These unique vegetarian and vegan options made Northwestern the "Most Vegetarian-Friendly College in the U.S.,”Butternut squash pizza, Lebanese tabbouleh and golden grain pancakes are just a few of the vegetarian options offered at Northwestern University.

These unique vegetarian and vegan options made Northwestern the "Most Vegetarian-Friendly College in the U.S.," by PETA2, the youth division of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Vegetarian and vegan meals comprise 20 percent of Northwestern's dining menus, said Ryan Huling, college campaign coordinator for PETA2.

"Northwestern has shown a true dedication even beyond other schools nominated," Huling said.

In the contest's second year, PETA2 picked the top 30 schools in the country with the best vegetarian options and students voted on their favorite school through Facebook, e-mail and MySpace, he said.

During an on-campus celebration today, PETA2 will award the university its certificate and allow students to sample Northwestern vegan dishes like Mongolian seitan stir fry with fried cellophane noodles, falafel pita with Jerusalem salad and veggie barbeque "riblets," Huling said.

About 17 percent of the university's students are vegetarian, said Paul Komelasky, director of dining services at Northwestern.

Northwestern has expanded its vegetarian options over the years by working with a dietician and looking at local markets, including a popular nearby vegetarian restaurant called Blind Faith, he said.

"We worked hard on trying to come up with unique ideas to get out of the mold as having pasta as that traditional dish that people would view as vegetarian," Komelasky said.

In surveys conducted by the dining services, Komelasky said many students decide to become vegetarians on any given day based on meal options.

"As long as the look of the product and taste and quality are there, they don't think of it as a vegetarian dish but another great meal they can choose from," Komelasky said.

The vegetarian options provide flexibility for everyone, even as sides for meat-eaters, said Anne Vanosdol, associate director for food services operations.

"The beauty of having a good vegetarian and vegan product is that it feeds everyone," Vanosdol said.

In 2006, more than 30 percent of 100,000 college students surveyed said vegetarian dining options on campus were very important to them, according to the Web site of ARAMARK Higher Education, an organization based in Philadelphia concerned with dining services in schools.

More people are looking for these vegetarian options because of health reasons, environmental issues or concerns about cruelty to animals, Huling said. More colleges are responding to these concerns than ever before, he said.

Trisha Faulkner, a freshman at Northwestern, said although she's not a vegetarian, she enjoys the vegetarian options on campus, especially the barbecue tofu chicken sticks and vegan chocolate cake.

"Here it's so easy and accessible, it's kind of a 'why not?' thing," Faulkner said.

She said some of her vegan friends have had more trouble finding vegetarian meals off campus than on campus.

The dining halls have expanded, she said, including putting calorie counts in front of each dish.

Vanosdol said students are enjoying the meals.

“