Friday, August 28, 2009
Everyone’s heard of the freshman 15. Juggling work, school and health can be difficult, even for returning students.
To its credit, the University has attempted to make the transition to school meals less hazardous. They’re participating in the Better Bites program — although I wouldn’t call a single entree with “under 600 calories” healthy, but at least they’re trying — and have been trying to incorporate more organic and sustainable options into their menus.
There are even sections on the University Web site to help people find organic items on campus, learn nutrition basics and follow the University’s sustainability efforts.
Information on food allergens and religious diet restrictions is also offered, but no such guides are available for vegetarians and vegans — commonly referred to as veg — and if they were, they’d be pretty slim.
I became a vegetarian last semester, but I wasn’t on campus at the right times for meals to be an issue.
When I returned to school last week, I took a moment to take stock of what campus dining services offer vegetarians similar to myself.
Brella’s Sandwich Crafters has 10 specialty meat sandwiches and
wraps, one vegetarian wrap and no vegan options. Students can custom make their own, but the standard menu makes it obvious where the preference lies.
The same is true for most other menus offered, from pizza to sushi.
The largest percentage of the veg options are calorie-laden muffins and sweets. I understand that the blame lies partly with the restaurant chains that are contracted, but University employees have managed to put together well-stocked independent options such as the salad bars.
It’s not a stretch to imagine a University-run hot-bar with multiple vegetarian-friendly options.
Admittedly, vegetarians and vegans make up a smaller percentage of the student-body, but minority status should not equal lesser treatment. Although food industry is a business, vegetarian food does not cater to vegetarians only.
Many meat-eaters have the occasional veg meal, so providing more veg options would not necessarily mean a smaller consumer base.
The Casbah Market and Nice Café on Massachusetts Street offer several organic vegan items and have been around for years. Although a bit farther away, India Paradise in Overland Park does very well for itself by offering not only an extensive array of vegan options, but a full meat menu as well.
The Kansas City area even has a vegetarian and vegan group that hosts potlucks and visits vegetarian-friendly restaurants. It currently has 562 members. That’s a pretty big consumer base being ignored, and it has only been increasing with the popularity of books such as “Skinny Bitch” and the wider dissemination of health news to the public.
Some people go vegetarian or vegan for moral or religious reasons, others just don’t like the taste of meat or the idea of eating another living creature. Some, including a friend of mine, have been prescribed a vegan diet for health reasons. Whatever the reasons, vegetarianism and veganism are legitimate and growing lifestyles.
I’m not arguing that the omnivores should be ignored, but vegetarian and vegan students should have equal consideration in the University’s menu plans.
— — Lytton is a Kodiak, Ark., senior in creative writing.
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