]

VEGETARIAN JOURNAL SENIOR EDITOR RISSA MILLER APPEARS ON BE KIND PODCAST

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2021/02/23/vegetarian-journal-senior-editor-rissa-miller-appears-on-be-kind-podcast/ ]

HUMMUS PASTA WITH ROASTED VEGGIES

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2021/02/22/hummus-pasta-with-roasted-veggies/ ]

CHOLESTEROL IN PLANTS?

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2021/02/19/cholesterol-in-plants/ ]

SABRA HUMMUS MEDITERRANEAN NACHOS - A FUN ALTERNATIVE TO HEAVY NACHOS

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2021/02/18/sabra-hummus-mediterranean-nachos-a-fun-alternative-to-heavy-nachos/ ]

THE VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUP'S MEMORIAL AND HONORARY GIFT PROGRAM

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2021/02/18/the-vegetarian-resource-groups-memorial-and-honorary-gift-program-6/ ]

MERRELL MEN'S ALTALIGHT WATERPROOF HIKING BOOTS AND OTHER VEGAN-FRIENDLY SHOES FOR MEN AND WOMEN

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2021/02/17/merrell-mens-altalight-waterproof-hiking-boots-and-other-vegan-friendly-shoes-for-men-and-women/ ]

WILDSEED RESTAURANT REVIEW IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2021/02/17/wildseed-restaurant-review-in-san-francisco-california/ ]

REVIEW OF NATIVE KITCHEN IN DALTON, GEORGIA

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2021/02/16/review-of-native-kitchen-in-dalton-georgia/ ]

CHOLESTEROL IN PFIZER AND MODERNA VACCINE

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2021/02/16/cholesterol-in-pfizer-and-moderna-vaccine/ ]

VEGAN SWEET POTATO BISQUE

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2021/02/15/vegan-sweet-potato-bisque/ ]

THE LATEST ISSUE OF VEGETARIAN JOURNAL IS NOW AVAILABLE ON KINDLE IN THE USA AND UK

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2021/02/12/the-latest-issue-of-vegetarian-journal-is-now-available-on-kindle-in-the-usa-and-uk-5/ ]

TRAVEL THE WORLD IN A STEW POT

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2021/02/11/travel-the-world-in-a-stew-pot-2/ ]

ENJOY DISHES THAT INCLUDE ROASTED VEGGIES AND FRUIT

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2021/02/10/enjoy-dishes-that-include-roasted-veggies-and-fruit/ ]

PUZZLING NUTRITION INFORMATION ON FOOD LABELS - CHOLESTEROL IN VEGAN FOODS?

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2021/02/10/puzzling-nutrition-information-on-food-labels/ ]

COMFORT FOOD: A SPECIAL TREAT TO CELEBRATE VALENTINE'S DAY

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2021/02/09/comfort-food-a-special-treat-to-celebrate-valentines-day-2/ ]

BEYOND STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2021/02/08/beyond-strawberry-shortcake/ ]

CALLING ALL BOOTSTRAPPERS! IN SEARCH OF THE WILD TOFURKY

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2021/02/08/calling-all-bootstrappers-in-search-of-the-wild-tofurky/ ]

WARM UP WITH A BOWL OF SOUP!

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2021/02/05/warm-up-with-a-bowl-of-soup/ ]

BEST LATIN AMERICAN WEBSITES WITH INFORMATION ON CALCIUM IN THE VEGAN DIET

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2021/02/04/best-latin-american-websites-with-information-on-calcium-in-the-vegan-diet-3/ ]

COMPARING THE EXPERIENCES OF VEGAN HIGH SCHOOLERS IN AMERICA

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2021/02/03/comparing-the-experiences-of-vegan-high-schoolers-in-america/ ]

PREPARING DISHES WITH FRESH FENNEL

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2021/02/02/preparing-dishes-with-fresh-fennel/ ]

LOOKING FOR A NEW VEGAN WALLET IN THE USA, CANADA, OR EUROPE?

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2021/02/01/looking-for-a-new-vegan-wallet-2/ ]

PFIZER-BIONTECH COVID-19 VACCINE INGREDIENTS

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2021/02/01/pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine-ingredients/ ]

MAS VEGGIES TAQUERIA: VEGAN MEXICAN DELIVERY SERVICE

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2021/01/29/mas-veggies-taqueria-vegan-mexican-delivery-service/ ]

THE ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY NUTRITION PROGRAM IS RECRUITING UNDERACTIVE, VEGAN MALES TO EXAMINE THE EFFECTS OF PROTEIN ON NITROGEN BALANCE AT THE PROTEIN RDA (0.8G/kg/d)

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2021/01/29/the-arizona-state-university-nutrition-program-is-recruiting-underactive-vegan-males-to-examine-the-effects-of-protein-on-nitrogen-balance-at-the-protein-rda-0-8g-kg-d/ ]

VEGAN "FISH" PRODUCTS

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2021/01/28/vegan-fish-products-2/ ]

ONA: VEGAN RESTAURANT BECOMES FIRST IN FRANCE TO GET MICHELIN STAR

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2021/01/27/ona-vegan-restaurant-becomes-first-in-france-to-get-michelin-star/ ]

BEST LATIN AMERICAN WEBSITES WITH INFORMATION ON CALCIUM IN THE VEGAN DIET

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2021/01/27/best-latin-american-websites-with-information-on-calcium-in-the-vegan-diet-2/ ]

INDOOR VEGAN-FRIENDLY GAMES FOR YOUNG CHILDREN

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2021/01/26/indoor-vegan-friendly-games-for-young-children/ ]

WHERE TO PURCHASE NON-LEATHER VEGAN BELTS WORLD-WIDE

[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2021/01/25/where-to-purchase-non-leather-vegan-belts-world-wide/ ]

2) CHOLESTEROL IN PLANTS?

By Reed Mangels, PhD, RD

Although we usually think of cholesterol as coming from animal products, plants contain very small amounts of cholesterol. The cholesterol content of plants is estimated to be hundreds to thousands of times less than that of animals. Read the article by VRG Nutrition Advisor Reed Mangels here:
[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2021/02/19/cholesterol-in-plants/ ]

3) VEGAN PRESS AND POETRY WITH RISSA!

On February 7, 2021 in Episode 45, VRG Vegetarian Journal Senior Editor Rissa Miller was interviewed on the Be Kind Podcast. From their website: "Rissa opens up a bag of gummy worms with her amazing vegan stories! We didn't get close to talking about everything we wanted to discuss, but had a blast hearing about vegan events, press, poetry, and more. We can't wait to have her back on the show!" Hear the interview here:
[ https://bekindpodcast.podbean.com/e/episode-45-vegan-press-and-poetry-with-rissa/ ]

4) 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, 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 essays, and more!

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 ]

• Nancy Berkoff, EdD, RD
• Tisha Bhat
• Simon Brown
• Amy Burger
• Anayeli Camacho
• Cathy Conway, MS, RD
• Keryl Cryer
• Anne Custer
• Daniella Eisenstadt
• Elissa Free
• Rhyan Geiger
• Heather Gorn
• Carole Hamlin
• David Han
• Julia Hart
• Clarissa Hauber
• Suzanne Hengen
• Audrey Hunt
• Karen Lazarus
• Nina Lehr
• Nancy Maggs
• Reed Mangels, PhD, RD
• Kim Manzo
• Grace McCall
• Laura McGuiness, MLIS
• David Milner
• Adhirai Muthukumar
• Julie Neild
• Rosa Pelch
• Susan Petrie
• Lucia Rivera
• Marcia Schveibinz
• Julia Stanitski
• Betsy Todd
• Gabriella Walker
• Angela Weber
• Patricia Welty
• Shawn Wistrom

5) VEGAN RECIPE IS A FINALIST IN INTERNATIONAL COOKING CONTEST

Arlene JM Grant is a finalist in the Favorite Chef competition with her signature vegan dish GuacWaffles. These spicy waffles are made with vegetables that are "almost fried" to add extra texture, and then topped with deconstructed Guacamole. More info can be found here:
[ https://favchef.com/2021/arlene-jm-grant ]

6) VRG HIGHLIGHTS

VRG volunteer and health coach Marcy Schveibinz enjoyed working with the VRG interns/volunteers, Adhi, Julia, and Rosa. Julia has facilitated a couple of (virtual) vegan cooking classes at Christphers Place already and Adhi and Rosa each taught one class and are interested in teaching future classes. Christopher Place Employment Academy is a residential employment program, which offers training, and recovery support to formerly homeless men. Rosa also runs her own vegan donut business. See [ https://rosabakes.com/ ]

On February 7, 2021 in Episode 45, VRG Senior Editor Rissa Miller was interviewed on the Be Kind Podcast. From their website: "Rissa opens up a bag of gummy worms with her amazing vegan stories! We didn't get close to talking about everything we wanted to discuss, but had a blast hearing about vegan events, press, poetry, and more. We can't wait to have her back on the show!" Hear the interview here:
[ https://bekindpodcast.podbean.com/e/episode-45-vegan-press-and-poetry-with-rissa/ ]

For 2021 our spring interns include an accounting major from Loyola in Maryland, an English Masters student form Tennessee, High school students from Maryland, California, Michigan, and Alaska, and a Communications/Journalism major from Santa Clara University in California. For information about The Vegetarian Resource Group internships, see
[ https://www.vrg.org/student/index.php ]

VRG Volunteer Coordinator Emilio Gironda continues to coordinate volunteers around the country to read applications for our college scholarship contest. More info here:
[ https://www.vrg.org/student/scholar.htm ]

VRG Research Director Jeanne Yacoubou was interviewed on the Environmental Directions radio program and on the One World podcast by David Han in Orange County, California.

VRG Intern Odette Olivares Sanchez has written on the best Latin American websites that have information on calcium in the vegan diet here:
[ https://www.vrg.org/nutrition/best_latin_american_websites.htm-2/ ]

Odette has also written a VRG article on sources of calcium in Latin American vegan food here:
[ https://www.vrg.org/nutrition/foods_calcium.htm ]

VRG Intern Jacqueline Tang has written on the Risk of Viral Pandemics from Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations and Wet Markets. See the article here:
[ https://www.vrg.org/blog/2021/01/22/risk-of-viral-pandemics-from-concentrated-animal-feeding-operations-and-wet-markets/ ]

We continue to send vegan and vegetarian information to prison inmates all over the country.

7) VRG EVENTS

VRG's Nutrition Advisor Reed Mangels, RD, PhD will be presenting a webinar on the health benefits of a vegetarian/vegan diet for the San Jose Public Library, California this spring. It will consist of three one hour talks, each repeated twice: one for adults, one for teens, and one for families. Look for dates in next email newsletter.

Coming this July, VRG Volunteer and Health Coach Marcia Schveibinz will be presenting a virtual program for the Lafayette Public Library in Louisiana on the benefits of vegetarianism. More information to follow.

During these hard times, vegan restaurant Land of Kush is graciously giving vegan meals to various food programs in Baltimore. Each meal is $5 to $15. Once they reach a goal of $500 they can distribute a minimum of 50 meals. This supports a vegan restaurant and those in need, as well as promoting a healthy and ethical vegan diet to new audiences. You can donate at [ https://www.vrg.org/donate ] and write in the comments section "For Land of Kush Vegan Food Program". We'll then pass on the money and help sponsor a vegan community meal.

What we wear, eat and use in our everyday lives has an impact on both humans and animals. On Tuesday March 9, join VRG's Senior Editor Rissa Miller for a FREE panel discussion about Compassionate Consuming, sponsored by Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens and Pittsburgh Vegan Society. She is one of several panelists speaking that afternoon, and if you have any interest in learning more about plant-based eating or the effect of consumerism on animal lives and the food system, please stop by over your lunch hour.

Sign up for FREE at this link:
[ https://3989p.blackbaudhosting.com/3989p/Vegan-Diet-Discussion-Series ]

8) MARYLAND EVENTS

The Washington, D.C.-based restaurant/bookstore chain is slated to open a new location near Johns Hopkins University this spring. The Baltimore spot will have seating for about 200. Vegan menu items will include vegan lovers pasta; vegan chicken stir-fry; vegan egg scramble or wrap; vegan cauliflower bites; vegan Brussel sprouts; vegan coconut tofu bites; vegan black bean burger, chicken, chorizo, tuna, and BBQ beef.

More info here: [ https://www.busboysandpoets.com/locations/ ]

9) OTHER EVENTS

The Animal Advocates of South Central Pennsylvania are sponsoring a virtual 5k on Saturday April 10th and Sunday April 11th. Run, walk, hike, get on a treadmill - whatever suits you best. If you are down for some friendly competition, use a running app (Map My Run, Runkeeper, Strava, etc.) and post a screenshot of your time and distance (3.1mi). 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will be posted at 8pm on Sunday. Registration is $35.00 and will be closed on April 6th. Participants will be mailed a locally printed AASCPA mask, Individuals Not Ingredients Sticker, SCPA Vegan Guides, and a Participation Certificate. Mailers will be sent via USPS on April 7th. Sign up here:
[ https://revenue-usa.keela.co/active-for-the-animals1 ]

Registration coming soon for two events at two locations. The first is May 21-23, 2021 at EMU in Ypsilanti, Michigan and the second June 25-27, 2021 at NCSU in Raleigh, North Carolina. There is limited in-person attendance or you can attend from home via Livestream. More information about these events is here:
[ https://mailchi.mp/48a0802476d4/preview-of-2021-p-pod-conference-programs-2808541?e=b1924014a7 ]
Their website is here:
[ https://www.preventionofdisease.org/ ]

On Saturday March 13th, join the Vegan Living Program and the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College for a virtual presentation on Vegan Ethics by Rachel McCrystal, Executive Director of Woodstock Farm Sanctuary. Ms. McCrystal will present information on the ethical basis for vegan choices. Register to receive the Zoom link for this free event March 13th at 3pm ET:
[ https://vegan-ethics-with-rachel-mccrystal.eventbrite.com/ ]

Sage Garden Project awards select under-served public California elementary schools with funding for garden/cooking educators. The funded educator is required to teach garden and nutrition lessons to all students during the school day. The award includes a fully-equipped mobile cooking cart, Sage Garden Project curriculum, teacher training and ongoing support for educators. Multi-year award relationships are preferred - schools must reapply annually. The 2021 Application is open now until March 19th. For more information and to apply go here:
[ http://sagegardenproject.org/apply/ ]

10) TAX PLANNING FOR 2021

If you are 72-years-old or older these is important tax news regarding IRAs. If you choose to send any of your annual required minimum distributions (RMD) from your IRA directly to The Vegetarian Resource Group, you can withdraw the amount tax-free, subject to certain rules and limitations. Since the RMD rules were suspended for 2020, you may have decided that there were no tax planning reasons for you to take a tax-free qualified charitable distribution (QCD) for 2020. But 2021 may be different. If the suspension of RMDs is not extended, here are some options for 2021:

• Make "catch-up" QCDs from your IRA equal to what you would have given in 2020 had RMD rules not been suspended.
• Use a portion of your 2021 $100,000 QCD allowance to take this tax-free IRA withdrawal now.
• Make your 2021 Charitable Gifts from your IRA later in the year.
• Combine IRA contributions made by QCDs in early 2021 and those made later this year to significantly reduce your taxable RMD for 2021.

Remember this is not tax, legal or financial advice You should always speak to your legal or tax advisor. To donate directly to The Vegetarian Resource Group, go to [ https://www.vrg.org/donate ]

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