When I was a freshman, going to college as a vegetarian seemed intimidating at first — would there be options for me? Would they taste good? Would they be healthy?
I was pleasantly surprised by UMass Dining’s endless plant-based options like the black bean burger from Hamp, the broccoli quiche from the library cafe, and my personal favorite Green Fields power salad wrap.
However, I am now a junior and live off-campus, so my meals mainly consist of what I make at home. I am no longer being held by the warm arms of UMass Dining — I have been sent off into the real world of grocery shopping and cooking for myself.
I am by no means a nutrition expert or even a health nut, but I am going to share some snacks and meals that are easy to make and keep me energized, sans meat.
My first meal of the day is my most consistent one, as I eat some sort of variation of it every single morning. Avocado toast and eggs. And a cup of coffee of course. I could write an entire article on avocado toast and eggs, but I will save you the boredom.
For my avocado toast, I simply slice up an avocado, spread it on a piece of bread, then season it with everything bagel seasoning. I have found that the most efficient way to keep my avocados well-supplied is to buy the “teeny tiny avocados” from Trader Joe’s. The bag comes with six mini avocados for only $3.99 and lasts me over a week. The bread I use varies, but my favorite is Trader Joe’s sourdough. My roommates and I joke about how we live off of this stuff. However, if I’m feeling healthy, I’ll reach for Ezekiel sprouted grain bread. It’s not nearly as delicious as sourdough, but it’s a great healthy alternative for avocado toast. For the last step, I like to have an egg on the side, preferably with a runny yolk to wipe up and eat with the edges of my bread.
My second go-to meal is a burrito, which I eat for dinner at least twice a week. This meal is extremely customizable and I alter it based on what’s in my fridge at the time. The three basic ingredients are beans, cheese, and a tortilla. All I do is heat up a can of beans and a tortilla, then add whatever toppings I want. My ideal burrito would have refried beans, rice, cheese, tomatoes, arugula, and avocado. It’s a rare but good day when I have all of these ingredients. I recently bought vegan ground beef that I plan on trying with my burrito, but that’s an article for another time.
I always love finding new vegetarian-friendly snacks, and my recent favorite has been yogurt-based smoothies. I blend frozen berries, Greek yogurt, oat milk, and honey in a NutriBullet for a quick healthy snack. Smoothies are an easy way to get fruit into your diet as a college student because frozen fruit is affordable and lasts forever. For my base, I use Trader Joe’s nonfat plain Greek yogurt, which has a whopping 22 grams of protein per serving.
Don’t get me wrong, I have a huge sweet tooth and always eat a sweet snack before bed. However, I believe it is all about balance. I eat healthy for the most part and make sure I am getting enough protein without meat, but if I want dessert (which I do every night), I am not going to restrict myself. These meals and snacks are crucial parts of my diet and they can be easily modified to fit your preferences while making you feel good about what you eat.
Can’t get enough of HC UMass Amherst? Be sure to follow us on Instagram, listen to us on Spotify, like us on Facebook, and read our latest Tweets!