As most teachers and students head into the line at SAGE for sloppy joes, you might notice a few walking directly to the pizza station or salad bar. They doubt they’ll find sufficient vegetarian options anywhere else, so they don’t bother looking.

     This is the reality for vegetarian Shorecrest students and faculty members. Although there is generally a lower demand for vegetarian foods, that doesn’t negate the need for proper nutrients to get through a long day. Student-athletes especially rely on protein, and vegetarian students aren’t an exception.  

      “Not having enough protein as an athlete is not good because [protein] builds muscles. When it comes to having a track meet that same day, I feel less prepared,” sophomore Khali Cameron, who follows dietary restrictions that prevent her from eating meat, said.

      It’s not just about the amount of vegetarian options; protein is the issue. The salad bar and pizza station are there every day, and SAGE often serves pasta as well. The problem is finding a source of protein that can sustain energy levels throughout the day.

     Cameron also expressed concerns regarding carb-based lunches. For her sport, weight is particularly important and can be difficult to keep track of on a diet of pizza and pasta rather than truly healthy sources of energy.

      “Sometimes I just eat protein bars because I feel like that’s going to give me almost as much nutritional value as going down [to SAGE]. I’m glad we have food because sometimes I do benefit from it, but I go down there more to socialize,” US Math Teacher Kolette Kaschak said.

     Although grateful for the free lunches provided to them as faculty members, most teachers find that SAGE often substitutes vegetarian alternatives for lunch specials with vegetables that aren’t protein-dense. 

     “They do have substitutions, but I wish the protein elements were centered like they are in a meat dish. So even though a mushroom or an eggplant is often substituted, it doesn’t offer the same nutritional content,” US English Teacher and 11th Grade Dean Natalie Updike said. 

     Some may initially think that the lack of vegetarian protein options at SAGE is because no one really wants to eat tofu, chickpeas or quinoa. There’s no demand, so it’s not supplied. However, this isn’t the issue at all.

     When vegetarian protein options are served, meat-eaters tend to eat those foods as well, sometimes so much that they’re all out when the vegetarians actually reach the buffet.  SAGE tends to do a good job of restocking foods, but when it comes to tofu, it seems like there are only a couple of batches made to serve. 

      “We usually try to have at least one vegetarian option at each station when we can,” SAGE Dining Food Services Director Erin Baehman said, “Since we serve a large group of students and faculty—and many of them not being vegetarian—I also need to make sure we’re offering foods that appeal to the majority.”

      Although we acknowledge that the majority does eat all types of meat, this doesn’t mean that they don’t like vegetarian food. Therefore the solution is simple: make more vegetarian protein options. If there’s a lot left over, it can be used in the salad bar or cooked into soups. We’ve seen SAGE do this with other foods, so it shouldn’t be off the table for vegetarian alternatives. The resolution will allow people of any dietary preference to get as many nutrients as they need during lunch, and the following day will guarantee creative protein options waiting in the soup or salad bar.

     Making sure that all students and teachers have access to a reliable protein source will not only accommodate dietary restrictions, but it will also help the comfort and performance of the entire Shorecrest community. By prioritizing vegetarian options, SAGE can continue to nourish not only appetites but also the different needs of everyone it serves.