The city of Ottawa’s restaurants offer different food options and atmospheres.
With these different options, the question could be posed whether any of them are suitable for a person on a vegetarian diet.
Ryan Louis, director of forensics and speech instructor at OU, finds different ways to eat on a vegetarian diet.
“I cook a lot and have a pretty big kitchen,” he said. “Country Mart has all kinds of grains and a huge vegetable produce section.”
Junior Dorvonda Payne doesn’t like to eat out much either.
“When I do I keep it pretty simple, like Applebees,” she said. “I like my food to be cooked at a house by someone I know.”
Louis said he also enjoys going to Chinese restaurants and likes to get the occasional veggie burger at Burger King.
“Pizza Time has a good vegetarian pizza. It’s the best in Kansas as far as I’m concerned.”
Christine Krin, a general manager for Sodexo Campus Services says there are two different kinds of vegetarian diets.
Vegetarians will still consume food indirectly from meat sources, such as milk and eggs, but a person on a vegan diet eats food that is strictly plant-based.
She said the campus food services offer options for vegetarian students, such as grilled cheese, waffles and a vegetarian entree. There are also vegetable soups and a salad bar.
“I believe the menu reflects the demand we currently have,” Krin said. “Usually teachers will ask about possible changes to a menu more than students.”
Payne wanted to start a vegan diet when she was 12 years old, but had to reconcile after a conversation with her mother.
She now doesn’t eat mammals, but that doesn’t limit her from eating fish or poultry.
“Sometimes, if you eat in the cafeteria, you have a main meal which is not what I’m looking for, and the vegetarian entrée usually doesn’t look as well prepared,” Payne said.
If anyone is looking to switch to a vegetarian diet, Krin said one shouldn’t do it alone.
“If somebody’s new to a vegetarian diet, I recommend they get counseling from a doctor ordietician,” she said. “If you’re raised (on a vegetarian diet) that’s one thing, but if you’re starting out, you need to have a balance of different foods.”
The vegetarian resource group’s website at www.vrg.org offers information on vegetarian health.
“If there’s people that have more ideas, give input with me or come to the monthly food committee meeting in Tom Taldo’s office,” Krin said.