Although a lot of people don’t realize it, an increasing number of restaurants choose to implement vegan-friendly dishes and beverages. Thus, if you’re planning on switching to a diet that is completely plant-based, you’ll still be able to dine out with your partner, family members, coworkers, and friends.
However, if veganism is new to you, you might be wondering what vegans eat when they go out. Fortunately for all individuals that are wondering the same thing, our guide below can help! Here is our list of the top food, dishes, and beverages that you can enjoy even if you choose to go vegan:
1. The Classic American Cuisine
When someone says “classic American cuisine”, the first two things that might come to your mind are burgers and steaks. However, these aren’t the only things that you can eat at a classic American restaurant, instead, there are some really tasty plant-based side dishes, all of which will leave your taste buds craving for more. If you’re heading to such a restaurant, you can choose to mix different ingredients together. Some of the veggies that you can mix and match include broccoli, mushrooms, potatoes, kale, spinach, and so on.
Of course, when you first get to the establishment, you’ll want to ask them whether or not they have some vegan meals, and if not, you should ask what vegetables they have available and if it’s possible to create a dish specifically for you. Don’t forget, there are also some vegan salads that you could opt for eating, thus, don’t neglect to check the menu for such dishes as well – especially since they could replace an entire meal.
2. The Light Mediterranean Cuisine
You might not know this, but, almost all Mediterranean establishments offer a wide range of plant-based dishes, from eggplants to hummus, all the way to an olive spread that can provide you with the proteins and minerals you require. If you’re not feeling full after enjoying these starters, you could always choose to, for example, order a Greek salad, however, you’ll want to order it without any feta cheese in it.
The salads at Greek restaurants are filled with healthy vegetables, including onions, olives, bell peppers, as well as cucumbers, all of which will make a really nice meal. Now, if you’re looking for a meal that is a little bit larger than an ordinary salad, you could order roasted eggplants, grilled vegetables, or even a veggie wrap that won’t contain any meat. Depending on your preferences, you could even choose to eat rice prepared in different ways.
3. The Spicy Mexican Cuisine
This is, perhaps, the easiest cuisine that you can opt for eating as a vegan, mostly because it features a wide range of meals, all of which contain healthy and delicious vegetables. From burritos to tacos, all the way to fajitas, there are endless possibilities that you can choose from. If you opt for dining out at a Mexican restaurant, don’t forget to try some of their amazing sauces including salsa with chips or a guacamole spread.
For the main meal, you could choose to order tacos with veggies or if you’re looking for a larger portion, you can opt for a fajita with vegetables, but without any sour cream or cheese. It’s worth mentioning that there is a wide range of websites such as Cruelty Free Reviews that will highlight which restaurants you can head to and order vegan-friendly dishes and beverages, so, make sure that you check them out!
4. The Delicious Thai Cuisine
Besides Mexican dishes, another easy pick is Thai cuisine, mostly because the meals are almost entirely plant-based. Whether you want to spice things up with some curry with tofu or if you want something simple such as vegan mexican rice , you can rest assured that you’ll have a good meal at a Thai restaurant. Now, you should know, you must always check with the establishment about their meals since a lot of them choose to incorporate some meat into their dishes nowadays.
For instance, some restaurants might choose to offer vegan meals but cook their food in chicken stock, thus, before ordering, it might be best to ask the waiter about how the meal is prepared, mostly because this will allow you to ensure that you don’t eat something that you don’t want. Also, Thai meals usually don’t contain dairy products or eggs in the sauces they offer, but nonetheless, you might want to check just to be sure.
5. The Light Italian Cuisine
If you choose to head to an Italian restaurant, you might want to start your lunch or dinner with a staple house salad. Although a lot of people think that it’s impossible to feel full by eating a salad, it’s possible, however, if you need more food, you can choose to order a Marinara pizza, but of course, without any cheese. Some Italian eateries will serve plant-based cheese on their pizza, thus, ask them whether or not they can put it on the pizza you offer.
Since you’re at an Italian restaurant, you might also want to choose to eat some pasta and if so, you could choose a meal that contains some red sauce, vegetables, and of course, olive sauce – which is salty and delicious. Again, be careful about the cheese they add, especially parmesan, thus, always make sure that you ask the waiter about the type of cheese they use, as well as whether or not there are some vegan-friendly options.
Conclusion
An increasing number of people choose to go vegan nowadays, which is also the main reason why many restaurants choose to implement vegan dishes into their menus. If you’re planning on changing your diet to a plant-based one, don’t worry, you’ll still be able to dine out at the type of restaurants we’ve mentioned above.
Since you’re now well aware of where and what you can eat, you might not want to spend any more of your time reading guides similar to this one. Instead, if you want to eat out with your family or friends, choose one of the cuisines we’ve mentioned above, and start looking for a local restaurant that serves vegan-friendly dishes!