Wheaton College Celebrates Low Carbon Diet Day

Guests at Wheaton College’s dining hall and café this Thursday will notice several menu changes in honor of Low Carbon Diet Day.

The April 19 celebration is the fifth annual event Bon Appétit Management Company has designated to educate diners about how to decrease their carbon “foodprint.” Bon Appétit is the on-site restaurant company that provides food-services on campus. Wheaton College is listed as #1 for “Best Campus Food” in the 2012 edition of the Princeton Review’s Best 376 Colleges.

Bon Appétit’s Low Carbon Diet program, launched in 2007, involves changing its purchasing and operational practices with the goal of decreasing the environmental impact of its cafes by 25 percent in the highest impact areas. Since then, beef use is down 33 percent, and cheese is down 10 percent. Food waste has been reduced, and, as a result of companywide implementation of energy and water conservation recommendations, Bon Appétit has reduced its emissions by the equivalent of 4 million pounds of carbon dioxide per month.

Patrick Cassata, Executive Chef for Bon Appetit at Wheaton College, says Low Carbon Diet Day allows diners to understand the environmental impact of their dietary decisions.

“Most people are aware these days of what’s a healthy choice for them,” Cassata says. “With Low Carbon Diet Day, we’re proud to show diners how their food choices can also be healthier for our planet.”

On Thursday, a bounty of low-carbon regional food will be served, and turkey burgers will replace beef burgers at the Stupe Café. At Anderson Commons, chefs will serve foods that help illustrate Bon Appétit’s “Top 5 Low Carbon Diet Tips.”

The five low-carbon tips are: 1) Don’t waste food; 2) Make “seasonal and regional” your food mantra; 3) Mooove away from beef and cheese; 4) Don’t buy air-freighted food; and 5) If it’s processed and packaged, skip it. Menu items representing each of the tips will be available.

Members of the community are always welcome to stop by Wheaton College for an all-you-can-eat dining experience at Anderson Commons. Breakfast can be enjoyed for $6.45, lunch for $9.00, and dinner for $10.30.

Anderson Commons is located in the Todd M. Beamer Memorial Student Center at 421 North Chase Street on the campus of Wheaton College. The Stupe Cafe is located on the lower lever of the Student Center. More information about food at Wheaton College, including menus, is available at www.cafebonappetit.com.