Though eating out as a vegan in major metropolitan cities is a no-brainer (hello, thousands of gourmet vegan restaurants,) some people find it harder to transition to healthy, plant-based eating when living in less than urban environments.
Although we swear by using the HappyCow website and app (every vegan or veg-friendly restaurant in the world – just punch in your zip code!) what do you do when you are stuck at a steak house on a business dinner? Or at a diner in the Midwest?
Here, Stephanie Dreyer gives us her top tips:
Eating out proved to be very challenging when I first transitioned to a vegan lifestyle five years ago. Between finding something to eat (besides a side salad) and making my dining companions feel comfortable, (If I had a dime for every time someone asked, “Is there anything for you to eat?”…), it’s a lot to navigate, especially if you are new to plant-based foods.
In my new ebook, VeegMama’s Guide To Going Vegan, I share tips and provide information on how to transition easily and joyfully to a vegan lifestyle. Below are a few tools to making eating out easy and delicious.
How To Eat Out As A Vegan
- Check out the menu ahead of time.
Whenever I plan to visit a new restaurant, I browse the menu online beforehand to see if there are any vegan items or dishes that can easily be veganized (by omitting cheese, for example.)
- Call ahead.
I do this especially for fancier establishments. I let them know I am vegan and ask if they will be able to accommodate me. Most restaurants are happy to come up with some options for me (if they don’t have them already.) {EDITORS NOTE: We generally find that Chef’s are excited by the challenge! Some of our best vegan meals have been at high-end restaurants where Chef’s bored of cooking chicken have to be creative with vegetables!)
- Make a meal of vegetables and side dishes.
I love doing this at restaurants, even when they have one or two vegan options. An assortment of vegetables makes for a beautiful dinner. Ask your server how they are prepared, substituting olive oil for butter, for example, and eliminating any cheese.
- Opt for ethnic cuisine.
I can pretty much always find something to eat wherever I dine (everyone offers a side salad!), but Asian, Indian, and Greek/Mediterranean restaurants are guaranteed to offer vegan options because of the plant-based staples in those diets. Italian and Mexican restaurants also offer lots of vegan options – just hold the cheese!
- Enjoy an appetizer.
When nothing on the menu is calling my name, I look to the appetizers for sustenance. Flatbread and hummus with a side salad, for example, can be a very filling meal, as can a steamed artichoke with a side salad.
- Scout the accompaniments on the menu.
I commonly find that side dishes for the meat entrees are vegan friendly – rice pilaf, baked potato, couscous medley, etc. They may be called side dishes on the menu, but you can usually ask to order them as a meal (especially if the menu doesn’t have much else to offer you). Just check that grain options are prepared vegetarian – without chicken broth and butter, for example.