How to Eat Vegetarian Everywhere
Hi guys! How was your weekend? My weekend was pretty typical — took my niece to the beach and had a very long, but super productive, band practice! 
In terms of my slumptitude — it’s waning. I took the weekend off from running and am now feeling more inspired to get back on track this week. Anyone have anything exciting on the agenda this week?
Uhh…is there Meat in my French Fries?
MrsMarv on Flickr here
If you’re a vegetarian or vegan, how confident are you about finding food choices that suit your needs wherever you go? If you were to order a veggie burger, would you be okay with it being cooked on the same grill as the meat? Are you confident that the sauce on your sandwich is free of meat products? Your french fries?
This is a relatively new issue to me. After ordering a veggie burger at a restaurant and seeing it cooked on the same grill as the meat, I was rather disturbed at how non-vegetarian my meal became in the split second it touched the grill.
After doing some Googling, I’ve found that eating vegetarian and vegan is actually quite a feat, especially in the fast food world as things like “natural beef extract” find their way into McDonald’s French fries, anchovies into dressings at Jack in the Box, and milk (and wheat, for all you gluten-free babes) finds its way into practically everything. Are specialty restaurants the only “safe” places for people with dietary restrictions/specific food lifestyles to eat? I’d say yes and no. Yes, if you really don’t want to head back to the kitchen to watch your food being made or to read the labels on every drop of sauce or dressing added to your bread. No, if you do your research beforehand and stick to really simple, fool-proof items like salads with the dressing on the side (preferably with packaged dressing so that you may examine the labels, or ask for a simple vinegar & oil blend).
Check out this site to find out if your favorite fast food restaurants have any legit vegetarian and vegan options. If you avoid fast food like I would a bikini, then you might feel more secure in the food choices you make. But restaurants, especially non-chain restaurants, are less inclined to post the nutritional information for their menu. While laws in NY, CA and elsewhere are forcing chains to post calorie information, finding the exact ingredients in your foods can be daunting, especially if it’s not a chain. My one piece of advice? Never hesitate to ask your waiter or even the chef how something is prepared or what is in the dish you’re eying and don’t be afraid to personalize an item or go off the menu completely. Any tips to add?
In the News
- Science Daily‘s, “Regular Yoga Practice is Associated with Mindful Eating” (8/16/09) here — Wow, very interesting!
- New Scientist‘s, “It’s True: All the Taken Men Are Best” (8/17/09) here — This isn’t necessarily health-related, but it’s very interesting that this study showed single women to be more attracted to men depicted as being in relationships than their counterparts who were depicted as single.
- New Scientist‘s, “Photos of Cake Can Keep You Slim, Say Psychologists” (8/17/09) here — The parameters of the study seem sketchy — if you show me a piece of cake and then ask me if I have plans to eat better, I’m sure I’d say “yes” and assume you thought I needed to lose weight. Either way, interesting. And if true, then we should all prescribe Thisiswhyyourefat as part of a healthy lifestyle makeover plan.
Give-Away?
If you’re suffering from a case of “the Mondays,” I’m offering a give-away to soothe your spirit! In the mix:
- One bag of Feed Granola in Raisin Nut
- One Honey Stinger 120-Calorie Honey Packet in Ginger
- One Neiman’s Own Organics Super Dark Chocolate Bar
- One Neiman’s Own Organics Ginger Mints Tin
- One Honey Stinger 20g Protein Bar in Dark Chocolate Cherry Almond Pro
- Five (5) Stonyfield Farm Product Coupons
- A mixed c.d. of my favorite work-out songs (which may or may not include a shameless sample or two of my band’s songs)
To enter (please submit a separate comment indicating each entry):
- Follow me on Twitter
- Link to this post on your blog
- Add me to your blog roll
- Add a comment listing your favorite place to eat or a tip on how to eat vegetarian or vegan everywhere
Give-away open to U.S. residents only and ends Thursday, August 20th, 11:59 p.m. PST. Winner announced on Friday, August 21st.
<3, The Cranky One
Tags: fast food, Give Aways, vegan foods, vegetarian food options, vegetarian foods
83 People have left comments on this post
You’re already in my blogroll, but I’m not following you on Twitter! (I’m mrsmount)
Sorry, that should say I’m NOW following you on Twitter.
I follow you on Twitter!
My favorite place to eat is Citrus in NYC because they use high quality ingredients and have a menu full of Asian and mexican foods — what more could I want! And lots of yummy cocktails…
i love pure food & wine in nyc – definitely vegetarian and vegan friendly.
Wish I had a blog then I would add you to it! I’m following you on twitter! Blog Roll? Does Google Reader count? Ha!
your already on the blogroll and eating vegetarian anywhere is fairly easy…just pick items like salads, sandwiches or pastas that don’t have meat, or come in contact with meat entrees in the kitchen…veggie burgers are probably always cooked with real burgers on the grill, but you can ask the server to make it separately from the meat items.
I followed you on twitter. I’m LoonyLuna.
Hi, you are on my blogroll, but, sorry, I don’t twitter. I will write a special post mentioning your blog right away! As for a veggie restaurant, not many in my little town in South Texas, so I would suggest eating at home as often as you can!
I’m following you on Twitter!
I added you to my blogroll
Can’t believe you weren’t up there yet as I LOVE your blog!
i am not veggie or vegan but i have a handful of friends who are and i dine with them frequently, they have to ask so many questions and people waiting on us give them such a hard time sometimes. i think that is so lame of them.. they are getting paid to be a server they should be accommodating of certain questions about the food they are serving! ok rant over. don’t enter me in the giveaway though, i can’t eat candy so i wouldn’t be a good candidate to win
although i would love to see you CD playlist for some ideas! have a great monday girl. xoxo
One way to make sure there are lots of veggie choices is to get Indian food! Also, I always ask if there is cheese on anything…because if I don’t, the cheese will find its way onto something for sure! I just don’t like cheese, but I think if you’re vegetarian/vegan, asking lots of questions is important (and luckily, in So Cal I think they’re used to it!)
Well, my fav place to eat is “my house”! I really am not one for eating out that much just because I am not sure what is going on in “the back”. I tend to eat at home before we go out or bring something with me OR I just might order steamed veggies on the side. When I used to eat out more, I would go to Mother’s Market, a health food store. Also, at Whole Foods, which is expensive, you can see them make your food depending on what you order… but I am a more eat my own food type of person.
Hey, glad slumptitude is over. You probably just needed a break BUT that outside exercising & changing it up can still help!
I will link to your blog on my post tomorrow!
i’m not a vegetarian so i don’t have too much feedback — but i am a giveaway lovahhh so i do have feedback on that
you’re on my blog roll… obvssss
..and i follow you on twitter
your on my blogroll
erica_haggins@hotmail.com
I follow on twitter
@erica_h
I will link in my giveaway post later today
http://ericarunning.blogspot.com
erica_haggins@hotmail.com
My favorite restaurant is a vegetarian place called Green. It has awesome tofu pad thai!
Oh, what a nice giveaway
and an excellent point about the vegetarian conundrum
I’m now following you on twitter! (my twitter is NatchB)
you are also on my blogroll (bloglines) of blogs I follow… but not on a link list because I don’t have a food blog, so I don’t know if that counts
and LASTLY: while I can’t say I have good advice about the veggie issue, one of my favorite places to eat which has a delicious, every changing menu (and you can trust what’s veggie is truly veggie) is Moosewood: http://www.moosewoodrestaurant.com/
I follow u on twitter @theskinnyplate
You are on my blogroll
Link back here
http://theskinnyplate.wordpress.com/2009/08/17/siggis-icelandic-style-skyr/
Veggie Grill is where I like to eat when I am out with my Vegan friends.
xtra entry for Sabrina for google reader. yes, it counts!
you’re on my google reader. i’m not veg or vegan, but i do like to eat some mexican food joint called Salsa and Beer.
You are on my google reader!
I am following you on Twitter! yay!
I would love to try FEED granola
you’re on my google reader
I think you hit on the very best tip – don’t be afraid to ask! For so long, I didn’t want to “bother” the waiter or waitress with questions about the menu, changes to the menu, or completely going “off-menu,” but I’ve learned that, when I do, I am happier with my food, feel better about eating it, AND the server really doesn’t mind at all (or at least does a great job of pretending not to!).
Second to that, the next best thing I’ve learned is to “double the veggies” in place of fries or some other side that I don’t like.
http://traynharder.blogspot.com/2009/08/key-to-good-workout.html
my fave place to eat is camilles…i can see them make my food & supposedly its all local/fresh..
autumn398 @ yahoo.com
If I’m not sure what to chose from a resturant I always go for the veggies or salads. Also, saying that you’re allergic to dairy helps when you’re a vegan
I linked back here:
http://breakfastofjailbirds.wordpress.com/2009/08/17/tired-blogs-dont-make-for-very-good-ones/
I added you to my blogroll
I follow you on Twitter!
I linked back!
http://www.missymaintains.com/2009/08/hello-i-must-start-off-by-talking-about.html
I added you to my blogroll.
My favorite place to eat is Whole Foods! I like making ginormous salads and their baked tofu is heaven!
I know it’s not a “gourmet” restaurant by any means, but I love going to Olive Garden to eat. I’m not going there to eat a healthy meal, and when I am there I am going to enjoy the food. I don’t think I have ordered anything there that I haven’t liked. It probably helps that I have the favorable attachment of the place as where my now husband took me on our first date
My favorite place to eat in Chicago is the Chicago diner – it’s all vegetarian so you can’t go wrong!
Thanks for the opportunity! Subway is my favorite place if I’m eating out- I get a footlong veggie on 9-grain wheat!
My favorite place to eat is my house! You can make any meal exactly the way you like it.
I ask them to leave out meat/make substitutions and they are usually pretty accomodative. I don’t have a blog, but I have you on my Reader if that counts.
I never usually have a problem finding veg options maybe it has to do with the fact that I live in sunny California.
I specifically ask them for ingredients and pick a meal with veggies and sub tofu for meat.
Eating out is a daunting task for me so mostly I like to cook and eat at home. If I am going out I look at the menu beforehand. If I don’t like anything on the menu, I try to have a substantial snack ahead and pick a salad at the restaurant.
I’m not a vegetarian, does not qualify me for this giveaway? I’d love those goodies
My favorite place to eat is at a local thai food restaurant. I’m not a vegetarian, but they serve tofu curry there as well as chicken (my personal fav) and pork curry!
I am following you!
My tip would be to order tofu instead of chicken at a chinese restaurant! Thanks for the giveaway!
i have very rarely ever found anything that is NOT vegetarian – just don’t be afraid to ask to change up your order. also, most ethnic foods are more vegetarian based, so try new things and see whatcha like!
I love Ethiopian and Indian foods for their veggie options!
My favorite place to eat is Curly’s Vegetarian in NYC!
there is a great place called Burritoville in NYC. i frequented the place when i was in high school.
Are you vegetarian now? Did I miss something? Are you joining our side? hehe
I’m very careful where I eat, because I already have a weak stomach as it is. And being vegetarian I don’t want to risk eating something that would send me into sickville. One my favorite places to eat at is Cafe Express, I adore their salads there.
Another thing I do when I’m at a restaurant is ask the server a TON of questions about how something is cooked and prepared, at first I was way too shy to “bother” the waiter with such questions, now I know its their job to know what they’re serving and I want to make sure I know what I’m eating!
you miss ma’am are TOTALLY on my blogroll, and we’re now twitter friends! YEA! and once I finally blog {I’m behind, I know I know :*(} I’ll blog about ya!
hugs!
ARE YOU VEGETARIAN NOW? DID I MISS SOMETHING? ARE YOU JOINING OUR SIDE? HEHE
I’M VERY CAREFUL WHERE I EAT, BECAUSE I ALREADY HAVE A WEAK STOMACH AS IT IS. AND BEING VEGETARIAN I DON’T WANT TO RISK EATING SOMETHING THAT WOULD SEND ME INTO SICKVILLE. ONE MY FAVORITE PLACES TO EAT AT IS CAFE EXPRESS, I ADORE THEIR SALADS THERE.
ANOTHER THING I DO WHEN I’M AT A RESTAURANT IS ASK THE SERVER A TON OF QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW SOMETHING IS COOKED AND PREPARED, AT FIRST I WAS WAY TOO SHY TO “BOTHER” THE WAITER WITH SUCH QUESTIONS, NOW I KNOW ITS THEIR JOB TO KNOW WHAT THEY’RE SERVING AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE I KNOW WHAT I’M EATING!
YOU MISS MA’AM ARE TOTALLY ON MY BLOGROLL, AND WE’RE NOW TWITTER FRIENDS! YEA! AND ONCE I FINALLY BLOG {I’M BEHIND, I KNOW I KNOW :*(} I’LL BLOG ABOUT YA!
HUGS!
i LOVE candle cafe in nyc…it’s vegan and organic and DELICIOUS. i’m not even vegetarian (i don’t eat meat most of the time, but i can’t give up the occasional burger) and i’m obsessed!! you leave feeling good about what you just ate instead of overstuffed full of icky food.
i’m not vegetarian, but sometimes even healthy options are hard to find. sometimes packing a little something in case all they have is a salad could work, checking things out beforehand, and definitely asking what they can do for you! bet it’s easier in some locations, too
I’m now following you on Twitter! (@kwidrick)
I just came across your blog at the perfect time, I guess. =o)
When Hubby and friends like to go out to eat, I like to suggest sushi. It would be really easy to eat vegetarian (I don’t know so much about vegan) and you can definitely eat healthy.
I also added you to my “Who I’m Reading” List (blog roll).
my fave place to eat is mcafe, a macrobiotic place in los angeles
My favorite place to eat is anywhere that has fresh, big, delicious salads, a great glass of wine and outdoor seating…
Alladin’s eatery- good veg options, they use healthy oils, and they’re popping up everywhere!
My favorite place to eat is really my home! I love making my own food and healthifying recipes. But occasionally I do love to eat at restaurants…my favorite place to eat would probably be Panera bread haha. I know its more of a fast food place, but I just love their strawberry poppyseed salad! Yumm
There’s this family owned Singapore cuisine restaurant in my town that have a whole vegan menu, and man, oh man, is it delicious!
I usually end up ordering sides. They’re smaller, cheaper and usually can just add them to a salad. Being polite always helps though!
Generally ordering two appetizers can be an relatively easy way to eat vegetarian…such as a soup and salad or a salad and appetizer. Apps tend to be less meat heavy!
My new favorite restaurant is this Japanese place called Sushi Hana. They have such a great variety of interesting combinations of sushi and they’re so affordable.
My tip to eat vegetarian- as a former waitress, just ask! the chef will make just about anything, but in a pinch- salads (request, no bacon, etc.), sandwiches (hold the ham please), soups, fresh veggies, baked potato, well, there are a lot of options really!
Thanks for the great giveaway!
A lot of restaurants have salads and steamed veggies. If not, I very very politely ask.
SUSHI… YUM! There are vast number of vegan combination. Everyone can enjoy it.
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