The catering team led by manager Jayesbhai is helping to provide for vegan diets. The catering in the Ashram is jain vegetarian, however an increasing number of our mumukshus are also vegan.
There are many reasons for a vegan diet: animal welfare, health, climate change are to name a few. You can read about animal welfare in our maitri moves article by clicking here.
Although the ashram cannot guarantee to provide for vegan diets at all times, it is making an effort to do so.
When you arrive at the ashram please speak personally to Jayeshbhai (Kitchen Manager) in the kitchen and let him know you are vegan and the duration of your stay. His mobile number is +918264250982.
Breakfasts:
Please ask for the khakhra without ghee. On most days breakfast is vegan. When there is upma then seperate vegan upma can be requested.
Lunch:
Lunches usually consist of rotli, dal, rice, shak. There is rotlis without ghee on all days and you can request for rotla without ghee too. On days that there is kadhi and a dairy based shak they will make you an alternative. Jayeshbhai will ensure that there is a vegan shak available to you on all days.
Dinner:
Dinner is usually lighter and mostly vegan. The kitchen will make you vegan idli and khichri without ghee on those relevant days, or a vegan alternative if there are other non vegan dishes on the menu.
Soya Milk
Jayeshbhai is also happy to order you soya milk from Rajkot and Ahmedabad. This is normally the sofit brand and costs approx Rs 110 - 120 per litre carton.
Fruit
You can order fruit from the ashram office. What is available depends on the season but the ashram staff will help you find what you need from Sayla town, and will often go and get it for you if they have time. Fruit is sometimes provided at lunchtimes. It is there daily during ekant maun shibirs, but at other times it depends on ashram members sponsoring the fruit. Depending on the number of people staying in the ashram this sponsorship may be from Rs 300 - 500 per day, so if you feel generous then you can sponsor fruit for the whole ashram.
This is a new initiative and a learning process for the kitchen. They welcome feedback and encouragement and appreciate your positive feedback too. This is something that the kitchen team have done from their own initiative and very welcome to the vegans among us so thank you to the team. Please ask for clarification at meal times if you are unsure of ingrediants, Jayeshbhai is the person to ask and he understands veganism well.
We would also recommend you keep some personal provisions in case you require them. Porridge, nuts, chocolate, fruit and dry snacks may be useful to keep.
* Please note that the milk and ghee used in the Ashram is from the Ashram cows which are very well kept and looked after. Dairy products may be necessary for some poeple in their diets for health and the Ashram is not advising this diet over others as these decisions are a personal choice.