Life as a student vegetarian in Boston

Welcome to the Boston Collegiate Vegetarian blog! 

Or what I’ve been referring to in my head as BoCoVeg. I’m Kate and I’m a collegiate vegetarian (sounds pretty fancy eh?).  I’ve been veg for 11 of my 20 years, and am still going strong in college. Stronger than ever in fact! That’s because being a vegetarian in the great city of Boston is as easy as ever.  I’ve created this blog as a way to share my experiences as a vegetarian college student in Boston. Whether you are looking to strengthen your own vegetarianism or make the switch to where the grass is definitely greener (wahoo go veg!) I’m here to start the conversation among the Boston collegiate vegetarians.

Are you already a BoCoVeg? Are you looking to make the switch? 

Lets begin by looking at why vegetarianism, boston, and college work so well together! 

Why go veg?

You may be thinking, what’s the deal with vegetarianism anyway? Why would anyone willingly choose to cut out meat and animal products from their diet? The truth is that there are so many reasons to go veg! First and foremost, a vegetarian diet done right can be healthier than one that is meat based. It reduces the amount of hormones, chemicals, processed foods, and cholesterol in your diet.  You become more conscientious of the food going into your body. People begin to become more aware of how much protein, carbohydrates, etc. that they consume in relation to how much they actually need. After going veg, many people see a visible change in their waistline, regularity, wallet, and overall feeling of well-being. Not only do their bodies’ feel better, but their consciousness as well. Vegetarian diets are kinder to the natural world. It saves the lives of animals and does not support the cruel treatment of the animal food industry. A vegetarian diet can also help the environment, saving water, reducing pollution, and preventing global warming. There so many reasons to go vegetarian. What will yours be?

Why go veg in Boston?

Boston is an extremely vegetarian friendly city. Think about it, it’s even nicknamed after one of the best non-meat sources of protein (Beantown anyone?). Almost all restaurants and fast food venues are vegetarian friendly. On top of that there are so many restaurants and bakeries that are completely vegetarian. These vegetarian restaurants come in a wide range, or shall I say cornucopia of ethnicities and eating experiences and are fun places to try while exploring the various neighborhoods of the city. And for your everyday eating, grocery stores and specialty grocers are typically only a walk or t-ride away, and many grocery stores now have a vegetarian aisle or section. Besides the food, Boston has a great community of vegetarians and even has vegetarian festivals and meet ups throughout the year. Boston is the perfect playing grounds for a vegetarian. 

Vegetarian in college?

What makes college such a special time to go vegetarian you say? College is a time of learning. It is meant to try new things and experiment. Vegetarianism can be a learning experience that brings personal growth. There are many resources available at most colleges that can help in the transition to vegetarianism or strengthening ones previous veg lifestyle. Other vegetarians are especially valuable resources, as you can swap recipes, recommendations, and ideologies with people you don’t typically run with. In addition, things like dining halls and meal plans make vegetarianism easy, as the food is already available without having to figure out what to eat. Lastly, meat is expensive! Going veg can cut down meal costs for the student on a budget. Going vegetarian is an easy ordeal for any student.