Maharishi University of Management, IA All Organic, Vegetarian Meals
Maharishi University of Management,
IA,
US
Type: Policy
Status: Adopted
Source File: http://www.mum.edu/campus/dining/
Description:
Organic Vegetarian Meals
We’re the first college in the USA to offer an all-vegetarian, organic, freshly prepared menu — one reason why our students are healthier when they graduate than when they enroll.
Our dining hall serves a wide array of vegetarian fare, from home-style American pizza to Chinese stir fry, from Mexican to Indian and more. We bake our own breads and pastries using organic flour. Our milk, yogurt, and ice cream come from a local organic dairy farm.
Food is served buffet-style, and diners can eat outdoors when weather permits. Our meal plan, moreover, includes breakfast, lunch, and supper seven days a week — all you can eat.
Why vegetarian?
- Healthier for the individual — A large body of scientific research indicates that a vegetarian diet is the healthiest. Vegetarians, for example, have the lowest rates of heart disease, cancer, arthritis, and many other ailments.
- Healthier for the environment — Animal agriculture poses a grave threat to the environment. Central and South American rainforests, for example, are being destroyed in part to provide cheap beef for export to other countries, including the U.S. One of the easiest ways to help restore our environment is to stop raising and killing animals for human consumption.
- Healthier for animals — Many people feel it is morally wrong to kill animals for food when alternatives — especially healthier ones — are available.
Why organic?
- Healthier for the individual — Organic fruits and vegetables are free of poisonous pesticides and herbicides used in conventional agriculture. Organically grown produce, moreover, is not genetically engineered. Short-term effects of eating genetically engineered food may include allergic reactions, and long-term effects of consuming genetically modified food are simply not known.
- Healthier for the environment — The poisonous chemicals used in conventional agriculture end up in our streams, rivers, and lakes and in our water supply. Organic farming methods, on the other hand, focus on building the richness of the soil through natural means.
- Healthier for the farmer — Farm chemicals are linked to higher incidence of cancer among farmers. Organic farming is not only healthier but more financially sustainable in the long run.
Why freshly prepared?
Whereas most university food service operations rely heavily on pre-prepared and frozen foods, we make our dishes from fresh ingredients each day. The result: our meals are more nutritious and delicious.
Locally grown Maharishi Vedic Organic vegetables
The University’s organic farm provides some of the produce for campus meals. We can pick the vegetables at their peak of ripeness — and serve them the same day.
Our organic farm uses Maharishi Vedic Organic Agriculture principles. In addition to avoiding toxic chemicals, this approach enlivens the plant’s inner intelligence, so that the vegetables have maximum nutritional value and promote growth in consciousness.