Hi, subscribers/bloggers of www.sclveggies.com ,

• 1. On March 1, 2025, I will give up this informational blog. If you are interested in owning it, please contact carmelita@sclveggies.com . Otherwise, it will close down.
• 2. Because of food industry bias in current government recommendations, international medical and nutritional experts have outlined a universal guide for all countries on what they consider the healthiest daily diet for preventing chronic disease: 3 or more servings of legumes, 4 servings of fruit, 5 servings of vegetables, 3 servings of whole grains, and a serving of nuts/seeds.
• 3. Donations to Veganuary will be matched by a generous donor, according to ambassador Evanna Lynch. Go to www.veganuary.com/en-us/donate/?campaign-id=701Tv00000K5vjhIAB . In line with the Chinese calendar, Veganuary will launch its first initiative in China with the China Vegan Society the whole month of March.
• 4. The Remembering Rodney Society is a part of the nonprofit Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine(PCRM). Monthly donors and those who give $20 just once to the society at www.act.pcrm.org/N4dXV5I5s0y-pMBdskl48w2?contactdata=bTeeaR8f4fx5WTZCSg679CRQm8HBoSu8b+CYdr8wsXs0diZi8Ia7IwuxhARrhrMidb7UOS74iJIvnIkcNVlssNBxLIzNf8YtMkWtBzquv%2fPEkZ+FrJc5Bv4C%2f3ZNQ42yKphzc6at13Nu7iROtiofYAjjFdBQ8GSl0hgcl18nmtDZV9NJus%2fdB3G3cAPZbrbj7vAVw1fwL0eoqtCB%+ul90ocbRwyGrZzAOIkKrFh7R&ms=email3020825B&sourceid=1091051&emci=c1ee5b30-2fe6-ef11-90cb-0022482a94f4&emdi=d928550a-3ce6-ef11-90cb -0022482a94f4&ceid=2138442will receive receive a one-year subscription to the society’s quarterly newsletter. Rodney was a dog who was cruelly taken from an animal shelter, subjected to painful procedures, and ultimately killed in a school’s animal laboratory. Donations are tax-deductible.
• 5. The advisory committee for revising our national dietary guidelines(DGAC) for the next five years has recommended mostly drinking plain water, not milk, for everyone, but “especially for many people of color who suffer disproportionately from lactose intolerance,” says Dr. Anna Herby, nutrition education specialist. It also advised the departments of agriculture and health and human services to move beans, lentils and peas from the vegetable group to the preferred protein group to prevent “colorectal cancer, heart disease, and other diet-related diseases that plague our country,” Herby said. The 20 nutrition and public health experts also added coconut and palm oils to the group of fats to be avoided to help prevent “epidemics of obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain types of cancer that are linked to saturated fat and other harmful ingredients,” Herby said.5.
• 6. The American Gut Project analyzed the stool samples of more than 15,000 volunteers. Researchers found that people who ate more than 30 different plant foods per week had a more diverse gut microbiome with more of the bacteria that produce short chain fatty acids(linked to benefits for mental health, energy levels, heart health, and weight management). So vary your veggies every day.
• 7. Eating plant-based meals continue to refute myths. Surveys showed that balanced vegan meals do not prevent seniors or those with osteoarthritis (plus exercise and stress management) from building new muscle; nor with soybeans and low fat, do they cause menstrual cycle disorders or infertility for women of the reproductive ages. People 72 years and older who regularly ate the meals increased their good cholesterol levels, improved blood pressure and decreased inflammatory markers, according to some random crossover trials.
• 8. Most plane travelers complain that airports don’t offer healthy plant-based options. Using the app VeggL to view airport dining options, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine(PCRM) found Los Angeles and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta international airports offered the most variety and best quality plant-based options, which were rich in fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals. Today international airports like Chicago’s O’Hare, which have few plant-based dining options, have begun to offer more options in vending machines and via grab-and-go vendors. PCRM recommends that travelers check for restaurants that offer plant-based options at VeggL or www.happycow.net before the trip, check for prepackaged meals at grab-and-go vendors or vending machines, or opt for customized meals by selecting all or most of the ingredients. Prepackaging from home is another option.
• 9. Hospitals that offer plant-based meals benefit in the following ways, according to PCRM: by improving health outcomes for patients, staff and community; lowering costs, increasing patient satisfaction, supporting diverse cultures and eliminating processed meat.
• 10. The Food and Drug Administration approved transplanting pig organs to humans since not enough human organs are available to meet the demand. However, doctors from both the PCRM and New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine say pig organs are not a viable solution. Of the six xenotransplants(animal transplants on humans) since 2022, the first four resulted in human deaths after a couple months; the other two have been too recent. The medical authors of the article in Advanced Biology listed the surgery’s limitations, the risk of transmitting infectious diseases to humans, and the ethical and environmental implications of creating industrialized farming to harvest animal organs. “Xenotransplantation….[i]s a dangerous distraction from the sensible, evidence- based solutions that could zero the organ waitlist with as much investment and attention,” said lead author Catharine E. Krebs, PhD. The group suggested regenerative therapies, bioprinting, and stem cell technologies to one day replace damaged organs. They also placed trust in the progress in disease prevention so that transplants of any kind won’t be needed.
• 11. Beyond Animal launched its Member Spotlight Series in its January newsletter. Memberships include free, business, investor and donor; the businesses – free or premium –are plant-based, sustainable and entitled to certain benefits. Go to Resources Support on this blog. After registering on BA’s platform, complete Google form www.docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScnAEzQfgNeK88qrfKeDbQX5zoRqupZK05cqao3qgMRWYFDlw/viewform .
• 12. The Food Revolution Network(FRN) has a new cookbook, Powered by Plants, of 60 30-minute meals created by FRN lead dietitian Nichole Dandrea-Russert. It’s on sale at Bookshop dealers, Amazon(including Kindle), Barnes & Noble, and Books-a-Million.
• 13. Information about careers, hybrid and remote, at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine are at www.PCRM.org/careers .
• 14. This year The Plant will partner with DePaul University’s SPARK Center to determine how best to capture, store, and redistribute thermal energy throughout the 100,000 square foot building. SPARK will create a digital twin of the Plant to track the building’s thermal and electrical energy flows. When the two partners integrate all the heat pumps and process the heat loads and stormwater storage, they’ll determine the best way to increase energy efficiency and decrease the building’s impact on the environment. Then the Plant can pass on the information to its business tenants while they view SPARK’s twin to improve their understanding and sustainability.
• 15. Does anyone know if The Black Vegan is closed? Its website www.shop.blackvegan.com is for sale.
• 16. The 1400 E 61^st St farmers market has moved indoors to 6104 S Blackstone until May. Go to Food, Farmers Markets to p. 5 of this blog for the Saturdays available.
• 17. The Comfort Cafe, VF, has expanded its hours to 8p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. It’s already expanded its menu to chilaquiles(breakfast), Hoppin John(burritos and bowls) and buccina(pastry).
• 18. For pizza lovers Conscious Plates is offering 10% off any in-store orders until February 22. Go to Events Jan-Feb and then to Specials of this blog.
• 19. Bombay Eats offers 25% off salad bowls through February. Go to Events Jan-Feb of this blog and then Specials for the code.
• 20. The Cook County Forest Preserves offers a variety of events in February and March, including black and women’s history, cleanup, nature walks, sky observations and children’s activities. Go to www.fpdcc.com/Events .
• 21. PCRM’s National Diabetes Program has a support group on Tuesdays at 11 a.m. CT to provide information from three doctors and two dietitians. Participants will also have access to 15 on-demand videos about the disease. More information is at www.pcrm.org/national-diabetes-program/support-group?contactdata=%2fPywIooXiQXflBwurbuEJoRVdX5blD72a7YLRBDa+pSz3EwYe0KhH0UvGiY8pBPSh5fKHgimvCW4XgQ6tJUNu4IW1J1DypwRmoBz7cYQW0NOcIrtTxs30Prd0DdvKT+fMFnvA4eBeZkOrNQauYlKWYbNemo%2fbMxrC9o+XJdZKhl9na3kwg+lSodYRlAxQJITotcuhg0cck34LZqpkXVbaA+UYu+3ACdTvaaEq0kDKgPAH9OdkiizBy9%2f1E+1J+jT&ms=240911Promo&emci=2d70a9d2-4771-ef11-99 .
• 22. The Plant Based Nutrition Movement hosts Delicious Adventure Support Meetings the 4^th Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. Register at www.eventbrite.com/cc/a-delicious-adventure-support-meetings-423989or Go to Resources-Support.
• 23. The Online Vegan Lunch Club, www.meetup.com/torontovegan/events/ meets on Thursdays at noon Central Time.
• 24. Events of note include a. Beginning January 13, free mulch will be distributed at the Forestry Site and Mt Greenwood Park of the Chicago Park District. b. Bubbly Dynamics, 1048 W 37^th St, Chicago, recently transformed its neighbor, Norwich, into its third sustainable building. Business and creative tenants moved into the studios in February. Apply at carolee@bubblydynamics.com. c. Plant Based Southsiders will lunch at Nepal House, 1301 S Michigan Ave, Chicago 11a.m. to 1 p.m. February 20. Members and anyone interested in vegan/vegetarian meals is welcome to attend. Join us at the table with our sign, place your order on a separate check and join in the friendly conversations. Newcomers, alert carmelita@sclveggies.com so she can bring you some beginning materials. d. For business owners Conscious Plates has a Manifesting Visions Workshop to be held during Sunday brunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. February 23; text visions to (312)278-3492 if interested. e. Bubbly Dynamics has been been selected to present Extracting High Value Molecules from the Waste Stream at the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, TX. SXSW will be held March 7-15. Bubbly focuses on recycling and decreasing carbon emissions f. Holistic Holiday at Sea will provide its 20^th vegan cruise in the Caribbean from March 8-15. Besides leaving Miami, FL, to visit the Bahamas, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and Mexico, the cruise offers plant-based education from speakers, workshops and cooking classes; vegan culinary dishes, book signings and tours to three interesting spots at each port. There is a Room Match fee of $75 for singles who want to avoid the higher single occupancy rate. Double occupancy is available for cabins and suites, which also allow a maximum of 2 children with the adults. More information is available at www.holisticholidayatsea.com/march2025/ . Registrants who mention Food Revolution Network will receive $50 off any books purchased during the cruise. g. The first nonmobile plant-based Campbell Retreat 7-day healing immersions in Saluda, NC, has three seats still available for April 5 -12. However, the rooms at Ivy Terrace are all taken, but additional space is available at a nearby rental partner in downtown Saluda. Afterwards, the Campbells will implement a new culinary-focused program before resuming more healing immersions. h. PCRM will celebrate its 40^th anniversary on November 1, 2025. For updates on its celebration activities, beginning in April, sign up for alerts at www.pcrm.org/events/pcrm-40th-anniversary?emci=3d2aca82-9297-ef11-88ce-000d3a98fa6b&emdi=d624ace6-5198-ef11-88ce-000d3a98fa6b&ceid=2138442 .

Most of the events are posted on this blog at Events Jan-Feb or Mar-Apr.

– Carmelita Banks, carmelita@sclveggies.com