Sodexo’s DefaultVeg Program Expands to Almost 400 US College and University Campuses
photo from Sodexo
By Reed Mangels, PhD, RD
A recent press release from Sodexo, a global food service and facilities management company, announced that it has expanded its DefaultVeg strategy, which uses behavioral nudges to promote plant-based eating. At Sodexo dining halls on close to 400 college and university campuses in the United States, unless the school opts out, every dining hall will have an entirely plant-based entrée station and a station that alternates plant-based and animal-based meals as the main offering every day.
The program was pilot tested on 3 college campuses where a study found that alternating between plant-based and meat-based dishes as the default option at one hot entree station resulted in a 58.3 percent increase in students choosing plant-based dishes on the plant-based days. Even on plant-based days, students could ask for and receive a meat-based dish – it just wasn’t the default option.
According to the press release, Sodexo has committed to serving 50 percent plant-based meals at its campuses by 2025.
To read more about the use of default options to promote choice of vegan meals see:
Encouraging College Students to Choose Vegan Entrees
Sustainable Food Choices Lecture.
To read more about vegan foods in college see:
How to Add More Vegan Foods to Your College Cafeteria
How to Get Veggie Options Prepared by a Chef in a Frat House
