Greener cafeterias for a greener future

At Dyrenes Ambassadør, we've teamed up with several plant-based organizations and companies who share our mission to accelerate the shift to a plant-based diet in Danish cafeterias. Learn more about our partners here.

Why plant-based?

There are many reasons to offer more plant-based dishes in cafeterias. Here are some of the biggest:

HealthThe official dietary guidelines say, " we need to eat far more plants than we do todayand it's crucial that children and youth develop good eating habits early on. Serving plenty of vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, and fruit ensures they get all their nutrients while learning that healthy food can be truly delicious!

Climate and biodiversity    Over a third of Denmark's CO2 emissions come from agriculture, and 80% of Danish farming is animal-based. Half the country's land grows feed for livestock, putting immense strain on nature and biodiversity. We have a duty to teach future generations how to care for the planet and its ecosystems — starting on our plates.

InclusionMany people live with food allergies, some of the most common in Denmark are animal-based (shellfish, milk, fish, and eggs). Others are lactose intolerant, some avoid certain foods for religious reasons (often animal-based), and others choose to eat vegan or vegetarian for ethical, health, or climate reasons. Plant-based dishes inherently include all these people.

TaxesDid you know that plant-based food is often cheaper than the animal-based alternative? We know every institution has a budget to meet and fear that plant-based options are more expensive. But this is mostly a misconception, as multiple studies show the vegan diet is usually the most affordable!

The animalsThe animals we consume are sentient beings, raised in captivity, oppression, violence, and pain. Most Danish parents teach their children that mistreating animals is wrong — yet society normalizes the abuse and killing of non-human animals for meat and dairy. With today's knowledge of animals, diet, and health, it's clear we can thrive without animal products. Eating vegan helps reduce suffering and rejects industries profiting from exploiting non-human animals.

Free workshops for cafeteria staff

While these are strong reasons to shift toward plant-based options, we know change isn’t always easy. That’s why, with our partners, we offer free workshops for cafeteria staff sharing recipes and info about plant-based dishes.

Workshops are provided by Organic Plant Food and Plantevækst, depending on availability, location, and registration numbers. Both have extensive experience hosting cafeteria staff workshops with excellent results. Their sessions combine theory on plant-based benefits with practical instruction using various products and inspiration for delicious plant-based meals (cafeterias handle food purchases).