Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 48.61
Liaison Kristina Bryan
Submission Date Feb. 26, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Saint Louis University
OP-7: Low Impact Dining

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 3.00 Evelyn Shields-Benford
Director of Business & Auxiliary Services
Student Development
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Percentage of total dining services food purchases comprised of conventionally produced animal products:
35.40

A brief description of the methodology used to track/inventory expenditures on animal products:

Velocity reports from Aramark's Dining Services' internal accounting system as well as reports from vendors are used to determine sustainable food and beverage purchases.

Fresh Gatherings Cafe uses an informal internal tracking system through invoices.


Does the institution offer diverse, complete-protein vegan dining options at all meals in at least one dining facility on campus?:
Yes

Does the institution provide labels and/or signage that distinguishes between vegan, vegetarian (not vegan), and other items?:
Yes

Are the vegan options accessible to all members of the campus community?:
Yes

A brief description of the vegan dining program, including availability, sample menus, signage and any promotional activities (e.g. “Meatless Mondays”):

At Fresh Gatherings, vegan and vegetarian options and gluten-free alternatives are available during every meal. The entire menu is designed to feature local and sustainable foods and vegetarian foods receive equal billing. There are 52 weekly menus designed to reflect seasonal availability; each menu features meat and meat free choices in entrees, soups and side dishes equally. All soup and salad bar options are coded to indicate whether they are Vegetarian (V), Locally Sourced (L) and/or Gluten-Free (GF). We market our daily menu options via an email to the Doisy College of Health Sciences community, by posting it on the Fresh Gatherings Facebook page, and by writing it on our chalkboard menu.

Aramark locations: Vegan and vegetarian options are available throughout the all-you-care to eat dining hall facilities, with a designated station highlighting the option(s) at lunch and dinner. These options are distinguished using Just4U(R) nutrition highlight message leafs signage.
http://slu.campusdish.com/EatWellContent/NutritionHighlights.aspx

A salad bar, which including fresh fruit, is also provided at lunch and dinner. "Greens to Go" propriety brand promotes salads as a healthy lunch alternative. At P.O.D market locations throughout the campus, students can also use Flex dollars to purchase soy milk, fresh produce, and a variety of other Grab n' Go, a local vendor, vegan, vegetarian, and other healthy meal/snacking options. Flex dollars can also be spent at national chain brands locations that offer vegan/vegetarian options (e.g. Panera, Einstein Bagels). Students may also view online menus for vegan, vegetarian and other healthier options. Campus dining program (DineSLU) nutritionist is available on campus to help verify information.


A brief description of other efforts the institution has made to reduce the impact of its animal-derived food purchases:

One of the dining venues on campus, Fresh Gatherings Cafe, offers fresh and seasonal produce as well as a meat and meatless alternative entree at each breakfast and lunch service. Other venues on campus where meal swipes or flex dollars are accepted offer at least one meatless alternative meal option at serviced meal times. In addition, as of the 2014-2015 school year, Fresh Gatherings began a deli program to produce our own smoked turkey and roast beef in-house.


The website URL where information about the vegan dining program is available:
Annual dining services expenditures on food:
1,111,022.29 US/Canadian $

Annual dining services expenditures on conventionally produced animal products:
504,025.59 US/Canadian $

Annual dining services expenditures on sustainably produced animal products:
24,303.12 US/Canadian $

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Source for students to view menu utilizing Just4U® signage to see vegetarian/vegan options:
http://slu.campusdish.com/EatWellContent/ViewMenu.aspx


Source for students to view menu utilizing Just4U® signage to see vegetarian/vegan options:
http://slu.campusdish.com/EatWellContent/ViewMenu.aspx

The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.