American Cancer Society Stresses Plant-Based Diet

The message of good health that is so obvious to most of us is slowly making the rounds in society-at-large. A year ago, the USDA came aboard (see "USDA Acknowledges Healthiness of Vegetarian Diet" in Grapevine vol.10#2 from last summer), and this winter the American Cancer Society, in its Guidelines for Diet, Nutrition, and Cancer Prevention, states that eating more fruits, vegetables, and grains; reducing or eliminating high-fat foods, meats, and alcohol; and staying active and fit can help to prevent cancer. It recommends a diet based on five or more servings of vegetables and fruits, and several servings of bread, cereal and grains (preferably fiber- and mineral-rich whole grains). For more information, contact ACS at (800)ACS-2345.

American Dietic Association Book Available
Being Vegetarian

This is meant to be a "pocket" reference and was produced for the ADA by Suzanne Havala (of the Vegetarian Resource Group who was a major driving force in the USDA guidelines mentioned above, and who is a resident of Charlotte). It is one of the first books in their Nutrition Now series, and should be available in bookstores for $5.95.

UNhealthy School Lunches?
Healthy Meals for Children Act, H.R. 2066

This past May, the House of Representatives passed this bill which makes it easy for an unhealthy cafeteria to continue with business as usual by prohibiting the requirement for "a school to conduct or use a nutrient analysis" to ensure it meets Dietary Guidelines. It would be great to have a group of TVSers concerned about establishing standards and vegetarian options at area school cafeterias. Contact Valerie Copeland, TVS Nutrition Consultant, at 571-0527 if you want to help.

Vegetarian Essay Contest for Students

The Vegetarian Resource Group (410-366-VEGE, TheVRG@aol.com, http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/VRG/home.html) is again sponsoring its annual essay contest. Categories are for ages through 8, 9-13, and 14-18, with a $50 savings bond as first prize in each category. If you would like to submit an essay, it should be about any aspect of vegetarianism, 2-3 pages long, and can be based on interviewing, research, and/or personal opinion. Send entries (postmarked by May 1st) to VRG, P.O. Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203, including your name, age, address, telephone number, grade, school, and teacher's name. You can also receive further details and a lesson plan on vegetarianism by sending a self-addressed stamped (with two stamps) envelope to VRG.

Vegan Health Study

Many of you are familiar with vegetarian nutritionist Michael Klaper, M.D. He is seeking vegans who would volunteer for a study to answer questions about whether and why vegans, as compared to non-vegetarians, may have better health, longer life spans, and possibly lower levels of nutrients like B12. For additional information, contact him at 7040 W. Palmetto Park Rd. #2-281, Boca Raton, FL 33433, mklaper@igc.apc.org.

Earth Day Events - Volunteers Needed

Last year we had a very enjoyable table at an Earth Day festival in Durham. I know that Carrboro also has such a festival, and just got in the mail an invitation to participate with the Lorax Environmental Club at NCSU in Raleigh. The NCSU event looks quite interesting and all we need to do is show up with our tabling materials. They will have many bands on Sa April 19 noon-8p, children's events at Pullen Park Su afternoon April 20, and entertainment and informational booths on campus that M and Tu. Please contact Dilip if you can help out for Earth Day.

Random Acts of Kindness Week, Feb. 10-16, 1997 From my experience, vegetarians as a group tend to be pretty compassionate. As such, it would be neat for TVS to participate with the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation and "millions of kindness activists" during their third annual (or, given the date and planning required, next year) week-long awareness campaign. Possible events we could host include preparing vegan meals for a local homeless shelter, visiting a nursing home with vegan treats, or hosting a media event stressing the compassionate vegetarian lifestyle. If you would like to participate, please contact Dilip. {Conari Press in Berkeley - (800)685-9595}

TVS Retreat, Anybody?

I've bantered around the idea of helping to put together a vegetarian retreat with the Vegetarian Society of Washington, D.C., perhaps someplace in Virginia. If anything is planned, I'll let you know. In any case, how does the idea of a NC retreat, wilderness weekend, or similar trip sound? We could rent a cabin in the mountains or take up all of some quaint Bed-and-Breakfast, maybe in the Asheville area, maybe in the early fall? Please contact Dilip if you would like to participate and help!

Can We Reach Out?

Once at a National Organization for Women presentation, I heard the presenter bemoan that she felt their ranks consisted largely of relatively affluent "white" women, and they badly wanted to broaden their membership. Sometimes it seems that the vegetarian "movement" is also missing people from many socio-economic backgrounds. Is there anything we can do to reach out and include more people? We would probably gain an appreciation of issues that we could address (for example, why do we not feed higher quality -- and at the same time lesser costing -- vegetarian dishes to those least able to provide for themselves at homeless shelters?), and build a stronger sense of a more inclusive community. I'd appreciate hearing ideas that TVS could implement.

Watch out for "Natural Flavors"

I was very upset when I recently decided to buy "gravy" that seemed to be vegetarian, especially given the Hain's brand name. Just to be sure, I called them (800-434-HAIN) and was shocked to find that the natural flavors were from dead animals! (I've since found out that some of their gravies, explicitly labeled "vegetarian", are indeed vegetarian.) I looked in my kitchen and called another company whose product I had, and found that their natural flavors were also not vegetarian. So, beware of what you buy! Natural flavors are not necessarily animal-derived, but may be. Another argument to cook from scratch? And a compelling case for some sort of clear labeling requirement for foods?

Catered Dinner Meetings?

The Winnipeg Vegetarian Society in Canada is trying a new meeting format that I thought I'd suggest to TVSers. The idea is that we meet, perhaps quarterly, and start off with a reasonable cost (maybe $6-8) catered vegan meal. Then we would have a meeting beginning with announcements and informal discussion, followed by a 30m or 60m guest lecture. Is anybody interested in working with me to find caterers and help organize, and are there any volunteers who would enjoy speaking?

Get a TVS-Chapter Credit Card!
You now have two credit cards to support TVS with!

We really appreciate your membership dollars (and to a few of you who include a bit extra as a contribution, thank you very much!!). Another way to support TVS is through relationships we have built with three companies. Aesop, Inc. (P.O. Box 315, N. Cambridge, MA 02140, (617)628-8030, http://www.aesopinc.com) will contribute to TVS 7.5% (excluding shipping and tax) of your purchase when you buy their leather alternative goods and mention TVS. If you apply (by calling 800-367-7297 and giving our chapter # - 0317) and obtain a TVS chapter of Capitol One Bank's Action for Animals MasterCard, then each time you make a purchase, TVS will get a half percent (.5%) royalty with no extra cost to you.

NORTH AMERICAN VEGETARIAN SOCIETY

TVS is an Independent Affiliate of the North American Veget. Society. TVS members can become NAVS members at half price, with benefits including the quarterly Vegetarian Voice magazine, as well as discounts on merchandise and Summerfest conferences. For more information, contact them at NAVS, P.O. Box 72, Dolgeville, NY 13329, (518)568-7970, navs@superior.net.

Vegetarian Gothic T-Shirts Available for $10

It would be great to have a TVS T-Shirt. Would anybody like to help design one? In the meantime, the Nebraska Vegetarian Society is making available to organizations a fun new T-Shirt. It is a take off on the class "American Gothic" with a farmer and his wife, but the farmer is a cucumber and the wife a carrot. It has nice colors (green, orange, yellow, brown, blue, and white), and says "American Gothic". If anybody is interested in ordering these T-Shirts for $10, please contact Dilip with your size preference (M, L, XL, or XXL). The minimum order that we can collectively make is 12, so I'll wait till I get close to that number interested.