January 8, 2014

Dining Out for Vegetarians 101! Here’s what you need to know

Photo by Dan Gold on Unsplash

By Lydia Patel

When you’re invited to go out to eat, it’s often hard to say no but it’s also difficult to know if a restuanurant has suitable vegetarian options for you. It’s hard enough to try to make healthy food choices on a regular day, but when you’re out socializing with a group of friends or dining out at restaurant when you’re a vegetarian, things can be a little tough. First, let’s define the different variations of vegetarianism:

• Classic Vegetarians do not eat any meat or meat products, but may consume fish.

• Vegans do not consume any animal by-products, dairy or eggs.

Now that we have that covered, let’s discuss what this all means. For someone like myself, who is vegetarian but consumes fish on rare occasions, it still can be an interesting event going out to eat. To further complicate the issue, some vegetable dishes may be cooked with ingredients vegetarians avoid including butter, chicken or meat stock, and gelatin.

I’ve noticed over the years that a lot of vegetarians slowly become ‘carbatarians,’ loading up on carbs and starch to substitute the meat. That’s a big no-no in my book! Eating pizza and fries just because it doesn’t contain meat doesn’t mean you’re following a vegetarian diet! Personally, I find it easier – and healthier – to try and avoid those options if you can while dining out. Don’t be afraid to make a special request! Many chefs will be happy to prepare a dish that is not on the menu, or modify a dish so it fits into your diet. Or, consider ordering vegetable appetizers or side dishes as your main course.

Fast Food

Fast food restaurants offer a lot of salad menus and sandwiches with vegetable or meat substitute fillings. Breakfast items are often vegetarian friendly, especially for those who do eat eggs.

Traveling

When traveling as a vegetarian, it’s all about planning. Most airlines and cruise ships offers great vegetarian options. Often you can find vegetarian meals, fruit plates and vegan options. When in doubt, pack vegetarian snacks such as trail mix, granola bars and dried fruit.

International Options

I personally love eating international foods. Asian, Italian, Greek, Lebanese and Indian food are all top options for me! Asian menus feature a variety of meatless options including rice and noodle dishes that contain vegetables and tofu. Indian cuisines are best known for meatless dishes using breads, lentils, beans, rice and curried vegetables. Mexican cuisine may include burritos, fajitas, tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas and tamales made using rice, beans and cheese.

Living in a major cosmopolitan city such as New York definitely doesn’t leave you hungry for food options. Virtually every nationality’s food can be found here. So if you’re open to visiting and exploring our great city, your taste buds just may be in for a treat!