Aramark Hates Vegans

The subject of food comes up quite often when eating in the dining halls. Just yesterday, we were walking down the stairs, and my friend Greg said, "Are you excited not to be able to eat anything at dinner tonight?"

He was joking with me, but wasn't so far off. I've talked to more than one vegetarian that said they would like to go vegan, but think it is not feasible at college.

"Isn't that hard to do?" Travis asked me today while in line at the noodle bar. I thought back to the time the cook left me crying. I'm not being melodramatic either, they became very frustrated when I asked for something without cheese on it.
"We're down two people tonight. Why wont you just eat what we've made?"
"Forget it, I'll have a bowl of cereal," I mumbled, but he persisted:
"We've made all of this food, I just don't see what else you could possibly want."

Being a forced customer of Aramark is like being punished for eating ethically. So I wrote a letter, and the letter got me noticed by the Director of Dining Services, Gregory F. Gamwell.

Greg found me eating white rice with cold black beans I had found at the salad bar. He asked to meet with me the following Tuesday.

Opportunities to discuss serious change come few and far between, so I decided to make sure I was thoroughly prepared.

My research brought me to: http://www.vegadvantage.com/ , a website designed with resources for dining halls and restaurants to improve their veg-friendliness. Using their information, I compiled a packet of information with testimonies, recipe suggestions, and statistics.

Greg assured me that there would always be a vegan option in the dining hall. Indeed, they have fixed the problem. Now there is always pasta and marinara sauce....so much for nutrition.

Last night, Greg approached me and asked me how the food had been. I was frank with him: I'm moving off campus, 40% cause I want to move out of home this summer, 60% because I need to cook for myself or I'm going to become sick and die at a ripe young age.

They're not going to cook vegetarian options in the dining hall. I am sad for Aramark for missing out on a demographic, sad for my school for entering a contract with them, and sad for all the young people that will never explore other options because they weren't given the opportunity to.

Alright I'm done. Not with my personal boycott, but with my rant.

Saturday I'm making Vegan Matzo Ball Soup. Hopefully I'll get some pictures!