Dylan Lujano / Daily Titan
Black bean and cheese enchiladas, eggplant parmesan, asiago tortellini, creamy butternut squash risotto and sweet potato burritos.
These dishes are not only healthy, but also vegetarian, or free of meat and sometimes other animal products.
Vegetarianism is one of many current food trends on the rise in the United States.
Other food trends include veganism, completely meat and dairy free, and gluten-free, a diet which excludes ingredients derived from gluten, such as wheat and barley.
One of the top five consumer health trends for 2013 will be veganism and gluten-free diets, according to a national survey of 2,800 adults conducted by social science research group, Values Institute at DGWB.
These trends occur for a variety of reasons, including religious, personal and health.
According to a 2008 Vegetarianism Times’ study, 7.3 million Americans consider themselves vegetarian.
The study also found that 1 million of those people are vegans.
Kenneth Walicki, Ph.D., a Cal State Fullerton professor of music, has been a vegetarian for 20 years.
He became inspired to be meat free after reading John Robbins’, “Diet for a New America.”
The book examines how Americans are economically and morally affected by the food they eat. Walicki said he doesn’t believe it’s morally right to eat meat.
A vegetarian diet can have lifelong beneficial effects on a person’s health, not only mentally, but physically as well.
“I’m absolutely convinced that I’d be in way worse shape and probably (would) have aged much more quickly if I had continued eating meat,” Walicki said. “I really believe that if I started eating meat now I’d probably die.”
Although meat and gluten-free diets have become increasingly popular, many people eat particular foods for serious health reasons.
After going to the same chiropractor and general practitioner for scoliosis for many years, Jena Slipp, a junior majoring in communicative disorders, discovered during high school that she had a gluten allergy.
A few years later, Slipp found out that she also has a dairy allergy.
“I have to not eat food with any gluten or dairy in the ingredients,” Slipp said. “Finding food that doesn’t have either has been quite tough, but I’ve learned to determine which things have them and which don’t.”
Whenever Slipp eats anything with gluten in it, she gets inflammation in her joints and at times becomes extremely dizzy.
“As much I want to ignore it, sadly I really can’t, not if I want to be able to work and function well at school,” she said.
Slipp, 22, said she can no longer eat her favorite foods, such as Italian, but has found ways around her diet to still eat satisfying food.
She can eat food on campus, but has to adjust certain aspects of her meals. At Carl’s Jr., she has a lettuce wrapped burger, while at Baja Fresh she eats meat, rice and bean bowls.
There are a few vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free food options on campus, including The Fresh Kitchen.
The restaurant came about when students requested a replacement for Titan Grill in the Food Court, Crystal Wooldridge, marketing manager for campus dining, said.
The Campus Dining food committee decided to add The Fresh Kitchen as a unique concept for students who were wanting organic, vegan and healthier meals.
“We understand there are customers of the campus community looking for healthy alternative options,” Wooldridge said.
The Fresh Kitchen has a variety of healthy, vegetarian and vegan friendly menu items including, The Big Fat Greek Wrap, Crisp Sweet Potato Fries and Tomato Herb and Three Cheese Grilled Panini.
“There has been (a) request for more allergy food alternatives and we are continually providing those options in all of our dining venues,” Wooldridge said.
People with dietary needs, such as gluten-free and lactose intolerant, should see one of The Fresh Kitchen team members for special requests.
Walicki said the Gastronome has really good vegetarian food options on campus, including a salad bar.
“The Gastronome has made an effort to really be vegetarian friendly,” he said.
The newer food trends could be a sign of people wanting to live a healthier lifestyle, especially with the current obesity problem in the U.S.
A study for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report in 2009-2010 found that 35.7 percent of American adults are obese.
“America has an obesity problem,” Walicki said.
Many vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free meals tend to be lower in fat and calories which can help a person lose weight and maintain a healthier lifestyle.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, people can manage their calories and limit saturated fat by eating more fruits and vegetables, along with limiting meat consumption.
Slipp said she feels healthier overall since staying on her diet.
“My weight has been very stable since I’ve stayed away from gluten and dairy so all in all it’s been a good thing,” she said
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