Dear Editor,
The University of Connecticut is offering so many vegan options for one simple reason: the ever-growing number of compassionate, health-conscious, environmentally friendly students and staff members want them.
Everyone should strive to eat tasty vegan meals. Vegan foods are cholesterol-free and typically low in calories and saturated fat. They also tend to be high in fiber, complex carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, and cancer-fighting phytochemicals. Studies show that vegans are considerably less likely to be obese and suffer from cancer, heart disease, diabetes and other life-threatening illnesses.
And vegans can feel good knowing that their food choices don’t harm animals or degrade the environment. Research shows that vegans are responsible for 2.5 times fewer food-related greenhouse-gas emissions, and the average vegan indirectly consumes nearly 600 gallons of water a day less than the average meat-eater. According to the Institute of Social Ecology in Vienna, the only way to meet the expected global food demand in the year 2050—without sacrificing any forests—is for everyone to go vegan. By eating vegan, you spare countless cows, chickens, pigs, fish and other animals from pain and suffering. It’s estimated that each vegan spares more than 100 animals every year.
Vegans can enjoy a variety of great-tasting foods like curried vegetables, vegan chicken sandwiches, falafel, pad Thai tofu, black bean and corn chili, hummus wraps, veggie burgers, vegan ice cream and much more. Bravo to the university for making it so much easier for everyone to enjoy delicious, nutritious and all-around beneficial vegan options. Check out http://www.peta2.com for more information and a free vegan starter kit.
Sincerely,
Heather Moore
PETA Foundation
Norfolk, VA
