College students buy snacks from Nature’s Edge, which is positioned subsequent to the Caf. College students with dietary restrictions expressed problem discovering choices to eat on campus. Photograph by Mercer Greene
Sophomore Joe Heinemann mentioned consuming at Pepperdine is usually a “strategic” mission for him.
Heinemann spends mealtimes on campus trying to find Kosher meals. Past spiritual restrictions, different college students work to search out choices that accommodate their dietary wants, which embrace allergic reactions and vegetarianism.
“I do know some individuals’s lives actually rely on their dietary restrictions,” Heinemann mentioned. “So extra data by no means hurts in terms of meals and in terms of the Caf.”
Pepperdine Housing and Residence life requires first-year and second-year residents to buy a meal plan, in response to the Pepperdine Housing Website, creating a novel eating expertise for first- and second-year college students.
Each the Well being and Wellness Committee’s resolution for more vegan and vegetarian options on campus and sophomore class senator Sabrina Musharbash’s, resolution for Kosher options handed within the Pupil Authorities Affiliation on Dec. 1 and Nov. 17, respectively, in response to SGA’s fall 2021 resolution spreadsheet.
Musharbash started this decision as a result of she needs consuming on campus to be extra accessible to college students, she mentioned.
Sodexo Takes Precautions
Nicolle Taylor, vice chairman and chief enterprise officer of Pepperdine, mentioned Sodexo makes use of labeling, personalised plans for college kids with extra distinctive restrictions, the Bite app and as My Zone, a piece with allergen-friendly meals and snacks, to maintain college students secure.
At first of the 12 months, labor shortages restricted customization choices, which Sodexo is bringing again, Taylor mentioned.
“People who find themselves both pressured to keep away from one thing they’re allergic to or who make a life-style selection ought to have the ability to get nice meals and good choices and to proceed to have improved service — and we acknowledge that, and we’re dedicated to that too,” Taylor mentioned. “So we had some good things, however we all know we are able to proceed to boost that, and we’re.”
A Pupil Follows Restrictions for Non secular Causes
Rabbi Shalom Eagle, director of the Chabad at Pepperdine, a bunch that promotes Jewish life on campus, mentioned Kosher is a dietary regulation set out within the Torah.
“Kosher legal guidelines outline animals and various things we need to eat, and sure issues we don’t need to eat, as a result of they’ve inherent vitality to them that we don’t need to convey to our personal,” Eagle mentioned.
College students have talked about to him there have been restricted Kosher choices at Pepperdine, Eagle mentioned, main him to look into working with the College. Attainable options Eagle proposed embrace pre-packaged Kosher meals or a Kosher meals truck. Moreover, Eagle mentioned he hosts a weekly dinner for Shabbat, the Jewish day of relaxation.
“Moreover being a Kosher outlet for them to have an excellent Kosher dinner, it’s additionally simply a good time to return and join and present their Jewish satisfaction and simply unwind from the week,” Eagle mentioned.
Heinemann started consuming Kosher this 12 months, as a practitioner of reform Judaism. Heinemann mentioned the connection between the person and the way they select to stick to God’s legal guidelines is exclusive to every particular person.
“I discovered that to be a extremely optimistic factor to each notice what I’m consuming and what I’m placing in my physique in each a spiritual and a private means,” Heinemann mentioned.
The largest wrestle, Heinemann mentioned, is realizing the place meals comes from. Whereas he can search meals labels for Kosher identification, many Waves Cafe choices don’t have labels.
“Oftentimes, it may be irritating, as a result of even the choices that you’d guess could be Kosher, you’re not 100% positive as a result of there’s no labeling,” Heinemann mentioned. “So it comes down to only making an attempt your finest.”
Heinemann mentioned vegan choices are typically OK, and he tries to search out meals as near Kosher as attainable. Heinemann can even eat dinner at a good friend’s residence as a result of then he is aware of the meals will probably be Kosher.
Heinemann mentioned he acknowledges there’ll at all times be a necessity for enchancment in terms of the Caf however wish to see choices clearly labeled as Kosher.
“It simply takes lots of stress off the scholars themselves, and that might be a extremely good way to assist that type of minority of scholars at Pepperdine,” Heinemann mentioned.
Vegetarians and Vegans Search for Plant-Primarily based Choices
Sophomore Chloe Chan has been vegetarian for eight years. At Pepperdine, Chan mentioned she doesn’t have a automotive, so she primarily eats meals from the Caf and Starbucks or makes use of DoorDash.
“If I need to be wholesome, I’ll stick with my regular salad,” Chan mentioned. “However for a vegetarian, I get uninterested in salads means too simply. There’s at all times a vegan possibility on the Caf, which I’m grateful for. It’s not the most effective, but it surely’s there.”
Sophomore Madison Tinsley has been vegetarian for 2 years and mentioned, whereas she appreciates the Caf bringing in outdoors eating places, there usually aren’t many choices for vegetarians or vegans.
“Out of the eating places that they create in from outdoors, they should have vegetarian choices — that should virtually be a requirement,” Tinsley mentioned. “And I do know it’s not that tough in California — there’s no means. I come from Missouri; it was tough to be vegetarian in Missouri.”‘
First-year Ava Campbell is a vegetarian, however due to her lactose intolerance, she mentioned she eats extra like a vegan.
“For essentially the most half, I’m fairly impartial in regards to the choices right here,” Campbell mentioned. “I really feel like there are extra choices than in all probability at different schools, so I’m grateful for that.”
Junior Ariel Wilson mentioned she is vegan to advertise each sustainability and animal welfare. Wilson mentioned she primarily eats off campus at Entire Meals.
“It’s additionally costly in the long term; it’s virtually the identical value because the Caf,” Wilson mentioned. “In order that’s the principle factor — I can go get meals I actually like for a similar value as if I have been going to go eat right here.”
College students Navigate Allergic reactions and Intolerances
Sophomore Maddy Zilligen, who has a number of meals intolerances, mentioned there are various meals that give her migraines, however she primarily tries to keep away from gluten, which supplies her the worst response.
“I can simply at all times take the bread off issues,” Zilligen mentioned. “I’m fortunate as a result of I can eat gluten-friendly issues, so if it’s touched gluten, I’m okay.”
When it’s time to eat, Zilligen mentioned she frequents Nature’s Edge, Jamba Juice, the meals vehicles and the Caf.
“I discover myself consuming just about a poke bowl on daily basis or some type of sushi,” Zilligen mentioned. “If I’ve mercury poisoning in just a few years, it’s OK — you recognize why.”
Dwelling in Banowsky, Zilligen doesn’t have a range to cook dinner on however does make rice within the microwave. With no automotive, Zilligen mentioned she purchases most of her meals on campus.
“I’ve snacks in my dorm if I discover myself getting hungry at night time,” Zilligen mentioned. “I’ll take lots of stuff I get again to my dorm, like slightly squirrel, so I can eat it as wanted.”
Consuming on campus, Zilligen mentioned, is just not significantly hectic as a result of she does have choices. By way of what she wish to see extra of, Zilligen mentioned whereas she appreciates the gluten-free bread and pizza crust, she would additionally get pleasure from lettuce wrap choices.
“I don’t essentially get up like, ‘I can’t wait to go eat and see what the Caf has at this time,’” Zilligen mentioned. “However there’s stuff, and there’s chocolate, so I’m a contented gal.”
Sophomore Timothy Jackson is allergic to nuts. The place Jackson eats relies on the size of strains at every location, he mentioned; most frequently, he visits the Caf or one of many meals vehicles on campus. When deciding what to eat, Jackson each trusts that sure meals are nut free and depends on labels.
“Perhaps it’s a burger — you could possibly in all probability belief a burger as a result of no common burger goes to have nuts in it,” Jackson mentioned. “After which relying on the stuff they’ve within the Caf — the curry — you must look to see if that has nuts in it, as a result of I do know for lots of cultures, nuts are actually widespread.”
Dwelling in Towers, Jackson mentioned makes him extra prone to eat on campus or journey off campus. Jackson eats off campus round twice every week and can get Chipotle, Taco Bell or McDonald’s.
Consuming on the Caf, Jackson mentioned, is simply one thing he has to do on daily basis.
“I wouldn’t say on daily basis, I’ll get up and be like, ‘Oh my God, I can’t wait to attempt the Caf,’” Jackson mentioned. “It’s by no means going to be like that. But it surely’s extra, ‘I’m consuming this so I can survive. It’s gonna be respectable. It’s not gonna be the most effective meals, however I’ll stay.’”
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Observe the Graphic on Twitter: @PeppGraphic
E-mail Samantha Torre: sam.torre@pepperdine.edu
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