<p>I am an incoming freshman - well, I have not made my decision yet, but I wanted to see how the vegetarian experience is at UIUC. From some I have heard that it can be quite a hassle and becomes frustrating at times. I am assuming University Housing is probably much better for vegetarians as you can go to any of the dining halls, and for private certified housing there is a very limited number of vegetarian options (please correct me if I am wrong). How bad is it really? Would I be much better off choosing a private certified that has a kitchen so I can make my own food? Or would I be able to last through the UIUC dining hall options?</p>
<p>I would go with University. I ate at the Ike during my visit on an admitted student day, and I believe the dining hall had two vegetarian items that they probably change each day, along with other items like sandwich ingredients and soy bologna. Aside from that there was also a salad bar and items such as pizza. LAR and Allen share a restaurant called Leafy Greens that serves vegetarian lunches on weekdays to public housing students.</p>
<p>But yeah, I would stay away from PCH. I just checked Bromley today and there were no vegetarian options, other than grilled cheese… I assume many other private dining halls are similar. Public seems to be the most accomodating.</p>
<p>(And if you’re curious, the Ike had a pesto tomato sandwich and veggie wrap when I was there! 
Both were delicious.)</p>
<p>Lincoln Ave. Res. Hall (LAR) regularly features vegetarian cuisine. Even if you don’t live there, you can eat there anytime you want if you live in university owned housing.</p>
<p>I am going to be majoring in ECE - at least for now. I was wondering, how far is LAR from the Engineering quad and the main quad? I am hoping to go there often for lunches, but if its far that may be difficult!</p>
<p>That is kind of what I have heard about food. I was also told that it is probably a good idea to get out of the dorms for sophomore year and on so that I can get some more variety in terms of cooking and what not.</p>
<p>How are grocery stores and what not in Urbana-Champaign? Is there a Trader Joes or something similar? I know for my brother in his time at UCB and CMU it became a sort-of hub for vegetarians.</p>
<p>For your freshman year you will most not likely not have any classes in the engineering quad so it doesnt really matter for FAR. and it is only like a ten minute walk to the main quad, really not that far. By the time most of your engineering classes, junior year, you will hopefully be living in an apartment.</p>
<p>As for as grocery shopping, within good walking distance is a county market. If you have a car or take a bus there is a walmart, meijer, and target! but be careful with the buses bc schedules can be a little funky.</p>
<p>Physics classes are in Loomis Lab on the southeastern edge of the Engineering Quad, and most Math classes are in Altgeld Hall at the northwestern edge of the main quad closest to the Green Street Campustown area. LAR is not the closest dorm to either the Engineering Quad, or the Main Quad, but xbritx720 is right in that it’ll be about a 10-12 minute walk. Personally, I don’t think you’ll have to go all the way back to LAR to get a vegetarian option for food.</p>
<p>Also, there is a Country Market on Springfield just west of the Engineering Quad.</p>
<p>Oh ok thanks for the information guys. I was worried because I already have AP credits for Calculus I and II and Chemistry (and am hoping to get credit for Physics-mechanics as well), so I may have some more engineering classes than normal. But I did just look at the recommended sequence for courses and it seems that I would still have enough classes that I would only have a very limited number on the engineering campus.</p>
<p>Well LAR has the really nice vegetarian dining hall. I feel like it would be one of the easy ways to avoid becoming sick of the normal pasta and salad combination that seems like is the norm in most halls. Now actually going there would matter on time in class schedules and weather - living in the midwest I know how crazy it can get.</p>
<p>Does Country Market offer the same variety as something like trader joes? It has a wide variety of options like organic foods, and lots of single person potion sizes. Or is it more like a typical grocery store?</p>
<p>The new Ikenberry dining hall also provides a lot of vegetarian options (I’m a vegetarian also, and I’ve ate there during a visit). Plus, you can always stop by the LAR dining hall in between class or something. However, if your stuck in a really boring hall (which I hear the LAR, FAR, PAR tend to be) it would really suck.</p>