Veg* Food Campaign

Please note: Veg* is a term used to signify both vegetarian and vegan.

The Veg* Food Campaign is one of BFA’s largest ongoing campaigns.

Our goal is to increase, diversify, and correctly label veg* food in the UCLA dining halls.

From our own experiences and from anecdotes, BFA knows that the veg* food situation in the UCLA dining halls is not ideal. Although advances have been made over the years, such as the additional option of soy milk and the vegetarian/vegan labels, there is still a lot of room for progress.

Our petition:

BFA is currently collecting student signatures for a petition to increase the amount of veg* food in the dining halls. The goal of the petition is to show UCLA dining services that students are interested in seeing more veg* options in the dining halls.

For non-veg* people:

The petition should not be a cause for concern for non-veg* people because we are not proposing that non-veg* options be decreased. Instead, we are asking for UCLA dining services to serve healthy veg* options alongside the other dishes, in consideration of those who refrain from eating meat or other animal products based on ethical, religious, or health reasons.

Truths about this campaign:

· Veg* food is not more difficult to prepare than non-veg* food. BFA has and is still willing to provide UCLA dining services with easy, delicious, and healthy veg* recipes.

· Veg* food is not necessarily more expensive to prepare than non-veg* food. BFA has and is still willing to provide UCLA dining services with cheap veg* options, as well as information on affordable food providers.

· Veg* food tends to be healthier for consumers than non-veg* food. BFA has and is still willing to provide UCLA dining services with dietary information about veg* food so that dining hall food can gain nutrients without sacrificing taste.

· Veg* food options are not solely consumed by veg* people, and thus an increase in veg* food options will not monetarily damage UCLA dining services. Contrary to some belief, veg* food can be, and often is, consumed by non-veg* people. In fact, BFA believes that many students would be more inclined to eat veg* food if it were more readily available. Potential UCLA students have, in the past, contacted BFA specifically to get information on veg* food options in the dining halls, or to ask for suggestions on how to eat veg* in the dining halls. Others have expressed interest in being veg* but have failed to do so because of the limited veg* options available in the dining halls.

Why BFA cares:

BFA believes that a lack of adequate veg* options in the UCLA dining halls often keeps people from trying or continuing the veg* lifestyle. BFA would also like to dismiss the myth that veg* eaters are significantly limited in their variety of food. We would like to show others that veg*ism is not about deprivation, but rather a more compassionate diet that is varied, delicious, and a step in the right direction in every forkful of great food.

The BFA Veg* Food Campaign Coordinator for the 2007-2008 school year is Sanjay Rupani. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions about this campaign, please email Sanjay at srupani@ucla.edu, or call him at (510) 377-5136.