veggi in college..help!

[saveurspoon]

i am away at school and can't seem to eat healthy. school doesnt help any with the food they serve, but does anyone have any suggestions on what i can do?

[Max Power]

I had this problem when I first went away to college. I ended up eating pasta, pizza, and grilled cheese for most of the first year and I gained 35 lbs. betwen September and March.

Do you go to a large campus? Most decent-sized schools have programs of some sort to help you maintain a healthy diet. Is there an on- or off-campus food co-op? Those are usually great places for veg*ns. Tell us a little more about the school setting and your specific dietary concerns and we'll definitely help out as best we can.

[punkmommy]

There's a section in the cookbook, Garden of Vegan by Sarah Kramer and Tanya Banard, for vegan students. IF you're not opposed to using a microwave ( I don't use them, but if I were in your situation, I probably would ). It's a great book if you're able to pick up a copy.

[saveurspoon]

i go to school in philly. its kinda small.there are no programs to help. i want to make sure im eating a balanced diet and not full of carbs. i live on cheese sandwhiches!!!!

[EquiPro]

Wow! Where in Philly? I seem to remember a bunch of places where you could buy good stuff. If you have access to transportation, go to Fresh Fields grocery stores, and stock up on good stuff there. Get a dorm refridgerator (the lounge in my dorm had a full sized refridge that people could use), get a little micro or even a pot warmer, and prepare most of your own. There are Veg*n cereals with soy milk, lots of prepared items, etc.

Also, Philly is such a large city, that there must be some restaurants in your area. If you are anywhere near University of Penn, you should be able to find tons of stuff. You might also try Manayunk or Germantown. Those areas are pretty hip, and might have something like that. You may just have to get some transport once a week and stock up!

[freemouse]

Transfer to my school! the cafeteria offers tofu-veggie salad and vegan sandwich. Poor people like me can shop at the weekly mini campus farmers market :D

[saveurspoon]

where do you go to school? fresh fields is a good place its right on south street.

[Max Power]

Rock on Philly!!! Indeed, the CITY has ample vegetarian options, but can you get around? Car, public, etc? What school is this? Is it Chesnut Hill??

If you can pick up some dorm-room cooking ameneties, they can go a long way. Portable rice steamers and hotplates with just a little bit of work can produce some great grub. I still get much of my nutrients from a blender, just like when I was in the dorms. Plus, as mentioned, lots of cereals add a lot to the healthy diet, although the good ones (Total, Special K, etc.) aren't the cheapest.

[saveurspoon]

nope i go to LaSalle, great school not veggi friendly. yep septa is my friend.

[Max Power]

Originally posted by saveurspoon
where do you go to school? fresh fields is a good place its right on south street.
That place rocks. Plus, great basketball right around the corner.

[Max Power]

Lasalle! Sweet. Whatchya studying? I'm heading into my senior at Delaware. Trying to get into a psychology program at Chesnut Hill, Penn, or Temple.

[saveurspoon]

art history, hoping to get doen school travel live in europe and then grad school sooner or later. what about u?

[Thalia]

Do you know other veg*ns? Maybe this will help:
http://www.collegeactivist.com/

[Max Power]

Originally posted by saveurspoon
art history, hoping to get doen school travel live in europe and then grad school sooner or later. what about u?
Art... Sweet... I love that stuff. Don't have the eye for it, though. I imagine Europe is about the best place to travel after that sort of academic program, huh?

Me? I'm a Philosophy major with minors in psyc and religion.

Hey Thalia - nice avatar :drool: Lisa Simpson is my dream girl. If only she were older. And not a cartoon.

[saveurspoon]

Yea Europe is a great place for art, plus i want to meet so many differnt cultures of people help get out of the monotnoy of the US

[punkmommy]

Hey another Philly person! Well I lived there for 5 years, I'm now a suburbanite (West Chester). There are so many veg friendly places, I miss being a city girl. Are you abe to have some small cooking appliances on site? ( or do you live on your own? )

[muppetcow]

I got a Black and Decker veggie steamer/rice cooker for Christmas my first year in college and it was a life saver! Rice is cheap and the steamer makes perfect rice in about 45 minutes. I used to toss some veggies (usually whatever I could smuggle out of the cafeteria) on top for the last 10 minutes of cooking and I had dinner.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004SC50/qid=1054562697/br=1-4/ref=br_lf_k_4//102-2294074-1874532?v=glance&s=kitchen&n=289939

You can order one for $20 on amazon.com. I've had mine for 10 years and it still works like a dream, so it's well worth the money.