Your first year at college can be a difficult adjustment in many ways, and finding plant-based options in the dining commons can feel like an additional challenge. Luckily, eating plant-based in college is not nearly as difficult as it may seem.

Here are some easy hacks and tips for eating plant-based in the dining commons:

1. 1. Visit the UGA Dining Services website and scroll through the vegetarian and vegan options that are available. This is a time-efficient way to familiarize yourself with Dining Services’ plant-based offerings.
   2. Check Build Your Plate before going to the dining commons! This will show you which rotating vegetarian/vegan entrees and sides are being served that day.
   3. Create filling and nutrient dense salads by adding choices like brown rice, sweet potatoes, quinoa, and beans.
      • To add even more protein to your salads, use hummus from the deli line as a nutrition-packed dressing.
      • Other great options include adding chickpeas and peas from the salad bar or tofu from The Wok in Bolton or from O’Hacienda in O-House.
   4. If you accidentally oversleep but still want some breakfast foods, you can use the guacamole at the lunchtime Mexican stations to create your own avocado toast. Snelling also serves avocado for lunch and dinner at The Bowl. Use toasted whole grain bread and add your favorite toppings!
      • Some favorite toppings include salt and pepper, tomatoes, and sautéed vegetables.
      • Add chopped eggs or tofu from the salad bar.
      • If you make it to the dining commons before the breakfast stations close, you can top your avocado toast with a fried egg from the omelet stations.
   5. For coffee, add pea protein milk, soy milk, or oat milk as a creamer if you don’t want to drink it black.
   6. When quinoa is being served in the dining commons, it makes a great high-protein base! Create your own protein bowl by adding your favorite fresh or sautéed vegetables on top.
      • Pro Tip: you can get sautéed veggies at the omelet or pasta stations – tell them which veggies you want, and when they ask you what eggs or pasta you want, just tell them “none.”
   7. The veggie burgers served at the grill stations are a delicious source of whole grains, vegetables, and protein. Pair a burger with some fresh vegetables and French fries to make a satisfying meal.
      • Fun Fact: French fries at the Tanyard Grill in Bolton are always gluten-free.
   8. The classic combo of rice and beans can be found in all of the dining commons at lunch and dinner. Create the perfect combination for staying fueled through classes when you add your favorite veggie and fruit sides.
   9. The Wok at Bolton and O-House’s Oishii Ramen always have tofu and veggie options available to build a delicious and nutritious Asian-inspired bowl.
   10. If you are wanting to “soup up” your soup, add brown rice and the bean-of-the-day to your choice of base. This will keep you fuller for longer and increase the amount of whole grains and protein in the meal.

Being plant-based in the dining commons can be easier than it first seems. Hopefully this list inspires you to try out these hacks and even come up with some of your own. Whether you’re vegetarian, flexitarian, vegan, or just trying to add more plant-based options into your meals, give these tips a try sometime!

Don’t Forget! Tag us in your dining commons creations when you share them on social media.