Cafeteria is NOT vegetarian friendly :(

[Luci]

This is just a rant, I needed an outlet and perhaps some advice on how to get my point across.

Im a senior in college and for the past 3 1/2 years, I've struggled with finding food to eat in our school's cafeteria. My school is small, think of your public high school cafeteria and divide that into 4. It's probably that size. Anyways, being a vegetarian is so difficult here. They say they cater to vegetarian diets but, forgive me if I seem picky, a salad bar does NOT constitute as a vegetarian option. Every so often they'll have pasta, or the Do-It Yourself stir fry bar (omg I love that!). But on days like today, they have beef stew, chicken in pasta, sausage pizza, chicken noodle soup, must I go on? I left with mashed potatoes and a sandwich. Not too bad, but for the cost of a meal swipe ($8.50), I'm pretty much being ripped off. Now, I know that my diet is my decision but I see no reason why every entree has to contain meat.

I've voiced my concerns each year. I've submitted comments, talked with them personally, my mother even called a few times when I was a freshmen. I even cited "lack of vegetarian options" as a reason for moving off campus (our school is so small, each person has to have permission to live off campus). Yes, I do still have a meal plan because I dont have time to go back and forth to my apartment during the day to eat. Im now at a loss of how to approach this. I know there are a few vegetarians on the forum so just wondering if anyone has suggestions or similar situations to share. Thanks!

 

[Brittney]

I'm a veggie and I had that same problem when I was in high school. My boyfriend in the military keeps telling me that all the meat they give them on base is soy, which I find bull basically. I know what soy is and what isn't

If you're not a picky vegetarian like I am, maybe pick out the meat in items? I'd say if you have voiced your concern as many times as you have with no avail, it's pretty safe to assume they just don't care. It sucks, but there's not much you can do.

My family owns a beef cattle farm, which is the main reason why I quit eating meat, because I know the process of getting the actual meat. They also think being a vegetarian just consists of eating salad. I eat so much salad when I go home that I just starve because it's not filling. I feel you though. Luckily, at my college, there's not a lunch room, it's just bring your own food and eat on break.

Maybe cancel your lunch plan and make your own lunch at home before you leave and take it with you? There's no reason why you should just be handing them money when they aren't technically feeding you.

 

[greychins]

The first thing I thought of when I read about all you've tried is what the above post said - how about bringing your own lunch?

Don't get me wrong, it is a pain. While I'm not a vegetarian, I am on Weight Watchers and try to eat lower-calorie, healthy stuff, and at my work/school... it's just not an option. Everything sold at both places is like 600 calories per bite, so... not good for me. Anyway, point being. I HATE bringing my lunch everyday, I really do. I hate messing with it and having to get it ready ahead of time, and then bringing a dish and heating it up... and so on and so forth... but... when I bring my lunch, I eat what I want to eat, and I have no reason to complain about the choices. Do I wish they served healthier, lower-calorie options? Heck yeah... but as their "lower calorie" option is a $5 salad, and I know they're not gonna change, this is my best bet for now. It might be yours. You can bring it with you, so no worries about leaving campus, and you'll save money, cause it really doesn't sound like you're currently getting your money's worth.

 

[mishellyshel]

i guess it depends on how strict you are as brittney said. i am not a vegetarian although i rarely eat meat (a very occasional burger or steak). i do not eat pork or veal.
mostly just chicken & fish. i have a lot of stomach problems, so i tend to pick through my meal and usually leave my plate a mess of the stuff i dont or cant eat.
if you cant quit the plan and pack your lunch, i would make the salad bar your best friend. hopefully they have rolls that you can mage veggie sandwiches (my fav!).
otherwise you will be picking sausage off the pizza, chicken out of the soup, etc......
due to my issues and money i pack my lunch pretty much every day. i often make more at dinner so i have enough for lunch or buy frozen meals or pack veggie/hummus sandwiches!!

 

[arf2184]

I work in a hospital kitchen...one of the smaller hospitals in the area. I don't see why your cafe has an issue with offering a decent variety of vegetarian food.

We always have salad bar, fruit plates/parfaits, a non-meaty soup, and at least one hot main entree that is meat free (pasta, vegetable lasagna, veg pizza, casseroles, etc.) as well as cooked veggies or other sides. It's not difficult and there are plenty of meat eaters who will eat those items too so its not like it goes to waste.

It sounds like you've already done your best to get the point across to the kitchen and it hasn't really worked. I'd bring my own lunch...it takes more time, but will probably be cheaper for you in the end plus you'll get to eat what you want.

 

[Luci]

thanks for all the responses/advice. i usually take snacks with me to hold me over. im still on the meal plan mostly because i get my fresh fruits and veggies from there instead of having to buy them. im bad at remembering i bought grapes...they soon turn to raisins lol.

i may go in and talk with the director personally. shes the only one i havent talked to. we'll see how that goes. so far the meal plan has saved on grocery money...just gotta get it to where its worth the money i do spend.

 

[danakscully64]

Hi Luci!

I've been a vegetarian for 5 years and I understand where you're coming from. If talking to the director doesn't help, I strongly suggest packing a lunch. My boyfriend is in the Navy, he's a vegetarian, and on days where he's away from home during lunch, he packs one (or I pack it). You're getting ripped off paying $8.50 for basically a snack. I don't suggest picking off the meat for many reasons. It really is compromising your ethics if you're a vegetarian for animal rights or environmental reasons. It's also a waste to toss the meat you pick out and you really can't get all of that meat juice off pasta or a salad, you're bound to consume some. It will probably take a while getting used to bringing a lunch, but once you get the hang of it, you'll be fine. Here are some tips:

-Don't buy fruits you won't eat. I make this mistake myself... I buy grapes even though I end up tossing 95% of them every single time, without fail. It doesn't matter if they're on sale, just say no Many fruits pack well: bananas, oranges, kiwis, peaches, apples, pears, etc.
-Bring a salad, but spice it up. Invest in a few Glad containers to take with you. Don't just bring a salad of mixed iceburg and shredded carrots, get a spring mix or baby lettuce and add some dried raisins, walnuts, cashews, sunflower seeds, pepitas, cheese crumbles, cut up fruit, etc (think trail mix). Bring salad dressing on the side in a snack sized plastic bag or container.

Some things I like to pack: PB&J, fruit, veggies (celery and carrots with ranch), Cold cheddar cheese sandwich (no Kraft Singles in this!) with mustard and pepper (sounds weird, but it's good), granola bars, fruit cereal bars, dry cereal (I LOVE Cinnamon Toast Crunch dry), nuts, cracker jacks, chips, Cheez Its, leftovers from the night before... and that's all I can think of right now.

Good luck! Hope everything works out for you! I'll be around if you need me.

 

[alli713]

That's really tough. The college I went to was known for it's environmentally friendly atmosphere and they had vegetarian as well as vegan options at every meal. But we had a lot of hippies as well so I'm sure they helped get that movement started.

I agree with packing a lunch. Really you'd be saving money by packing a lunch.

 

[AZChins]

I have to pretty much make all my food myself or I could end up having a severe allergic reaction. I've been a vegetarian since I was 15 or 16 and a vegan since I was about 18...it's hard, really hard. But, I am allergic to milk and egg yolks...poultry can give me hives. I wish it was as easy as just picking out the meat, but it isn't so much of the time.

Make your own food, you can make twice as much food for the same money and make something you actually enjoy. I actually never ate in the cafeteria when I was in college...not at either of the schools I went to! I knew they wouldn't have anything good there.

 

[3CsMommy]

Humus. Seriously saved my can during my vegetarian years in college. (I couldn't maintain it well and ended up deficient in Iron and Vit. A, so I had to go back to fish and chicken.) It's shelf stable, cheap to make, easy to flavor with inexpensive herbs and additions, and high in protein so you feel full faster. If they can't see fit to add a small container of it to their peanut butter/mayo/mustard/ketchup storage area, you can probably use that as a suggested way to at least get another option, if you don't make it yourself and spit in their eye (which is what I'd be tempted to do).

 

[mishalaa]

I work for Food Services at a university - we are required to have both a vegetarian entree and a vegan entree at every meal, as well as several vegan soups. All of our sides are vegetarian, and most of those are vegan as well. In addition, we have a "Natural Life" cooler which always offers soy milk, smart dogs, five different flavors of hummus and vegan yogurt - and there's our 40-item salad bar. We do not cook our vegetarian/vegan options on the same grills/kettles/pots as our meat entrees, and use different utensils so there is no cross contamination. About the only complaint we get is that we don't offer enough vegan desserts.

Our university also has a student group called VAB - vegetarian/vegan advisory board. They hold meetings over lunch/dinner at the different dining commons, discuss what's good and poor about the offerings, then submit those thoughts and suggestions to our director of food services. Maybe you could try to find other students at your campus who are also vegetarian and start a similar group.

Also - be careful of stir fry sauces. Most of them use chicken broth.