Raw in a dorm

[TarFriend]

Hello, I went 100% raw over my very long winter break and now that I am back in school and I find it a lot harder. I don't have much option when it comes to variety and ways to prepare my food. Does anyone have any tip for eating raw dorm food (or low budget if its not food coming from the cafeteria)? Thanks alot!

[Snownoir]

Do you guys have a mini fridge? How does your meal plan work? We can figure something out for you. =] I lived in the dorms a few years back and now I'm in an apartment, still student though = low budget.

[TarFriend]

I do have access to a fridge in my hall and I am on a full meal plan, meaning I can go pretty much whenever like. But I have just been eating the same three low quality fruits (just about) and a salad bar that gets a little old. Thank you for the Help !!

[tvillemom]

Congratulations on making such a WONDERFUL decision for your health at such an early age.
I really wish I could give you more tips. Look around the cafeteria and find ANYTHING fresh you can.....spend time just looking around, I've noticed fruit in the oddest places....almost like garnish. A tip I heard one time about going to parties (like wedding buffets, etc.) was to EAT the garnishes! :D Also, maybe talk to the cafeteria MANAGER about your diet, and ask if it's possible to get in more fresh foods??? Good luck...that's all I have.
Wendi

[luvmyfruit]

I admire you for doing this, I know it must be tough.
See if you can locate a member on this forum named Vandy and e-mail her, She is or was a student here in Nashville at Vanderbilt and even got the campus shop to start adding some raw foods. It can be done!!

[Snownoir]

My meal plan here worked like this: every week you had x amount of meals that you get to use up + you also had X amount of dollars that you can use for the campus market, coffee shop, or any food/bev place that didn't take meals. So if you have that option, I advise that you use those dollars to buy your produce. Salads do get boring. But if you add some fun things, like avos or if they serve BIG lettuce leaves, then you can make tacos or sandwiches or wraps. Do you have a smoothie place on campus? Ask them to omit everything but the fruit. What same three fruits?

Do you have any local farmer's markets in your area? http://www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets/map.htm
That site has, I'm sure, all the farmer's markets in the country. If you have more then one during the week, thats even better because then you can just go and shop a few times a week or once a week and save money that way (won't be throwing anything out) and its the most fresh.

Community fridges are no fun. But maybe you can bum a minifridge from someone (garage sale or student ads maybe) for super cheap, if you have space for it in your room.

Do you have a Costco around? Trader Joes? New Fronteirs? Whole Foods? Those kinda stores? Fruits don't need fridges (for the most part) and can keep for quite a while. I personally buy apples, oranges, carrots, nuts, avocados, and cucumbers in bulk. The carrots and cucs go in the fridge the nuts in the freezer and the rest can sit in your dorm room.

But thats all I can think of now until you answer my questions. =]

Hope we can help ya out! :)

[PATH301]

TarFriend,
just like what Snownoir, do you have access to a small fridge? are you allow to get the larger size ones? Some dorms you are allowed to get the next size up. Plus you don't have to have a dehydrator to be raw. I know in a lot of student union halls you can pick up fruit somewhat easy, but the selection is not very good. Just the normal like bananas - apple - oranges. Also what floor are you on? Some dorms have access to a roof area just above the second floor which if it's in the winter time can act as an extension to your freezer :D You could bring in gallon size bottle water, instead of using the nasty tap water. Pick yourself up a blender that is strong enough to cut through multiples of fruit or veggies. This allows you to save money and not have to buy to many appliances. I have an oyster the does a great job.
If you choose you can just be high raw which is very simple foods, and does not require a lot of fancy preperations and appliances and time. For me it's easier just because I don't have time to mess with it. But for you on a student budget it may just be a good thing for you. Do you have any Coop farmer market's or store near the college? Check out also for any Health food stores that you can get info on any local groups of vegans or vegetarians. They'll be able to tell you if ther any in your area.
Plus it depends also on how much you eat?
For instance today I put some kale leaves and some tomatoes and some mushrooms and carrots and 1/2 a green pepper and some garlic and olive oil and a little water and sweet basil and thyme and dill seed and oregano into a blender and it made me 5 - 2 cups size containers that will allow me to eat for 3 days for my vegetables and then I just make some stuff for breakfast and I'm good for a couple of days :D of course everybody is different, plus I'm on a liquid fast too.
Whatever you do there's alot of people here who can help you.

[TarFriend]

Thank you all for the help! All the tips are great. I do indeed have many farms near my school as well as some nice organic store, and i will check them out more closely. As for different places to go on campus, that is a little harder because my school is quite small and we really only have one place to eat. As for the same three fruits it apples, bananas, and pears. And i am looking into getting a mini fridge and blender (if i can afford them that is). I really appreciate all the help!

[Snownoir]

PATH said some good ideas! But I just wanted to say that you can 100% without the "Fancy preps, time and appliances." There are soups, salads, wraps, pastas (made outta zucchini), sauces, dressings, pates, smoothies, desserts, sandwiches, etc that you can make in seriously, 10-15 min. That's pretty quick to me. And all you'd need is a blender, cutting board, knife, and a food processor would be nice but isn't necessary (just make sure you have a good blender then). I just don't want you to feel like, to be 100%, you gotta deal with the expensive things. I was under that impression at first and got pretty bummed. But now I've realized that I don't need a dehydrator, I don't need to prep days in advance, I don't need to do the fancy things (of course this is just how I am) in order to feel like I'm getting a great variety.

Are those the only fruits that you like? Why such a limitied variety?

=]

[TarFriend]

Yeah I have decided a blender is a must now. I want to try to use some of the food in the cafeteria to make things in though . I am not sure why there is such a small selection of fruit. There are sometimes other fruits in the mornings but its not a lot. I think its just because it’s a pretty small food selection to begin with. But I am not very picky and pretty much like all fruits.

[Raw Mom]

I am in the process of looking at colleges for my daughter. I feel what you are saying. I'm kind of not wanting her to go all raw right now, just because of that. BUT, the more I look into the colleges, the more I am seeing that if someone has special needs, to speak with them about it. Maybe it will be possible in another year to be 100% raw at college and live in a dorm that doesn't allow food......I would definitely speak with someone in charge of the kitchens. One of the colleges I am looking at has wonderful vegan and vegetarian. Maybe in a year, they will have a Raw one too. I can dream can't I? Sending you light. :)

[jkruse]

I pretty much have the same problem as you. the only thing i would say about saving money is take what ever fruit is in the cafeteria back to the dorm. i do this all the time. u can also ask for more of a selection to be brought in. a bunch of my friends thought they would have to fight to get vegan selections at every meals, but all they had to do was ask. just talk to whoever is in charge. i did and now i have a more fruit and veggies at the salad bar and some raw nuts brought in.