Plant-Based Takeover:
In 2021, there was a 35% growth in plant-based dishes on restaurant menus as 33% of U.S. consumers are very or extremely interested in eating more plant-based foods. In partnership with the Humane Society, TCNJ Dining Services hosted a plant-based takeover of Quimby’s Kitchen and Vegan Loop inside the Atrium at Eickhoff during lunch on April 13. Featured items at Quimby’s Kitchen included chicken fried tofu grits, carrot osso buco with creamy polenta, jackfruit and lentil jambalaya, and blanched fresh broccoli. At Vegan Loop, students could try the Lobster Salad Style Ceviche Tostada, which is a fresh tostada topped with hearts of palm ceviche salad, mango black bean pico de gallo, fresh lettuce, crispy fried jalapenos, and guacamole. Students were also able to sample the Green Chili Jackfruit Nachos that featured tortilla chips topped with melted cheese, jackfruit chili, fresh lettuce, guacamole, black beans, and jalapenos. By 2025, TCNJ Dining Services is proudly committed to having at least 33% of all menu options being plant-based.
Ban on Plastic:
Starting on May 4, 2022, New Jersey will ban the distribution of single-use plastic bags and certain types of food containers. TCNJ Dining Services has taken and will continue to take proactive steps to ensure that we are limiting our carbon footprint. In 2019, to help lower the amount of single-use plastic waste from straws, TCNJ Dining Services enacted straws on demand, a program that allows students to skip straws and helps cut down on waste. TCNJ Dining Services has distributed complimentary reusable tote bags each of the last few years during events and in our C-Store so that students may use them across campus and help eliminate the need for single-use plastic bags. During the COVID-19 pandemic, TCNJ Dining Services partnered with a reusable container company which gave students added safety and provided an option that could be sanitized after every use and reused instead of single-use plastic or other materials. During our annual Blue & Gold Lunch in the fall semester, over 400 reusable water bottles were handed out so that students would be able to use them around campus at refilling stations.