Getting SAD :/

[Im2Fruity]

Since May (when I finished the semester at college) I've been 90-100% raw and I've loved every single minute of it..I've not had any cheat days nor have I wanted to. I haven't been 100% all the time because I sometimes use nutritional yeast flakes and a bit of organic salad dressing..or some dried fruit that was probably heated over the 116degree limit, etc... But I haven't stressed myself out at all and I feel fabulous.

My point is...I'm getting SAD now because my summer break is almost over and in three weeks I go back to school, which means back to having a meal plan and a roommate who lives off of junk. She knows I'm a vegan so that's not the issue...I talked to my mom about how I can stay as raw as possible and still be able to eat in the dining hall with my friends..I'll eat breakfast in my room and a giant salad for lunch (they have a huuuuge salad bar)..I think I may have to either bring some avocados with me or eat their yucky canned chick peas and beans that I used to love....and for dinner they always have grain salads and steamed veggies...I plan on keeping raw nuts with me at all times...I really want to do this!!!! I'm really lucky that there's a health food store two streets over...I feel like this year will be pretty expensive, foodwise haha...

Are there any college students out there that follow RAW while they're at school??? I could use some pointers, especially on how to deal with other people. It's hard enough being vegan sometimes...I wish people wouldn't attack others for what they choose to put in they're mouths.

By the way, I just wanted to say I'm so glad I found this forum this summer..I really think it helped me stay focused, and you all are such sweet, caring people. :)

[Live Free]

If I can be of any assistance for you let me know. Do you go to school in Boston?

At this time I dont have any suggestions for you. Because I only lived on campus one semester when I was in college.

At our meal hall, I couldnt eat when I wanted and I had a roommate who talked too much. I just went back home.

I have always been a frequent eater all my life, even when I ate SAD foods, I think because I have hypoglycemia.

email me at: teresa@tandmwebsites.com

[LeanAndHungry]

Perhaps see if you can get off the meal plan. I went to school at Purdue University and the meal plan was not cheap. Housing and meals together totaled over $5000 a year, maybe 6, and that's only for less than 9 months of the year. Comparing that to my ammenities in my apartment now they must make a killing off dorm students. My two bedroom apartment is at least twice as big as the three person dorm room. Rent here is $5820, but that is split between two people and each person paid the well over $5000 for the dorm room, so it is basically a huge ripoff. Add to that the fact that the air conditioning was basically non-functional. My point is the meal plan must have been a significant part of that cost. So, odds are pretty good your meal plan is no less expensive than just going out and getting your own groceries, so if you can negotiate that you should be fine. Everything is negotiable. Perhaps you could argue that you need to eat this way for health reasons and threaten a lawsuit if they are still stubborn.

[Im2Fruity]

Live Free: I go to school in Keene and the community does support organic food and vegetarians, so I'm not worried about starving..I just don't want to isolate myself from my peers.

LeanandHungry: Thank you for your thoughtful advice..I completely agree about the mealplans being a ripoff but at this point in time I won't have enough space in my room to keep a ton of produce and things. I might make an appointment with the school's nutritionist to see if maybe they can order a few more things like avocados at the salad bar and more fresh fruit (right now they usually only have apples, bananas, and oranges..not organic and not in the best condition).

Thanks again to both of you :) I want to try to make this work!

[Lay-Lay]

I wish you the best. Have a great school year.

[berrymarymac]

I have the same questions!!! I cannot get off of my meal plan because I live in the dorms (that makes since...NOT!!!) so I'm stuck with it!!!! I get the lowest meal plan! Oh and going to the manager of the dining hall would be best in asking for special meals. Someone advised me on that this past year, but never tried it. The food at my college is meh. But we have a large salad bar.

[MendhiGrl]

My college's (Texas Tech University) Dining Services was actually rather proactive towards us, even to the point of having a student rep from each of the dorms. We met every month with a member of the Dining Services department. If I remember correctly, we were called the Menu Committee. :)

We did tastings of new food items, had input, to some extent, on the menus and even the types of foods served. Perhaps this is a concern to take up with Dining Services.

Good luck with this! Don't forget, the respectfully squeaky wheel gets the grease*!

*Do they make raw grease???? Anyone???????