Is it really that hard being a vegetarian at Haverford? As someone who loves veggies and often picks salad over some of the DC’s less tantalizing options, I figured it couldn’t be all that bad. So, I decided to try it out for myself and say goodbye to meat for a week. A pseudo-diet and an editorial experiment? Sounded, theoretically, quite convenient.
Well, by the second day I’d already realized my first mistake was deciding to do this in the dead of winter and in the middle of a week-long forecast of snow and rain. All I wanted was cheese and bread and cheesy bread. Not exactly ideal for my waistline, and definitely not nutritious. I was saved by the graces of a new fajita bar, with lots of grilled veggies and guacamole to get me through, topping off my mixed greens with onions, salsa, quinoa and black beans. The next day, falafel and tapenade from the gyro bar once again blocked the call of the pizza lining the entrance of the dining hall. But when the sizzle stations disappeared, so did the healthy options.
As the week progressed it became harder and harder to find truly healthy vegetarian foods to eat that would keep anyone with a normal appetite emotionally or physically satisfied. Salads became boring without readily available cooked veggies that weren’t completely steamed to death or doused in cream. Vegan meat options took the edge off, but were doused in cloyingly sweet “Asian-inspired” sauces that probably destroyed whatever nutritional benefit I might get from the soy. And overcooked pasta and dry rice, which never had much appeal to begin with, weren’t even worth the trouble.
By the end, I wasn’t even particularly craving meat. I just wanted something I could sink my teeth into, something delicious and fresh that wasn’t fried or loaded with carbs. Those cravings translated to eating more food in a desperate attempt to find something appetizing. I felt guilty for wasting, and would often finish my plate regardless of whether I enjoyed what was on it. Consolation for unsatisfying meals were later found in frozen yogurt, ice cream, and the last coveted pieces of Nana’s mandel bread in my dorm room. It was a vicious cycle, finally and graciously broken by my re-introduction of grilled chicken as a reliable protein source to supplement all the healthy foods I loved, but just weren’t enough on their own.
So how hard is it really to be a vegetarian at Haverford? Well, if you’re trying to be healthy and not load up on carbs or cheese every night, it’s almost impossible to be satisfied after a week. By the grace of the new grills, at least there’s the option to create something tasty. But I know my friends and I both are often too lazy or too hungry to wait in line. Sure, rice or pasta and cheese and vegetables from the salad bar make a great meal in the microwave now and then, but students shouldn’t be expected to commit to cooking their own food every night in order to get a good meal. That’s what the real world’s for, and we’ll get there when we damn well please thank you very much.
How do you vegetarians manage to be satisfied and stay healthy? Do you have a go-to dinner that gets you through the dark nights when pasta just won’t cut it? If so, please send your recipe to nlandiss@haverford.edu for a chance to have it featured in an upcoming article!
For those of you looking to be creative but missing the inspiration, stay tuned for some vegetarian options that (while I admittedly did not make during this weeklong experience) are great customizable go-to recipes that you can make using the grills or sizzle stations, if you have the time and energy!