photo from Loyola University Maryland

By Danielle Choma, VRG Intern

Loyola University of Maryland is overall a small university compared to most other universities. Due to its small size, there are a limited number of dining options available to students on campus. However, in total, there are three dining halls along with two markets, and five restaurants. For the size of Loyola’s campus, this is a great amount of food options for their students. Now let’s dive into the vegan options that are available throughout these choices.

In “Boulder,” one of the main dining halls on campus, there is always an allergy-safe zone meal option. Here students can find vegan options that rotate daily. In addition, there is a sandwich station in “Boulder”. One can find two different types of vegan “meat.” There is a vegan ‘chicken cutlet,’ as well as vegan sliced ‘cold cuts’ available to make a sandwich. There is also a salad bar with many options, such as spinach, romaine, mixed greens, peppers, tomatoes, seeds, chickpeas, carrots, etc.

In “Iggy’s, the second main dining hall on campus, there are also similar options. This dining hall is located on the opposite side of campus. There is the same sandwich station, as well as a pizza station that has vegan cauliflower crusts and vegan cheese options. They also have an allergy-safe zone at Iggy’s with rotating meals each day and throughout the week. One vegan breakfast option is vegan eggs with vegan plant-based meat.

Then there is “Boulder 2.0,” which is located above “Boulder”. In Boulder 2.0, students can find an extravagant salad bar with more options than the salad bar in Boulder. Some of the extra options include grilled vegetables, chia seeds, etc. In addition, Boulder 2.0 carries vegan soups that are available different days of the week. There is also a hot station in Boulder 2.0 called “bravissimo”. Here students can find hot prepared lunches or dinners with vegan and vegetarian options.

The restaurants on campus include, “Green & Grey Café,” Starbucks, “Choolah,” “Green Peel,” and “Fresh West.” Green & Grey Café serves coffees, teas, juices, fruits, bakery items, and small sandwiches. One of their vegan sandwiches is hummus-based with vegetables on top, with a choice of vegan cheese. Starbucks can make vegan drinks from juices and teas, to chai and coffees. Choolah is an Indian restaurant where students can get rice, choice of tikka sauce, chickpea masala, or yellow lentil dal masala, all vegan, and then can add a vegan samosa. Green Peel serves smoothies and acai bowls, which are all vegan as well. Fresh West is a Mexican place where students can get wraps or bowls with their choice of fillings. Vegan options would include rice, beans, and vegetables.

To see options at other colleges, see https://www.vrg.org/teen/#college