California MUSE School Going Vegan – First in US

When Suzy Amis Cameron became dissatisfied with the environmental practices of her 4-year-old daughter’s school, she decided to take it upon herself to create the school environment she wanted. With the support of her husband, James Cameron, most famously known for his films Titanic, Avatar, and The Terminator series, she created the MUSE school in Calabasas, California.

Cameron, who founded the school along with her sister, is transitioning the school to a 100% plant-based menu — making it the first vegan school in the US.

“We are gradually moving towards a plant-based menu because we do call ourselves an environmental school,” Amis Cameron tells NPR. “Within the next year and a half we will be plant-based.” Cameron feels that, due to the amount of waste produced by the meat, dairy, and egg industries, cutting animal products out of our diets is one of the best ways to contribute to the sustainability of our environment.

The shift of both Suzy and her husband into a vegan diet came after seeing the documentary Forks Over Knives, which enlightened them about the effect that our food production and consumption has on the environment. “You can’t really call yourself an environmentalist if you’re still consuming animals. You just can’t,” Cameron says.

The benefits extend to students, too – specifically to their health. A growing number of schools are adding meat-free meals in their cafeterias in part to encourage students to eat more fruits and vegetables.  The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recognizes that kids can get all the nutrients they needed by eating a wide variety of plants-based foods.

Cameron’s school also engages students with campus gardens to grow their own food and, in the process, learn about our relationship with the environment and how to live more sustainably. “At MUSE School we’ve implemented our own Seed-to-Table learning program, planting the seeds for life-long eating habits that produce healthy minds, bodies, and families.”

Visit TryVeg.com to learn more about all of the advantages of choosing vegetarian food, and to find delicious recipes to get you started!