One of the things I learned during the pandemic was that I missed eating out with my friends. I also missed traveling to see new, beautiful places + enjoying the foods that come along with that. As we get back out into the world, I am quickly being reminded of that awkward moment when the menu arrives + I am asked to order. Is it me or is everyone at the table cringing as I begin to scrutinize the menu?!?! It can be so overwhelming for both the novice and expert vegan or vegetarian eater! Follow along with me today as I go through my tried and true tips on how to order plant-based at a restaurant.
Tara’s Tuesday Tips:
How To Order Plant-Based At A Restaurant
I cannot take away the awkward ‘oh no, the vegetarian is about to interrogate the waiter’ moment. However, I can certainly help you ask the right questions or even pick the right restaurant. Equally, I can show you how to become a pro on ordering plant-based at a restaurant! Let’s go!
Be nice
Politely ask your questions, remember, they are feeding you! Sometimes, you are actually educating them about plant-based eating in the process.
Call ahead
You can cut down on the awkward interrogation of the waiter if you get most of your questions out of the way before you arrive. Moreover, this gives you the opportunity to pick a different restaurant if you don’t like the answers.
Use your purse to smuggle in your own ingredients
If you know me, you know that my purse is a vessel for smuggling food. On a serious note, sometimes the food I bring in can make or break our entire outing. Everything from an avocado, plant-based butter or cheese, oat milk, nut butters, bread, even an entire sandwich has been smuggled in and saved the day. Try it.
Ask if there is a separate vegan or vegetarian menu
The hidden menu! Treasure! You will be surprised to discover how many restaurants have an entirely separate menu if you just ask! If not, look for the V or the leaf next to menu items. In addition, I like to ask if there are any specific dishes that are prepared completely plant-based.
Make a meal out of side dishes
This is not my favorite option but it works. At times, the only way to order plant-based at a restaurant means some steamed broccoli + a baked potato + this is as good as it gets. For me, it is better than sneaky meat items in my food.
Ask the tough questions:
- When you cook the vegetables, are they cooked on the same grill with the meat?
- Is the same fryer used for meat and non-meat items?
- Can the chef prepare this menu item without meat?
- Is this prepared with butter?
- Does this contain milk or cream?
- Do you use fish or oyster sauce?
- Can you pleas ask the chef if lard is used in the food?
- Do you know if the cook used eggs when he or she made the fresh pasta?
- Is there cheese in the pesto?
- Did you use chicken or beef broth as a base?
- Can you make this dish without the toppings?
- Will you please make me a meal out of the side dishes?
How To Order Plant-Based at Any International Restaurant:
Thai
- Specify no fish or oyster sauce in the preparation of noodles, vegetables and curries.
- Request no chicken or beef broth as the base to curries, marinades, or soups.
- I always ask for my noodles or rice to be prepared without egg, you could too!
Indian
- Are you vegan? Then, specify no yogurt, cream, butter, or ghee.
- Or, are you vegetarian? Indian restaurants are a great place for vegetarians, so, go for it, minus the obvious meat dishes.
Italian
- Egg is often used in homemade pastas, so if there is fresh pasta on the menu, it likely has been prepared with egg.
- Cheese is in almost everything in Italian restaurants which can be great for vegetarians. For vegans, ask first!
- Remember, pesto typically has cheese in it, so, be specific here.
Mexican
- The first thing I do at a Mexican restaurant is ask if the beans are made with lard, or I call ahead of time.
- I also ask about the rice, don’t forget this one because the rice in Mexican restaurants is often simmered in chicken stock, ask!
- If you order fajitas, the vegetables are usually cooked on the meat grill, ask this question specifically if it is important to you.
Fast Food/American
- There are lots of veggie burgers on lots of menus now! Beyond Meat, Impossible Burgers, veggie burgers of all kinds! It is wonderful!
- One question I always have when I order a veggie burger is where it is being cooked, and you can ask too! Many times, fast food restaurants offer the veggie option but still cook it on the grill with the beef burgers. Pro tip: ask for your burger to be cooked in the microwave to ensure that it is not contaminated with the juices of the meat products on the grill.
- Most meatless burgers still come with a mayonnaise-based sauce and/or cheese. Be specific if you do not want this.
- Ask for a plain bun that has not been browned on the grill.
- The fryer is not separated out for the French fries, Beyond chick’n tenders, or French toast sticks. Thus, there will be meat products frying in the same oil. Nevertheless, decide if this is important to you and make your decision.
Taco Bell
- The vegan safe haven. Have fun there. Beans + rice all vegan. You can pretty much eat everything except the meat.
- Ordering plant-based at Taco Bell is so easy! Substitute beans instead of beef in almost everything + you are good to go. Take off the cheese if that is your thing.
Food For Thought
When you get to a restaurant + you are the only meatless eater surrounded by your carnivorous friends, it can be intimidating. First thing to do is remember your ‘why’. Recently, I was made to feel very awkward about my food choices at a restaurant. This person had no understanding as to why I make the choices I make nor did they want to engage in the conversation. As you might imagine, I thought for a long time after this encounter.
I have no question in my mind why I eat plant-based. Nothing should die so that I can eat. I am a vegetarian, I won’t eat anything that was living. Some people choose this lifestyle for animal rights, others for the environment, religious reasons, or even for their health. Sometimes there is a bit of a blurred line between what you consider acceptable to eat and what isn’t. Knowing your ‘why’ should always be your guide. Alternatively, if you are the person at the table with the awkward vegetarian, give them some grace. I hope my tips this week help you to feel more comfortable eating out, ordering, and enjoying good food in the company of good people 🤍🤍.
Now That You Learned How To Order Plant-Based At A Restaurant,
Here Are Some Other Tuesday Tips You Might Enjoy:
What Is A Whole Food, Plant-Based Diet?
How To Stop Meat Cravings As A Vegetarian
Signs That You Should Go Plant-Based
⭐Do you have other helpful tips on how to order plant-based at a restaurant? Leave a comment below!
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