Vegetarian Child Going Off to College - What's the deal?

Parent Cafe
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<p>We have a really proud vegetarian kid (since birth, or “before birth”, as he says). He eats a lot of stuff, can sometimes be adventurous, but like a lot of kids can also be really picky, too (e.g., he doesn’t eat tomato sauce, nuts, “broccoli butts”, etc.). Like us, he’s vegetarian for the animals, but also for better health and for environmental sustainability (I have a web site called Eco-Eating that details this kind of stuff).</p>

<p>(For what it’s worth, he’s a great student with a nearly straight A average, great SAT score, leadership experience, community service, a publication in Scientific American Blog, and he’s taller than average. I only mention this because people occasionally say that vegetarians are [fill in the blank]. Ugh.)</p>

<p>When there’s school-based activities (e.g., clubs, university events, parties, etc.), is it easy to be vegetarian? What about vegan (we’re on the vegan side of vegetarianism)? </p>

<p>He applied to a bunch of UCs and a few top schools. I assume he’ll be fine in the cafeteria (right?), but what about otherwise? And, yeah, I know I worry too much, I know I’m going to miss him like crazy, and I know I can’t control everything and save him from everything. But still.</p>

<p>Any info, ideas, suggestions, and warnings would be appreciated.</p>

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<p>My vegetarian kiddo went to a private university in CA. There were plenty of vegetarian choices. </p>

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<p>I’ve been a vegetarian for almost half of my life now. I’ve been to several different colleges either as a student or a guest and never once had an issue finding options (and I’m very, very picky). I was on the vegan side of vegetarian for a while because I couldn’t eat dairy. Still no issue. </p>

<p>Really, with the number of vegetarians/vegans in colleges nowadays, it’s pretty much a complete non-issue. Every single event I’ve ever been to has had a vegetarian option. Most commonly it’s pizza at events- peperoni or not peperoni. </p>

4

<p>There’s no “deal”. </p>

<p>Look at the university’s vegan/vegetarian choices. If they’re sufficient, check it off you list. </p>

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<p>I’d check the cafeteria closely. Mine always had options, but I quickly grew bored with the veggie burger/overcooked pasta/bland salad/pizza option. I’ve heard of some schools having really fabulous options. Food shouldn’t be the be-all and end-all factor, but it’s something he should pay attention to. Basically, having one option at an event shouldn’t be a problem, but remember that the cafeteria is three meals a day.</p>

<p>In terms of events and such, I wouldn’t worry as long as he’s okay with cheese (on pizza). As a vegetarian, I’ve never had trouble at college events or even restaurants finding some option. I just started a new job, and when going out to lunch with colleagues, I’m 100% comfortable saying that they know the area and I’m flexible and knowing that I will find food wherever they choose. When I was vegan, I tended to bring a dish to events to make sure I had something or making sure I didn’t arrive hungry.</p>

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<p>My vegetarian kiddo went to a private university in CA. There were plenty of vegetarian choices. </p>

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<p>I agree with above. There will most likely be no “deal.” D2, a vegetarian , got along just fine in the 4 years at her NE LA University.<br>
In this day and age many people are vegetarians. At a dinner I went to the other night, at a table of 10, 2 were vegans, 1 didn’t eat meat (some fish) and 2 ate meat rarely, no red, and ate mostly vegetarian. </p>

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<p>My two Ds grew up mostly vegetarian, and had vegetarian phases in college. As mentioned, no issue at their two LAC. However, food at colleges does vary widely, and being someplace with good Asian options would ease the path of anyone with vegan tendencies. Visiting, I saw this at McCallister, and S’s UC. </p>

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<p>Someone will sneak him some bacon and the whole thing is over. :wink: If he is really passionate about it, he can be vegan anywhere. As mentioned above there are vegetarian and vegan places all over. Even here in Texas you can find them. The trick is that like many of us parents, you may have to cope with the fact that once kiddo leaves home they start to experiment and think for themselves. How do you rebel against vegan parents? Probably going to go for the bacon. Yummy tasty bacon. Sorry, but I could never do what you do. Bacon is simply too yummy. </p>

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<p>Being a vegetarian in CA is nothing. My own little vegetarian is headed to Wyoming, the land of beef, but even there they promise veggie offerings in the dining hall ‘at least 5 nights per week’!</p>

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<p>Sounds like he has already picked his schools to apply to… if you wanted advice on what schools have the best vegetarian/vegan options, you probably should have asked last year. If you post the list of schools he has applied to, you might get more specific information. If possible go to accepted student days at his top choices and have him stay overnight so he can eat a few meals on campus.</p>

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<p>No one is exempt from the lustrous pull of bacon. No. One. </p>

<p>Just to build off CA being not so bad, he really could’ve picked a worse location. CA is pretty vegan/vegetarian friendly. </p>

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<p>I think vegetarian at most colleges willbe fine. The kids I know who attempted vegan at college failed - it was too difficult.</p>

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<p>I’ve had bacon. It’s meh. </p>

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<p>Treat yo’self to a quality piece of bacon, romani. </p>

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<p>I ate meat for almost 15 years before I became a vegetarian. Just never liked bacon. No one in my mom’s family does, just runs in the family. Meh.</p>

17

<p>Don’t worry about it. He’ll manage, especially in California.</p>

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<p>Here are sample dining hall menus at Berkeley dorms:
<a href=“http://services.housing.berkeley.edu/FoodPro/dining/static/todaysentrees.asp”>http://services.housing.berkeley.edu/FoodPro/dining/static/todaysentrees.asp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>My D never had any difficulties eating vegan/vegetarian in college. All of the dishes were labeled in her cafeteria (vegan/vegetarian/gluten-free/local, etc.). For social activities, it was usually pizza (she will eat cheese) or Chipotle. She also frequents the Mediterranean place near campus. After sophomore year, she got an apartment and cooks for herself. I don’t think I ever heard her complain. I think a bigger issue is going to people’s homes, but we’ve taught her to find at least something she can eat anywhere - even if it’s just bread and salad. My S is at a smaller private college and they do not have as many veggie options (it gets monotonous). He says he survives on cereal and rice milk. </p>

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<p>I wouldn’t agree that “many” kids are picky, but being that he is, that would limit him much more than not eating animals.</p>

<p>I see schools offering more “ethnic” options from cultures that don’t eat much meat - and often the places surrounding campuses do so as well.</p>

<p>Just tonight I picked the bacon off my hamburger at a restaurant to give to my daughter. I’ll eat bacon but I need to be in the mood & my two oyster shooters has already filled me up.
:@)
I have a story about soy bacon.
We were camping & our lab was begging for some while I was cooking breakfast.
( a lab, who lived to eat anything)
I gave her some & she spit it out.
Not what she had in mind when she smelled bacon.</p>

<p>[-( </p>