Every Wednesday, Kunja Mandana wakes up at 6 a.m. to prepare enough food to feed 50 people. She starts by boiling the vegetables separately and then blends them with warm, Indian spices, such as cumin and turmeric.
While Kunja cooks, Vraja Kumuda is busy with the logistics of getting the pots and pans to USC campus by noon. Together, their work has turned into the Conscious Eats initiative, an extension of the USC Music Meditation Club.
“When I was going to school there was always a dearth of plant-based alternatives and it was very hard to find vegetarian or vegan food on campus at a reasonable price,” Vraja said.
Anyone passing by is welcome to enjoy a plate of curry-seasoned chickpeas, broccoli and carrots, over rice, a salad drizzled with homemade sunflower seed dressing, and a dessert made from farina, a form of milled wheat. The couple crafted the plant-based menu with seasonal ingredients which students can actually replicate when on a tight budget.
“Food can actually nourish the soul when it’s offered with devotion and it becomes something much more than just to make the machine run; It can be an act of love-sharing and giving and receiving love,” said Kunja.
By 11 a.m., they would have set up camp in front of the USC Religious Center featuring a table adorned with posters and plates, making themselves approachable. When they see a student rush past or a construction worker on break, they wave and kindly inquire, “Hey, have you eaten?”
“We wanted to provide that alternative to students so they can become free from stress and anxiety just by eating healthy, uplifting food which is not only healthy for the body but also for their mind,” said Vraja.
Vraja and Kunja have been a couple since 2019, when they met at a meditation retreat in New Zealand. Both find nourishment in practicing spirituality.
Vraja has played a key role in coordinating the Music Meditation Club since 2017. After graduating from USC with a Master’s in Computer Science in 2018, his longing for community drew him back to help the club flourish.
Kunja has been involved with the Music Meditation Club since 2022. Before moving to Los Angeles in February 2023, she lived in Wellington, New Zealand where she helped run a joint yoga studio/restaurant as a vegan chef.
“It’s a very unique concept and was a lot of fun,” said Kunja. She learned that the “consciousness of the cook, the mood that you’re cooking in, the meditation before you even begin cooking, the offering of the cooking — all of this adds to the food.”
In college, many students miss home-cooked food. Although easy-to-make meals from stores like Trader Joe’s and Target offer convenience, they lack a sense of connection to the chef and land.
For public relations major Andrea Fernandez-Cruz, Conscious Eats is “a lot more nutritious and filling than anything I can get on campus.” This quote was provided to Annenberg Media in a statement from Conscious Eats.
“Vraja and Kunja are such a warm presence, and it shows through in the food. It’s affordable, healthy and delicious, and my personal favorite part of the meal is the halva dessert,” said Janessa Ulug, a second-year Political Science and Business Admin double major.
In addition to expanding the existing Conscious Eats program on campus, the couple also envisions creating a sacred space for students to meditate, relax, read and savor vegan cuisine.
As Kunja concluded our conversation, she reflected upon the Bhakti yoga concept of ‘Prasadam,’ which translates to ‘gift’ or ‘grace,’ and left a thought-provoking message.
“You know, I can’t make a tomato, I can’t make a potato, so Mother Earth has actually provided all of these ingredients for us human beings to utilize and nourish the body,” said Kunja.
Kunja’s words serve as a reminder that it is imperative to care for our bodies and minds in devastating times. By eating plant-based food where the ingredients are grown without killing, we ground ourselves in gratitude and respect for the sanctity of all life. We may only begin to see more clearly one another’s humanity when we recognize that violence, on any living-being, can never be justified.
Linked, you may find more information about the USC Music Meditation Club and its Conscious Eats initiative.
Note: The writer of this article stumbled upon the Music Meditation Club at the beginning of this semester and regularly participates in club events.