Being Vegan is Not. That. Bad.

By Lauren Beizer

Many people cringe at having to give up foods they love like meat, baked goods, eggs, and cheese. I had to give up all of these foods when my gastrointestinal health took a turn for the worse. With only a month to adjust, I had to fully begin my adventure as a vegan with the start of 2021. And surprisingly, my experience has not been that bad. I am writing this article to provide some of my favorite alternatives to classic non-vegan foods. Being in college and having to be vegan at the same time can seem exceedingly difficult to get accustomed to (and trust me, it was), but I am here to express that it is truly not that scary, especially for people like me who used to love all types of food and are very reluctant to give it all up. 

When I returned back to campus for the 2021 spring semester as a full vegan, I had no idea where to start and what to expect. I luckily have access to a car so I am able to visit the grocery store in order to get fresh produce. I also have a meal plan which allows me to eat a couple meals on campus every week. 

Some of my favorite options include getting make-your-own salads and make-your-own market bowls from the pit on main campus. Both of these meal options have customizable ingredients so that every person can craft their own plate to their liking. For someone with very harsh dietary restrictions, I am able to clearly see what ingredients are going into my food when I order these options at the dining hall. 

Villanova has also made it quite easy to identify what ingredients are in their pre-made dishes as well. Available in most of the campus dining halls are pre-packaged foods with labels that explicitly say if the food item is vegan or not. This is crucial and saves me critical time when I am in a hurry and need a meal on the-go, because I can just quickly look to see if said food has the “vegan” label or not. 

For those that may not have a meal plan currently, the grocery store is your oyster. Specialty stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s have so many plant based options that honestly (in my opinion) taste just as good or even better than the “real” option. For example, I really enjoy cashew milk yogurt, oat milk vanilla creamer, and smart sweets candy. I find these vegan options to be quite delicious and reasonably priced. 

All in all, there are options available for everyone and for every dietary need. We are fortunate enough to have a university that provides options for many dietary restrictions, no matter how severe. While I felt quite misfortuned when I was told to become solely plant-based, Villanova’s dining services were able to meet this evolving need of mine with ease, and I was able to find great alternatives at grocery stores nearby, too. For those reasons, I am grateful.