Plant Based Diet- Eating Out Part II

Vegan hobo stew. Yum!

The Kramers- Kaheeta

Little Bright Eyes

Sabbath School

Daddy & Jr. Matt

Visiting our animal buddies. Hood River

Healthy veggie babies:-)

Mara & Pearl.

The boy likes to eat.

Playing in their sand box.

Taking my younger two to the zoo.

The pictures were taken between late August & early September. Enjoy!When my husband was in the Mediterranean last summer, eating out was ideal for him as a vegetarian. The Mediterranean diet is much lower in animal products than the North American diet. At the motel breakfast buffets, instead of piles of sausage, bacon, eggs & pastries, there was hummus, fresh vegetables & other plant based foods. Of course there was some of the "American type" foods, but not in the quantity as is seen here. The buffet was based on a plant based diet. Finding restaurants with vegetarian foods can sometimes be tricky but for the most part, my family hasn't had to go hungry :-). Here is a quick guide on different restaurant styles & what you can consider ordering (this isn't comprehensive, just provides some things that have worked for me): Mexican- If you don't see a sign that says the refried beans are lard free, ask. If they aren't, ask for whole beans instead. Whole beans are healthier anyway so you might do as I do & ask for them every time. Ordering enchiladas without cheese, sour cream & meat may sound really bland to you, but most restaurants will compensate by adding extra beans, rice, veggies & sauce. My kids enjoy eating rice, beans & chips. My eldest loves plain bean & rice burritos. American: This type of restaurant can be quite tricky as the menu is almost always chock full of meat. Fortunately, many places will substitute a garden patty for hamburger & most salads can be ordered without the meat & dressing. If you must have dressing, ask for it on the side so you can add just a little bit. At Red Robin, I like to order the 5 Alarm garden burger. I have them hold the dressing & cheese. The salsa & jalapenos add more than adequate flavor. My kids usually get the mac n cheese with oranges. It's really difficult in places like red Robin to feed your kids healthy & their kind of mac n cheese is not healthy but at least they aren't eating a burger or corn dog. Pizza Parlors: Hot Lips & Pizzicato are the ones we most get slices of pizza from. They both offer delicious vegan & vegetarian slices as well as garlic bread (with lots of garlic on them!) & salads. Italian (Olive Garden): Our family generally only goes to Olive Garden & Red Robin when someone is taking us out. The food is pricey & not that healthy. At Olive Garden, ask for less dressing & have the waiter hold the cheese on the salad. They have several vegan dish options & you can elect to have whole grain noodles for no additional charge. My kids all enjoy spaghetti. Chinese: Generally I avoid Chinese restaurants unless I know that no MSG is used in the food. Otherwise, I get a horrible headache & feel lethargic for a few days. Avoid anything fried. Ask for brown rice instead of white if they have it. Sauteed tofu & vegetables are usually a decent option. Spicy garlic sauce gives the meal a nice kick of favor. Thai: This is one of my favorite kind of restaurants. Most any vegan dish is suitable. Ask if fish sauce is used in the sauces. Pad Thai without egg is one of my favorites. My kids enjoy the sweet brown rice & little veggie strips that come with many of the dishes. Mediterranean: Hummus, falafel, pita bread, tzatziki & vegetable kabobs are five vegan things we order & enjoy. The kids enjoy dipping the pita into the hummus. You can also find salads & pita pocket sandwiches to enjoy. Fast Food: You can find vegetarian & vegan options at Taco Time,Taco Del Mar Burgerville & BurgerKing. Eating at places like these shouldn't be an everyday occurrence, however. Quick Tips: Ask to have the cheese, dressing, mayonnaise & sour cream held. If you are in doubt about what is in a product, ask. Many restaurants make soups with beef or chicken stock. Avoid anything with the word fried in the description. Baked, broiled or steamed are better choices. Leave the salt shaker where it sits. Thankfully, I have never been a salter so this tip has been easy to follow. Beware of the endless drinks. Water with a lemon is better. Stop eating when you are comfortable. Following this tip has served me well. Restaurants serve huge portions. Split a plate & save some $. Better yet, eat at home & know exactly what's going into your food!