Hey, vegetarians, there's more than just rabbit food

You've just arrived at Hopkins, spent a whole day unpacking, and are about to venture into the dining hall for the first time. If you are the "typical" college student, you should have no problem loading up on cheeseburgers, tacos, hot dogs and pepperoni pizza at one of your two delectable all-you-can-eat choices. If you happen to be a vegetarian, on the other hand, you may find yourself wandering aimlessly from station to station making a final decision between overcooked carrots soaked in butter or a relatively tasteless salad. Being vegetarian or vegan at JHU is not easy, and if you are used to having healthy filling choices you may find yourself losing the freshman fifteen instead of gaining it. But from many experienced vegetarians who have felt the pain of the dining hall's choices, here are some tips for how to survive, and maybe even enjoy a meal or two now and then!

Even though they aren't always set out with the rest of the meat choices, both Wolman and Terrace always have Veggie Burgers in the grill area and will make them by request. They're pretty good and very filling, especially if you load them up with toppings from the salad bar.

Though the Terrace Pasta station mostly always offers pasta and rice dishes that have meat or poultry, the cooks are more than willing to make them vegetarian. Also, if you ask them nicely, they will cook your dish in a clean pan that hasn't been touched by any animal products.

A nice option that Wolman offers is the various types of already cooked plain pasta/tortellini that they set out with various sauce choices. Mix one of these with the cooked veggies they offer with the prepared lunch/dinner options, and voila, pasta primavera a la Wolman.

Although not every vegetarian/vegan is a big fan of tofu, it is a great source of protein and can usually be found in Wolman's salad bar. Though it may not seem appealing uncooked and cold, there is a microwave for student use located near the deserts that makes a big difference.

If you aren't a regular frequenter of the dining halls and find meal equiving a better choice, be sure to check out the prepared sandwiches and salads in Megabytes. Even though The Depot lacks greatly in this department despite many pleas over the years, Megabytes always has vegetarian/vegan options on hand for a lunch or dinner on the go.

For a quick hot meal, Megabytes also offers calzones, veggie or plain pizza and pasta. Also, the quesadillas can be ordered without chicken and are a great snack, or an accompaniment to a salad for lunch or dinner.

Though they get old quickly, Wolman has small and large fruit salads which are good matched with a yogurt and bagel. If they're out of them, grab an apple, banana and an orange and make your own!

If all else fails, buy a box of protein/meal bars to keep in your room to supplement an incomplete lunch or dinner. When this happens, and I promise you it will, try out Luna, Cliff and Balance Bars. These all taste pretty good and have a good amount of nutritional value as well. Add a piece of fruit and a drink and you'd be amazed at how filling they can be.

Good luck battling the meal plan, and just think, only two years until you'll have to cook everything for yourself. As you can see, either way, you'll have to be creative.