Sustainable Food in Canteens

Eat4Change - Successful cooperation with the Ministry of Education and food suppliers affected the diets of thousands of students eating in canteens across France. 

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With #Eat4Change guidance, students researched their peers’ motivation to eat more plant-based food and advised university canteens on how to make their new food offerings a success.

In France, 15-35 year olds are among the biggest consumers of animal proteins, particularly of processed products. #Eat4Change developed a strategic partnership to address the issue with the French Ministry of Education and "Les Crous” - a French network of public institutions that manage university canteens. 

“Les Crous” had already set goals to offer more plant-based food at their over 900 educational facility restaurants, cafeterias or other points of sale. But they needed help to get students to select sustainable food. #Eat4Change came in to help and showed students how sustainable food options can benefit them and the planet. 

With #Eat4Change support, “Les Crous” launched an experiment in four pilot restaurants in Orsay, Tarbes, Grenoble and Poitiers. Students, who co-led the experiments, informed them about barriers and levers to acceptance of plant-based diets. Based on these findings, “Les Crous” revised menus in the pilot restaurants. As a consequence, thousands of students are now eating more plant-based food. 

More info, sights & sounds: #Eat4Change and University of Ghent's joint strategy to reduce animal protein consumption through behaviour change methods. 

For an overview of DEAR Programme impact, read other Stories of Change.