Vegans At Uni: Tips For Staying Plant-Based During Your Studies

As well as adapting to your new life during these times, if you’re vegan, that might mean needing to make an extra shift in certain aspects of your life. From sharing a kitchen in student halls with non-vegans, to ordering vegan takeaway after a long night (of studying, of course), staying vegan at uni can sometimes feel like a challenge. 

Though with a few tricks up your sleeve, it doesn’t have to be! Here are some of our tried and tested tips.

Learn a few fail-safe recipes before you start

Without sounding like your mum, even the most kitchen-adverse (and I’m definitely in this category) should aim to learn a handful of recipes you can whip up with confidence before you start. That way you know you’ll always be able to prepare something vegan and healthy, meaning you don’t need to compromise on taste or your dietary choice. If you’d like some extra inspo, check out our delicious vegan recipes on Planted, and take a look at our favourite vegan cookbooks. 

Join your uni’s vegan or vegetarian society

We’ve always believed in people power, and understand the importance and benefits of surrounding ourselves with a positive, supportive community. Luckily for most students, there are ready-to-join societies for lots of different interests, including veganism and/or vegetarianism. Check-in with your student union representative to see if there’s something similar you can join to connect with likeminded eaters. Can’t find a society that matches your needs? Why not start one?!

Download the HappyCow app

This is a big one lots of our team swears by, as the HappyCow network helps showcase the best vegan-friendly eateries across the globe. This is particularly great if you’re moving to a whole new city and aren’t familiar with the local food scene. Studying in the UK? Check out our Vegan Eats: UK City Round-up for our personal recommendations, too. 

Meal prep like a pro

Meal prepping is a vegan’s best friend, as it ensures you’re always getting the right amount of nutrients when you need them most, when done properly. We’ve put together a guide on how to meal prep like a pro to help get you started. This is also a great option if you’re shopping on a budget, as it will help save you lots of cash, and will reduce your food waste, too – a win for all. Shopping online is a big part of effective meal prepping, as you’re more likely to only shop for what you need when doing it online, rather than browsing supermarket shelves on an empty stomach. 

Remember, there’s always allplants 

Ok, it might seem like a shameless plug, but hear us out. allplants was literally born to make adding more plants to your plates easier and tastier, so if you want a helping hand, let us lessen the load. With subscription options as frequent as weekly to six-weekly (and plenty of options in between), it’s surprisingly affordable to work around your student loan, too. 

Order today and fill your freezer with vegan meals that are ready when you are.