New Haven, and Jovan Bloise, student ambassador for Sodexo at The University of New Haven. They are part of a trend of college campuses going vegan.

Sodexo

Like a lot of her classmates, Kirsten Gersbeck prefers a plant-based diet. But until recently, the sophomore at the University of New Haven had few vegan options on campus.

For me, I see it as a healthy food option so when its available, I choose to eat it, says Gersbeck, a criminal justice major.

But then Jovan Bloise, a liaison between the students and the universitys food service provider, Sodexo, got involved and helped persuade the college to go vegan.

I was hearing that we didnt have a lot of options for people who follow a vegan diet, he said. Students said they felt like an afterthought and not a main priority.

The University of New Haven is at the vanguard of a national trend. The latest PETA Vegan Report Card, which grades schools on plant-based dining options, found the number of vegan-friendly college campuses is at an all-time high. The number of schools that earned an A or B grade peaked at 709, compared to just 189 when the report card debuted in 2013, according to the organization.

Standouts on PETAs Deans List include MIT, the University of Florida, and the University of Colorado Denver. The animal rights organization lauded those colleges for offering diverse entrees such as vegan ravioli, mac and cheese, and waffles.

The increasing trend in plant-based foods can be seen in restaurants and food markets across the country, says Sara Patton, a clinical dietician at the Deborah Heart and Lung Center. Some of the biggest drivers for this trend include health, environmental and ethical concerns. Plant-based diets have been shown to reduce the risk of diabetes, cancer, heart disease and obesity.

College students have their own reasons for adopting a vegan diet, from health concerns to recent news about the benefits of a plant-based diet. Sodexo and the University of New Haven, for example, conducted a comprehensive review of their menu before adding more plant-based food choices. But there are challenges and rewards ahead.

New Haven. Colleges are going vegan and the campus is part of a national trend.

Sodexo

Why college students are going vegan

Veganism is on the rise in the general population. The number of American consumers identifying as vegan grew from 1% to 6% between 2014 and 2017, according to GlobalData. Thats a 600% increase. A quarter of Americans between the ages of 25 and 34 say they are vegans or vegetarians according to The Economist, which declared 2019 the year of the vegan.

Theres an unprecedented level of awareness around both the ethical and environmental implications of our dietary choices, says Esther Ardagh-Ptolomey, founder of Kindred Traveller, a business specializing in vegan and ethical travel.

Recent documentaries such as Game Changers, have also changed perceptions of the plant-based diet, particularly among college students.

Theyve challenged the stereotype of vegans as hemp wearing, tree-hugging hippies, instead representing the wide demographic veganism encompasses, she adds.

campus is one of hundreds in the United States that are going vegan.

Sodexo

How Sodexo helped one college go vegan

Bloise approached Sodexo about redoing its menu. It already offered vegan lunch options for one of its cafeteria stations. The choices, which rotate daily, rotate daily, range from Indian-style curries and Asian stir-frys to Mexican and Caribbean style dishes. Students could choose from a selection of plant-based meat alternatives, including seitan crumbles, tofu, beans, and legumes.

But going vegan at the university meant a full rethink of the menus. It started with breakfast, where Bloise asked Sodexo to offer omelettes made with an egg substitute.

We also added vegan bacon and sausages so vegans could have a hot, old fashioned breakfast, he says.

Sodexo also added vegan mayo and vegan cheeses to its lunch lineup, allowing students to make fully vegan sandwiches. Vegan cookie dough found its way on the dessert menu. And, of course, there were vegan chicken nuggets.

The vegans were really pleased with our changes, says Bloise, who became a vegan himself during the project . They thanked us for going above and beyond to make sure they felt heard and attended to like everyone else.

Gersbeck noticed the changes immediately. The vegan chicken nuggets were a standout.

They are definitely a fan favorite. Even people who arent vegan like them, she said.

colleges are going vegan in response to demand by students.

Getty

Students see a positive impact of a plant-based diet

Gersbeck is in good company. Bree Sheree became a vegan two years ago while she was a college student. Shed been inspired by documentaries like What the Health and Forks Over Knives, and she saw veganism as a way to improve her health. But at college, the only options for her were the salad bar an easy but boring choice with little protein.

I ended up feeling better and was able to drop 10 pounds in 3 months, she recalls. It was difficult to adjust to new foods at first, but over time my taste buds adjusted and I cant see myself ever going back to eating animal products.

Sheree also started a food blog called Brees Vegan Life, which publishes plant-based recipes.

I now see the positive impact being vegan can make on the environment, and I also consider the lives of animals. I realized that I can eat everything I want and need without causing harm to any sentient beings, she adds.

Its not as easy as it looks

At some schools, keeping a strict plant-based diet can be difficult, if not impossible. Many colleges still have traditional animal-based food offerings. And high schools are practically vegan food deserts.

At least thats the impression of Laurice Wardini, a 21-year-old writer who has been a vegan for the last three years. Shed wanted to become a vegan at 16, but found it difficult because she was surrounded by omnivores.

Her college offered few choices, she adds.

There werent many options at all, she says. It was even worse when I had tried to go vegan in high school. I absolutely think there needs to be more vegetarian and vegan options in schools.

going vegan good for customer service?

Getty

Vegan food is good customer service and more

It turns out that adding more plant-based meals makes sense at least from a customer service perspective. A recent Nielsen study found that 39% of Americans are actively trying to eat more plant-based foods. But theyre not going for traditional plant-based options like tofu or rice. Innovation is booming in the plant-based food space, with an array of alternatives. (Did you catch the vegan pork announcement at CES this week?)

And you cant just cart in a tray of brown rice. It has to be carefully planned and implemented. A lot like what happened at the University of New Haven.

Bloise, the culinary liaison, says he didnt realize the significance of creating more vegan food choices until the University of New Haven recognized his efforts. But the best part about his college going vegan was the reaction from students, he says.

They would stop me in the halls to thank me, he says. They said Id showed them things that they never knew about being vegan.

Serving your customers plant-based foods may have other benefits beyond happier customers. If a vegan diet improves their health, then theyll be there for you in the future. And for companies and colleges that could leave a lasting legacy.

Read the rest here:
This Is The Real Reason Colleges Are Going Vegan - Forbes