Eating Jain in the dining halls
Jainism is a religion that originated in India. One of the core beliefs of Jainism is “ahisma,” which translates to “nonviolence.” This principle of nonviolence is reflected in the dietary practices Jains follow, which typically include vegetarianism with additional restrictions that aim to reduce harm to other living beings. If you’re interested in learning more about Jainism, check out this resource from the Young Jains of America.
University Housing is pleased to have recently started offering Jain options in our dining halls! The information below aims to help our Jain students and visitors understand how to navigate the dining halls on campus with ease and meet their dietary preferences. We plan to continue expanding our Jain menu as we grow!
What Jain options do the dining halls offer?
University Housing started offering Jain options in the all-you-care-to-eat dining halls in February 2025. Dining staff worked closely with the university’s Jain Student Association and other current students who practice Jainism to develop a Jain-friendly protocol for our dining halls to follow. Each all-you-care-to-eat dining hall is required to serve at least one Jain entrée during each meal period.
Our current Jain-friendly definition allows the use of dairy, but we aim to work toward offering more frequent vegan Jain options. You can view our current Jain-friendly definition to learn more. This definition was created based on focus group sessions of what current Jain students at the U. of I. were eating, as mentioned above.
Some examples of Jain recipes include:
• chickpea masala
• sweet corn cashew vegetable curry
• tofu scramble
• black bean enchilada casserole
• paneer masala
Other ways we have increased Jain offerings in the dining halls include using agave syrup as a substitute for honey in dishes, using asafoetida as a flavoring agent to replace onion and garlic, and using alcohol-free vanilla and turbinado sugar derived from sugarcane rather than beets in our baked goods. We are also working with vendors to create new products specific to the university that we can use in our halls.
Building a Jain meal in the dining halls – how do I know if an item is Jain?
In University Housing dining halls, menu cards will include the word “Jain” in the title, such as shown below. This means the item is made with ingredients that meet our Jain-friendly definition and has been produced carefully to avoid cross-contact with non-Jain food items.
On our web-based menus, a Jain trait is added to all menu items that are Jain-friendly, which allows you to filter for them within the Illinois app and EatSmart website. When you select a dining hall to view their menu, there is a “food filters applied” option. When you click this, you can select a filter for Jain.
The EatSmart website will also be able to tell you the exact ingredients of a dish. When you visit the website, you can select your dining hall and the meal period and serving date. You then select the food item of interest to see its nutrition information and ingredient list.
While we tried to create a definition that captured most of our current Jain students’ practices, we also recognize that everyone’s Jain dietary practices may vary slightly. In addition to filtering for Jain, you can also filter to exclude specific ingredients like milk. However, if you are struggling to find options that fit your needs, feel free to reach out to our dining team.
Other resources
If you’re ever unsure about a food while navigating the dining halls, don’t hesitate to reach out to a chef or dining employee. Everyone deserves access to safe, nutritious, and culturally relevant foods, and we’d love to be able to assist your specific situation. You can also contact nutrition@housing.illinois.edu with any questions or concerns you may have.
For navigating periods of religious fasting in the dining halls and to view the dining services available at Illinois, visit the Nutrition and Dietary Considerations page on the University Housing website. Religious observances and holidays recognized by the university can also be viewed online.
We know how stressful it can be to navigate your dietary needs outside of home. University Housing strives to create a friendly (and delicious) environment for all and to help make campus feel like a home away from home!
Kayla Lammy is a graduate student in Food Science and Human Nutrition with a concentration in clinical and community nutrition. She will be graduating in December 2026 and is planning to pursue a career as a registered dietitian.
