Irrespective of how committed you might be with the vegan lifestyle, ordering food at a nonvegan restaurant can be very difficult at times. You don’t know for sure what they are using to cook your food, and there is always the chance that the vegetarian dish you ordered is not exactly vegan.
Vegetarians do eat and drink dairy items made from milk, but vegans do not. So, how should a vegan go about socializing when they are not accompanied by other vegans like themselves? There are a few key tips to keep in mind which should solve that problem for you.
Take Everyone to a Vegan Restaurant
If the group does not consist exclusively of vegans, then you may need to accompany them occasionally to nonvegan restaurants as well. However, if you are willing to go through the ordeals of ordering and eating vegan food at a nonvegan place, while being surrounded by people who are eating meat right in front of you, they should also be willing to accompany you for vegan meals from time to time.
Express your opinion and take them to a well rated vegan place. If the food is good enough, they might even be more willing to try more vegan options the next time you mingle. If you are not familiar with nearby vegan places known for their quality of food, just search online for vegan restaurants near me with your phone’s location turned on. You should be able to find all the information you need from there.
Talk to the Chef
If you do find yourself in a place that’s not vegan, don’t be shy about asking to talk to the chef. Be polite and ask them gently about the best vegan options they can cook up for you. Once the chef is aware that you are not going to eat anything with animal derived food in it, they should be able to help you find the best options that the restaurant can provide. Given that the vegan lifestyle has become quite popular in recent years, most chefs are already experienced in cooking up the occasional cruelty free meals on request.
Look through the Menu for a Vegan Section
Some places do have a dedicated section for vegans on the menu, while others only have a vegetarian section. Look through the menu well to see if they have a vegan food section. If not, see what dishes are on offer under the vegetarian section and ask about the ingredients used in any of the vegetarian dishes you like. Even if the restaurant does not have a dedicated vegan menu, you should be able to find salads and mixed bowls under the vegetarian section that do not have anything nonvegan in them.
As a final piece of advice, it is recommended that you never order any dish in a foreign cuisine restaurant that you do not recognize. For example, the mushroom claypot is an excellent vegan option for a nutritious meal, but it is not vegan or even vegetarian by origin. Therefore, you may find your mushroom claypot filled with clam and shellfish residue, because they simply lifted the meat out of your serving!
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