Where’s the leaf?

Vegetarians and vegans should be sure to include plant-based protein sources in their diet. Beans, nuts, peas and soy products have protein in them.

Vegetarian and vegan students at UNA have become concerned that the meatless options in the GUC are forcing them to sacrifice their diet and health to eat during the day.

“The GUC is convenient and popular for many students,” said Alieshia Morris, student. “If you don’t have dietary concerns or an alternative dietary lifestyle, the options are satisfactory. However, if you are vegetarian, choices are limited. I’m sure vegan students find the options laughable.”

UNA student Lauren Kirby agrees.

“Mein Bowl only sometimes has one veggie entrée option,” she said. “My vegan friend can only eat the apples and bananas there, and as far as Einstein Bros. goes, their only vegan options are maybe ciabatta bread and mustard.”

Kirby became a vegetarian in the fall but does not feel she could completely eliminate any eggs or dairy from her diet to become a vegan because she depends too much on the convenient location of the GUC.

A vegetarian does not consume any meat products, while a vegan does not consume any animal products of any kind, including dairy products. Because of their diets, vegetarians and vegans have to find protein in meatless options.

“They need to include plant-based protein sources in their diet such as beans, nuts, nut butters, peas or soy products,” said Jill Englett, UNA human environmental sciences instructor. “They need to practice protein complementation (which means) combining two plant-based sources of protein to achieve 100 percent of the essential amino acids.  If they are not vegan, they may include milk products and eggs as a protein source.”

For vegetarians and vegans, ensuring they consume and maintain iron, calcium, zinc and vitamin levels is crucial to their diet.     

Many students, however, are worried the GUC options are preventing them from being able to maintain a healthy diet, which has led some to completely avoid the GUC for food during the school day.

“I sacrifice my diet almost each time I eat in the GUC,” Morris said. “For me, being vegetarian is more than just not eating meat — it’s about trying to balance each meal that I eat with a variety of foods. I can’t do that with the choices in the GUC. Some days, I just pack snack food to get through the day and avoid eating in the GUC altogether.”

UNA student Sarah Calvelage agrees.

“Cheese pizza, French fries and lettuce sandwiches are not a good diet,” she said.

Because of the concern voiced by students, UNA student Senate met with Sodexo in the fall to discuss improving the options for vegetarian and vegan students.

“The main problem we have run into with Sodexo is that they have contracts with the restaurants that are currently on campus and some of them may not have the healthy options already on their menus,” said William Nash, student senator.

With the unsuccessful attempts made by the Student Government Association (SGA) to improve the conditions in the GUC, one student found successful results with voicing her opinion on social media.

“I made a comment a while back on Twitter that the only options available to vegetarians were boiled eggs, yogurt parfaits or bagels, and it seems that ever since I wrote that they have tried harder to keep other options in stock like PB&J sandwiches and fresh fruit,” said Jennifer Brinley, student.