Student Reviews

• Tara

  As a fellow vegan of 7 years, I can attest that FGCU has made tremendous leaps and bounds to improve this across all restaurants. They have incorporated Greenbites, a local vegan baked goods company, Paradise Smoothie & Boba Tea location (opening Fall), a Blendid by Jamba Machine (all smoothis but 1 are vegan), a vegan pho option with YoKai, a vegan bowl at Brahma, and enhanced the Delicious Without Station at SoVi Dining (residential). They even incorporated a bi weekly event called Plant Based Fridays in the dining hall! This fall they will even grow their own herbs and produce with two Farmshelves.

• Samantha

  Florida Gulf Coast University has made remarkable strides to transition from packaged and processed foods to more sustainable, organic and local options. Starbucks offers a multigrain bagel with an avocado spread that is delicious and most of the bagels at Einstein’s are vegan. Jamba Juice is another place where students who are vegetarian or vegan can go to eat worry-free. FGCU has also signed on to the Real Food Challenge which works with students to do research regarding food options at our dining locations. This research allows for a change in options at our current dining location, SoVi Dining, and very soon, The Boardwalk (North Lake Dining). I love that part of FGCU’s mission is to promote and practice sustainability, something that indisputably includes the food offered on campus. So proud to be an #eagle

• Maya

  There are many vegan options at FGCU! At Sovi Dining, there is a vegan dining station with nutritious and great-tasting meat substitutes (tofu, beans, soy products, chickpeas etc.) Also, there are gluten-free options and dairy-free options for those with food allergies as well! They always have steamed vegetables, quinoa, soup (many contain beans), and a great salad bar with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables available. The dressings are all-natural and preservative free as well. FGCU’s new food service provider, Chartwells has made significant improvements to the quality of the food, the nutritious content of the meals, and the variety of foods, so that all students can find something they will enjoy, even students with special diets! In addition, on campus I eat at BYOB and they have delicious tasting rice bowls and wraps with all kinds of beans, meat substitutes, and veggies. Also, Brahma offers sushi and there is a Jamba Juice that has several food options for vegans (oatmeal, smoothies, acai bowl, soy protein powder). So, there are many options on campus as well for vegans and people with special diets.

• Carolina Schneider

  FGCU has so many amazing options for vegans! I have been vegan for over two years and I’m super picky, but FGCU really has stepped up its game with vegan options. Vegans can eat a huge variety of foods at SoVi Dining, which has an awesome salad bar (Greens, veggies, legumes, beans, hummus), a full vegan/vegetarian station with make-your-own stir fries, fresh steamed vegetables, rice, beans, and delicious meals, plus a “Balanced-U” station with vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options that are always plant-based and fresh. Vegans can also have a super nourishing and delicious meal at BYOB, where they can build their own bowl or burrito with brown rice, pinto beans, black beans, guacamole, and several veggies. They also offer a portobello mushroom “burger”. Jamba Juice also has super healthy bowls and smoothies which are always vegetarian and can be easily made vegan by removing the greek yogurt and honey! One other restaurant that I love is Brahma, which offers freshly made veggie sushi rolls with brown or white rice, and bowls with steamed veggies and rice. Another place where vegans can eat on campus is Einstein Bros Bagels, where all bagels are vegan (expect the ones with cheese and honey) and they can be enjoyed with hummus, avocado, and other veggies. I hope this shows the variety of places vegans can eat at FGCU! I truly am very picky with every ingredient that is in my food, and it’s wonderful that every place on campus has a guide showing icons to indicate the vegan and vegetarian options. Eating on campus has never been so easy!! Go FGCU Dining!! 🙂

• Marie Camino

  There are not many options here, if I ever want to eat on campus my only options are Subway or Taco Bell. I was very excited that there was an organic pizza place opening, thinking that maybe they would have soy cheese or even an option to omit the cheese. However I was extremely disappointed in it and even take offense to a sign promoting “humane meat.” Please offer more!

• Michelle

  You can find a few things here and there, if you like beans and rice or plain carrots and hummus, jamba juice. There is a fruit cup with a vegan sticker on it. That’s about it. Need improvement!