If you’re a vegan and on your way to college for the first time, you may be concerned with how you are going to maintain your diet and stay healthy with what the college dining hall has to offer. The good news is that it is easier to navigate the college dining hall as a vegan than you think. In fact, use these tips, and you can maintain your healthy plant-based diet on campus with ease.

Check Out the Hall Before You Eat There

College campuses are becoming more vegan-friendly, and yours may already offer things like non-dairy milks and tofu. Doing a thorough walk-through of the dining hall one time before eating there will let you know what is already available.

Mix Things Up

If you eat oatmeal, find some fruit or nuts to put on top of it. If toast is your thing, add a nut butter and banana slices to give yourself a filling, nutrient-packed meal. When putting rice or pasta on your plate, top it with a variety of vegetables. You will be able to have new, interesting meals every time you go to the hall by eating this way.

Get Your Protein

Your college might offer tofu or tempeh. If it doesn’t, don’t shy away from loading up on beans, nuts, seeds, and even protein-rich grains like quinoa. Avocado has a lot of protein, too, and even some green, leafy vegetables like Romaine lettuce and spinach have their share of this energy-producing nutrient.

Love the Salad Bar

Almost every college dining hall has one. Make it your best friend at meal times. You will find the best variety of fresh produce there.

Get Yourself a Backup Plan

If, for some reason, you can’t find anything vegan to eat at any given meal, or, at least, nothing you want at that time, stock up on snacks you can keep in your dorm room so you don’t go hungry. It’s also good to have some vegan food in your room for late night snacking. You can also get vegan take out food Los Angeles CA style delivered to your dorm for a proper meal, as there are plenty of Los Angeles vegan restaurant choices in the area.