Eating Out

At first glance, eating out as a vegan can seem fairly hard. While many cafes, restaurants and other eateries seem to be getting more accustomed to catering for vegetarians, getting good vegan food when eating out may appear more difficult at times.

Some vegetarian options are suitable for vegans, yet for some reason, many vegetarian dishes are smothered with copious amounts of cheese! Although I’ve had to have chips and salad when eating out a few times (which in all honesty doesn’t bother me!), I can’t think of a single time I’ve gone somewhere and they haven’t been able to cater for me.

Some tips:

·        If at all possible, phone up ahead. You’ll find they already have vegan options (or dishes that are easily converted to being vegan); that there are no vegan options but the chef will kindly make you something suitable; or, in the rare, worst case scenario, they will struggle to serve up a good vegan meal – but by phoning you didn’t waste time going there only to be disappointed.

·        Make your dietary requirements very clear. Having nut and sesame seed allergies, I’ve always been used to asking questions when ordering food. Make sure the waiting staff know what you can’t eat. Don’t feel bad about politely asking questions – if you think that garlic bread may contain dairy, ask!

·        Consider different cuisines when eating out. I’ve often found there’s at least one thing on the menu at Indian restaurants that’s suitable for vegans, though do check that your meal won’t be cooked with ghee (clarified butter). Chinese restaurants tend to also be quite good, as boiled rice and various vegetable dishes, and sometimes bean curd (tofu) are often options. With Italian cuisine, watch out for egg pasta, and check there’s no animal ingredients in pizza bases. If the pasta’s OK, then there will likely be a tomato or vegetable based sauce it can be served with, and most places will let you request pizza without any cheese.

There are, of course, many vegetarian / vegan restaurants out there. I recommend checking out http://www.happycow.net/ which lists many places that are exclusively vegetarian or vegan.

My Veganism

It was sometime during November 2007 that I went from being a lacto-ovo vegetarian to becoming a vegan. Unlike my vegetarianism (which started October 2006), going vegan wasn’t an overnight thing. It was a fairly gradual transition. In hindsight, I could have, and really should have, made the change sooner. (How best to go about going vegan is something I plan to cover in another post in the near future.)

So, three years and two months of veganism. Has it changed me as a person?

No. But very much Yes.

Going vegan isn’t joining a cult. I’m still very much me. Yet it has changed me. It’s changed the way I perceive certain things, especially in regards to the rights of other sentient beings. I honestly feel it has made me more compassionate, more empathetic towards animals, people and planet.

On a practical level, it very much shapes the way I live. And that’s not just avoiding animal products in food, clothing and toiletries – it’s avoiding cruelty in as many areas of my life as I can. It’s not supporting animal circuses, for example. It’s getting involved in vegan and animal rights outreach and activism to try and create positive change.

So yes, being vegan has had a profound effect on my life.

I’m sure many will agree with me. And many will disagree. Your veganism, like pretty much everything, is personal to you.

Please feel free to share how veganism has affected you as a person, or your lifestyle.

First Post...

Welcome to my Vegan Life and Living blog! I plan to post about many aspects of vegan life, from vegan reviews and recipes, to ethics and outreach.

I've been a vegan now for over three years. There are many reasons why people choose a plant-based diet. For me, it's the belief that animals aren't ours to exploit that made me make the switch.

The blog will be updated regularly, so please do check back!