Maddie Brown’s recent article in the Hustler talks about the behind-the-scenes of Vanderbilt’s Munchie Marts. Yet there’s another story that isn’t being told by campus dining: that of vegan students. Â
We are often asked “what do you eat?” and “is it hard to be vegan in college?” And while it is a different experience for every student with a special diet or allergies, vegetarians and vegans certainly have more limited options. Nevertheless, Vanderbilt does an excellent job being inclusive of vegan, gluten free, and kosher lifestyles. In fact, Peta2’s annual college ranking gives us a B grade, with 90% student satisfaction. Compared to most universities, Vanderbilt is one of the most veg-friendly, and the unique inclusion of Munchie Marts as part of the meal plan gives us even more flexibility.
So why do vegans love the Munchie Marts? Well first of all, we can read the nutrition labels and make an educated decision on whether the product is vegan or not. In the Commons and Rand dining halls, there are Vegetarian and Vegan labels on some foods, but occasionally, these are incorrect.Â
In the Rand Store, there are clearly distinguished shelves for “Vegan Sides” or “Vegan Entrees”, offering organic granola bars and microwavable soups or pastas. In the Branscomb Market, there are fresh fruits and a variety of non-dairy milks. Commons boasts a high variety of microwavable foods from Amy’s, a plant-based foods company. These products are generally reliable. It can mean not having to checking the Vandy Dining App to see if there will be enough vegan foods at a dining hall to constitute a full meal.
Many veg students turn to Munchie Marts when looking for food after a repetitive lunch and dinner at Rand and Commons, especially when Grins (a veg. favorite) is closed. First-year Rachel Kryska specifically enjoys the Commons Munchie Mart saying, “I use it a lot. It’s a nice alternative to dining hall food when there aren’t as many veg. options, especially on the weekends! I love having the Amy’s meals at Munchie and the variety.”
Luckily for veg students, Vanderbilt Dining makes an effort to adapt their menu after an annual meeting with VIVA, the Vanderbilt Initiative for Veg. Awareness. As Maddie Brown explained, “Each year, the class’s preferences will change and Ebanks works to ensure that the Common Ground’s Munchie Mart offers the types of food that that class shows a liking to.”
Since last school year, Vanderbilt has added the Bowls option to Rand lunch, which has been popular among all students, evidenced by the long lines from 11-2 each day. In addition, there are more vegan entrees and sides at the Rand Munchie and now you can get three sides with a salad from Leaf.
Despite these amazing changes, there are still ways for the Munchie Marts and dining halls to improve their variety of veg options. More accurate labeling, Meatless Mondays, and extending Bowls to dinnertime are all circulating ideas among students.
Rachel suggests that “it would be nice if there was a vegan yogurt option or if the Munchie smoothies didn’t all have yogurt in them!”
Freshman Andrea Mauro adds, “I know a few people who are forced to eat a salad every day. If there were more fresh fruit instead of just cantaloupe, pineapple, and squishy grapes, I think people would be happier.”
Overall, the veg. community at Vanderbilt is thankful for Dining’s commitment to improving the menu and accommodating our plant-based lifestyle. Vegetarian and Vegan night at Rand and Commons are always a hit, since this is the only day that vegan desserts are offered in dining halls. Since we rely on Munchie Mart quite often, we hope that this unique element of Vanderbilt’s meal plan continues to thrive.