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Maharishi University of Management vegan dining wins PETA recognition The vegan fare offered by the Maharishi University of Management (MUM) Annapurna Dining Hall was recently recognized by an award from the organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. The award reads, "Maharishi University of Management, In recognition of exceptional strides made in vegan dining on campus." MUM was a 2011 top-10 nominee in the category of Most Vegan-Friendly Small American Colleges. Factors considered included the number of votes in an online competition sponsored by PETA2, quality and variety of vegan food, schools' enthusiasm in promoting their options, and student feedback. The PETA2 website said that MUM is "the only school on this year's list with a completely vegetarian dining hall." More information on the Maharishi University of Management organic vegetarian meals: MUM is the first U.S. college to offer an organic, vegetarian, freshly prepared menu—one reason why their students are healthier when they graduate than when they enroll. Their dining hall serves a wide array of vegetarian fare, from home-style pizza to Chinese stir fry, from Mexican to Indian and more. They bake their own breads and pastries using organic flour. MUM uses locally grown produce whenever possible, and their milk, yogurt, and ice cream come from a local organic dairy farm. Why vegetarian? * Healthier for the individual — A large body of scientific research indicates that a vegetarian diet is the healthiest. Vegetarians, for example, have the lowest rates of heart disease, cancer, arthritis, and many other ailments. * Healthier for the environment — Animal agriculture poses a threat to the environment. Central and South American rainforests, for example, are being destroyed in part to provide cheap beef for export to other countries, including the U.S. Why organic? * Healthier for the individual — Organic fruits and vegetables are free of pesticides and herbicides used in conventional agriculture. Organically grown produce, moreover, is not genetically engineered. The long-term effects of consuming genetically modified food are not known. * Healthier for the environment — The chemicals used in conventional agriculture end up in streams, rivers, and lakes and in our water supply. Organic farming methods, on the other hand, focus on building the richness of the soil through natural means. * Healthier for the farmer — Farm chemicals are linked to higher incidence of cancer among farmers. Organic farming is not only healthier but more financially sustainable in the long run. Why freshly prepared? Whereas most university food service operations rely heavily on pre-prepared and frozen foods, MUM makes their dishes from fresh ingredients each day. The result is that their meals are more nutritious and delicious. Locally grown Maharishi Vedic Organic vegetables The University’s organic farm provides some of the produce for campus meals. Vegetables can be picked at their peak of ripeness and served the same day. Their organic farm uses Maharishi Vedic Organic Agriculture principles. In addition to avoiding toxic chemicals, this approach enlivens the plant’s inner intelligence, so that the vegetables have maximum nutritional value and promote growth in consciousness.
© Copyright 2012 Maharishi University of Management
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