Why do people choose to become vegetarians?

Is it just a quirky fad?

There are many reasons that people adopt a whole foods based lifestyle

Some of the benefits include• Longevity• Better physical and emotional

Health • Increased productivity• Balance and Peak performance• Dietary regularity• Socio-economic and ethical

conscientiousness• More nutrients• Etc….

• Berea College promises to promote diversity through

service learning and education…Why shouldn’t this same level of sensitivity be applied toward our food and those who have

chosen to adopt alternative and holistic natural foods lifestyles?

When most of us were interviewed we were sure to ask…

• Do you have accommodations for vegetarians?• Is there access to a health foods store or a natural

foods co-op?• What are your amenities for vegans?

They assured us that they provided a….• Vegetarian line• salad• Omelet line (lacto ovo)• Veggie burgers• And that international cuisine and pasta would

be available to supplement our nutritional needs….

But we also found some challenges

• ““I eat beans and rice and salad every day” [vegan]

I eat beans and rice and salad every day” [vegan]

• ““I mostly eat peanut butter” vegan

I mostly eat peanut butter” vegan

• ““I think they cooked that with eggs” (vege-)

I think they cooked that with eggs” (vege-)

• ““I couldn’t tell whether or not they cooked that with dairy” (vegan)

I couldn’t tell whether or not they cooked that with dairy” (vegan)

• ““They wouldn’t even use a separate skillet for the omelet when I asked

They wouldn’t even use a separate skillet for the omelet when I asked

and I can’t eat from the same skillet with oils from meat in it, I’ll get

and I can’t eat from the same skillet with oils from meat in it, I’ll get

sick”. (lacto-ovo)sick”. (lacto-ovo)

• They’re out of granola They’re out of granola

• Do they have soymilk there isn’t any out

Do they have soymilk there isn’t any out

• They cook the veggie burgers and the grilled cheese on the same grill as

They cook the veggie burgers and the grilled cheese on the same grill as

the meatthe meat

• Do they have any Rice DreamDo they have any Rice Dream

• Did they fry the French fries in the same oil as the chicken sticks?

Did they fry the French fries in the same oil as the chicken sticks?

• Did they run out of fruit cups and yogurt in the café? They seem to be

Did they run out of fruit cups and yogurt in the café? They seem to be

out of everything that I can eat?

out of everything that I can eat?

• Among others….Among others….

In addition, many of us have food allergies or vegetables that surprisingly we won’t eat….

GlutenTree nutsStrawberriesEggsMeat….Etc…

In short, the general concern is that, due to the ambiguity about what is in the food and the limited or unfamiliar options for some of us that many of us

are worried that we are not able to properly regulate and monitor our

nutrients

for more info consult the following website: http://www.cyberparent.com/eat/nutrientsvegan.htm

One of the advantages to being able to

take advantage of our this particular

lifestyle is that it allows us to be better attuned

toward our own specific dietary

needs

There are a variety of excellent vegetarian and natural food options out there that could be

integrated into the food (to name a few)• Soy, texturized veggie protein [i.e. morning

star crumbles], mycoproteins [Quorn], seitan, tempeh, soy fish…

• Flax (omega 3s)• Lutein, B12• & other nutrients• Whole grains• Cheese and dairy alternatives [made from

rice, soy & microbial rennet]• More can be found at the following

website: http://food.ivillage.com/mainingredient/vegetarian/0,,3b0g,00.html

Upon further discussion, the idea came up about possibly…

Starting a Vegetarian Co-op• Many campuses have them available off

campus in separate housing, but we’d rather have access to a centralized kitchen space rather than co-ed housing

• The consensus seems to be that Providing access to a kitchen specifically allocated toward this purpose would better service some of those specialized needs

Many of the studentsliked the idea of …

• Starting up a vegetarian kitchen• Possibly linking it to our meal plan (rather using our food

allocation or Berea Bucks to offset the cost)• Performing 0-5s in order to do basic prep work and

coordination of meals• general education about natural foods and wellness• Learning food safety• Learning how to organize and successfully maintain a food

coop • Learning recipes• Learning how to access resources to organic and natural

foods

And being given the opportunity to better expand their knowledge of how to take better charge of their own health and

wellness.

Ideas that really excited people• Separate prep stations, for people who did eat Eggs, Nuts, Gluten, Dairy,

etc. to prevent cross contamination• A “granola bar” where we are able to blend our own granola mixes of

dried fruit, nuts, natural sweetener, spices and granola• Learning how to integrate fresh herbs into our recipes• Visiting the ag department and accessing some of the local organic foods

offered• The opportunity for service learning that we know we will use and is

conducive to our lifestyle and will allow us to be more industrious and more enriched naturalists

• Expanding our food options to include more nutrients and less preservatives and processed sugars

• Possibly learning how to prepare items, like hummus or tabouli, or various vegetarian tapas for campus and alumni events

• Starting up a whole foods café• Working on grants to get our own facility• Finding access to a kitchen right now• Getting started…

• I, in particular, am a fan of the naked veggies…• There are just many aspects of our lifestyle that we

tend to be a little sensitive about when it comes to making a conscious choice about what to put into our bodies

• We know that some issues may come up about feasibility, accessibility, and costs

• And we would love the opportunity to trouble shoot those areas with someone who is willing and use this as a wonderful opportunity to expand our knowledge and our food options.

Advantages for Berea

?

• Expansion of their dietary & service learning program through specialized nutritional education and the development of students cooperative skills.

• They get to provide Learning opportunities to provide co-operative learning environment in which students can take more initiative in designing and taking ownership of their own specific dietary needs as well as how to manage and organize a cooperative business.

• Grants to expand the educational aspects of the program or develop an adequate learning facility (eventually)

• Academic achievement in the area of alternative service learning, plus…

It provides students with the opportunity for growth and

development in a very important aspect of their lives….

“Why wait until you’re fifty to begin taking charge of your health, when there are students here willing to seize that opportunity to facilitate a program that

teaches how to be more conscientious of that now…”Help us leave a positive impact on this

campus so that we can leave our mark on the world