<p>I know this is somewhat of a dumb question. Are there any vegetarians residing in the dorms at the University of Alabama? Will a vegetarian be totally out of place? Do the dining halls have anything to eat for vegetarians?</p>
<p>
[quote]
Amy Swartz is the vice president of the UA Vegetarians, Vegans, and Allied Community, which has over 100 friends on Facebook. She said that the Ferguson Center has options for vegetarians and vegans, but she suggests trying the options in restaurants around town, such as the customizable pitas at the Pita Pit, tofu at Lai Lai and a veggie sandwich at the Crimson Caf</p>
<p>Since a number of college kids these days are vegans or vegetarians, you won’t be alone.</p>
<p>Eat a burger, it won’t kill you.</p>
<p>Casino, </p>
<p>You probably meant no harm, but that really was a rude response to this person. She shouldn’t just “eat a burger.”</p>
<p>Vegetarian fare at most colleges is not very imaginative, which is so not necessary. I am not a vegetarian now, but was in my younger years, and know that it can be a very delicious lifestyle, if done right. Unfortunately, most dining halls are rather ignorant about high protein meat alternatives like quinoa, amaranth, sprouted tofu, tempeh, or dairy alternatives like nutritional yeast based “no-cheese” sauces. </p>
<p>Due to USDA subsidies for the most unhealthy foods, the healthier foods tend to be more expensive. Farmers can make a lot more money on corn, beef, and dairy given the generous subsidies. I encourage everyone to watch “Food Inc.” It will forever change the way you relate to food and “agriculture.” </p>
<p>Also, good luck finding grass fed beef or free range chicken on any campus.</p>
<p>Is it rude to tell a meat eater to eat a salad every now and then? If not, then I fail to see how my post was rude.</p>
<p>Unfunny? Possibly </p>
<p>But I’d hate for anyone not to experience the deliciousness that is a mcdonald burger from Mugshots.</p>
<p>Casino’s comment made me laugh, and I’ve been a vegetarian for decades. I’m sure it was meant in fun. </p>
<p>OP, you will be fine. There are vegetarians on every college campus and most dining halls accommodate vegetarians.</p>
<p>My DD is a vegetarian. She lived on campus last summer for 5-6 weeks. She loved UA so much that she is a proud incoming Freshman 2012. With that being said, my point is that she survived, actually thrived, at UA, vegetarian and all!.
If you have a FB acct, you can “like” Bama Dining". They post the vegetarian meals each week offered in the dining halls.
One of her favorite restaurants in Tuscaloosa is Mugshots. She raves about the PB&J knot roll sandwich. Of course, we enjoy the “come back for more” burger 
Around campus, there are several places to enjoy salads, sushi, etc. She has had NO problem with the dining experience.</p>
<p>Casino, </p>
<p>The difference is that a meat eater does not believe it is unethical to eat a salad. You don’t tell someone who thinks it is wrong (for them) to eat beef, to “eat a burger.” </p>
<p>I just don’t want Quiet Thinker to think that UA supporters are insensitive about this issue. </p>
<p>If a vegetarian gives you a hard time about eating meat, then you can throw that line at one, but when one shows up asking sincere questions, its just down right rude.</p>
<p>Trade you my broccoli for your meat.</p>
<p>Quiet, you’ll find other kids like you at Bama. As mentioned above, college dining halls do not always offer a lot of main entrees for those who don’t eat animal products, but those do work around that and dining halls are getting better (the more people ask, the better the response.)</p>
<p>How strict are you? eggs? cheese? milk? yogurt? </p>
<p>What sort of things do you eat? legumes? tofu? </p>
<p>There is also a grocery store nearly on campus, so that is also an option.</p>
<p>This weekend we ate at Lakeside with our daughter (need to use up those guest meals!). Dh is a vegetarian and he had no problem finding something to eat. He really enjoyed the veggie pizza. I noticed that each “station” had at least one, if not two, vegetarian options. They included Veggie burrito at the burrito bar, egg drop soup plus another entree at the Asian station, the pizza, plus more. Dh was even impressed that they had tofu cubes at the salad bar!</p>
<p>Can’t speak to the variety you’ll see over time, but you shouldn’t go hungry.</p>
<p>As to being out of place…while D and I were in line, two guys in front of us were talking about how one of them is a vegetarian. And we noticed many people choosing the vegetarian options (doesn’t mean they are vegetarian, but plenty of students seem to choose those meals).</p>
<p>At Lakeside, for example, you could eat pizza, a vegetable burrito, asian noodles or rice, a grilled cheese, whatever vegetable they’re serving, sometimes pasta, and anything from the salad bar (which usually has tofu). I know a few vegetarians so I don’t think you will be out of place at all. I was a vegetarian for four years and I’m actually thinking about going back to it, or at least cutting down a lot on meat, because the girl I’m living with next year is a vegetarian and I want to be able to cook for both of us.</p>
<p>M2CK, I was asking this on behalf of D2. She eats cheese and yogurt and all milk products. But she does not eat eggs ( or anything that contains eggs ) , chicken, fish or any meat in general. As long as there is pizza, pasta or salad bar she should be fine.</p>
<p>You won’t go hungry. Dd is a vegetarian. She does a lot of her own cooking, but she also love Pita Pit, and she’s never been to a restaurant in T-town that didn’t have some options for vegetarians. </p>
<p>D also LOVES the farmers market. Fresh, local fruits and veggies.</p>
<p>No worries. You’re not alone and it wasn’t a dumb question :)</p>
<p>For the first few months at UA, my son was a vegetarian and had no issues with the selection from the dining halls, but now that he is a vegan, the selection is pretty limited. Here is a copy of the vegetarian menu from last week:</p>
<p>Lakeside</p>
<p>Lunch</p>
<p>Sunday
Garden burger
Vegetable Stuffed Pita</p>
<p>Monday
Garden Burger
Tofu Grilled BBQ</p>
<p>Tuesday
Baked Potato with Broccoli and Cheese
Garden Burger</p>
<p>Wednesday
Tofu Fajitas
Greek Antipasta Salad</p>
<p>Thursday
Vegetable and Cheddar Strata
Vegetable Stir-Fry</p>
<p>Friday
Vegan Chicken Tacos
Garden Burger</p>
<p>Saturday
Zucchini and Sun-Dried Tomato Cavatappi
Garden Burger</p>
<p>Dinner</p>
<p>Sunday
Garden burger
Vegetable Stuffed Pita</p>
<p>Monday
Garden Burger
Tofu Grilled BBQ
Baked Potato with Broccoli and Cheese</p>
<p>Tuesday
Baked Potato with Broccoli and Cheese
Garden Burger</p>
<p>Wednesday
Tofu Fajitas
Greek Antipasta Salad</p>
<p>Thursday
Vegetable and Cheddar Strata
Vegetable Stir-Fry</p>
<p>Friday
Vegan Chicken Tacos
Garden Burger</p>
<p>Saturday</p>
<p>Zucchini and Sun-Dried Tomato Cavatappi
Garden Burger</p>
<p>Burke</p>
<p>Lunch</p>
<h2>Sunday</h2>
<p>Monday
Eggplant and Bean Casserole</p>
<p>Tuesday
Veggie Indian Curry</p>
<p>Wednesday
Spanikopita</p>
<p>Thursday
Barley, Butternut Squash and Portobello Mushroom</p>
<p>Friday
Vegan Jambalaya</p>
<p>Saturday
Broccoli Cheddar Strata</p>
<p>Dinner</p>
<p>Sunday
Garden Burger</p>
<p>Monday
Eggplant and Bean Casserole
Vegetable Barley Ragout</p>
<p>Tuesday
Veggie Indian Curry
Fried Tofu</p>
<p>Wednesday
Vegetable Stir Fry</p>
<p>Thursday
Fiesta Pasta</p>
<p>Friday
Polenta with Broccoli Rabe and Mushrooms</p>
<p>Saturday
Vegetable Moroccan Stew</p>
<p>Fresh Foods</p>
<p>Lunch</p>
<p>Monday
Steamed Broccoli Florets
Steamed Carrots with Brown Sugar Glaze</p>
<p>Tuesday
Seasoned Corn
Steamed Peas with Pearl Onions</p>
<p>Wednesday
Deep Fried Okra
Seasoned Italian Green Beans</p>
<p>Thursday
Pinto Beans
Braised Cabbage</p>
<p>Friday
Baked Beans
Potato Salad</p>
<p>Bryant</p>
<p>Lunch</p>
<p>Monday
Mushroom Tortellini Rustica</p>
<p>Tuesday
Pasta Fettuccine with Mushrooms</p>
<p>Wednesday
Eggplant Parmesan</p>
<p>Thursday
Basil Mozzarella Pasta Salad</p>
<p>Friday
Creole Vegetables and Rice</p>
<p>Looks like a lot of refined pasta dishes. Have you ever seen quinoa, teff, amaranth or even whole grain pasta on the menus? These are all higher in protien and amino acids and healthier for vegetarians/vegans.</p>
<p>AND these alternatives to wheat would allow the GLUTEN-FREE/Celiac crowd to enjoy some healthy grains!!!</p>
<p>Everybody wins.</p>
<p>^ The menu for last week is very similar to the other weeks’ menus that I have seen, so no I haven’t seen any of the healthier options listed. Bama dining frequently requests input from students, and my son has frequently requested more/better vegan options. I suspect the offerings will improve over time.</p>
<p>The vegetarian options at Burke and Bryant look better than those at Lakeside. Lakeside looks a little heavy on the Garden Burgers. Have they taken the menus (all of them, not just vegetarian) off of the Bama Dining site? Nothing comes up when I click the menu button.</p>