diff --git a/dat/Mon-loca.lua b/dat/Mon-loca.lua
index 75ea76ec9..598b364eb 100644
--- a/dat/Mon-loca.lua
+++ b/dat/Mon-loca.lua
@@ -57,6 +57,14 @@ des.object()
 des.object()
 des.object()
 des.object()
+-- since vegetarian monks shouldn't eat giant corpses, give a chance for
+-- Str boost that isn't throttled by exercise restrictions;
+-- make a modest effort (Elbereth only) to prevent xorns from eating the tins
+local tinplace = selection.negate():filter_mapchar('.')
+local tinloc = tinplace:rndcoord(0)
+des.object({ id="tin", coord=tinloc, quantity=2, buc="blessed",
+             montype="spinach" })
+des.engraving({ coord=tinloc, type="burn", text="Elbereth" })
 -- Random traps
 des.trap()
 des.trap()
diff --git a/dat/Mon-strt.lua b/dat/Mon-strt.lua
index 287e19887..ffbfec4e2 100644
--- a/dat/Mon-strt.lua
+++ b/dat/Mon-strt.lua
@@ -101,3 +101,6 @@ end
 for i = 1, 4 do
    des.monster("xorn", spacelocs:rndcoord(1))
 end
+-- next to leader, so possibly tricky to pick up if not ready for quest yet;
+-- there's no protection against a xorn eating these tins; BUC state is random
+des.object({ id="tin", coord = {29, 9}, quantity=2, montype="spinach" })
diff --git a/doc/fixes3-7-0.txt b/doc/fixes3-7-0.txt
index 6f437f347..bea0aa0bc 100644
--- a/doc/fixes3-7-0.txt
+++ b/doc/fixes3-7-0.txt
@@ -1856,6 +1856,7 @@ rudimentary key rebinding in game options
 experimental #saveoptions command to allow saving configuration settings
 mouse buttons can be bound to extended commands
 hero poly'd into purple worm can gain intrinsics from digesting whole monster
+add some tins of spinach to monk's quest (vegan => no Str from giant corpses)
 
 
 Platform- and/or Interface-Specific New Features
diff --git a/src/sp_lev.c b/src/sp_lev.c
index 73411d4fc..191a50c99 100644
--- a/src/sp_lev.c
+++ b/src/sp_lev.c
@@ -3551,12 +3551,22 @@ lspo_object(lua_State *L)
         || tmpobj.id == CORPSE || tmpobj.id == TIN
         || tmpobj.id == FIGURINE) {
         struct permonst *pm = NULL;
+        boolean nonpmobj = FALSE;
         int i;
         char *montype = get_table_str_opt(L, "montype", NULL);
 
         if (montype) {
-            if (strlen(montype) == 1
-                && def_char_to_monclass(*montype) != MAXMCLASSES) {
+            if ((tmpobj.id == TIN && (!strcmpi(montype, "spinach")
+                /* id="tin",montype="empty" produces an empty tin */
+                                      || !strcmpi(montype, "empty")))
+                /* id="egg",montype="empty" produces a generic, unhatchable
+                   egg rather than an "empty egg" */
+                || (tmpobj.id == EGG && !strcmpi(montype, "empty"))) {
+                tmpobj.corpsenm = NON_PM;
+                tmpobj.spe = !strcmpi(montype, "spinach") ? 1 : 0;
+                nonpmobj = TRUE;
+            } else if (strlen(montype) == 1
+                       && def_char_to_monclass(*montype) != MAXMCLASSES) {
                 pm = mkclass(def_char_to_monclass(*montype),
                              G_NOGEN | G_IGNORE);
             } else {
@@ -3573,7 +3583,7 @@ lspo_object(lua_State *L)
             free((genericptr_t) montype);
             if (pm)
                 tmpobj.corpsenm = monsndx(pm);
-            else
+            else if (!nonpmobj)
                 nhl_error(L, "Unknown montype");
         }
         if (tmpobj.id == STATUE || tmpobj.id == CORPSE) {
@@ -3588,7 +3598,7 @@ lspo_object(lua_State *L)
             tmpobj.spe = lflags;
         } else if (tmpobj.id == EGG) {
             tmpobj.spe = get_table_boolean_opt(L, "laid_by_you", 0) ? 1 : 0;
-        } else {
+        } else if (!nonpmobj) { /* tmpobj.spe is already set for nonpmobj */
             tmpobj.spe = 0;
         }
     }