By: Sophia Nunn
With the rise of plant-based diets and more students becoming aware of how their food choices affect the planet, food options on campus are also shifting to this change! I have been vegan since 2017 and understand the unpredictability all too well of trying to not only find fitting options, but filling and appetizing alternatives when eating out. In this series, we will be exploring and assessing the vegan options on campus.
Our first contender was Zoe’s Bookside Bagels! Walking in, Zoe’s Bagels was buzzing with movement and noise, met with a cozy atmosphere. Ordering was smooth and fast, placing the ordering station at the far wall of the cafe. From there, I wrote my name at the top of the ordering slip and then chose from toasted or untoasted, the type of bagel and cream cheese. After handing over the slip, I paid and only waited a few minutes for my food. Overall, the transaction was smooth, easy and quick. The bagel itself was fresh, warm and delivered a satisfying crunch on the outside while remaining internally soft. The vegan cream cheese was quite good and I only wished there were more of it!
Everything bagel made by Zoe’s Bagels. Sophia Nunn // Wavelength
Order: Everything Bagel toasted with vegan cream cheese = $3.80
Rating: 4.8/5 Viktor Vikings
Next, we stopped by Miller Market, the convenience stop of Western. They had a wide selection of “accidental vegan options” such as Oreos, Lays chips, Skittles, and more! They had a variety of fruit salads and pre-made foods that were plant based, like quinoa salads and veggie burritos. The price of these options were on the steeper side, so I ended up grabbing OH SNAP! Pickling Company Hottie Bites. I had a positive experience overall, but they didn’t have the best selection of plant-based options.
Order: OH SNAP! Pickling Company Hottie Bites = $2.49
Rating: 4/5 Viktor Vikings
Lastly, we visited Freshens Fresh Food Studio. Freshens had a great selection of plant-based smoothies and had an open and light atmosphere. The smoothie I got was more on the sugary side for my taste, but if you aren’t picky about that, this is a great option. In regards to the food options, just about everything on the menu included a variation of meat; there were no true vegan options available and the Quorn chicken substitute contains dairy. This is a great spot for vegetarians, but not so great for vegans.
Order: Caribbean Craze Smoothie = $5.25
Rating: 3.8/5 Viktor Vikings