Michael and Karen Iacobbo

coach new and ‘wannabe’ vegetarians and vegans, encouraging and guiding newcomers by introducing them to the vegetarian world. The Iacobbos help newcomers transition from meat-eater to vegetarian or vegan. The coaching duo also guides new vegetarians and vegans when the path gets rocky, as it does on occasion in a meat-eating, milk-drinking world.

You may choose to be coached by Michael or Karen, or the two together, who consult each other pooling their combined years of experience to best assist clients to achieve success as abstainers from animal flesh or all animal-derived food and products.

What can Michael and Karen do for you?

They offer support, suggestions,

and encouragement – from the practical to the abstract -- for starting out as a vegetarian or vegan, and transitioning into American traditions as one who abstains from meat (or all animal-derived food and products). This could include offering ideas for a holiday meal or how to choose a dietician, to providing suggestions for how to remain ‘low-profile’ at work about your food preferences if you need to, and helping you figure out how to announce to your meat-loving family or friends that you have ‘gone veg.’

They will be your guide into the

world of vegetarian culture: websites, organizations, festivals, business, the arts, culinary, hospitality, and tourism, products, courses, conferences, magazines, books and more.

They will provide insight

into getting along as a vegetarian or vegan in meat-eating (and milk-drinking) American society. In other words, assist you with any problem that you might have as a ‘veg’ at work, school, home, or out on the town.

They will inform you

of the latest and forthcoming happenings and issues, and how to get involved if you choose in advocacy / activism for vegetarianism / veganism. Examples: raw vegan cuisine, various sides of the vitamin B12 issue, what foods may be GMO, careers for vegetarians, and more.

They will point out

plenty of resources (people, writings, websites, places, etc.) for you to continue successfully navigating your way as a vegetarian or vegan in a meat-eating and milk-drinking world.

They will do their best

to answer any questions about vegetarianism/veganism, or, using theirr journalism and research skills, they will find the answer, or inform you of who to ask, if we do not have an answer.

How does vegetarian coaching work?

Together with your coach, you will:

-set a goal

-schedule and work mini-steps towards your goals

-evaluate the results of each mini-step

What are goals I might work on?

This is nearly unlimited, as each person is unique. For example, your goal might to be a vegetarian or vegan one month from when you begin your coaching sessions, or your goal might be to feel more comfortable as a vegetarian or vegan who lives with, works with, attends school with, or socializes with meat-eaters. Perhaps your goal is to create daily meals that please vegetarian and vegans as well as meat-eating members of the family, or you might set a goal of planning and preparing memorable holiday feasts. Another goal you might have is to become involved in the vegetarian world by starting a vegetarian business, networking with other vegetarians, or becoming an educator who teaches vegetarian, or an activist who advocates it. If you want to be a professional lecturer who informs others about vegetarianism, and need lessons or encouragement to speak in public, or if you want to write articles or commentaries – even letters to the editor about vegetarianism or related topics – these, too, can be goals to work on with a coach.

How much does vegetarian coaching cost?

$300 per month includes:

(note: discount may be available to people on a limited or fixed income, such as elders, the disabled, or the ill.)

-subscription to the Iacobbo’s coaching email newsletter of suggestions for success as a ‘veg’

-one coaching session by email each week

-weekly small group (online) coaching session

-one phone coaching session per month

-access to the online library

-discount on vegetarian online courses

Contact

Michael or Karen Iacobbo

1) Beginner’s Guide to

' Going Veg'

Let long-time vegetarians help you transition from meat-eater to veg! From learning about easy-to-prepare vegan meals and the benefits of abstaining from meat, to preparing to enjoy life meat-free (and milk and egg-free too foe vegans), converting favorite animal-derived ingredient recipes to plant-based, discovering the various reasons why people 'go veg,' and finding your way around the exciting and ever-growing world of vegetarianism in the US -- this course is for you as you begin your rewarding vegetarian/vegan journey!

Four week, two-hour per meeting course for only $39.

2) Vegetarian America:

A History (part 1):

What did Ben Franklin, Henry David Thoreau, Johnny Appleseed, Clara Barton of The Red Cross, The Salvation Army, Sylvester Graham, A. Bronson Alcott, Reuben D. Mussey of the AMA, and publishing magnate Bernarr MacFadden have in common? They were all vegetarians or advocated vegetarianism!

Discover the rich, long-hidden history of vegetarianism in the United States, and the important contributions of vegetarians to medicine, women's rights, abolition, animal welfare, environmentalism, peace, and physical fitness.

Four week course for only $59.

3) Vegetarianism, Hippies, and the Counterculture

In this course learn the fascinating history of vegetarianism of the Counterculture. Not all Hippies were vegetarians; however, vegetarian-Hippies and others who lived "peace, love, and ecology" way originated or popularized ideas relevant in today's world such as organic gardening, animal rights, environmentalism, natural living/hygiene, self sufficiency, nonviolence, and more.

Four week course for only $59.

Courses BeginFebruary 2007 -Contact Us!

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Vegetarians and Vegans in America Today

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Your coaches

Michael and Karen Iacobbo have lectured on a variety of vegetarian topics at the Maine Vegetarian Festival, the North American Vegetarian Society Summerfest, the Boston Vegetarian Society festival, the Concord, Massachusetts public library, the Providence Public Library, the Warwick Rhode island Historical Society, the Rhode Island Vegan Awareness Thanksgiving dinner, Rhode Island Special Libraries Association, and the Animals and Society Institute’s Power of One Conference.

The Iacobbos

have been guests of the radio programs the Joey Reynolds show, Walden’s Pond, Go Vegan radio with Bob Linden, The Arlene Violet show, Holistic Hotline, and the Iacobbos or their work have been featured in The Boston Herald and The Providence Journal, Vegetarian Voice, and Vegetarian Journal.

Michael has been a vegetarian for more than twenty years. He has worked for the Associated Press and other news agencies. A journalist, he is co-author with Karen of Vegetarians and Vegans in America Today (Praeger 2006) and Vegetarian America: A History (Praeger 2004). He and Karen publish two websites: www.vegusa.net and www.vegetarianmuseum.com

Karen, also a ‘veg’ for many years, was the host of the weekly vegetarian issues chat on AOL, and she hosted and produced a vegetarian radio show. An experienced journalist, during the past eight years Karen has also worked as a part-time personal coach, and as a college-level instructor of communications. For several years Karen was president of the A. Bronson Alcott Society.