2008 Woodie Awards
Students Petition for Vegetarian Food
Chris Donnelly '08
Issue date: 1/24/08 Section: News
"It gets nauseating having to eat beans and rice twice a day, everyday," said Filepp.
After discussing the creation of a petition and talking to vegetarian friends, Clements and Filepp decided to start a group on campus consisting of the College's vegetarian students. The first meeting of the group was in November of last year and members have been meeting regularly on Mondays at various locations in the Slavin Center.
"I am just interested in seeing if we could make a change and benefit everyone," said group member Bethany Killian '11, a member of the group, who has been a vegetarian for a year.
The vegetarian and vegan diets, when planned correctly, can be beneficial to a person's health, according to the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada. Those diets contain foods that are high in carbohydrates and antioxidants. However, a diet lacking in protein, normally gained from meats, eggs, and dairy products, can cause health problems. A vegan diet must compensate for the protein lost from not eating animal products by eating other foods like tofu that are high in protein.
"We do not want to make it a problem, [Raymond Cafeteria] has been putting out more tofu dishes, but it is not vegan because they are putting it in the sauces with butter or the food has cheese on it," said Filepp.
Tofu combined with soy provides vegans and vegetarians with one of their largerst sources of protein. Tofu and soy can mimic many different flavors making themversatile for the vegan diet. Killian said Raymond Cafeteria serves tofu "only a couple of times a month."
"People like the food; it is not gross stuff that no one wants to eat. It is a good alternative," said Clements.
According to Clements, the group will finish collecting signatures by Feb. 4. The petition reads, "We, the undersigned, support the cause which calls upon Raymond Hall Cafeteria to incorporate more vegan and vegetarian options, including a greater variety of nutritional high-protein dishes, into its menu."
Clements said the petition will be presented to Congress and she said she hopes the group can present it to Raymond Cafeteria with simple vegan recipes. She said the group hopes to collect signatures from non-vegetarians as well as vegetarians.
"People want healthier options and vegetarians need those options," said Filepp.
The group is interested in becoming an official club where they can hold a discussion group and spread awareness, according to Clements, who has contacted Rhode Island Vegan Awareness in order to cooperate with them.
"Hopefully by the end of the semester, there will be something formed," said Clements.
After discussing the creation of a petition and talking to vegetarian friends, Clements and Filepp decided to start a group on campus consisting of the College's vegetarian students. The first meeting of the group was in November of last year and members have been meeting regularly on Mondays at various locations in the Slavin Center.
"I am just interested in seeing if we could make a change and benefit everyone," said group member Bethany Killian '11, a member of the group, who has been a vegetarian for a year.
The vegetarian and vegan diets, when planned correctly, can be beneficial to a person's health, according to the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada. Those diets contain foods that are high in carbohydrates and antioxidants. However, a diet lacking in protein, normally gained from meats, eggs, and dairy products, can cause health problems. A vegan diet must compensate for the protein lost from not eating animal products by eating other foods like tofu that are high in protein.
"We do not want to make it a problem, [Raymond Cafeteria] has been putting out more tofu dishes, but it is not vegan because they are putting it in the sauces with butter or the food has cheese on it," said Filepp.
Tofu combined with soy provides vegans and vegetarians with one of their largerst sources of protein. Tofu and soy can mimic many different flavors making themversatile for the vegan diet. Killian said Raymond Cafeteria serves tofu "only a couple of times a month."
"People like the food; it is not gross stuff that no one wants to eat. It is a good alternative," said Clements.
According to Clements, the group will finish collecting signatures by Feb. 4. The petition reads, "We, the undersigned, support the cause which calls upon Raymond Hall Cafeteria to incorporate more vegan and vegetarian options, including a greater variety of nutritional high-protein dishes, into its menu."
Clements said the petition will be presented to Congress and she said she hopes the group can present it to Raymond Cafeteria with simple vegan recipes. She said the group hopes to collect signatures from non-vegetarians as well as vegetarians.
"People want healthier options and vegetarians need those options," said Filepp.
The group is interested in becoming an official club where they can hold a discussion group and spread awareness, according to Clements, who has contacted Rhode Island Vegan Awareness in order to cooperate with them.
"Hopefully by the end of the semester, there will be something formed," said Clements.