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Anyone else scared of eating out?
Started
by KCKAS
on March 31, 2010
I've been on a vegan diet for almost 3-weeks now. I've eaten out once during this time and I almost ate out a second time but I was able to avoid it.
So my question is, does your heart race when you know you have to eat out? I'd much rather eat at home where I know I can cook myself a yummy nutritious meal then having to either a) rely on sides and still be hungry or b) asking a zillion questions about items on the menu.
Before I beame a vegan I didn't eat red meat or pork so I had to ask if items had those things in it which was no biggy but my list just got a lot longer and my options much shorter!
Besides eating at only vegetarian/vegan restaurants what else can I do to make my experience at a reataurant enjoyable?
No need to be terrified! I have found the best options are ethnic restaurants. They have way more options for you and are more understanding about your questions (aka, they don't seem annoyed!). If you just ask them about vegan options they will happily point them out. Make sure are Indian restaurants to ask about ghee. I thoroughly enjoy vegetable sushi too (never liked fish sushi). Even at more mainstream restaurants we have found the servers to be very helpful and have even gone back to the kitchen to double check ingredients. Some restaurant websites are starting to put nutrition info online and list what is vegetarian and vegan, so try to check those out too. Good luck and enjoy your time out! Oh yeah, Thai food is great but some use fish stock even with their vegetable entrees, so be sure to ask for it without!
I do know what you mean, it's really a case of trial and error. I have been to a few restaurants with many items and virtually every one had meat, cheese, or eggs! And the soups also had meat or cheese. But now I have found a local Greek "Coney Island" restaurant where I get a large order of pita bread and hummus with olives and tomato. I also get a greek salad (minus cheese) with oil & vinegar dressing. They also have a veggie Gyros sandwich. A "fancy"restaurant we went to, I emailed ahead & requested a vegan option. They were so nice and asked what I had in mind, any allergies, etc. The chef came out to the table & wanted to know what I thought, & said he might make it a regular item. So I influenced things in a small way. Some restaurants I just don't bother going to anymore as it is so limited. If places do hot sandwiches you can get them to heat/grill some veg for a filling & add a vegan salad dressing or hummus or pesto.
My husband says why don't I put together a kit of things to take with me! Like little containers of salad dressing or vegan spread, etc. I know it sound kinda funny but I might do that.
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