5 Tips for Vegetarians Dining Out

For new vegetarians, dining out can be quite a challenge; especially if you don't want to order grilled cheese from a children's menu. Luckily, once you get the hang of dining out, you'll be able to find many restaurants cater to both the meat-eater and the vegetarian alike.

1) Go Indian. One of the most reliable places to eat, short of a vegetarian restaurant is an Indian food restaurant. Since the majority of people in India are already vegetarians, they have developed a cooking style that incorporates flavorful spices and grains to create the ultimate comfort food for vegetarians. If you've never tried Indian food before, the appearance may be a bit off-putting but what it lacks in aesthetics, it makes up for in flavor. Recommended dishes include malai kofta (balls made of chicpea flour in an aromatic cream sauce), gobi Manchurian (a delicious deep-fried cauliflower dish), and saag paneer (home-made cheese in spinach). Also, sampling their flatbread, known as Nan, is a must.

2) Be on the lookout for veggie burger substitution. Many chain restaurants like Chili's, the 99, etc., offer veggie burgers on their menu. While they are usually offered in a healthy meal without cheese and with vegetables on the side, restaurants will usually let you substitute the veggie patty for a meat patty in any of their burgers. Just be sure to keep your eye out for additional meat that may be on the burger; some places will have bacon on certain burgers and you don't want any surprise meats in your vegetarian meal. Knowing this can help you dine out with your meat-eating friends easily and without fuss. It's also great because you can still have your favorite burger from before you were a vegetarian with little fuss.

3) Avoid Dim Sum. Dim Sum lovers beware, trying Dim Sum on a vegetarian diet can be very tricky. Unless you are eating at a vegetarian restaurant, trying Dim Sum is not a risk worth taking. You never know what you're getting. Instead of Dim Sum at a Chinese restaurant, try vegetable fried rice or a tofu dish, which is just as yummy without the chance you'll eat something unexpected. Many chinese restaurants offer tofu as a substitute for meat. Another great vegetarian dish you may not have tried at a chinese restaurant are scallion pancake which taste just as good as they sound.

4) Use the internet. As you may already know internet is one of the best tools for finding vegetarian dining. Not only can you find sites like www.happycow.net, which will direct you to local vegetarian eateries, but you can also look up dining menus for restaurants and restaurant reviews. With the internet, you know what you're getting into ahead of time and can plan for the perfect dining experience. The internet is also a great resource if you want to choose a vacation spot that is friendly to vegetarians.

5) Finally, don't be shy about voicing your needs. Let's face it; some restaurants just don't have any vegetarian options on the menu. That doesn't have to stop you from enjoying their food. You'll find that local restaurants can be more than flexible about creating something just for you. Surprisingly enough, some of the best meals are impromptu creations made for vegetarians. If there is a restaurant you loved going to when you ate meat, feel free to call them up and ask if they'll be flexible towards your new dining needs. Be specific in what you are looking for and don't be afraid to walk out of a restaurant if you find out they are not flexible towards vegetarians. Not only will you save yourself the head ache of picking meat out of your salad, etc. (who wants to do that anyway?!) but you'll also give the restaurant a lesson they may not forget. Who knows? Maybe if enough people walk out, the restaurant will change its menu to have less meat-base dishes.