Penn State Dining Joins the Plant-Based Movement

Penn State Dining has declared a partnership with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to nourish minds and bodies with an increase in plant-based dining hall options. By 2025, they aspire to have 35 percent of their entrees rooted in plants.

Jim Meinecke, Director of Residential Dining, shared their vision, emphasizing the importance of providing “healthy and nutritious options for our students, faculty, and staff,” while also acknowledging HSUS’s vital role in guiding them toward achieving this goal.

Penn State’s decision to embrace plant-based offerings aligns them with other Big Ten universities. For example, Michigan has committed to serving 55 percent plant-based entrees by 2025, and Wisconsin isn’t far behind with a goal of 30 percent.

As of now, Penn State caters to approximately 14,000 on-campus students, providing about 1.4 million meals each semester across its five dining halls. It’s clear this move is more than just a menu change; it’s a statement of intent. Penn State is not only enhancing its food services but also promoting sustainable and health-conscious eating habits for the future.

Reducing your meat intake and eating more plant-based foods is known to help with chronic inflammation, heart health, mental wellbeing, fitness goals, nutritional needs, allergies, gut health, and more! Unfortunately, dairy consumption also has been linked to many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer, prostate cancer, and has many side effects.

For those interested in eating more plant-based, we highly recommend purchasing one of our many plant-based cookbooks or downloading the Food Monster App which has thousands of delicious recipes making it the largest vegan recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Here are some resources to get you started:

• Weekly Vegan Meal Plans
• Plant-Based Health Resources
• Plant-Based Food & Recipes
• The Ultimate Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition
• Plant-Based Nutrition Resources
• Budget-Friendly Plant-Based Recipes
• High Protein Plant-Based Recipes
• Plant-Based Meal Prep

Related Content:

• Have a Perfect Picnic With These 20 Plant-Based Recipes
• 5 Plant-based Salt Substitutes: Growing and Using Them
• Why Eating Plant-Based Can Boost Your Mental Health
• Brain Power: Plant-Based Foods That Are Good For Your Mental Health
• Weekly Spotlight: Incorporating Brain-Boosting Plant-Based Food into Your Diet!