Meatless meals make for yummy choices at Fanshawe
Vegetarian options expand, as more meatless eaters dine on campus
Options haven't been a problem when it comes to eating on campus, and that's good news, because food services have said that this years ‘in-food' seems to be the vegetarian variety.
Talal Bissar, Chartwells Food Services Director at Fanshawe, explained that every meal on the menu at the Southwest Café in D Buidling has a vegetarian option or in some cases, a substitute.
“This year there's been an increase in popularity for vegetarian,” Bissar explained. “Last year we tried the same thing and it wasn't as big. But this year I've noticed that people buy it more, maybe because they know we have vegetarian options.”
For the Oasis in the Student Centre it's an entirely different ball game because students can pick-and-chose their foods and create their meals pretty much as they want it.
“Anybody going down there makes their own meal,” explained Brian Harness, Fanshawe Student Union Food Service Director, who plans the menu at both the Oasis and Out Back Shack. “If you're vegetarian, you just don't put meat in it, because really anything down there can be vegetarian, like wraps, salads, stir-fry, pasta; every section down there has vegetarian options.”
At the Out Back Shack it's a slightly different system. The FSU operated pub and restaurant offers a menu, which, though there are fewer vegetarian options than with the Oasis, does cater to that crowd.
“We have a grilled vegetarian sandwich which sells really well,” said Harness. “It's incredible, people will actually buy that and request a chicken breast added to it if they want the meat. And there are five salads on the menu, the vegetarian burger and hot dog, so those choices are there.”
But while vegetarian options abound, it's the healthy choices Harness believes are gaining momentum.
“There's been a definite turn away from red meat like beef and pork,” Harness said. ”Although for breakfast it's still pork; bacon and sausage. But people like to substitute chicken in a lot of things, but that's a healthy option, not a vegetarian choice people are making.
“And on days like today when it's lasagna day we have both a meat and a vegetarian lasagna, but we sell about eight meat to one vegetarian, and there's always a lot left. It's not about profit, because we'll make the same on a vegetarian as we do on a meat, but I'm not going to make it if nobody wants to eat it.”
Bissar agrees that there's no point offering something when there is little or no interest in it, and all the options are based on popularity.
“We have a four week cycle,” explained Bissar of the menus. “What we'll try to do is if customers come and ask for something, we'll make sure it's there the second week. So it's by popularity- we want to have something different each week, but we don't want to have something again and again if it's not popular.”
But as for now, no matter where you go to eat on campus there are vegetarian alternatives available that are clearly marked for students who are either vegetarian or just prefer a more healthy approach to their meals. And it can be as simple as a veggie wrap or meatless spaghetti at Oasis or traditional baked macaroni and cheese and harvest vegetable soup at the Southwest Café in D Building.
Tasty veggie options on campus
Oasis
Where? Student Centre
If you are looking for fresh food made as you like it, with or with out meat, the Oasis has many options. With daily lunch and dinner specials, not to mention the four different food stations, you are bound to find many vegetarian meals you love.
Try:
- Perogies (no bacon)
- Stir Fry
- Veggie
- Wrap/Sandwich
- French Toast/Pancakes (until 11.a.m.)
- Waffles
- Yogurt Parfait
- Endless options at the salad bar
Chartwells Locations
Where? D Junction, Southwest Café, new Cafeteria in B Buliding, H Building
Scattered around Fanshawe, including carb-friendly Tim Horton's, Pizza Pizza and Mr. Sub, Chartwells has an increase of vegetarian meals for students skipping between class. The brand new B Cafeteria makes ‘menu-tainment' meals as you order, so like the Oasis, the options are large for veggies.
Try:
- Mushroom Swiss Quiche (B Caf)
- Vegetable Stir Fry (B Caf)
- Veggie Burger (B Caf)
- Made to Order Pitas (B Caf)
- Veggie Pizza (Pizza Pizza)
- Veggie Sub (Mr. Sub)
Out Back Shack
Where? Student Union Building
If you are looking for beer, this is obviously the place to come, but the Shack also serves up some unique vegetarian options as a meal or just a snack. Also remember if you see some meaty meal on the menu and want to taste, just ask and the kitchen will accommodate your request.
Try:
- Deep Fried Pickles
- Hummus and Chips
- Grilled Vegetable and Focaccia Sandwich
- Nature's Best Burger
- Organic Baby Greens Salad
- Canadian Greek Salad
Olive Oyls/ Saffrons
Where? A Building
When students are involved in the preparation of the menu, you know you will get what you want. While Saffrons offers an upscale menu, with low prices, Olive Oyls is the place to go on the run.
Try:
- Roasted vegetable sandwich with goat cheese on Focaccia (Olive Oyls)
- Veggie Quesedila (Olive Oyls)
- Signature Green Salad (Saffrons)
- Roasted Walnut Barley Risotto (Saffrons)
- Baked Texas Sweet Onion (Saffrons)
Options haven't been a problem when it comes to eating on campus, and that's good news, because food services have said that this years ‘in-food' seems to be the vegetarian variety.
Talal Bissar, Chartwells Food Services Director at Fanshawe, explained that every meal on the menu at the Southwest Café in D Buidling has a vegetarian option or in some cases, a substitute.
“This year there's been an increase in popularity for vegetarian,” Bissar explained. “Last year we tried the same thing and it wasn't as big. But this year I've noticed that people buy it more, maybe because they know we have vegetarian options.”
For the Oasis in the Student Centre it's an entirely different ball game because students can pick-and-chose their foods and create their meals pretty much as they want it.
“Anybody going down there makes their own meal,” explained Brian Harness, Fanshawe Student Union Food Service Director, who plans the menu at both the Oasis and Out Back Shack. “If you're vegetarian, you just don't put meat in it, because really anything down there can be vegetarian, like wraps, salads, stir-fry, pasta; every section down there has vegetarian options.”
At the Out Back Shack it's a slightly different system. The FSU operated pub and restaurant offers a menu, which, though there are fewer vegetarian options than with the Oasis, does cater to that crowd.
“We have a grilled vegetarian sandwich which sells really well,” said Harness. “It's incredible, people will actually buy that and request a chicken breast added to it if they want the meat. And there are five salads on the menu, the vegetarian burger and hot dog, so those choices are there.”
But while vegetarian options abound, it's the healthy choices Harness believes are gaining momentum.
“There's been a definite turn away from red meat like beef and pork,” Harness said. ”Although for breakfast it's still pork; bacon and sausage. But people like to substitute chicken in a lot of things, but that's a healthy option, not a vegetarian choice people are making.
“And on days like today when it's lasagna day we have both a meat and a vegetarian lasagna, but we sell about eight meat to one vegetarian, and there's always a lot left. It's not about profit, because we'll make the same on a vegetarian as we do on a meat, but I'm not going to make it if nobody wants to eat it.”
Bissar agrees that there's no point offering something when there is little or no interest in it, and all the options are based on popularity.
“We have a four week cycle,” explained Bissar of the menus. “What we'll try to do is if customers come and ask for something, we'll make sure it's there the second week. So it's by popularity- we want to have something different each week, but we don't want to have something again and again if it's not popular.”
But as for now, no matter where you go to eat on campus there are vegetarian alternatives available that are clearly marked for students who are either vegetarian or just prefer a more healthy approach to their meals. And it can be as simple as a veggie wrap or meatless spaghetti at Oasis or traditional baked macaroni and cheese and harvest vegetable soup at the Southwest Café in D Building.
Tasty veggie options on campus
Oasis
Where? Student Centre
If you are looking for fresh food made as you like it, with or with out meat, the Oasis has many options. With daily lunch and dinner specials, not to mention the four different food stations, you are bound to find many vegetarian meals you love.
Try:
- Perogies (no bacon)
- Stir Fry
- Veggie
- Wrap/Sandwich
- French Toast/Pancakes (until 11.a.m.)
- Waffles
- Yogurt Parfait
- Endless options at the salad bar
Chartwells Locations
Where? D Junction, Southwest Café, new Cafeteria in B Buliding, H Building
Scattered around Fanshawe, including carb-friendly Tim Horton's, Pizza Pizza and Mr. Sub, Chartwells has an increase of vegetarian meals for students skipping between class. The brand new B Cafeteria makes ‘menu-tainment' meals as you order, so like the Oasis, the options are large for veggies.
Try:
- Mushroom Swiss Quiche (B Caf)
- Vegetable Stir Fry (B Caf)
- Veggie Burger (B Caf)
- Made to Order Pitas (B Caf)
- Veggie Pizza (Pizza Pizza)
- Veggie Sub (Mr. Sub)
Out Back Shack
Where? Student Union Building
If you are looking for beer, this is obviously the place to come, but the Shack also serves up some unique vegetarian options as a meal or just a snack. Also remember if you see some meaty meal on the menu and want to taste, just ask and the kitchen will accommodate your request.
Try:
- Deep Fried Pickles
- Hummus and Chips
- Grilled Vegetable and Focaccia Sandwich
- Nature's Best Burger
- Organic Baby Greens Salad
- Canadian Greek Salad
Olive Oyls/ Saffrons
Where? A Building
When students are involved in the preparation of the menu, you know you will get what you want. While Saffrons offers an upscale menu, with low prices, Olive Oyls is the place to go on the run.
Try:
- Roasted vegetable sandwich with goat cheese on Focaccia (Olive Oyls)
- Veggie Quesedila (Olive Oyls)
- Signature Green Salad (Saffrons)
- Roasted Walnut Barley Risotto (Saffrons)
- Baked Texas Sweet Onion (Saffrons)
