Mission Spotlight

Feeding the Body as Well as the Soul

Loma Linda, United States of America

Vegan Fresh offers a healthy variety of options to its customers in California, USA. Let's hear from some of them now!

Vegan Fresh on Vimeo

“It's Vegan Fresh! I like Vegan Fresh because the name states it itself. I'm vegan. I've been vegan for three years. It's been a difficult transition because of the lack of places like this that have wholesome, nutritious food.”

“The burritos and burgers are great, but I just can't commit to one thing, which is the reason I like it. Also the fried plantains are the most amazing thing.”

“The very name of the restaurant is spot-on, Vegan Fresh. The salads are updated almost hourly.”

Blue zones around the world are where people generally live longer than normal. Loma Linda has the highest concentration of Seventh-day Adventists in the United States. Some residents live 10 more healthy years than the average American by following a healthy diet of grains, nuts, fruits, and vegetables.

“We're proud of that distinction. What is most exciting to us is that food, as well as plant-based food, brings people together, and brings people into this restaurant, or into our lives, that we would in no other way meet.”

“Here in the Vegan Fresh restaurant, we have an opportunity to serve 50 to 60 people a day, and that gives us an opportunity to minister, to share with people, and have literature, ask questions about our beliefs, about who we are, about why we do what we do.”

“Would you like a bag? Utensils and napkins are to your right. Have a great day!”

“I was immediately drawn to the atmosphere that comes with Virginia's interesting food and her mission statement for this place.”

“People come here that have not known anything about God or how food relates to our relationship with God. So they are able to pick up literature because we have a table where they can pick it up. I talk to my customers as they sit there eating. Can I go greet them? Can I go chat with them? So it's a ministry. It's not just eating food. It's feeding the body as well as their soul.”

“We've met people we would never see in our normal lives. We have seen fruit and really that's what this is all about - it's doing outreach as well as promoting a healthy lifestyle and plant-based nutrition.”

“When I found this place I was hooked. I came every day that week. I was so overwhelmed with excitement that everything was not packaged. Nothing was packaged. I couldn't believe it. I just kept coming back. I had my husband, who is not vegan, try it and he was like, Wow, this is delicious.”

“My favorite thing to get at Vegan Fresh is the plantain platter, which has a variety of different things. You get five items and it's customizable. There's always something new that you can substitute in. Which I think is nice because you get to sample a lot of things because all the food is so good.”

“There's a gorilla burger that’s served here and a little sign that shows the gorilla and states that gorillas are vegan. I just love learning tidbits of information by coming here.”

“We have had several people come to church, indicating their understanding about the relationship food has with God. They come to Bible studies after church in our home. It's been a really great ministry.”

“Virginia, we're going to be good friends … and we have! I’ve gone to church with her and we've become good friends.”

“That's the number one inspiration, to make people live healthy lives.”

“We have a diverse clientele that as I said, we would never meet in our regular lives.”

“She educated me so well to fully understand these are the bare necessities and that's the best way to fill your body, without all the additives.”


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