To Meat or Not to Meat

Veganism at the Mount

By Desiree Leader | Staff Writer

According to a study by the research group College Pulse, 14% of the college population follows a vegetarian (no meat products) or vegan (no animal products, including milk or eggs) diet, compared to 4% of the general population. The most cited reason for this is environmental concerns (31%), followed closely by animal rights and health. While no specific data was available for the Mount, Mina Girouard, Student Leader in Civic Engagement, and member of the Food for Thought food pantry at the college has noticed an uptick in the need for vegan products to serve the students. They purchase items like tofu, which are not available through the Worcester County Food Bank that helps stock the pantry. They also offer fresh produce and staples like pasta, beans, and plant-based grains.

Jill Evans, a third-year Liberal Arts major, cites environmentalism for her decision to go vegan. “You can’t care about environmentalism and still eat animals,” she stated. She changed her diet 8½ years ago, after watching Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret, a documentary about the impact of agriculture on global warming. She also discussed some misconceptions people have about her diet; many assume she is judging them for their food choices or believe she can’t get enough protein without eating animal products. “There’s protein in plants!” she explained.

Evans was not aware that the campus cafeteria provides food options for vegetarians and vegans. She mentioned that finding food outside of home can be challenging for vegans, so she tends to bring her own food everywhere. While there were some vegan snacks available for her—hummus and guacamole—in the snack area of the science wing on the day she was interviewed, she had to eat them with a spoon because there was nothing vegan to eat them with.

Another student, Delaney Smith, became vegan six years ago after being a vegetarian for almost a year. “I feel good because it’s not only helping the animals, but also the world,” she stated. “I don’t feel guilty.” Smith brings her own meals and sometimes supplements them with snacks from the cafeteria.
Theater major Lindsey Desmarais has considered going pescatarian. Pescatarians don’t eat meat or poultry, but they do consume seafood. “If I were a pescatarian,” she said, “I’d probably get in all the vitamins and minerals that I need.” She feels that fruits and vegetables are very expensive and it would be hard to afford eating mostly plant-based. She hasn’t visited the cafeteria, as she is trying to save money, so she was unaware of the animal-free options available, which are generally lower in cost than the meat entrees.

Kyle LeGrand, the kitchen manager, notes that vegan and vegetarian options were very limited until 2022, when his boss decided to expand the menu to include more vegan choices. “There may have been some side options, but most of them had butter on them,” LeGrand explained. Since then, the choices have multiplied, and now roughly 31% of the prepared choices at the Green Street Café are vegan, including soups, salads, and entrées. Not all students who choose these options are vegan; some are simply seeking a healthier alternative to the main meal.

LeGrand strives to keep the menu as varied as possible, offering a vegetarian or vegan soup daily, along with a vegetarian/vegan entrée, salads, veggie burgers, and made-to-order sandwiches. Oat milk is available for coffee, and all of the bread options are vegan. The cafeteria also stocks snacks like fruit and hummus and has expanded to include baked goods. LeGrand advises students to watch for the asterisks on the menu. “Anything with two asterisks is vegan,” he explained.

Many students are unaware that there are so many healthy vegetarian and vegan options available in the cafeteria. LeGrand mentions that the issue of offering vegan food was actually a docket item at the last SGA meeting, and they were surprised to find that there were indeed many options for students seeking to follow a healthier, more environmentally friendly diet. For those people, and anyone curious, be sure to check out the offerings at the Green Street Café—you might just be surprised!