What Do You Eat At School? August 31, 2009

Posted by Pulin Modi at August 31, 2009 1:14 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 13 ) | TrackBack

Does your school serve vegetarian options or does the cafeteria resemble something more along the lines of a butcher shop? Do you think most students have had a chance to meet their meat?

Whether you're in high school or college the fact is that when you're in school, you are around people who are in a very unique learning environment.

But let me ask you a question. What's the point of your school offering something like Health class or a course all about the environment if there isn't any way to turn that classroom lesson into real world action?!

Here at peta2, we're a big fan of education as one step to changing the world. It's not going to happen just from reading books and writing reports, though. We want every one of you to make changes in your school and local communities with our Street Team.

One of the best things you can do to help animals is to make your school vegetarian-friendly!

We created a brand new guide to help you, and we're always willing to send you free stickers, leaflets, posters, and DVDs to help spread the world about cruelty to animals, healthy eating, and environmental sustainability. Check out the guide and e-mail peta2@peta2.com if you need anything mailed out to you. Just give us an idea of when you need it and how many people you are going to reach!

Download your guide now!

Get to work. It's still very early into the school year, so we want to work with you to make changes happen! Schools can't keep getting away with serving such disgusting food. With a little work, you and your friends will be able to enjoy some amazing options at school within a couple weeks!

Study: More Vegetarian Lunches in Schools Than Ever! June 23, 2009

Posted by Ryan at June 23, 2009 11:38 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 2 ) | TrackBack

Say goodbye to mystery meat.

An exciting new report from the School Nutrition Association has concluded that "almost two thirds of school nutrition programs now offer a vegetarian school lunch on a consistent basis, up from 22% in 2003." That's a 41% increase!

Want to know what I think the best part of the report is though? According to the news coverage, "the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service received over 10,000 comments on the need for increased availability of vegetarian meals in schools." [Emphasis mine]

They hear you! All of those comment cards you're filling out and petition signatures you're gathering are making a difference, in a big way. Keep it up!

Get Vegetarian Food in Schools Across the Country October 7, 2008

Posted by Marta at October 7, 2008 1:09 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 24 ) | TrackBack

Do you like to eat? Do you wish your school had more vegetarian food? Or just better food in general? Read on—this is really important.

In the new year, the USDA will be reviewing the Child Nutrition Act, which, amongst other things, covers the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. The USDA is accepting comments on how to revise the program until October 15th—um, more vegetarian food, most definitely—so please write today!

To send a message, either use this form, or send an an e-mail to CNDProposal@fns.usda.gov.

Here's a few things to remember when writing your e-mail:

• Be polite. Being mean about the lack of vegetarian options your school has won't help. Besides, you're too nice to be mean.
• Explain that you care about your health, the environment, and animals, and vegetarian food supports all of those things. Not to mention that everyone deserves to be accomodated regarding their ethical, religious, and dietary preferences.
• List some options of what you'd like to see added. Bean and rice burritos, soy hot dogs, veggie burgers, and veggie chicken nuggets are all a good start. Go here for more ideas.
• Mention your school specifically and how much you and your classmates would love vegetarian options!
• Ask for soymilk as an alternative to dairy milk. It's great for vegans, those who are lactose-intolerant, and soy enthusiasts!
• Be sure to say thanks for taking your thoughts into consideration.

When you send your e-mail, either BCC StreetTeam@peta2.com or copy and paste what you wrote in an e-mail to us, and we'll give you 500 points for writing.

It is so, so important for every single one of you to write to the USDA and ask them to include vegetarian and vegan meals in the National School Lunch Program. And please, have your parents write in, too. The more people that write in, the better. Change happens when people speak up (or in this case, write in)—the Child Nutrition Act is only reviewed every four years, so let's do something now!

Want more ways to get vegan options in your school's cafeteria? Check this out! What vegan options are you going to ask for in your e-mail?

♥ Marta

Combat the Freshman 15! September 22, 2008

Posted by Ryan at September 22, 2008 8:40 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 15 ) | TrackBack

There's a wonderful opinion piece being printed in college newspapers across the country, from the University of Alabama to the University of Hawaii, written by Skinny Bitch coauthor, and all-around badass, Rory Freedman.

The piece takes on the biggest issue incoming students face at school—the tragically common weight gain we call the "Freshman 15".

Well gee, what could possibly be the best way to keep off those unwanted pounds? Why, going vegan, of course!

Click HERE (or on the news clipping above) to view the full piece.

With Rory's signature, no-nonsense attitude, the article rips through the myth that people can be healthy, fit, and beautiful while still gorging themselves on dead animals and things that come out of them. Come on now, you all know that just doesn't make sense. :)

It's a great read, so when you're done, make sure to pass it along to all of your friends!

- Ryan!

P.S. - I know I lost a lot of excess weight when I went vegetarian. How about you?

Vegan Blueberry Pancakes at School?!? July 17, 2008

Posted by Ryan at July 17, 2008 7:54 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 8 ) | TrackBack

Wouldn't that be a grrrr-eat way to start off the day? Well, if you go to last year's winner of our "Most Vegetarian-Friendly Colleges" contest, Northwestern University, that dream could be a reality!

It's not just Northwestern that's adding amazing vegetarian and vegan options though; it's a nationwide trend! Students are using the free and easy materials from our "Veganize Your Cafeteria" campaign pack to add AMAZING dishes to the menu!

So what we want to know is, how are the options at your school? Do you go to a school like the University of California - Berkeley, which offers Southwest tofu breakfast scramble, and vegan "chicken" nuggets? Does your school at least offer veggieburgers? Comment below to let us know. Make sure to mention your school name, and as many specific dishes as possible!

- Ryan!

Get Your Eat On February 5, 2008

Posted by Marta at February 5, 2008 3:00 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 9 ) | TrackBack

Hungry? Looking for something to eat at school? Want dessert? If you said "yes" to any of the aforementioned questions, check out the video below starring yours truly.

It's nothing fancy, but we wanted to provide you with a few easy ideas of what to eat when you go vegetarian/vegan. And yes, by watching this, you'll probably come to realize how weird I truly am—hey, it wasn't scripted, so I just said whatever popped into my head!

When I was in school, I used to bring hummus and pita to school with me all the time. I was addicted (okay, so I'm still addicted and bring hummus to the office with me all the time, too). Can you blame me? Hummus is amazing! I also bought lunch at school fairly often, since I was pretty lucky and had several vegetarian options at my school. Not so lucky? Maybe your school doesn't even realize there's a demand for animal-free food. Show them there most definitely is a demand by veganizing your cafeteria. You'll be our hero, for real.

If you bring your lunch to school with you, comment below with the grub you gorge on between classes. It's always pleasant to share vegan food ideas with others, right?

♥ Marta

The Humane Society's New Undercover Investigation January 31, 2008

Posted by Marta at January 31, 2008 4:19 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 4 ) | TrackBack

The Humane Society of the United States just released a new investigation of a cattle slaughterhouse in California documenting sick and injured cows. This particular "supplier of the year" slaughterhouse actually supplies meat to the national school lunch program. That's right, the same "food" that's being served in school cafeterias across the country was once shocked with electric prods and beaten. Check out the video for yourself below.

It's not just cows that are being horribly abused to become someone's next meal either: PETA undercover investigations have shown horrific abuse of chickens, turkeys, and pigs (among other animals), too. The best way to stop this abuse is to go vegetarian. It's so easy, seriously—just make a few different choices when it's time to eat. Swap a flesh burger with a veggie burger at your next meal. It's as simple as that, really.

I know you've gotta want more vegetarian options in your school cafeteria (because the food that was once a living, breathing, abused animal just isn't cutting it, am I right?). Go here to see what you can do.

I hope you're having a pleasant day, you pleasant people, you.

♥ Marta