A Vegetarian's Guide to Eating Out
For many new or wannabe vegetarians, the fear of never eating out except at a vegan or vegetarian restaurant keeps them from inviting friends out for dinner. Or worse, that fear keeps them from accepting dinner invitations from family and friends. If you find yourself in that predicament, rest assured you can eat almost anywhere and still find a satisfying vegetarian meal.
Quality Restaurants
Almost always, you will find vegetarian entrees on the menu. If not, ask your server what is available. Most chefs in quality restaurants are more than happy to whip something up. It shows their talent, feeds their ego and gets you an outstanding meal.
If you know you are going to be eating in restaurant X on Saturday, call ahead and ask if they offer vegetarian entrees and if not, can something special be prepared. Most often than not, you will get a yes.
Upscale Food Chains
Most all of the better chain food restaurants have salad bars. Many have extensive, well stocked salad bars. Look at the soup bars also; many of the soups are bean based with no meat.
If not, all have something vegetarian on the menu. Even the larger steakhouse chains offer baked potatoes and side salads that can make your meal while your friends enjoy their steak and fries.
Fast Food
If you thought you'd never dine again under the Golden Arches, you were wrong. All fast food chains now offer garden salads in a wide variety of different flavors. Order your salad with no meat and you're set to go. Depending on the chain, you can add a baked potato, yogurt and fruit or a number of other meatless items off the menu.
Eating with Friends and Family
We've all experienced it, the family member or friend that just will not accept that you've gone meatless. It's tough. Here they are worrying about your health and you are worrying about hurting their feelings. This is one time, you really do have to stand firm.
If the meal is centered on a meat main dish, eat from the side dishes only. If asked, reconfirm your dedication to your new lifestyle. Parents especially have a hard time with this, coming from a meat and potato generation.
Assure the well meaning, but often misguided, loved one that you are indeed paying attention to your health. That you feel, and you have the research to back it up, that your diet is the perfect diet for you. Offer to show them websites, books and magazines so they can learn more.
As a way of convincing unbelievers, try inviting them for a meal that you cook. Make the meal simple, yet scrumptious and elegant. Or go Italian; serve a simple green salad and vegetarian lasagna.
If you truly feel they will be uncomfortable with a totally meatless meal, try dishes that include TVP or other meat substitutes. That way they will think they are eating familiar foods and will go a long way to assure them that you are eating right. The possibilities are endless and you never know, you may convert someone yourself.
Quality Restaurants
Almost always, you will find vegetarian entrees on the menu. If not, ask your server what is available. Most chefs in quality restaurants are more than happy to whip something up. It shows their talent, feeds their ego and gets you an outstanding meal.
If you know you are going to be eating in restaurant X on Saturday, call ahead and ask if they offer vegetarian entrees and if not, can something special be prepared. Most often than not, you will get a yes.
Upscale Food Chains
Most all of the better chain food restaurants have salad bars. Many have extensive, well stocked salad bars. Look at the soup bars also; many of the soups are bean based with no meat.
If not, all have something vegetarian on the menu. Even the larger steakhouse chains offer baked potatoes and side salads that can make your meal while your friends enjoy their steak and fries.
Fast Food
If you thought you'd never dine again under the Golden Arches, you were wrong. All fast food chains now offer garden salads in a wide variety of different flavors. Order your salad with no meat and you're set to go. Depending on the chain, you can add a baked potato, yogurt and fruit or a number of other meatless items off the menu.
Eating with Friends and Family
We've all experienced it, the family member or friend that just will not accept that you've gone meatless. It's tough. Here they are worrying about your health and you are worrying about hurting their feelings. This is one time, you really do have to stand firm.
If the meal is centered on a meat main dish, eat from the side dishes only. If asked, reconfirm your dedication to your new lifestyle. Parents especially have a hard time with this, coming from a meat and potato generation.
Assure the well meaning, but often misguided, loved one that you are indeed paying attention to your health. That you feel, and you have the research to back it up, that your diet is the perfect diet for you. Offer to show them websites, books and magazines so they can learn more.
As a way of convincing unbelievers, try inviting them for a meal that you cook. Make the meal simple, yet scrumptious and elegant. Or go Italian; serve a simple green salad and vegetarian lasagna.
If you truly feel they will be uncomfortable with a totally meatless meal, try dishes that include TVP or other meat substitutes. That way they will think they are eating familiar foods and will go a long way to assure them that you are eating right. The possibilities are endless and you never know, you may convert someone yourself.
Published by Kat Yares
Kat Yares is a full time freelance writer living in the backwoods of the Arkansas Ozarks. Her fiction and non-fiction has appeared both online and in print. More about Kat can be found at http://www.katyare... View profile
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- Vegetarian options are avaiable at most restaurants.
- You can eat vegetarian even at fast food restaurants.
- You can enjoy a satisfing meal eating with your meateating friends anywhere.
Even McDonald's offers vegetarian items on the menu.
8 Comments
Post a Commentvegetarians have the right to eat too, we all have our own customs and need to respect others
One issue not addressed here: the use of lard and stock in lots of dishes called "vegetarian". Many soups are may have vegetable in the name but are made with beef or chicken stock. And beware of your local Mexican place. Even though they often have a vegetarian section, they still use lard or pork in the beans and various stocks and meatish things in sauces. Finally, servers typically aren't well versed in the ingredients unless it's a really fine dining establishment. They don't always know when a salad dressing has animal products, for example. It's not really their fault, given the exploitative nature of the profession. All in all, you have to be super dilligent if you are going to commit to a vegetarian lifestyle.
http://www.veganeatingout.com
If you're looking for a list of vegetarian options when you go out to eat please visit:
I am a vegetarian because I do not believe in KILLING innocent animals for food. It makes me feel sick just thinking about eating a dead animal....
What scientific evidence do you have that man was made to eat meat??
Vegetarianism is an overrated dietary preference. There is no conclusive scientific evidence that it is any healthier than a well-balanced, healthy omnivorous meal. The only reason vegetarians seem healthier is that they tend to also be health nuts.
Man is made to eat meat. It's totally natural, healthy and tastes great! But I guess if you're going to be a veggie, Italian is the way to go. Mmmmm