Nowadays, more and more restaurants are vegetarian and/or offering a wider selection of vegan menu items; many major cities even have restaurants that are dedicated solely to vegan or raw food fare. But there will be many times that you will want to join your meat eating loved ones at one of their restaurants.
On these occasions, you may feel like picky Sally Albright from the movie When Harry Met Sally, ordering everything “on the side,” but here are some tips to help you (and others at the table) enjoy the dining experience just be sure to lay on the charm with the serving staff when ordering!
• First, be up front with your server: tell her or him that you are vegan and ask what is available for someone who doesn’t eat any animal products. (You may find you need to say you’re allergic to dairy and eggs instead of just making a political choice in order for them to take you seriously)
• If the soups are made with a vegetable broth, they are a good choice, especially those made with legumes (split peas or lentil soups).
• Be specific, and ask with a smile, “There’s no dairy in that pea soup?” or “Is this soup made with vegetable broth?”
• Look for the simple dishes. You can have the roasted vegetables from any entree; just ask to “hold the chicken, please.”
• Salads are often fine choices, but ask for the dressing or olive oil and vinegar on the side. If they serve rye breads, choose them over white. Ask for olive oil to moisten them.
• Skip desserts made with white sugar whenever possible.
Some restaurants are easier than others
• Japanese restaurants will have vegetarian sushi and miso soup (ensure it isn’t made with bonito fish powder), and avoid tempura which can be fried with “bad”oils. Some establishments even offer brown rice; just ask.
• In Chinese restaurants, ask which dishes are made with fresh veggies; broccoli, for example, is usually served fresh. Keep the white rice to a minimum, and eat more bean sprouts instead.
• Vietnamese restaurants will have some vegetarian offerings. My favorite makes tasty veggie spring rolls (although they are fried).
• Fish sauce is used commonly in Chinese, Thai, and Vietnamese restaurants; be sure to ask.
• Indian restaurants usually have many veggie choices. Dal (lentils) and chana (chickpeas/ garbanzo beans) are good protein sources.
Remember, ghee is clarified butter, so ask what dishes are made without it. And avoid naan (flat bread), which is typically made with refined wheat flour; papadums (made with chickpea, lentil, or rice flour) are a good alternative.
Also, do your best to avoid white rice and dishes that are super-oily.
• In Italian restaurants, order soups and steamed veggies and salads, with dressing on the side, and they are likely to have olive oil and balsamic vinegar for your bread or salad.
Dining out right: being a happy eater is part of good nutrition
• Appreciate the benefits of eating with friends and family, being social and laughing, to create “good energy” in the environment in which you are eating your food.
• Resist speaking negatively about others food choices or what’s available; even if your choices are slim, stay positive (it is better for your digestion) and don’t make anyone else uncomfortable (emotions can run high when it comes to food).
• Compliment the restaurant staff or party host on the nutritious and tasty menu items.
• Unless you dine out often, eating a few less nutritious meals won’t kill you, so don’t be hard on yourself; choose the best foods that are available, and then have a good time.
No comments:
Post a Comment