Veg-out: A Survival Guide for Vegans and Vegetarians in Campus

Contrary to popular belief, one is able to go vegan, even among the meat-eating masses at university.

Photo Credits: TimeOut

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Be it vegan or a vegetarian; you are bound to face public scrutiny, insensitive chefs and expensive produce. Living in a man-eat-meat world, it can be difficult for campus herbivores to hold firm to their beliefs, especially when there are many external factors such as limited food option or people’s sentiments towards your principles and food choices. But does this mean that they should just give up and let the meat masses bring them down? No.

If you find yourself struggling with your veganism or vegetarian diet, here are some tips from your experienced vegans and vegetarians friends on how to survive in campus.

Being a vegan or vegetarian on campus is surprisingly easy

Many people have the notion that being a vegan or vegetarian in campus is difficult because they believe that there aren’t a lot of food choices available for them to choose from. However, School of Communication (SOC) student and a fellow vegan, Chloe Lee, 23, claimed otherwise.

“I found it incredibly easy to become a vegan in campus, and I dare say that I had no difficulties in going to any restaurants and cafes on campus and had nothing to eat,” she said.

“Vegan friendly dishes can be found at every student's favorite go to places such as Mamak, Mekong, Subway and Kampung Chili," added Elina Nasution, another vegan student from SOC.

In addition, she said that the foods cost less than what non-vegan students eat and this is an

advantage for students on a budget.

Ways to green eat on campus

If you cannot find any vegan friendly food to eat on campus although it is unlikely, be creative.

“For example, chicken fried rice can easily be amended into a vegan friendly dish. Ask them to remove the chicken and add more vegetables. If you’re feeling like pasta, go for tomato base or Aglio Olio,” Lee said.

She added that you can also eat 'simple' by ordering vege-based dishes in Chinese restaurants on campus together with a bowl of rice.

For International student from Tanzania, Jay Pradeep Tank, 22, finding vegetarian food can be hard because he really enjoys his country’s own cuisine.

“To survive, I eat at places like Penang Selera, Mamak and Subway. But it can get repetitive after a while so I try to cook at home and bring a lunchbox to campus,” he said.

Eating healthy is cheaper than most people think

People have the misconception that eating healthy is expensive when in fact it is not. Instead of superfoods like acai berries and chia seeds, students can use basic ingredients and any leafy greens such as vegetables, tofu, whole grain and fruits to make healthy and delicious meals.

“I wouldn’t mind compromising on healthy foods because I can earn money but I can’t earn health once I lose it,” said Tank.

For those who were sensitive about money, Elina had some useful advice.

“Bring your own home dishes. For instance, I brought my own rice or vegetables to add on to the ordered dishes at respective restaurants. This helped me to feel fuller and not crave for more food and spend more,” she said.

“Avoid franchise restaurants and got to places like Mamak or the school cafeteria where the food price is generally cheaper,” added Lee.

Moreover, if you have a long day of classes, increase the portion of your meals. For example, have a heavier breakfast before you start your classes.

Good places to eat near campus

If fellow vegans and vegetarians on campus felt like dining out, there are a few places that are recommended also located nearby campus.

“We have pretty good options in Sunway Pyramid such as BMS Organics, Simple Life and Secret Recipe Beyond Vege. But if they wanted to go for an unhealthier vegan option, they can go to Burger Lab as they have delicious vegetarian options,” said Lee.

Another alternative which Lee suggested would be by using an application called The Happy Cow. The app allowed vegans and vegetarians to find the nearest vegan food.

A message for vegan and vegetarian friends

Stay firm to your beliefs and always be willing to share about vegans and vegetarians when someone showed an interest. Educate yourself so that you had valid reason to reply to any criticisms.

“We should be proud of ourselves because we’re changing the world bit by bit every day,” said Tank.

To non-vegans and vegetarians out there

A lot of vegans and vegetarians would like for non-vegans to be open to new ideas and be respectful to others of different beliefs because they might learn something new.

“I would not force any meat eater to stop eating meat. Try to bring some vegetarian food into your life. And once you entered the world of vegans and vegetarians, you will realize that you have a lot of options too,” Tank said.

They are also encouraged to think of the ethical reasons as to why they eat the meat they eat.

“Eating too much meat is not healthy and diseases related to red meat and white meat has been reported time and time again,” said School of Design student, Sachi Bhargav Suchak, 20, who is a vegetarian.

The most important thing is that we as humans do not waste food, especially meat because of the all the sufferings that animals have to go through to satisfy human's desire for meat.

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