Guest guest Posted January 9, 2006 Report Share Posted January 9, 2006 Logan students satisfy vegan cravings By Grace Rauh, STAFF WRITER Students line up to buy vegan food from the student-run lunch cart. (Bea Ahbeck - Staff) UNION CITY — For years Seema Rupani, a slender long-haired high school senior, has carried her own lunch to school. As a strict vegetarian who later became a vegan, cutting out all dairy and other animal byproducts from her diet, there wasn't much — if anything — she could eat from James Logan High School's cafeteria. But Rupani and other members of the Youth Humane Society student club hope to change that. They envision a high school cafeteria where students choose between bulgur and burgers, soup and salami, and beans and burritos, where the line for natural fruit juice, nuts and vegan soups stretches as long as the queue for pepperoni pizza. "Something I've been wanting to do for a really long time is get healthy and vegan foods available," said Rupani, the club president. "Why shouldn't we be a leader in our district (when it comes to) healthier options?" After six months of heavy lobbying, Rupani and her club mates convinced school administrators that healthy food not only belonged in the lunch line, but that students would buy it if given the chance. Now, they are proving their point. Since school resumed this month after winter vacation, Rupani and other club members JAMES LOGAN HIGH SCHOOL student Nathaniel Nguyen stocks a cart with water, fruit juice and vegan foods such as soup, salads and nuts. (Bea Ahbeck - Staff) have hawked soy milk, fresh fruit and vegan burgers from a small stand they call the Smart Cart, strategically positioned outside the school cafeteria in Colt Courtyard. Minutes after the lunch bell rang, Stephanie Ly and about two dozen other students waited in line. Ly normally brings her lunch from home because the lunchroom food is "kind of greasy," she said, making a face. She was going to make her second purchase from the cart in three days. "Most people still eat junk food around here," she said. "I myself like healthy food better." The positive reception from students and teachers at the Advertisement school hasn't surprised club members, but it did stun Elsie Szeto, New Haven's director of food and nutrition services. Her department stocks the Smart Cart with healthy items each day but decided to start out small, in case the project flopped. When the cart sold out in less than 10 minutes on the first day, Szeto said she realized there was a market for healthy food at Logan. "I'll be honest — I'm flabbergasted," she said. "These kids are buying chocolate soy milk. ... I would never suspect young adults or high school kids would buy soy milk." The students will continue to sell food through Senior Vanessa Magat fills a bowl with tomato soup. (Bea Ahbeck - Staff) Friday. The most popular items then will be incorporated into the regular lunch line at Logan, Szeto said. Healthy-minded students conceded they probably are a minority among the more than 4,000 students at Logan, but say they are thrilled to have more vegetarian options on campus. Even if they aren't converting legions of fast-food junkies yet, it appears their efforts are having some influence on the student body at large. Senior Anthony Bennett chomped contentedly on his slice of pizza, the hood of his gray sweat shirt pulled over his head, until he spotted the vegan cart. "This is bad. This is really bad," he said. "I'm eating pizza by the Smart Cart." Staff writer Grace Rauh covers education for The Argus. She can be reached at (510) 353-7010 or grauh. Peter H Photos – NEW, now offering a quality print service from just 8p a photo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 10, 2006 Report Share Posted January 10, 2006 wouldn't you know whether er not i knew you could read minds, if you could read minds? peter hurd Jan 10, 2006 9:47 AM Re: Re: Logan students satisfy vegan cravings Of course you have , thats why I posted the article! Sheesh didnt you know that I can read minds? The Valley Vegan............... 1000 miles of endless screams, where all the dead heroes lay I've got the choice to set my knife, I've got the courage to set my life I've got the day I'll pick to die. Gotta hate someone, I don't know why I'll fight for a better way, be a dead hero for the U.S.A. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 10, 2006 Report Share Posted January 10, 2006 Of Course, my reply was merely for the rest of the chat groups information!Plus I know how forgetful you are! The Valley Vegan...............fraggle <EBbrewpunx wrote: wouldn't you know whether er not i knew you could read minds, if you could read minds? peter hurd Jan 10, 2006 9:47 AM Re: Re: Logan students satisfy vegan cravings Of course you have , thats why I posted the article! Sheesh didnt you know that I can read minds? The Valley Vegan...............To send an email to - 1000 miles of endless screams, where all the dead heroes lay I've got the choice to set my knife, I've got the courage to set my life I've got the day I'll pick to die. Gotta hate someone, I don't know why I'll fight for a better way, be a dead hero for the U.S.A. Peter H Messenger NEW - crystal clear PC to PC calling worldwide with voicemail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 10, 2006 Report Share Posted January 10, 2006 would that be el paso bbq? Jonnie Hellens Jan 10, 2006 10:19 AM Re: Re: Logan students satisfy vegan cravings Yeah! I hope it will sweep the nation! Maybe it will even be cool to make healthy selections? No? I'm dreaming? My daughter was telling me yesterday she went to a restaurant called El Paso the other day and when looking at the menu was very pleased to see something they call the vegetarian. She thought it would be someplace we might be able to go together until she read what it consisted of: choose 3 of the different meats. She was incensed and their answer was vegetarian was in quotes.fraggle <EBbrewpunx wrote: small world i've seen the vanessa person at the bottom at shows and parties and such.... 1000 miles of endless screams, where all the dead heroes lay I've got the choice to set my knife, I've got the courage to set my life I've got the day I'll pick to die. Gotta hate someone, I don't know why I'll fight for a better way, be a dead hero for the U.S.A. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 12, 2006 Report Share Posted January 12, 2006 Yes.fraggle <EBbrewpunx wrote: would that be el paso bbq? Jonnie Hellens Jan 10, 2006 10:19 AM Re: Re: Logan students satisfy vegan cravings Yeah! I hope it will sweep the nation! Maybe it will even be cool to make healthy selections? No? I'm dreaming? My daughter was telling me yesterday she went to a restaurant called El Paso the other day and when looking at the menu was very pleased to see something they call the vegetarian. She thought it would be someplace we might be able to go together until she read what it consisted of: choose 3 of the different meats. She was incensed and their answer was vegetarian was in quotes.fraggle <EBbrewpunx wrote: small world i've seen the vanessa person at the bottom at shows and parties and such.... 1000 miles of endless screams, where all the dead heroes lay I've got the choice to set my knife, I've got the courage to set my life I've got the day I'll pick to die. Gotta hate someone, I don't know why I'll fight for a better way, be a dead hero for the U.S.A. Photos Got holiday prints? See all the ways to get quality prints in your hands ASAP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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