Living Vegan For Dummies - Alexandra Jamieson [116]
You may not find organic, whole-grain, seasonal foods in every school cafeteria, but you can still often put together a healthy meal. Here are a few ideas:
Pasta primavera with no cheese
Tortilla chips, salsa, and guacamole
Veggie sandwich without the cheese
Green salads
Bean salads
Rice with vegetables mixed in
Couscous with pita bread and hummus
Eating vegan at your workplace
Eating at work is often easier on the wallet (and on the vegan) if you bring your own lunch instead of heading to the cafeteria. That’s not always an option, however, and it can be nice to have someone else take care of lunch once in a while. If your cafeteria currently offers no vegan dishes, talk with the chef about ideas and recipes she can incorporate into the menu. Many vegan dishes would even be appealing to nonvegan employees, including stir-fried Chinese vegetables and tofu, vegan soups, and an expanded salad bar.
Consider organizing a potluck lunch with your co-workers. Every person can bring in a different dish to share, and you can ask that some people try their hand at vegan cooking. This easy activity can encourage camaraderie and can open others up to eating more veggie-based meals.
Incredible Ideas for Eating Anywhere
Even fast-food joints can offer vegans a snack or small meal. In general, these eateries aren’t the best option for vegans who care about how corporations treat animals, but sometimes we have to break the rules — especially when driving across the country or when stuck in vegetable-hostile territory.
In this section, I provide you tips and ideas on how to find vegan meals and snacks in national chains, sandwich shops, and fast-food joints. Be sure to ask for exact ingredients from these establishments, because the servers may have limited knowledge of what goes into the food.
Fast-food chains
Veggie burgers at national fast-food chains are often vegan, but make sure to ask about the ingredients first. The patties may include cheese, caseinate (a protein found in cow’s milk), or eggs. Many outlets serve potato products like fries, baked potatoes, and hash brown patties that, while fried and greasy, are usually vegan. Salads with a vinaigrette dressing are increasingly available on many menus, but be sure to choose one without grilled meat or added cheese. Many chains offer chili in the colder months, but opt for the veggie chili without dairy. Ice cream parlors often offer dairy- and gelatin-free ices and sorbets, but do be sure to specifically ask about the ingredients before purchasing.
Sandwich shops
Sandwich shops and fast-casual chains offer every kind of animal product imaginable to stuff between two slices of bread. However, you can get by in most places by requesting a veggie-only grinder or hoagie. Some locations may have protein-rich hummus, creamy avocado slices, or guacamole to slather on your sandwich. Just be sure to skip the mayo and cheese. You also can snack on pickles, salads, potato chips, and fruit to fill your belly at these spots.
You also could run down to the health food store and grab a container of fake meat deli slices to bulk up that fast-food sandwich! If a diner has grilled portabellas or other mushrooms on the menu, ask for extra veggies and a couple of slices of toast to make your own mushroom burger.
Pizza parlors and Mexican joints
Many pizza parlors can make a veggie pizza without cheese and load it with extra mushrooms, olives, and peppers. Bread sticks or garlic knots made with olive oil instead of butter can be dipped in vegan marinara sauce for a yummy, filling snack. Ask whether the chef can offer you a side of vegetable toppings like zucchini, mushrooms, or broccoli.
Mexican joints often have rice, tortillas, salsa, and fresh vegetables to create a vegan taco salad. Other options would be to make a taco salad with a fried tortilla