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Plant Power

Students Don’t Have to Be Devoutly

Vegan to Love Vegan Food

ining halls on college campuses dining stations, a number that more
are no exception to the trend to than doubled, growing from just 9
Dhealthy eating that is becoming percent in 2016.
more and more commonplace no Based on this interest, numer-
matter where one chooses to dine. ous centers of higher education are
Certainly one facet of the trend is offering vegan dining options to
“veganism,” a type of vegetarian diet students, or at the very least looking
that excludes meat, eggs, dairy prod- at adding vegan fare to their menus.
ucts, and all other animal-derived The University of Maryland and
ingredients. the University at Buffalo, N.Y., are
In general, a vegan can eat all both in the process of developing
grains, beans, legumes, vegetables and offering vegan options for those
and fruits, in any combination. Since that want them; while the University
there are numerous vegan versions The all-vegan Mean Greens Cafe at the University of North Texas has of North Texas is already a leading
of popular products — everything been a leader in vegan cuisine since its opening in 2011. vegan veteran.
from ice cream to cheese and hot
dogs to hamburgers — there exists a truly exhaustive inventory UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND Photos: Jason
of vegan offerings to choose from. In an effort to expand options for both Gambit, University
And one does not have to be a devout vegan to enjoy these vegan and non-vegan students, University of Maryland Dining
foods. In fact, the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) of Maryland Dining Services released new Services Marketing
recommendation is for everyone to fill half their plate with vegan specials available at all three cam-
fruits and vegetables, which translates to between seven and pus dining halls during its fall 2017 semester. By Earth Day
nine servings per day for most children, teens and adults. this spring, Dining Services was able to develop an ambitious
Though only about 2 or 3 percent of the general population multi-national menu replete with vegan and other vegetarian
consider themselves to be vegans, the vegan lifestyle is find- offerings.
ing a home on college and university campuses. According to The lack of more vegan options had reportedly been a
vegan media company vegnews.com, while only 28 percent of problem for students, and the new vegan specials are said to
colleges offered vegan options in 2014, a majority of students have been in active development since the fall. These vegan
now have access to this cuisine — as of October 2017, 70 options will be routinely evaluated by Dining Services based
percent of colleges and universities nationwide offer at least on a variety of factors, such as cost, supply of food, prepara-
one daily vegan meal option. tion time and student satisfaction.
Peta2, the youth division of animal-rights organization Designated stations in each dining hall will feature vegan
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, surveyed 1,500 choices. Examples of the offerings include vegan Reubens;
colleges last year and found that 19 percent now offer all-vegan build-your-own vegetable bowls and vegan barbecue. These
Fruits, cereal and chocolate chips surround servings of A vegan crepe wrapped around fresh fruit compote
chia oatmeal pudding for Earth Day breakfast. completes an Earth Day plate.

Senior Executive Chef John T. Gray serves
vegan selections from the University of
Maryland CDS Earth Day menu.
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