The struggles of being a vegetarian are boundless, especially when it comes to surviving the dangerous territory known as the cafeteria. Unfortunately, it is too common that vegetarians tend to go for the cheese pizza instead of the salad because, let's be honest, eating salad every day gets to be a little boring. Part of the difficulties of being vegetarian/vegan is being able to maintain a healthy diet, which is hard to keep up in a cafeteria setting where vegetarian/vegan options are already sparse. So here are some tips and tricks from a fellow herbivore to help you keep up your diet without the sacrifice.

1. Simple spinach wrap.

Spinach is a great source of nutrients and a whole lot of vitamins, such as vitamin K, which strengthens bones and reduces blood clotting. Pair spinach with some hummus spread, sunflower seeds, carrots, onions, tomatoes, cheese, bell peppers, olive oil and a whole-wheat tortilla, and you get a wonderful, tangy lunch. Hopefully, you should be able to find most, if not all, of these ingredients at the salad bar.

2. Seasoned cherry tomatoes.

Cherry tomatoes are awesome by themselves with their sweet taste and small, easy-to-eat size. But, every once in a while, it's nice to season them up a bit. Simply grab a handful of these bad boys and toss them with olive oil, vinegar, pepper, a pinch of salt, and basil. Most of these items should be by the salad section. Now, this might not be a full meal, but it is a great side to have with any meal.

3. Cucumber salad with a very simple vinaigrette.

Cucumbers are great "refreshers," especially in the hot summer months. Honestly, they are the veggie cousin of the watermelon and are a very versatile vegetable. You can do practically anything with them, from soaking them overnight in your water to baking them into a veggie lasagna. Personally, my favorite way to eat cucumbers is to put an equal amount of vinegar and olive oil on them. Then, add a dash of pepper and top it all off with some black olives. Also, if you feel a little adventurous, add a dash of hot sauce.

4. Toasted peanut butter, banana and honey sandwich.

Sometimes, you just need to go for the classic PB&J, but with a twist. Honey has so many health benefits that it would take me at least 20 articles just to explain how awesome it is for you and your immune system. But I'll save you from me and my soapbox (this time). All you need for this fabulous combination of sweet and savory sandwich is the bread of your choice, peanut butter, one banana (sliced) and about a tablespoon of honey. Toast your bread slices until they are golden brown and crispy. Next, spread the peanut butter on one side of each bread slice to prevent the honey from making the toast soggy. Finally, put one layer of banana slices on one of the peanut-buttered bread slices and drizzle on some honey. And presto, you have created a masterpiece of glorious childhood reminiscence!

5. Fruit salad with yogurt dressing.

One of the great things about vegetarian food is how colorful it can be. Brighten up your day with a simple fruit salad. Fruits are probably the most common thing to be found in a cafeteria setting, so grab what you can find and mix and match! Get experimental with the different flavors and textures of different fruits, see what you like and what you don't like. Then, once you have created your fruit Frankenstein, tie it all in together with some yogurt, whether it be Greek, nonfat, goat, or just plain yogurt. I like to mix mine with some raspberry yogurt; it adds just enough sour to compliment the sweetness of the fruit.

Vegetarian ultimatum.

Even though being a vegetarian can be a difficult lifestyle, the key to continuing with it is to simply enjoy it, which means that you are going to have to get creative one way or another,
whether that is trying new foods or mixing up old ones. Go to the cafeteria with an open mind and empty stomach and explore different flavor combinations. Who knows, maybe you'll find the next vegetarian meal masterpiece. Now get out there and explore, my young foodie grasshopper!