Why serve more plant-based foods at your institution?

For sustainability, the health of your customers, your wallet, and for the animals.
There are many reasons why it is beneficial for your dining operation to serve more plant-based foods. Consumers are increasingly demanding more environmentally-conscious and sustainable options and healthier, more plant-forward options. Additionally, the public is becoming more aware of the welfare concerns of factory farms and are reducing their meat consumption. Luckily, serving more plant-based foods can actually save you money!

For your sustainability initiatives

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Animal agriculture has been implicated by the United Nations as one of the top contributors to global environmental problems due to its vast use of water, land and fossil fuels and high carbon dioxide and methane emissions. Prominent environmental organizations like the Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club and more advocate for reduced meat consumption. By serving less meat and more plant-based menu items, you can easily reduce your institution’s greenhouse gas emissions.

For the health of your customers

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Diets rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes and nuts are consistently linked to lower blood cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and obesity rates. Meat is often heavy in cholesterol and saturated fats, unlike most plant-based foods.Eating more plant-based meals can lead to a lower risk of heart disease, certain kinds of cancer, stroke, and Type 2 diabetes. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics even stated that vegetarian and vegan diets are appropriate for all stages of life and can help reduce one’s risk of certain diseases. Choosing to serve more plant-based meals can help your customers stay healthy!

For your wallet

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As meat prices are rising and expected to continue rising, reducing meat purchases by increasing plant-based fare can help meet the demand for more plant-based options while saving your dining operation money. Affordable favorites like root vegetable and lentil pot pie and protein-packed black bean & sweet potato chili make hearty, protein-rich, inexpensive replacements for meat-based dishes.

For the growing demand of your customers

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Consumers across the world are becoming more interested in plant-based and plant-forward foods. In response to this increased demand, the plant-based food industry has skyrocketed. And, what’s more is, this substantial growth is not just because of vegans and vegetarians – EVERYONE is looking to incorporate more plant-based foods into their diets and reduce their consumption of animal products.

For the animals

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Animals are complex, intelligent and social creatures with individual personalities who experience joy, fear and pain, yet over 9 billion animals are raised and killed every year in the United States for human consumption. By eating more plant-based meals and by serving more plant-based meals at your institution, you can help spare animals from factory farms.