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It's no secret that more and more people are going vegetarian. Americans average 4.2 restaurant meals per week, according to the National Restaurant Association, a figure that translates into more than 1 billion meals prepared outside of the home kitchen each week. Of these consumers, nearly 20 percent are likely to look for a restaurant that serves some vegetarian items.
The motivations for decreasing meat consumption are as numerous as veggie burger varieties but no matter the reason, with numbers like these, chefs have no choice but to extend their menu options to the garden variety.
Here are 5 ways to find great vegetarian options when eating out:
- Check out the Happy Cow.
Before I visit any city and even in my own town I frequent this fabulous Web site to find the best and the brightest in eating vegetarian. All you have to do is type in where you're headed and all the veg-friendly establishments will pop up. The site also lists great health food stores and local farms to visit. - Eat at restaurants that specialize in local ingredients.
You want to make sure that the veggies you eat are as fresh as possible in order to up the pleasure quotient in your food. Eat at restaurants that publicize (and serve) local food, with menu items that list the farms where the ingredients come from so that you know that you're getting the freshest, cleanest, and most nutrient-dense veggies. Even if the restaurant serves meat on the menu, if it specializes in fresh local produce, there will likely be vegetarian menu options that highlight these super tasty ingredients. - Eat ethnic.
Especially with regards to Mexican, Thai, and Indian, there are tons of menu items that are naturally vegetarian. If there aren't any distinctly vegetarian restaurants in your area, this is always a good option. At Mexican restaurants nearly every menu option can use beans instead of meat as the protein source like the bean burrito or bean taco. If you're not interested in the beans, just eat cheese, like the cheese quesadilla. Thai restaurants tend to have a lot of tofu dishes that can serve as your protein source so try the tofu pad thai or the vegetables with peanut sauce and tofu. You can actually substitute tofu in nearly every dish. Indian restaurants are also great for vegetarian options. Try the vegetarian samosas, yummy dough pastries filled with various vegetables, or my personal favorite, the saag paneer, spinach cooked with often homemade cheese and spices like cumin and tumeric. - Look at the menu ahead of time.
If you know you'll be eating at a certain restaurant, look at the menu ahead of time to see your options. That way when the server comes, you'll know what's available. If you live in a larger city, read the Menu Pages to find out the dishes at all your favorite places. - Frequent restaurants that cater to your needs.
Whether you're vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or you like purple foods, find restaurants that have what you're looking for and support their business so that they can continue to serve you.
More on Going Vegetarian:
Thinking of Going Vegetarian? Add 5 Veg Staples to Your Grocery List
Become a Vegetarian for a 30-Day Trial Period
Emeril Green Episode: Vegetarian Paradise
Are you a green hipster looking for all things green and cool? Then you'll love actor and eco-activist Adrian Grenier and his team of environmental experts, who live it up with sustainable style on Planet Green TV'sAlter Eco.
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