Vegetarianism

“Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet. – Albert Einstein

                  

Vegetarian Living - Vegetarianism at Penn State

All dining commons offer a meatless entree at every meal. These entrees do not contain meat or meat by-products, but may contain eggs, cheese, or other dairy products. Meatless items are denoted with an "M", while vegan products are marked with a "V". Penn State Food Services wants our customers to be well-informed regarding vegetarianism. Therefore, we provide educational notes in the Veg-Table Series. This glossary defines some of the products and recipes on the menu that may not be as mainstream for everyone in our audience.

Penn State Food Services also uses a vegan soup base. The vegan tofu scrambler is available made-to-order at each dining commons (open for breakfast and brunch). Original-flavored, Vanilla, and Chocolate soy beverage, Berkey Creamery plain, as well as strawberry vegetarian yogurt, and the vegan Smart Dog™ are available for your convenience in the Vegetarian Living refrigerator at every dining commons. The vegan burger is also available upon request. If you have a taste for an alternative vegan protein source, select from a wide array of nuts and trail mixes, Tomato Basil Baked Tofu, or dairy free cheeses at our salad bars.

Types of Vegetarians

Typically, vegetarians choose to refrain from all meat and meat by-products.

Ovo-Lacto Vegetarians follow a similar diet to vegans, but eat egg and dairy products.

Ovo Vegetarians eat a vegan diet and egg products.

Lacto Vegetarians eat a vegan diet and dairy products.

Vegans exclude animal flesh (meat, poultry, and seafood) and refrain from using all animal-derived products (eggs, dairy goods, honey, leather, silk, etc.).

Fruitarians follow a vegan diet, but only consume foods that do not kill the plant from which they come. So, for example, an apple would be allowable since the tree lives on while a carrot would not be selected by a fruitarian. Balanced nutrition would be difficult if not impossible for this group.

Flexitarians eat less meat than the average and may exclude all red meat: although they often opt for eating vegetarian, they are not considered true vegetarians.

Quick Vegetarian Links

Eating Vegetarian On Campus
Great American Meatout
North American Vegetarian Society
Vegetarian Resource Group
Vegetarian Times Online Magazine
Vegiac (support forum for vegetarians and vegans who are gluten free)
Penn State Vegetarian Advisory Board (VAB) on Facebook
Vegetarian Living Brochure

For more information, contact Marissa Bird at 814-863-1255.