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My friend Amen, pictured drinking a glass of red juice from a straw

Recently, I interviewed my friend Amen, a fellow '28, from Virginia and Ethiopia. These past few months, she followed Abiy Tsom (Great Lent), an Ethiopian Orthodox Christian religious observance. During the 55 days of Abiy Tsom, followers fast during the day and follow a vegan or pescatarian diet. A vegan diet means abstaining from meat, dairy, eggs, and other animal products, while a pescatarian diet allows the inclusion of fish and seafood. Outside of Great Lent, Ethiopian Orthodox Christians also follow a vegan/pescatarian fast for a number of other observances throughout the year, totaling over half a year of fasting!

Due to her need for a vegan diet, Amen's family worried that there would be no food options on campus. If you or your family are also worried about the plausibility of following a vegan diet at Dartmouth, here are Amen's thoughts on vegan offerings on campus:

Q: How has your experience been eating vegan on campus?

A: So far, it's been good! My mom was worried that Dartmouth wouldn't have vegan food and that I would be hungry. Vegan food isn't hard to find on campus because everything is labeled very clearly. 

I also want to mention how important it is to let the people around you know that you have dietary restrictions. [The photo below] was taken during an event at the FGO (the First Generation Office) where we were making Rice Krispies, which usually contain gelatin. However, once Erica, the Assistant Director of the FGO, learned that I couldn't eat gelatin, she was kind enough to create a vegan-friendly recipe and ensured that plant-based options were available at all FGO events.

Amen, center of frame, has two friends on either side of her. They are all holding Rice Krispies treats and smiling for the camera.
Our handmade Rice Krispies!
Q: It's great to hear about your experience so far! Have there been any challenges with being vegan on campus?

A: There are always vegan options, but the options don't change that much. I also don't love vegetables, so that limits what I eat even more.

I eat at FoCo most often (The Class of '53 Commons, our main dining hall) and usually get steamed veggies and bowls at "Farmstand," the salad station. "Herbivore," the vegetarian dining station, has the best rice at FoCo and one or two vegan dishes per meal. Herbivore will sometimes have vegan nuggets or tofu, and the soup station might have a soup with lentils or chickpeas.

Door into FoCo
The entrance to FoCo!
Q: Those are some good insights on FoCo. What are your thoughts on Dartmouth's other dining locations?

A: I'm usually at FoCo because it has the most vegan options. When I visit other dining locations, it can be challenging to find something vegan that's both filling and satisfying. 

  • The Hop - make your own salad station, fish burger (watch out for cheese!)
  • Novack Cafe - vegan peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, drinks & juices
  • Fresh Zones - alternative milk (oat, almond, soy), vegan ice cream (Ben & Jerry's, Talenti), microwave meals (Cafe Spice, Factor, Lean Cuisine)

A photo of Novack Cafe in Berry Library.
A peek at Novack Cafe (closed edition)
Q: Do you have any dining hacks to share?

A: I love making bowls at FoCo! Here's how to make my bowl:

  1. Start with two scoops of rice at the "Herbivore" station.
  2. Head to "Farmstand" for your favorite toppings. I usually add shredded lettuce, shredded carrots, tomato, corn, broccoli, vegan cheese, and croutons.
  3. Top it all with vegan chipotle mayo. You'll have to ask the dining staff at Herbivore for it—it's a secret menu item!

A white bowl holding a pile of vegetables and rice, with pale orange vegan chipotle mayo drizzled over the top
Amen's favorite bowl topped with vegan chipotle mayo (this was taken after Lent)

For a snack, there's a small fridge with coconut non-dairy yogurt next to the soup station. And for desserts, A9, the allergen-free station, has vegan key lime cheesecake and raspberry oat bars. FoCo has the most plant-based options. Look out for the green "VG" symbol on food labels!

Allergen & menu symbols
Allergen & menu symbols

 Also, something I learned from FoCo's labeling system—Cocoa Puffs are vegan!

Q: Eating for the Earth, a plant-based student organization on campus, created a plant-based dining guide in 2022. Would something like this be helpful to you? Were you aware of it?

A: I've never heard of it, but it looks really helpful. Just looking through it, there are some interesting tips and hacks to get more variety in a vegan diet at Dartmouth. I didn't know there was a vegan sandwich rotation at Novack! The warnings for common misconceptions are also really helpful—I'll make sure to look into this more!

A page from the plant-based dining guide titled "Overview: Dining Locations on Campus." Each dining location on campus and its vegan options are organized in a grid of colorful circles

Note: The guide was created during the 2022-2023 academic year, and there have been slight changes to campus dining since, specifically with The Fern Cafe.

Q: Do you have any restaurant recommendations in the Hanover area?

A: I love the samosas from Jewel of India, they remind me of the Ethiopian sambusas I get back home. It is in the Hanover town area, right behind BVAC (The Black Family Visual Arts Center). They're very vegan-friendly, with a lot of vegan options on their menu. They're also very accommodating with substitutions.

A street view of the Jewel of India Restaurant. The building is a pale green color with dark grey roofing.
Final Thoughts

It's exciting how Dartmouth brings together people from all different backgrounds. Through this conversation with Amen, I gained a deeper understanding of her faith, her favorite foods on campus, and valuable tips for navigating a vegan diet on campus. With her advice, I attempted a week of being vegetarian (should I try veganism in the future?), which you can read about here!

For any other resources on plant-based diets or other dietary restrictions, check out Dartmouth Dining.

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