Being Vegan on a College Campus

Vanguard University’s ‘Bon Appetit’ cafeteria serves to satisfy students of various different dietary preferences. In a recent interview via email with Katy Cvitanich; Vanguard University’s Bon Appetit General Manager, more information is given about the different options available for vegan diets, and the efforts made by the team to meet the needs of all students.

Q: What are some of the staple vegan options in the cafeteria? 

A: We offer a number of vegan options at each meal, including recurring menu items as well as specials that vary day to day. You can also visit our website at vanguard.cafebonappetit.com and filter the menu to “Vegan” to see what our offerings are for the week.

Q: What are some of the things that the cafeteria staff workers can do to accommodate vegan diets? 

A: Our managers receive training about different dietary needs and preferences, such as the key differences between vegetarian and vegan diets and share this information with their teams so we are all prepared to be reliable resources of information for students. We want each of our team members to be able to act as café concierges, helping students with different dietary needs and preferences find meals that nourish and satisfy them. Bon Appétit has made significant companywide commitments to plant-forward menuing, which includes emphasizing plant-based proteins and other plant foods on plates every day. So, sticking to our company wide commitments to emphasize plants and put robust vegan and vegetarian options on menus every day will support students with plant-based diets. 

* One important thing to note: For students with food allergies or intolerances that have not previously engaged with us, we ask they reach out to Vanguard’s disability services department. Once registered with disability services, we work with them on a one-on-one basis to ensure their needs are met. Our team is always available to speak with students with food allergies or dietary restrictions to ensure that they can eat with us safely.

If you’re a vegan on campus, or simply looking to eat a more plant-based diet, keep an eye out for items marked with the label ‘VG’ to indicate that they are vegan. Cafe Bon Appetit releases a survey annually to gather input from students regarding their preferences and input as to what the team can do to better satisfy the student body.