Last August, I phased meat — with the exception of fish — out of my diet entirely. It was a decision I had been considering for years.
It was something I knew I’d end up doing eventually. I dragged my feet because it was a lifestyle shift that I imagined would be immensely difficult. Several of my favorite foods contained meat, and I didn’t want to stop eating them, despite my moral unease. I expected meal planning to be tiresome, and to feel as if I was missing out by passing on meat, especially in a culture where meat is so ubiquitous.
None of these ended up being an issue. Do I miss meat sometimes? Of course. But has eating become a chore the way I expected it to? No, it hasn’t.
Meat, honestly, doesn’t tempt me the way that I imagined it would (this would be a very difficult article, however, if I had decided to phase out something like coffee or dairy instead). After a while, I realized that I didn’t even really like meat that much. It tasted good sometimes, sure, but at the end of the day I didn’t choose to eat meat because it was meat. I ate it because it was there and the easiest option.
Granted, eight months and some change seems like an arbitrary milestone. But it has taken me until now to recognize that making this change — something I had wanted for years — was infinitely easier than I had initially expected. I can only hope that this realization will lead me in the future to not hesitate for quite so long when considering change.
To celebrate this arbitrary milestone, here are some of my favorite spots to get meatless meals on and near campus. As a bonus, these recommendations aren’t just pescatarian friendly — they’re vegetarian friendly as well.
Tea House Chinese Restaurant
East Asian cuisine has been one of my saving graces throughout this entire experience. Once I developed a taste for tofu, I became unstoppable.
Tea House, a several-year winner of Minneapolis St. Paul magazine’s Best Restaurant poll, is easily my favorite Chinese restaurant. Located about a block from the Stadium Village green line stop, they’re both conveniently located and a great place to go if you love tofu.
I’ve never been disappointed by their menu, but a personal favorite of mine is the kung pao tofu. As an added bonus, their portions are generous. If you play your cards right, you can get at least a couple meals out of one entree.
Wally’s Falafel, Hummus and Bakery
I only discovered Wally’s relatively recently, but I wish I had popped in sooner. It’s owned and operated by a Palestinian family, and truly delivers on its promise of an authentic and tasty Middle Eastern dining experience.
Their falafel is fantastic, and you can order a variety of entrees in which it is the main attraction — my favorite is the falafel sandwich. Some other veggie-friendly highlights include their stuffed grape leaves, which are self-explanatory, and knafeh, a sweet pastry layered with cheese and topped with pistachios and simple syrup.
Afro Deli
I love Afro Deli. That’s it, recommendation over.
In all seriousness, Afro is another one of my favorite places to get food around campus. My favorite menu item is the falafel chapati wrap (what can I say, I’m a huge falafel fan), ideally with extra sauce. If you’re feeling particularly ambitious (or ravenous), definitely go with the side of fries — they’re great with the creole sauce. I’m also a big tea person, and their Somali spiced sweet tea is one of my favorite teas ever.
Located on the outer edge of East Bank, Afro’s food is almost as impeccable as its vibes. The combination of super friendly staff and delicious fast-casual creates a dining experience that is very enjoyable overall.