beyond survival: a guid to being vegetarian or vegan at harvard

Introduction

This guide is intended to supplement the ?Why Vegan?" brochure by answering some questions about about veganism and vegetarianism at Harvard. We hope you will find this guide helpful, whether you're new to vegetarianism, or whether you've been vegan for years and years. Either way, we at VEGITAS support you! If you have any questions that are not covered in this guide, please contact us and we'll try to help. Also, if you have any suggestions about what you'd like to see here, please let us know! We hope you'll see that a plant-centered diet can be a healthy, easy, and rewarding way of life in Cambridge and beyond.

Disclaimer: Vegans are by nature pretty finicky people. Many vegans are deeply concerned not only about the food they eat, but also, from whom they buy their food. That said, we hope there is something in this guide for everyone--vegans, vegetarians, and the vege-curious alike!

Easing the Transition

Although vegetarians and vegans can find excellent health and food satisfaction, the transition to a new way of living can be difficult. We recommend:

	moving gradually to a plant-centered diet.
	don’t get discouraged if it seems as though you cant eat anything at first. As you learn to adjust, it will get much easier.
	don't be afraid to try new foods!

Nutrition

Getting adequate nutrition is rightly a major concern of vegetarians and vegans alike. Thankfully, there is now an abundance of quality information and literature available on this topic. The good news is that, contrary to popular myth, you CAN get all of your protein, calcium, and vitamins as both a vegetarian and a vegan! But first, you will need to have the right information to that you actually do make the right dietary choices. For starters, visit the web site of the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), especially their helpful FAQ on vegetarian nutrition, which answers many questions about vegan nutrition as well.

Grocery Stores

Nearly all grocery stores sell vegetarian and some vegan products. The trick is to find those that are conveniently located, have a great selection, and offer reasonable prices. The following list represents a variety of stores that meet most, if not all, of these criteria. Theoretically, Harvard vegans and vegetarians should be able to meet all of their nutritional needs through the food provided by the Dining Halls. In reality, however, this is not always the way it works! (VEGITAS is trying to increase the number of vegan entrees and offerings in the dining halls.) Until then, buying vegan specialties and staples at these and other grocery stores is a great way to supplement the standard Harvard dining hall fare.
Broadway Market Place open Mon-Sat 7am-9pm, Sun 9am-8pm. Broadway is a cross between a gourmet deli and a mini-supermarket. It has plenty of vegetarian and vegan options and a growing selection of organic produce. Broadway is located right around the corner from the Freshman Dean's Office on 468 Broadway Street. Here's a map. Tel. (617) 547-2334.

Harvest Co-op open 9am-9pm, 7 days a week. Newly renovated Harvest Co-op has an impressive array of vegan products (such as fake meats, cheese, soy milk, veganaise, and on and on...) as well as bulk items like nuts, tofu, etc. They even have vegan cake and delicious soy "ice cream"! In addition to food, Harvest also sells cruelty-free haircare and other household products. Check out the Harvest Co-op web page. Harvest is located about one block towards MIT from the Central T-stop at 581 Mass. Ave. Tel. (617) 661-1580.

Star Market. Porter square location: Mon-Sat 7am-midnight, Sun 7am-10pm. Central Square location: open 24 hours. Star Market has recently taken to the organic, vegetarian, and vegan markets with a vengeance. Both locations now stock an impressive array of nuts, humos, milk substitutes (like rice, soy, almond, etc.) vegeburgers, and a mind-numbing variety of vegan and vegetarian treats. To take advantage of great savings each week, apply for a Star Market Card. Check out their web page here.

Directions: The Porter Square Star Market is easy enough to locate in the Porter Square shopping center. The Central Square location is a bit harder to find--but well worth the trip! From the Central Square T stop: stay along the side of the street where the T lets you out. Then head straight down Mass Ave towards MIT for a few blocks. Eventually, you'll pass a Salvation Army station and then a firehouse on your right. Immediately after passing the firehouse, turn right and head straight for the Cambridge Trust Bank, opposite the brand-new University Park hotel. That little side street which separates the bank from the hotel (Sydney Street) is where the entrance to Star-Market is located. Simple enough! Trader Joe's open daily 9am-9pm. An amazing place for buying nuts, dried fruits, and the largest selection of Tofutti products around! Everything is very reasonably priced. Visit their home page here. Trader Joe's is located on 727 Memorial Drive behind Strawberries, next to Micro Center. Tel. (617) 491-8582 Here's the official map. Here's another.

Restaurants

Nearly every restaurant you can think of will have at least one vegetarian option on the menu. Well, okay, you can forget about steakhouses. You may need to work a little harder to find vegan options at most restaurants, though. In general, best bets are Italian and Asian restaurants; try Middle-Eastern and Indian restaurants as well. Here's a helpful hint: if you do not see it one the menu, that doesn't necessarily mean you're out of luck. You can always ask if a dish can be made vegan by "holding the cheese" on an existing dish, for example. Make sure to specify exactly what you mean by "vegan," though, otherwise you may be unpleasantly surprised (and you'll get your meal "sprinkled" with cheese)! Consider also that the more you ask for vegetarian and vegan options at places, the more such dishes will become readily available to the public.

Below is just a sampling of restaurants many of which are located right in Harvard Square which can amply accomodate both vegetarians and (gasp!) even vegans. If you'd be interested in reviewing any of these restaurants for VEGITAS and its members, or if you think something is missing from this list, please let us know!

Bertucci's open Mon-Thurs 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat 11am-midnight, Sun noon-11pm. Vegetarian fare includes brick-oven pizza and pasta dishes. Remember that pizzas can be made without cheese and still be delicious! Bertucci's is located at 21 Brattle St. in Harvard Square, Cambridge. MC/V/AE. Buddha’s Delight open Sun-Thu 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11-am-11pm. Situated in Chinatown, Buddha’s turns soy and gluten into delicious, unbelievably savory meat substitutes like beef, chicken, duck, pork, and even shrimp! All is strictly vegetarian! You can find a copy of the menu at the bottom of this page. Buddha's Delight is located in Chinatown at 5 Beach Street in Boston. Here's a map. MC/V Tel. 451-2395.

Note that there's a second Buddha's Delight ("Buddha's Delight Too") located at 404 Harvard Street in Brookline. Some say it has better service and atmosphere than its Chinatown counterpart. Either way, you really can't go wrong at Buddha's. Buddha's Delight Too keeps the same hours as Buddha's Delight. Here's a map. Also check out this site for helpful information, including the menu. MC/V Tel. 739-8830.

Country Life Vegetarian Resaurant open Mon-Fri 11:30am-3pm, Tu-Thurs and Sun 11:30 am-3pm and 5-8pm. An incredible café that is almost entirely vegan. It's all you can eat at great prices! From a vegan point of view, Sunday brunch at Country Life beats Harvard hands down (it's only $8.35; plus two T-tokens...$10.05!) Country Life is located at 200 High Street, in Boston. Directions (from The Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard): From the Aquarium stop on the Blue Line, cross under the overpass to the opposite sidewalk, and take a left on Survace Street. The restaurant is two blocks down, at the corner of Broad and Surface Streets. Here's a map. MC/V/AE. Tel. 951-2534; menu 951-2462.

Grasshopper open daily, 11am-10:30pm. Just a little more expensive than Buddha's Delight, Grasshopper is the closest all-vegetarian restaurant to Harvard Square. The food is pan-Asian, including Japanese delicacies such as vegan sushi and tempura. Everything is exquisite, and the atmosphere is exceptional. Best of all everything's vegan! To get there, take the #66 bus to Union Square in Allston (10 minutes), or ride your bike up North Harvard Street (past the Harvard Business School) until the road swings to the left. Veer to the right (Franklin Street) and continue until you reach the Mass. Pike. Cross at the pedestrian bridge and turn right. Then continue to Union Square Grasshopper will be on your right, with a big green awning. Grasshopper is located on 1 North Beacon Street in Allston. MC/V/D. Tel. 254-8883.

Johnny's Luncheonette open Sun-Thurs 8am-11pm, Fri-Sat 8am-11pm. 1105 Mass. Ave. Try the Pan noodles and the Natural Burger. MC/V. Tel. 495-0055.

Sabra Grill open Mon-Sat 10am-10pm, Sun 11am-10pm. Vegetarian and vegan Middle-Eastern food includes falafel, humos & pita, baba ganoush, and freshly squeezed carrot juice, among others. Located at 20 Eliot St. in Harvard Square, Cambridge. Tel 868-5777. 10% discount with student ID.

The Wrap and Smoothie Joint open Mon-Sat 11am-10pm, Sun 11am-9pm. In addition to delicious fruit smoothies, you can munch on a tofu or grilled vegetable wrap. Located at 71 Mt. Auburn Street, less than a block away from the MAC. MC/V/AE/D. Tel. 354-5838.

Living on Dining Hall Food

Vegetarians have many options in Harvard's dining halls, including a guaranteed entrée at each lunch and dinner. Vegans, on the other hand, have it a bit rougher. But creativity and flexibility can produce vegan meals with great flavor and abundant nutrients. Here are some suggestions. Remember that soups are often vegan. Rich in protein, soup is easily combined with pasta or bread. Never underestimate the versatility of pasta! There are tons of great combinations of toppings, spices, and sauces. Just don't let yourself get bored for very long. Yes, those vegeburgers are vegan. (but VEGITAS will be working to improve the selection and quality of vegeburgers.) What else do vegans eat besides vegetables and fruits? Try tofu, rice, bagels, humos, peanut butter and jelly, almonds, pita pockets, potatoes, oatmeal. Soy milk (and rice milk, by request) is available! If you don't see it, ask for it!