OMD Kitchen
The MUSE Global School Kitchen operates as a foundational element of the MUSE Global School mission, nourishing both our students and the planet. Our menu is 100% plant-based, built entirely around our founder, Suzy Amis Cameron’s, OMD (One Meal a Day) initiative. This menu takes a holistic approach to teaching the benefits of climate-friendly eating, supporting both planetary and personal health.
The OMD Philosophy and Environmental Leadership
Our dedication to the OMD philosophy is a powerful lesson in environmental stewardship.
Adopting a plant-based diet for just one meal significantly reduces the environmental costs associated with food production. With this simple choice, one person can save 194,667 gallons of water and 772 pounds of carbon emissions annually. We teach students that every plate has a positive global impact.
Our facility proudly maintains its Certified Green Restaurant status, reflecting our deep commitment to sustainability across all kitchen operations, from ingredient sourcing and energy use to waste management. This ensures our facility’s practices align with the eco-conscious values of the OMD initiative.
Our food program goes beyond simple nutrition by integrating education, local ecology, and student responsibility into every step.
Expert Curation and Local Sourcing: Our menu is seasonally curated by our Head Chef, Robin Swallow, emphasizing fresh, organic, nutrient-dense ingredients. We prioritize locally-sourced ingredients, featuring purchases made by students during their visits to the Santa Monica Farmers Market, directly connecting them to local food systems and supply chains.
Plant-Based Power: We ensure every meal is rich in essential nutrients, providing diverse sources of complete protein. Our dishes are designed to feature high-quality plant-based protein from sources such as lentils, chickpeas, beans, quinoa, nuts, seeds, and ancient grains.
Student Empowerment and Life Skills: Students are active participants, transforming the kitchen into a practical, hands-on learning environment.
All of our lunches include a vibrant, seasonal salad bar showcasing our commitment to fresh, locally-sourced produce, along with sustainable practices. The salad bar has a colorful array of seasonal greens, legumes, nuts, seeds, house-made dressings, hummus, guacamole, salsas and pickled/fermented vegetables.
Our health conscious menu offers protein choices like:
Tempeh — 3oz. Provides 17 grams of protein
Tofu — 3oz. Provides 8 grams of protein
Legumes — ½ cup provides between 8-14 grams of protein
Quinoa — ½ cup provides 4 grams of protein
Nori Seaweed — 1oz. Provides 12 grams of protein
Hemp Seeds — 1 oz. provides 9 grams of protein
The MUSE Kitchen transcends the traditional cafeteria model; it is an active, whole-school classroom. By fully integrating the entire food cycle—sourcing, preparation, service, and returning our food scraps to the soil through composting—we ensure students learn the practical skills and mindful decision-making necessary for a sustainable lifestyle. Our commitment to the OMD philosophy cultivates future leaders who view every meal as an opportunity to support their own health, their community, and the global environment.
On average, by swapping all meals and snacks to delicious plant-based options, on average, MUSE Global School’s environmental savings per year boasts over 287,820 gallons of water and the carbon equivalent to 4,552 miles driven in your car.
Learn more about OMD and Suzy’s mission online or by purchasing her book, The OMD Plan. You can view guides on how to get started with a plant-based diet, recipes and even calculate your yearly environmental savings! Eating plant-based is a win-win-win: for the planet, the animals and for our health. And when we join together, we can honor the abundance that eating more plants gives our world.
“Many children today are stressed, creatively suppressed, and out of tune with themselves, their bodies, and nature. Along comes MUSE Global School, an amazing school that provides all the elements children need for optimal development— then takes it to the next level by offering education in nutrition and environmental sustainability. I was blown away when I visited their campus; I highly recommend MUSE to any parent who wants their child to be truly seen, heard, loved, valued, and accepted.”
— Victoria L. Dunckley, MD, child psychiatrist and author of Reset Your Child’s Brain
Start your child’s amazing journey — contact us to learn more about MUSE Global today.
