Vegetarians or veggie-interested folks in the Portland, Oregon area might be interested in checking out a series of classes given by Northwest VEG (Vegetarian Education & Empowerment Group). The classes offered are the Master Vegetarian Program or Veg 101.
Here are a couple of brief class descriptions that I got from OregonLive.com:
Master Vegetarian: Modeled after the Master Recycler Program and the Metro Master Gardener Program, the nine-week Master Vegetarian Program was piloted by Northwest VEG in 2007 to teach interested members of the community about the environmental and epidemiological impact of food choices. Now in its fourth run, the program …read more

Looking back on the past year and a half, I’ve written a lot of posts! Here are 5 of my favorite:

Brainstorming vegetarian meal ideas
6 tips for the traveling vegetarian
Vegetarian sushi in Kyoto – I just love this photo
Skinny Bitch: the review – one of my all-time most popular posts
The Protein Myth – one of my first posts, addressing one of the most common concerns for vegetarians

The beginning of a new year coincides with the beginning of a whole lot of new diets. People are hoping to finally get down to a ‘healthy’ weight, or at least to get rid of those 10 pounds of holiday weight-gain as quickly as possible. And with the massive popularity of the book Skinny Bitch, more people than ever are hoping that a switch to a vegetarian or vegan diet will be the way to do it.
But will dropping meat really help you lose weight? Perhaps, but not necessarily. While there is some research out there which suggests that vegetarians …read more

Beginning vegetarians usually find that once they get the hang of it, their new eating habits are easy to stick to. Special occasions, however, can sometimes throw a wrench into the works. The holidays are full of social events, dinner feasts, and traditional foods which may no longer meet your needs. It can be hard to change your habits this time of year, but if you go into the season prepared, you might just come out of it feeling even jollier than before.

Call ahead. If you’re going to a close friend or family member’s house for dinner or some other …read more

In a recent comment, Kristy notes that even though she is now a vegan, she has “a ‘don’t ask don’t tell’ policy about ingredients at restaurants.” In other words, while she prepares vegan food for herself when she’s in control, she doesn’t worry too much about hidden non-vegan ingredients in food that is prepared for her (at least, that’s what I’m imagining she means ). What she doesn’t know can’t hurt her.
Personally I think this is a great attitude to have. While I’m all in favor of being aware of what goes into my body, sometimes it’s nice …read more

So you’ve decided to make the switch to a healthier, meat-free diet. Good for you! But now what? What do you eat? A key part to the success of this transformation is to make sure you don’t feel deprived or bored with your food. Another key is to make sure you find a routine that works with your schedule, budget, and lifestyle.
You are opening the door to a whole new culinary world when you stop centering your meals around meat – allow yourself to explore new things! This post will focus on meals you prepare yourself; we’ll cover dining out …read more