Better food, by default
Our mission is to create sustainable food systems by incubating novel solutions for shifting diets and shaping cultural narratives that guide food choices.
We envision a thriving world where plant-based food is the norm.
Normalizing plant-based food
Food systems are our most powerful lever to improve environmental sustainability, biodiversity, and human health.
1,815,000
meals impacted/year
500+
institutions using plant-based nudges and defaults
37%
average reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to 888,000 kg of carbon dioxide
34%
average reduction in water use, totaling 21,000,000 gallons of water
Make the Best Choice, the Easy Choice
Plant-Based by Default is a simple way to offer healthier, sustainable, and inclusive meals by nudging customers toward plant-based options.
The Latest
Nudge Training Sessions
Join the Better Food Foundation for a hands-on workshop that puts powerful climate solutions into your hands.
What We Serve Matters
In an article from Sentient Media last week, I was interviewed about the forces driving diet change globally. I believe it’s essential right now to remember how we still have the power to shape our food system. – Jennifer Channin
3 Takeaways from NACUFS 2025
From the engaging presentations at NACUFS Conference, we identified three critical challenges facing campus dining and how plant-based defaults offer effective solutions.
Take action
Apply for the DefaultVeg Internship Program
Universities around the world see the value in reimagining food systems. Together we can keep campuses—and the planet—cool.
Donate
Just as we always eat in community, we also need our community to make this transformative work possible.
There’s a lot of large-scale change that we could achieve in any of the institutions where food is served. Nudges are more than just quiet and discreet. They’re actively changing people’s attitudes in a positive direction towards plant-based foods.
Jennifer Channin
Executive Director
Our Partners
