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Veg Heads at Mac rejoice

McMaster University was voted this year’s most vegetarian-friendly campus in Canada.
Thousands of students voted on an online poll, which was sponsored by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals 2, the youth branch of PETA.
“It’s pretty gratifying,” Leigh Laidlaw, chef manager of Bridges café — a vegetarian on-campus eatery at McMaster — said.
According to Laidlaw, the café’s most popular items are the vegetarian chili and ‘phyllo pillows’ — soy chicken wrapped in phyllo.
“We are meeting the [general] demand [but] if someone wants the alternative choice, something healthier, we offer that,” Laidlaw said.
Laidlaw explained this is not the first year McMaster has received the award. The university came in first place three years ago and second place two years ago.
Laidlaw said the café always tries to keep a good selection of vegan dishes. At least a third of the menu changes on an annual basis and its feature items change daily.
“Over the past three years, student demand [for vegetarian options] has grown by at least 20 to 25 per cent,” Laidlaw said. “Kids seem more conscious of what they are putting in their bodies these days.”
Bridge’s Café staff meet bi-weekly with the student dining committee, where they are given constructive criticism and feedback on their menu items, Laidlaw added.
“This keeps us in-touch and in-tune with students’ needs.”

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