A vegan tour of the university city

A vegan foray through the Giessen Study Society

08/05/2013

Vegetarian diet is hardly anything new in our society these days. According to estimates by the Vegetarian Federation of Germany (VEBU), eight to nine percent of the population refrain from meat and fish products. In 2008, about 0.1% of the German population was vegan. So no dairy products, eggs and honey. Overall, the proportion is less than 80,000 people.

Three years ago Maria decided to come to Maria. The trigger is described as follows: „I did not want animals to suffer and die for my food. At the time I thought that was not so healthy. But then I came to know more and found many reasons that speak in favor of giving up animal products. It is good for the health and through a vegetable diet we can fight global hunger and do something for climate protection.“

But the 41-year-old single mother lets her son eat what he wants. The only restriction: at home no meat should be prepared. The motivations of Thomas were beside the moral aspects above all the personal knowledge: „I just wanted to try out for yourself how it is to eat without animal products, how it is perceived as a limitation and what it does in the body.“ He would see himself less as a 'vegan', but rather as a nutrition-conscious person. In the eight weeks he is now vegan, he learned a lot about nutrition. „I also feel unexpectedly good. Just the day before yesterday I even undercut my best time on the long haul“, tells the 23-year-old student.

Vegetarian and vegan diet is on the rise
For two years now, the Giessen cafeteria has had the Veggie Day on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The demand for vegetarian and vegan dishes seems to be increasing.

Gunnar Meister, head of refectories, says:„Of the three dishes, we have transformed the vegetarian alternative into a vegan one. We received many inquiries from the students. After all, there is the degree program in ecotrophology, as many are concerned with nutrition and have certain requirements“. There would have been a lot of positive response to the veggie day. From people who eat vegan, but also from others who simply try the dishes. „The hit is sweet potato cookies or sweet potato curry“. He knows his way around statistics.

„We assume that between 0.5 and 1 percent of vegan students use about 15 to 30 percent of the vegan dishes.“ Wednesdays there is now a vegan dish. On the other days, vegans can dine with side dishes, salads or at the noodle counter in the Vital-Mensa.

Also, snacks and restaurants are increasingly expanding their vegetarian and vegan choices. In July 2012, even opened a vegan restaurant. "Vollwert-S" is the name and human health is the focus here. „Our food is wholesome, organic and vegan, these are the three principles we use to make our offer“, says Reinhard Storch, one of three operators of the restaurant.

The branch belongs to the Sabbath Rest Advent community and relies on Christian values. „Respect for nature and life is very important. Even in biblical times you have eaten animals, but today animal husbandry is no longer responsible“, indicates Uta Dura. The second person of the team of three. Rahel Gläser adds: „Animal rights activists are keen to protect the animal, our main concern is to protect human health.“ (Fr)