PHILADELPHIA–Aramark (NYSE: ARMK), the award-winning food and beverage partner of nine Major League Baseball teams and more than 350 colleges and universities, is providing guests with greater variety, choice and access to healthier menu options at ballparks, workplaces, hospital cafés and college and university dining halls.
These plant-forward, vegetarian and vegan menu options are receiving attention and recognition, with two ballparks Aramark serves — Citi Field and Kauffman Stadium – recently recognized on PETA’s 2019 most vegan-friendly ballparks list and three higher education partners — University of Florida, University of South Florida and Arizona State University – appearing on PETA’s most recent list of the most vegan-friendly campuses.
AT THE DIAMOND
Citi Field, Kauffman Stadium and the seven other ballparks Aramark serves, have expanded vegan and vegetarian menu options, to ensure they are providing the choices that meet individual lifestyle and dietary preferences. Highlights this season include:
- “32 Ingredient Salad” (Rogers Centre) – Thirty two plant-based ingredients including Brussels sprouts, kale, green cabbage, romaine lettuce, carrots, butternut squash, red cabbage, white & red quinoa, sunflower & pomegranate seeds, orange juice, honey, apple cider vinegar, garlic and more (vegan, gluten free).
- Beyond Burger (Minute Maid Park) – Plant-based Beyond Burger, served Caribbean-style, with black beans, avocado pineapple relish and Sriracha aioli (vegetarian).
- Beyond Sausage (Kauffman Stadium) – 100% plant-based sausage served with sauerkraut (vegan, gluten free).
- Elote Topped Tots (Coors Field) – Tater tots, street corn, zesty mayo, cotija cheese, cilantro, cayenne pepper and green chili queso (vegetarian).
- Marty’s V Burger (Citi Field) – Dedicated vegan stand.
- Original – Beyond Burger with melted cheddar “cheese”, special sauce, pickles and lettuce.
- Beyond Bratwurst- Vegan bratwurst.
- Nourish (Oakland Coliseum) – A portable concession stand dedicated to serving healthy fare, including build your own salads, rice or quinoa bowls.
- Questlove’s Cheesesteak™ (Citizens Bank Park) – Founded by Questlove, the quintessential Philadelphia cheesesteak, made with Impossible 2.0 Meat™, white cheese sauce, signature pepper relish, served on a 9” Amoroso roll (vegetarian).
- Quinoa Blueberry Salad (PNC Park) – Red quinoa, chopped hearts of palm, spinach, blueberries, cucumbers, carrots, sunflower seeds and balsamic dressing (vegetarian).
- Veggie Burger (Fenway Park) – Handmade black bean patty with arugula, tomato, cucumber and truffle aioli. Served with a side of sweet potato fries (vegetarian).
Photos of these menu items can be downloaded here.
IN THE DINING HALL
While Aramark’s culinary team was developing new plant-forward menu options (dishes that center on foods including vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts) for ballparks, chefs in Aramark’s dining operations in Healthcare, Higher Education and Business Dining have also been busy.
In response to the growing demand for plant-forward menus, the company recently launched its first dedicated plant-forward dining concept, The Twisted Beet. Proof that eating healthy doesn’t have to be boring, The Twisted Beet’s plant-forward comfort food menu puts a healthy spin on dishes like meatball subs and mac and cheese, and emphasizes vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes, but still offers a proportionately small quantity of animal protein.
Photos of The Twisted Beet menu items can be downloaded here.
“As consumers continue to embrace plant forward eating, we’ve stepped up to the plate and expanded our menu selections, in collaboration with industry-leading partners, to ensure we’re providing choices that meet individual lifestyle and dietary preferences,” said Heidi Hogan, Vice President of Product Development and Culinary Innovation at Aramark. “We’re continuing to lean on the expertise and creativity of our chefs to reimagine and innovate dishes that span the spectrum of plant forward eating; from entrees that emphasize vegetables, to 100% plant-based menus.”
Motivated by the company’s groundbreaking Healthy for Life® 20 by 20 collaboration with the American Heart Association, Aramark launched a major plant-forward initiative to elevate the role of fruits, vegetables and whole grains on its menus. Fueled by the science and research of the Association, Aramark introduced innovative recipes and aligned with existing efforts to accelerate climate-healthy menus available on colleges and universities, hospital cafés and workplace location menus. Currently, approximately 30 percent of the main dishes Aramark serves across its college and university dining, hospital café and workplace locations are vegan or vegetarian.
About Aramark
Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) proudly serves Fortune 500 companies, world champion sports teams, state-of-the-art healthcare providers, the world’s leading educational institutions, iconic destinations and cultural attractions, and numerous municipalities in 19 countries around the world. Our 270,000 team members deliver experiences that enrich and nourish millions of lives every day through innovative services in food, facilities management and uniforms. We work to put our sustainability goals into action by focusing on initiatives that engage our employees, empower healthy living, preserve our planet and build local communities. Aramark is recognized as one of the World’s Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE, as well as an employer of choice by the Human Rights Campaign and DiversityInc. Learn more at www.aramark.com or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
