I've had a busy, but enjoyable Birthday. I had work related errands to run, so my bf went with me and took me to lunch. We went to Bennigan's, which I had never been to before. I was so happy to be able to order a BOCA BURGER! I skipped the fries and replaced it was a fresh garden salad. Until I saw Boca Burger listed, I had no idea what I could order, because most everything else on the menu contained meat. It felt so good to be able to stay veg while at a restaurant.

As a side note...I've been veg 21 days, and have noticed small changes. My stomach is flater (well, not as round...heh) and the smell of meat cooking makes me queezy. Dare I say I'm proud of me for making the committment and sticking with it?! hehe

:bobo: :nana: :bobo: :nana: :bobo:

vebo feels left out of your celebration, so here:

:vebo: :vebo: :vebo: :vebo: :vebo: :vebo:

Congratulations!

Right on! :up:

Congratulations!!! You'll find that it's not all that difficult to eat vegetarian while dining out. Vegan is a bit trickier, but it can be done too.

:up: :up:

Good for you, I'm really proud of you! :)

woooooow go you!!! :rockon:

:nana: :bobo: :nana:

Dare I say I'm proud of me for making the committment and sticking with it?!

We're all proud of you too!

Dining out can definately be tricky at times. I still get nervous at those times when I'm stuck going to a new restaurant with people, not knowing if there's any veg options. But remember that you can alter some meals to make them veg. And there's always salad.

GOOD JOB!

Also, just as a side note: if you are stuck at a restruant with out veg*n chouses, you can always ask for a salad WITHOUT MEAT, or order a regular sandwich, but ask them to put on the veggies they have and no meat, order pasta with butter sauce or plaine tomatoe sauce etc., fast food is harder, but sit-downs are somewhat simple (though many people on here prefer eating at home or going to a veg*n restraunt)

GOOD JOB!

Also, just as a side note: if you are stuck at a restruant with out veg*n chouses, you can always ask for a salad WITHOUT MEAT, or order a regular sandwich, but ask them to put on the veggies they have and no meat, order pasta with butter sauce or plaine tomatoe sauce etc., fast food is harder, but sit-downs are somewhat simple (though many people on here prefer eating at home or going to a veg*n restraunt)

It's certainly harder to eat at restaurants when you're vegetarian and especially vegan, but not always impossible. You just have to know how and what to order.

I posted this elsewhere: When you know for sure that all the salad dressings where you're eating are not veg*an, or are unsure, you can always ask for a bunch of lemon wedges. Lemon and salt make a perfectly good salad dressing (and a healthier one, too!). In a pinch, you can also use salsa.

Here's a quick guide I found useful in getting me started. Please note that some of this information is a couple years old and things could change, so when there is any doubt, contact the company directly.

http://www.vegetarian-restaurants.net/OtherInfo/FastFoodRest.htm

I like that they even address rennet in cheese, which I do not eat on my path to veganism ;-)

Thanks for all the replies and great advise. :)

http://www.vegetarian-restaurants.net/OtherInfo/FastFoodRest.htm

Thanks for the great link! I just learned Popeye's Red Beans and Rice had "meats" in it. Last week, I had a small container with some of their onion rings (which contains egg and is cooked in oil containing beef tallow). Ugh!


:bobo: < I love bobo!

It is pretty easy to eat out as a vegetarian, however, you never know if they cook your burger on the same grill as regular burgers or if it has touched a meat product.

The main thing is, don't be afraid to ask specific questions. This is your food that you are paying for with your own money, so they need to give you what you ask for. If they can't answer you or accomodate you satisfactorily, go elsewhere. They don't need your business badly enough.

All I have to say is :yes:

Congrats!

Thanks for all the great advise and support. :)

Yes you should be proud!!! :D

I have never liked the smell of meat, but when I went vegetarian, I couldn't say it offended me more. However, I've been vegan for four months now and just recently I had a whiff of someone's turkey sandwich and almost hurled--it was THAT bad. Ugh.

Your first experience was much better than mine. My in-laws like steak restaurants. There was a time when I did too and liked going with them because it meant a really good free meal. Well, not anymore. :D

We went to a Damon's. It was interesting. I ordered a bowl of French onion soup (way too salty) and a garden salad. I didn't think to order a dinner salad without meat. Maybe I did, but it didn't seem to be worth the money and I was in a soup mood. (On the flip side, my SIL ordered a chicken salad and only ate half of it. She never learned the beauty of doggie bags. I cringed when the waiter took it away; Not for the meat, but for the yummy veggies. Blah. I pity her ignorance.)

It seems as though Ive done the steak thing a couple of other times, and haven't had as much of a problem. I'll order a sweet potato and a salad or something like that. (My in-laws, I don't think, have picked up on my vegetarianism. However, they're not always the brightest bulbs in the chandilier, either.)

Friendly's, Denny's and TGI Friday's all have veggie burger options. Friday's also has a meatless Alfredo pasta. Oh, yeah. The Howard Johnson's on Times Square also has a veggie burger with HUGE chunks of veggies. I discovered this when my husband, his aforementioned sister, and I ate there before "The Phantom of the Opera". (I'm glad we went there. Going there was the one thing I wanted to do and got to do on the entire trip. Of course, the trip was for my SIL.)

Fast food isn't too bad. It's better than what it was. At almost any chain salads can be found, at least. I went with a group from school (and a couple of churches) to Florida over spring break for some hurricane relief work. On the way home, we stopped at a Hardee's (aka Carl's Jr.). It was eat a hamburger and fries or possibly go hungry until the next day. Well, my tummy wasn't too happy after. I should have just gone hungry. I don't know if it was from the grease of everything (I started to cut out fast food before meat), or the meat or a combination of the two. Needless to say, Hardee's got some not-nice comments on the comment card. The other vegetarian in the group did the same thing. I also commented via the Web site, just to be sure. I never heard from them. Not even a form letter. It's fine. They will no longer get my business.

On the street I live I can go to nine different restaurants (well, two are Southwest, and three are pizza) and get vegetarian stuff. I found a carryout menu for one and was amazed at all of the different options. I could eat there five or six times and not double.

For me, it's easier and cheaper just to stay home. At least at home I don't have to wear clothes.:D

Laura

Yes you should be proud!!! :D

I have never liked the smell of meat, but when I went vegetarian, I couldn't say it offended me more. However, I've been vegan for four months now and just recently I had a whiff of someone's turkey sandwich and almost hurled--it was THAT bad. Ugh.

The smell of meat definitely makes my tummy want to hurl, too. At one time, I actually thought it smelled gooood. How times have changed!

As a side note, be careful of the french onion soups. They are usually beef broth-based :)

congrats :) and don't worry.. in most restaurants the wait staff is more than happy to answer questions about what is in dishes. The only thing you need to know is to never be afraid to ask what’s in something and to never be afraid to ask for a substitution :)

What I always find amusing is when one asks for some vegetarian suggestions, and they answer something like: "Well, we have some good salmon today." :-/

The only thing you need to know is to never be afraid to ask what’s in something and to never be afraid to ask for a substitution :)

And that's what I'll do from now on.

Thanks for all the great replies! Your support, knowledge and experience is much appreciated!

:bobo: :nana: :vebo: :nana: :bobo: