If you’re a recent convert to vegetarianism – or even if you’ve been doing it for life – one area holds a particular challenge: finding vegetarian food on the go. That’s true whether you’re eating in big cities or little villages – even in today’s world, finding veggie options that work for you can be a supreme challenge. It is getting better now, though, and we’ve put together a list of the top tips for making sure you’ve got veggie “in the bag” every time you’re out to eat.
Tip 1) Scope Out In Advance
One of the greatest things about the internet? You can always figure stuff out before you hit a city. A quick look for the best vegetarian – or even vegan – restaurants will show you what others have experienced and enjoyed before you, and you can check out the reviews and often even the menus online.
This works especially well if you’re a fussy eater or there are certain foods you avoid for other reasons – think allergies or diet. Many restaurants post their menus up for the public to check them out, and often, you can explore the vegetarian section in advance, so you’ll be able to tell if there’s something there that you would enjoy.
If not? Well, many will at least stick up their phone number, or they may have a Facebook page where you can engage with them and find out more about their selection. Don’t be afraid to get in touch and ask – you’ll often find great spots for eating out with this method.
Don’t forget to read the reviews, either. These are your best friend when it comes to eating out as a vegetarian; you’ll soon find how seriously the restaurant takes your dietary restrictions and learn about any issues that you might encounter. The menu having vegetarian options isn’t always enough – you want to know you’ll be treated well while you’re there.
Tip 2) Have Multiple Options
Okay, so you’ve found one restaurant that looks and sounds amazing – good to go, right? Well, not quite. I’d never advise going to a strange city with just one restaurant option under your belt because so much can go wrong. Maybe they’ll be full. Maybe they’ll be out of the dish you wanted. Maybe you won’t be able to find the place – or any other number of “maybes” that could spoil your evening.
Have at least two, preferably three or four, options open to you. That way, if you find a place can’t accommodate you for some reason – well, you know where to go next! You won’t end up trying to research half-decent restaurants on your smartphone while navigating a busy city. That’s especially important if you’ve not been to the city before and it’s unfamiliar.
Last June, we took a short break in Toronto for the first time with family. We were looking forward to having dinner during the night in Toronto but when travelling with family -we had to make sure there was somewhere we could all eat together. We saw that there was a number of good vegetarian options in the city. Check out some of these truly incredible options out there. As you can see we were spoilt for choice in a city of this size and were able to pick out a few that the family could enjoy eating in.
This was at one of my son’s favourite restaurant. It’s vegetarian sizzler with cauliflower, plantain and sweet potatoes. The meal was followed by apple cake and ice cream
Tip 3) Consider A Backup
We’ve all been in that uncomfortable position where we’re left hungry because our food plans fell through – an unpleasant combination of disappointed and starving. It’s not fun. It ruins a good night out. Often, you’ll find a halfway satisfactory solution that doesn’t really do the trick for you, but will suffice… still leaving you disappointed overall, even if your stomach is full. A fuel station sandwich or something of the sort.
What I’ve found best, though, is to carry a backup with me when it’s feasible. By that, I mean I’ve got a few tasty and filling snacks available to munch on and tide me through to the next meal.
Obviously, I’m not suggesting this as a strategy every time – if you’re just checking out restaurants near home or you’ve got plenty of options, trust that something will work out or you can head home if it doesn’t. However, if you’re trying to grab food before a long trip or a big event, having something available to eat if it all goes awry can be a lifesaver. There are some amazing vegetarian finger foods you can turn to in moments like this so you’ve always got something to munch on, even if the restaurants let you down. A tub of salad with a fork can also work wonders if you want something light and easy to transport.
I’m not saying that happens a lot these days – places have got a lot better about vegetarianism – but it’s still worth making sure you won’t go hungry if they’re not up to scratch. After all, nobody likes operating on an empty stomach, so make yourself an “emergency packed lunch” and simply pop it back in the fridge and have it the next day if it turns out you don’t need it!
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