Each issue of Vegan Journal we review products that are worthy of purchase. In the latest magazine we feature inexpensive vegan foods such as El Milagro Flour Tortillas. Read the column here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2026issue3/2026_issue3_veggie_bits.php

Please subscribe to Vegan Journal in the USA only here: www.vrg.org/member

Magnific photo

by Reed Mangels, PhD, RDN

Recently, we had a dog and a toddler staying with us. Needless to say, a lot of toddler food ended up on the floor making for a convenient dog snack. We knew that there were some fruits and vegetables that dogs shouldn’t eat but wondered if there were others. With the help of the American Veterinary Association and the American Kennel Club we learned that these fruits and vegetables are not recommended for dogs:

• Onions, chives, scallions, leeks, and garlic all are toxic to dogs.
• Avocados contain a substance that can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs.
• Grapes and raisins. These are highly toxic to dogs and can lead to acute kidney failure.
• Pits from cherries, apricots, peaches, nectarines, mango and other fruits contain small amounts of cyanide which is a poison. Fruit pits can also be a choking hazard.

Fruits and vegetables that dogs can eat in moderation include:

• Apples and pears with the core, stem, and seeds removed
• Watermelon with the rind and large seeds removed
• Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries
• Peaches, nectarines, apricots, mango, cherries without pits or seeds
• Bananas
• Green beans
• Peas
• Broccoli, although it may give some dogs an upset stomach or other health problems
• Carrots
• Celery
• Pumpkin
• Cucumbers

Whenever the visiting toddler ate grapes, we made sure none ended up in the dog’s mouth. Our visitors happily shared cucumbers and strawberries.

To read more about companion animals and veganism see The Vegetarian Resource Group’s resource on Companion Animals.

The contents of this website and our other publications, including Vegetarian Journal and Vegan 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 best judgment about whether a product is suitable for you. To be sure, do further research or confirmation on your own.

Each issue of Vegan Journal we review products that are worthy of purchase. In the latest magazine we feature inexpensive vegan foods such as Casa Mamita Black Bean and Corn Salsa. Read the column here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2026issue3/2026_issue3_veggie_bits.php

Please subscribe to Vegan Journal in the USA only here: www.vrg.org/member

The following is being added to our list of senior residences which offer vegan dishes.

Tallgrass Creek

By Erickson Senior Living

13800 Metcalf Avenue

Overland Park, KS 66223

(913) 914-9938

Independent living, assisted living, memory care, long-term care, rehabilitation

Sample menus include butternut squash soup with coconut cream, kale salad (with edamame, smoked tofu, wakame); Kung Pao tofu; falafel bowl.

photo from Magnific

By Nancy Berkoff, RD, EdD

We couldn’t help but notice that, next to the generic “red” and “green” grapes often seen in markets, there are many new varieties of grapes being offered for our eating pleasure. Why are there suddenly so many new varieties? According to the Fresh Produce Association of America, table grapes aren’t just competing with each other; they’re battling apples, strawberries, blueberries, and every other fruit for a spot in the shopping basket. According to the California Table Grape Commission, new, sweeter table grapes are growing in popularity to the point that many growers are removing or supplementing their traditional vines to make room for the new varieties.

Some of the more intriguing varieties we have seen include:

Autumncrisp®: Huge, crispy green grapes with a “pop” when eaten, and have a mild and sweet Muscat flavor (flowery, peachy).

Cotton Candy: Green-to-yellow grapes possessing a strong, distinct flavor mimicking carnival cotton candy.

Sweet Sapphire®: Elongated, dark blue/black grapes with a crisp bite and very sweet, juicy flavor.

Ruby Rush®: Early-season brilliantly red grapes bred to have a highly juicy crunch and sweet, neutral flavor.

Many of newer varieties come from major international companies, such as US-based SunWorld, which holds more than 200 table grape patents, and Bloom Fresh, which holds the license for Cotton Candy grapes. Developing a new grape variety can take more than a decade, and up to fifteen years before reaching supermarket shelves, factoring in time required for breeding, testing, and quarantine procedures.

From the new to the traditional, let’s talk about Concord grapes! Who knew, that, in addition to being delicious, that they were considered a “dark purple superfruit?” Do you know that there are many varieties of Concord? These can include:

Standard Concord: The classic slippery skin grape with a deep purple color, thick skin, and large seeds. It became popular for its use in jams, jellies, and commercial juices like Welch’s.

Concord Seedless: A direct genetic mutation of the traditional Concord. It retains the signature sweet flavor but is easier to eat fresh since it lacks large seeds.

Fredonia: Often called an “early Concord.” It ripens several weeks earlier than the standard variety and has a very similar flavor profile, but with larger berries.

Niagara: A direct white-grape cross of Concord and Cassady. It has the same thick, slippery skin texture with pale-green to yellow color, but offers a milder, sweeter taste.

Moon Drops (also called Sweet Sapphire): A dark, oblong grape that many describe as having an intensely sweet, Concord-like or grape-gum flavor.

Delaware: Another American hybrid with a slippery skin. It is smaller and red in color but shares the classic qualities of a Concord.

No matter which type of grape you choose, you can obtain vitamins, minerals, fiber, and hydration from them. And although it is a little early in the year–keep in mind: The “12 grapes rule,” traditionally known as Las doce uvas de la suerte (The Twelve Grapes of Luck), Spanish New Year’s Eve custom. It requires eating exactly 12 grapes at midnight—one with each chime of the clock—to secure 12 months of good luck and prosperity.

Julius said: Growing up, I was inspired by my mother, who has been a vegetarian my entire life. Her example taught me that making thoughtful choices about what we eat can become a lifelong commitment. As I became more involved in environmental conservation through river cleanups, roadside litter removal, and habitat restoration, I began to see how my personal choices could also help protect the planet. Those experiences motivated me to transition from vegetarianism toward a vegan lifestyle. Today, I enjoy eating plant-based foods, feel healthy and energized, and hope my story encourages others to consider how small choices can make a positive difference. Video link: https://youtu.be/pVZGnCs-e2A

The deadline for the next Vegetarian Resource Group video contest is July 15, 2027. See https://www.vrg.org/videoscholarship.php

See other videos here: https://www.vrg.org/veg_videos.php

And https://www.youtube.com/@VegResourceGrp/shorts

For information about VRG’s $5,000 scholarships for high school seniors who have promoted veganism, see https://www.vrg.org/student/scholar  The next deadline is February 20, 2027.

To support VRG’s outreach to young people, join at https://www.vrg.org/member/cabdacae.php or donate at vrg.org/donate

Linda’s Ensalada

Come meet dietitians from the Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group and Vegetarian Resource Group members. The public is invited. You must preregister.

When: Sunday, October 25, 2026, 6 PM

Where: Casa Rio on the River Walk

Menu:

Linda’s Ensalada de Colores Appetizer: Mixed Greens with Grapefruit, Orange, Bell Pepper, Avocado, and Red Onion with Lime Vinaigrette.

Plus Buffet:

Guacamole

Refried beans

Mixed Grilled Veggies

Grilled Peppers and Onions

Corn Salsa

Pico de Gallo

Chalupa shells

Wheat Tortillas

Corn Tortillas

Mexican Rice

Lettuce, Tomato

Fruit

Water

Iced Tea

Please prepay $35 per person at vrg.org/donate. In the Comments, write in names of attendees and that this is for the Vegan Networking dinner. Or call (410) 366-8343 with a credit card. Or mail payment to The Vegetarian Resource Group, PO Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203. We look forward to seeing you there. (Note: Restaurant is a seven-minute walk from the Convention Center.)

By Steven Jon Kaplan

Donating Stock May Increase the Size of Your Charitable Gift

Many people who think they have little in the way of disposable income may have considerable stock holdings that they’ve acquired through inheritance or regular contributions to a mutual fund. Perhaps they have accumulated stock through an employee stock ownership plan, or through stock options that some companies offer employees in lieu of larger salaries. These stockholders may not have large salaries or substantial amounts of cash on hand. Perhaps they are very committed to The Vegetarian Resource Group and its mission, and would like to make a donation, but a large cash gift, for whatever reason, is unfeasible.

For example, let’s consider the Smiths, an imaginary family of four, whose annual household income is $50,000. The Smiths are very committed vegans and live frugally. Their $50,000 income must cover a mortgage, child care, health insurance, contributions to a 401(k) plan, and savings for future expenses. The Smiths donate $1,000 to The VRG every year for promotion of vegan options in restaurants and other food service venues. They would love to be able to make a larger gift of $10,000, but their other obligations make that seem impossible. However, ten years ago Mrs. Smith inherited 1,000 shares of stock in Yummy Veggie Dinners Inc. The shares are in the Smiths’ brokerage account. Since her inheritance, these shares have increased in value from $2,000 to $10,000, an impressive $8,000 gain.

While she would like to make a substantial gift to The VRG, it has never occurred to Mrs. Smith to donate stock. Yet by doing so, she can make that $10,000 gift she could not otherwise afford. Even though the Smiths could never manage a cash gift of this magnitude, once they consider their stock holdings, their giving capacity increases significantly. They are now able to help The VRG, while leaving their 401(k) and savings plans untouched.

Substantial Tax Savings

Consider the Smiths’ case when they are a higher income family. If they sell their 1,000 shares of stock and donate the proceeds, they would have to first pay tax on the $8,000 profit. With a capital gains rate of 10% (for example), the Smiths would owe $800, leaving them with only $9,200 to donate to The VRG, instead of the $10,000 they’d planned. The Smiths would be much happier if they could give the entire $10,000 to The Vegetarian Resource Group. Donating the stock directly allows them to do this. Another tax advantage comes with the Smiths’ itemized deductions. If they sell the stock, pay the 10% capital gains tax, and donate the remaining $9,200, they can deduct that $9,200, yielding an income tax savings of $1,380 (assuming a 15% tax bracket). However, by donating the stock directly to The VRG, the full $10,000 can be deducted, for an income tax savings of $1,500. Both the Smiths and The VRG benefit from this arrangement.

When to Donate Securities

The ideal time to donate any security is under the following two conditions: 1) you have a net gain on the stock, bond, fund, or other security; and 2) you have owned the security for at least one year and one day. You will not have to pay capital gains on the increase and the entire value of the donation will qualify for charitable contributions on Schedule A. If you have purchased that security at different times at different prices, your separate purchases (called lots) with the lowest prices will usually have the highest unrealized capital gains and are the shares you should donate.

For example, let’s say you have 300 shares of ABC. You bought 100 shares for 700 dollars. A few months later you bought another 100 shares of ABC for 500 dollars, and several months afterward you bought another 100 shares for 800 dollars. Now each 100 shares is worth 2,000 dollars or six thousand dollars altogether. If you are only donating 100 shares you should donate those you had bought for 500 dollars since those have the biggest capital gain which you won’t have to pay taxes on, and The VRG will get two thousand dollars which you can deduct on Schedule A.

If you have held a security for one year or less, or if you have a net loss, then do not donate it yet. Instead donate cash. There are several problems with donating stock that you have held for one year or less. For one thing, you are not allowed by IRS regulations to avoid paying capital gains tax on such a short-term gain in the stock price. You will therefore have to pay taxes on the full capital gain in the stock, even though you donated it.

Another problem is that if you donate a stock that you have held for one year or less, you probably could have waited a few more months until it reached one year and one day, at which point you could have avoided the entire capital gain. You should always keep track of when your shares will reach the one year and one day mark. Most brokers do this for you automatically.

Most importantly, if you donate a stock that has a short-term capital gain, the IRS will think that you might be trying to evade taxes and they will be much more likely to audit your return. Any instance in which the IRS is much more likely to audit you, you should go out of your way to avoid. Keep an eye on your security; as soon as it meets both of the above conditions then it will be worthwhile to consider for donation.

If you don’t have any assets with long-term capital gains, then you are much better off just writing a check. That would be especially true in 2026 when you can get one thousand dollars per person for cash/check donations per calendar year, (2,000 per married couple), even if you use the standard deduction. If you donate stock then this doesn’t qualify for this purpose, only a cash or a check.

If you are in a low tax bracket, then your long-term federal capital gains tax will be zero. In that case, either 1) donate cash if you have not already used up your annual limit of one thousand dollars per person (two thousand combined per married filing jointly) if you are taking the standard deduction; or 2) donate either shares or cash directly from your traditional retirement account to VRG (see the next section for more details). Choice #2 is only valid for tax savings if you are at least 70-1/2 years of age. Whether or not you get a federal tax break, some states and/or localities will give you a tax rebate for charitable contributions.

Avoid Paying Tax on your Required Minimum Distributions

Depending upon your date of birth, you will eventually be required to take distributions each year from all of your non-Roth retirement accounts. Your custodian or an online calculator can compute the amounts of these distributions. Many people think they have to take these distributions out of their retirement accounts and put the money in a regular account, and then pay federal, state, and local income tax on this amount. However, if you are at least 70½ years old, then you can get a special tax deduction called a qualified charitable distribution or QCD.

The maximum total you are allowed to deduct for this purpose keeps changing with inflation, but is more than 100 thousand dollars per calendar year so you probably will be able to avoid paying any taxes on your RMD. Here’s how it works: based upon the value of your account as of December 31 of the previous year, let’s say that your total required minimum distribution for the current calendar year is 2000 dollars. You could take out this amount and pay all the taxes on it. An alternative idea is to write a check directly from your traditional IRA account to The VRG (in some cases your custodian may prefer to write the check for you and send it to VRG; ask them to see which method they use). You can’t first move the money into your personal checking account and then write a check to The VRG, since that disqualifies your QCD. Instead, the money must go directly from your traditional IRA account to The VRG. If you donate the full 2000 dollars this way, then this amount counts towards your required minimum distribution and you will owe zero taxes on your RMD. If you can’t afford or you prefer not to donate the entire amount of your required minimum distribution, then you will still reduce the amount of your taxable RMD by whatever total amount you decide to donate. My Dad was in this situation for many years and he knew that all charitable contributions should be made from a different checkbook than his regular one. Even if you have not yet reached the age where you must make required minimum distributions, you can save on your future taxes by making this kind of qualified charitable distribution from a traditional retirement account. As long as you are at least 70½ years of age, any contribution directly from a traditional IRA account to The VRG will reduce the pool of money on which you or someone else must eventually pay taxes.

Improved Charitable Rule for 2026 and Beyond (Tax deduction without itemizing)

Prior to 2026, if you made a charitable contribution, then it would go on your Schedule A along with all of your other itemized deductions. In order to get a tax break, your total itemized deductions on Schedule A would have to exceed your standard deduction. This prevented many people from saving on their taxes, other than reducing your long-term capital gains through direct share contributions which was explained earlier. However, the rules have been improved for 2026 and future years. You are now allowed to deduct $1,000 per person per calendar year in total charitable contributions paid by cash or check without having to itemize your deductions. For a married couple, this means that you can donate a total of $2,000 per calendar year and deduct the whole $2,000 from your taxable income even if you use the standard deduction.

This is not personal tax or legal advice, which you should obtain from your tax or legal advisor for your individual situation.

photo from Magnific

In the latest issue of Vegan Journal, Chef Nancy Berkoff, EdD, RD, shares ideas on inexpensive vegan dishes that can be prepared in a microwave. For example, you can prepare either a sweet bowl or a savory bowl. Read the article here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2026issue3/2026_issue3_microwave-meals.php

Please subscribe to Vegan Journal in the USA only here: www.vrg.org/member