Are you passionate about creating meaningful change for animals that benefits the climate? Join VSDC and our friends at [Plant Based Lunch & Learn ](https://www.facebook.com/share/g/15ssciKR8U/?mibextid=wwXIfr)on Monday, February 17 (President’s Day) for a presentation by Sophia Nelson, Field Marketing Manager at Sodexo, about the foodservice giant [Sodexo’s roll-out of its DefaultVeg program.](https://us.sodexo.com/newsroom/2024/sodexo-defaultveg-expansion)
The event will be held in George Mason University’s veg dining hall, [The Spot: Where Plants Power You](https://masondining.sodexomyway.com/en-us/locations/the-spot) and will feature an all-you-can-eat vegan buffet. The price for this event is $22.
**Location:** The Spot is located at Hampton Roads and Pilot House on the GMU campus. (Note: its address is 4401 Patriot Cir, Fairfax, VA 22030, but that may be confusing since it is a large campus. ***We recommend using the parking address below and then following signs to The Spot.)***
**Parking:** If driving, please park in the Rappahannock River Parking Deck. Since it is a large campus, use this address for parking and The Spot is right across the street from the parking deck:
4395 University Dr. Fairfax VA 22030
Sodexo, one of the world’s largest foodservice companies, has massively expanded its use of the DefaultVeg strategy where plant-based meals are replacing some animal-based meals at nearly 400 college dining halls. This strategy, first piloted in all-you-can-eat university dining halls by Sodexo in partnership with the Better Food Foundation and Food for Climate League, uses behavioral nudges to encourage plant-based diet change. Information in a peer-reviewed study from this pilot indicates that the average rate of students choosing plant-based dishes increased by almost 60 percent on plant-based default days.
**VSDC: More Than A Meetup**
We are so glad to have you as part of The Veg Society of DC Vegan Meetup group, and we enjoy seeing you at our events. Did you know that [VSDC](vsdc.org) is a nonprofit organization with membership benefits?
With VSDC membership, you will save money at area restaurants and businesses, attend VSDC member-only events, and, most importantly, support us as a clear and consistent voice for improving the lives of all beings through community building and education centered on the benefits of a vegan diet and lifestyle.
The VSDC membership fee is minimal, but the impact is significant! [Become a member of VSDC](https://vsdc.org/membership/).
**Liability Waiver and Code of Conduct**
When you sign up to attend, you automatically acknowledge [VSDC’s Liability Waiver](https://vsdc.org/activity-waiver/) and commit to follow the code of conduct found at [Policies – VSDC – Veg Society of DC](https://vsdc.org/policies/).
**VSDC. Creating communities. For your health, the animals, and the planet.**