John Lennon said if slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be vegetarian. Thanks to The New York Times best sellers such as Kim Barnouin and Rory Freedman’s Skinny Bitch more people are assessing what they put on their dinner plates. This holds true even at Pepperdine. Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to survive, even to thrive, as a vegetarian in the Waves Café.
As an alternative diet, vegetarianism is both common and simple: just cut out the meat. Whether it is raw, cooked, swimming or walking, meat is off limits for a vegetarian.
Technically, there are half-a-dozen breeds of vegetarian, ranging from pescetarians who eat only fish to vegans who refuse to eat any animal by-product at all.
As common as it is to try alternative diets, the public at large remains skeptical of any regimen that ousts meat. One of the first questions regarding vegetarianism is how a meatless diet can fulfill protein needs.
The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of protein for an adult is 0.8 g/kg of body weight, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. This means a healthy 150-pound adult needs 55 grams of protein per day.
Vegetarians can achieve their daily protein quota by eating a variety of foods that satisfy their energy needs. Non-meat sources of protein include cow’s milk, soy milk, cheese, beans, breads, cereal, nuts and tofu. A mixture of these protein sources eaten throughout the day will provide the essential amino acids.
Conveniently, all of these foods are available with some regularity at the Waves Cafe, the Oasis and the HAWC.
Another way to get the RDA of protein is to resort to any number of pseudo-vegetarian diets. Since Malibu is a great place for delicious fish and sushi, pescetarianism is an easy choice for Pepperdine students. The Pepperdine omelet chef could be a new best friend for ovo-vegetarians, who allow eggs to be included in their diet. Lacto-vegetarians, who can eat dairy products, can indulge in Malibu Yogurt.
Veganism is a complete boycott of all animal products. If an animal made it, donated it or died to produce it, vegans will not touch it. Since veganism is one of the more radical brands of vegetarianism, food options are often scarce in the cafeteria. Pasta, salad, bagels, pancakes and veggie burgers are all options for vegans.
Technically speaking, vegans are also allowed to eat some pre-packaged snacks like Pop Tarts. Though these packaged delights contain about as much nutritional value as a maple leaf, they are nonetheless vegan-friendly.
Kellogg’s should really capitalize on that fun fact in its next marketing scheme. There are many impossible-to-pronounce ingredients in those breakfast favorites, but animal byproduct is not one of them.
Then there is raw foodism. The list of cuisine a raw foodist eats is so short and exclusive, it can be summed up in one rule: nothing that is heated above 115 degrees Fahrenheit can be consumed.
It does not even take a busy college student to see that raw foodism is downright impractical on college campus. Eating nothing but raw food every meal eliminates baked, toasted, grilled, microwaved, pasteurized and even fermented foods. Essentially, the Waves Café offers one option for a raw foodist: the salad bar.
Additionally, the sushi sold in the Waves Café is fair game for a vegetarian. Read the fine print: No sea creatures were harmed in the making of the imitation crabmeat or any of the other ingredients in the sushi.
Vegetarians inevitably have fewer food options than other students. Nevertheless, the Waves Café is conscious of these food preferences and aptly accommodates them.