Tzu Chi Philippines × ProVeg International

Good Food Shift.

Veg Up aims to support partner universities in transitioning toward more sustainable, health-oriented food systems by integrating plant-based meal options into school canteens. This initiative aligns with environmental sustainability, nutrition, and institutional responsibility, while supporting practical and scalable food system improvements.

See the 40% Shift What is Veg Up?

0% Good Food Target

0 Partner Universities

0 Project Phases

2025 Program Launch

What is Veg Up?

A food systems initiative built for campuses.

Veg Up! is a project of Tzu Chi Foundation Philippines, supported by ProVeg International, that promotes a practical, measurable transition toward plant-based food options in university canteens.

The initiative aligns with environmental sustainability, nutrition, and institutional responsibility — designed to be scalable, affordable, and accessible for students.

The world needs 70% more food by 2050 — yet our food systems are already under strain.

8.2B People today and growing fast → 9.1B By 2050 900M more mouths + ⅓ Land degraded in the last 40 years

Animal agriculture accounts for 14.5% of all global GHG emissions — changing what we eat is the fastest lever we have.

Veg Up! targets a simple goal: 4 out of every 10 dishes on campus become plant-based — every day.

💰 Same cost or less Locally sourced tofu, mushrooms, beans, and seasonal vegetables replace expensive meat.

💪 Nutritionally complete Every menu item vetted for a full macronutrient profile. Students stay full and energized.

✅ No choice removed We expand options, not restrict them. Plant-based is simply always available alongside existing dishes.

A four-phase structured rollout ensures every partner school gets consistent, quality implementation.

01 Planning Frameworks, teams & resources.

02 Implementation Menu rollout & student engagement.

03 Monitoring Track adoption & assess impact.

04 Closing Document & hand off sustainably.

Why Veg Up! makes sense

Click each row to explore ↗

40% canteen target

40%

65% livestock emissions from cattle

65%

+70% more food by 2050

70%

80% less land used (compared to meat production)

80%

The Challenge

Can we feed the world without destroying the planet?

The imbalance in food production and distribution poses serious challenges that demand urgent action.

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Food Insecurity

One-third of arable land has been threatened by erosion, seawater, and pollutants in the past 40 years — degrading the very soil that feeds us.

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Climate Impact

To have any chance of meeting climate goals, food systems and diets need to transform. Animal agriculture accounts for 14.5% of all global GHG emissions — livestock is one of the largest contributors.

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Resource Strain

Conventional food production exploits enormous amounts of energy, water, and land. Plant-based alternatives require a fraction of these resources.

"To have any chance of meeting climate goals, the food system and diets need to transform."

Our Core Initiative

The 40% Good Food Shift

Transforming the menu toward a sustainable, livable future!

What 40% means in practice

Veg Up! is not asking schools to remove every meat dish. The target is clearer and more realistic: convert 40% of the menu into plant-based meals through the Good Food Shift.

4 of 10 Our goal is to prove that plant-based options are entirely doable in school cafeterias, starting with 40% of the menu.

This keeps the menu familiar while making healthy, sustainable, affordable plant-based meals visible every day. The change is measurable, easy to explain, and practical for school cafeterias to roll out.

40%plant-based menu target

60%existing menu options retained

More choicenot forced restriction

Plate infographic showing the 40% Good Food Shift to plant-based dishes — 40% Good Food Shift: 4 out of every 10 menu items become plant-based.

Practical Guide

Ways to Make Your Meals More Earth-Friendly

Small, everyday choices add up to meaningful change.

Eat the Rainbow 🌈

Different colors in fruits and vegetables provide different nutrients. Aim for variety every meal.

Red Tomatoes, red pepper, strawberries Heart health, antioxidants

Orange Carrots, squash, sweet potato Eye health, immunity

Yellow Corn, banana, yellow bell pepper Digestion, skin health

Green Broccoli, spinach, peas Bone health, detox

Purple Eggplant, purple cabbage Brain health, anti-aging

White Cauliflower, garlic, onion Immunity, gut health

Start Small

Begin with one meat-free dish a day or a meatless day per week. Include protein-rich ingredients like nuts, legumes, and beans to stay balanced.

Ditch the Dairy

Cattle are responsible for about 65% of livestock-related emissions. Try plant-based milks, cheese, butter, and yogurt — all widely available.

Substitute Smartly

Meatless doesn't mean flavorless. Try kombu, shiitake mushrooms, nutritional yeast, or kala namak for deep umami flavors.

Cook with Others

Trying something new is more fun with company. Make a plant-based meal together — it's an easy first step into the movement.

Partner Universities

Where the Shift Starts

Veg Up! is currently active in two Manila universities.

Philippine Normal University

Public · Teacher Education & Research · Ermita, Manila

The national center for teacher education in the Philippines — a natural partner for systems-level advocacy.

De La Salle University

Private Catholic · Research University · Taft Ave, Manila

One of the Philippines' premier research institutions, committed to sustainability and social development.

How It Works

Program Rollout

A systematic four-phase implementation designed for measurable, lasting impact.

Planning

Partnership frameworks, team formation, system preparation, and resource development for a structured rollout.

Implementation

Plant-based menu offerings introduced, advocacy activities conducted, students engaged, canteen operations supported.

Monitoring & Evaluation

Progress tracked, adoption assessed, challenges identified, and data used to continuously improve outcomes.

Closing & Reporting

Lessons documented, outcomes evaluated, and opportunities for long-term sustainability identified and handed off.

FAQs

Common Questions

Everything you need to know about Veg Up! — from student questions to partner inquiries.

Get Involved

Not at all. We are all about expanding options, not limiting choices. Our goal is simply to ensure that students who want to eat healthier, more sustainable, and affordable plant-based meals can easily find them on campus every single day.

No. By working closely with canteen cooks to substitute expensive meats with nutrient-dense, locally sourced plant proteins (tofu, mushrooms, beans, seasonal vegetables), Veg Up! meals are designed to cost the same as — or even less than — regular canteen options.

Absolutely. Every recipe introduced on the Veg Up! menu is vetted against nutrition guidelines to ensure a complete, balanced macronutrient profile — keeping students full and energized through lectures and org meetings.

You can apply to be a student volunteer, or simply take the Veg Up! pledge to choose a plant-based meal once or twice a week. Follow our official channels for volunteer sign-ups and updates.

Institutions interested in partnering with Veg Up! can reach out through Tzu Chi Foundation Philippines. The program provides a complete partnership framework, training, and canteen transition support at no additional cost to the school.

Tzu Chi Philippines × ProVeg International

Be Part of the Good Food Shift

Whether you're a student, a canteen operator, a university administrator, or a sustainability advocate — there's a meaningful role for you in this movement.

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Students

Take the pledge. Choose plant-based once a week. Volunteer with your campus chapter.

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Universities

Join as a partner institution. We provide the framework, training, and full canteen transition support.

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Organizations

Collaborate on advocacy, events, and content. Help amplify the Good Food Shift in your network.

Contact Tzu Chi Philippines