Veg*n on the Go...

It’s one thing to be vegan or vegetarian when you are at home, but what about when you’re out? This is an instance where more than one person has told me that they have compromised their diet. I get it. It can be tough sometimes and I acknowledge that. One of my husband’s reservations of going vegan was exactly this. It can be hard finding good food options away from home. So this is how I addressed this topic with him, and now with you.

Never leave the house on an empty stomach. Make sure to eatbreakfast. Eat good quality food that won’t leave you hungry soon after eating. For example, you can start with a smoothie with fruit, nuts, and chia seeds. The nuts and chia seeds will help you feel full longer. Chia seeds are actually known for this. They form a gel when they become moist. This property will help regulate your blood sugar and slow down their digestion. Another good example of a filling breakfast would be oatmeal. I must admit that I never really liked oatmeal, but what I realized was that I didn’t like oats and cinnamon. Maybe I’m just really old-school, but I had a hard time thinking outside of the box. Who knew, but oatmeal takes on a completely different flavor by just changing the toppings. Try: nuts, apples, peanut butter, cocoa, bananas, flax seeds, dried fruit. I love cocoa powder, peanut butter, walnuts, and apples. It tastes like cookie batter! Mix and match the things that you like. There are plenty of other foods that you can eat, but the idea is to eat whole grains and add nuts to your meal for good measure to keep you full longer.

Be prepared. Most functions are planned ahead of time, and so should you. Pack plenty of food and always have healthy snacks with you such as fruits and nuts. When my husband is away at work for a long day, I try to make sure that all of his meals are covered. So, we’ll pack a lunch, snack, and dinner. Then, if his work happens to provide food that he can eat, it’s just a bonus. What about when you go out with your friends and family? First of all, there should be a level of communication. The people in your life should know where you stand on your diet. If people ask you your opinion on where to go, tell them. Remember, you are your own advocate! The awesome thing about picking a vegan friendly restaurant is that EVERYBODY gets to eat.

There are times when I meet-up with girlfriends for a late-night hangout, but again I say…. be prepared. Eat a snack before leaving the house, or if you’re hanging out at someone’s house bring delicious food to share. By the way, good food is a starting point for introducing people to veganism. I think some people has a preconceived notion that vegan food is bland. However, if you bring beautiful and delicious food, they will show an interest. Who can say no to tastey food?!?

Know your alliances! When you’re out and you’re hungry, know which places that you can turn to for a meal. For example, when I’m out, I know that we can always get black bean burritos at Chipotle and noodles at Noodles and Co. How about an App for navigating restaurants? There’s one called, Vegan Express and it breaks down all of the vegan items at common chain restaurants. Granted, not every restaurant is on there, but it’s still handy. Also, don’t be shy asking your waiter for food suggestion. That’s what they’re there for. I’ve had really great experience talking to the staff when eating out. I’ve had employees bring out binders with nutritional information so that I could choose my meal.

Stay educated on the issues. Here is where your ethics come in. Read books, watch videos, and listen to podcasts about the issues of animal exploitation. This will make you a stronger advocate and help you persevere. As I once told my husband, “It’s only one meal.” So, there may be times that you may skip a meal even though you’re hungry, but remember it’s just one meal. If you know what these animals have to go through during their short lives, missing a meal really isn’t a big deal. Feeling hungry is really nothing when you know that you will be eating when you get home.

Another thing I want to point out is that often times these non-veg meals aren’t even that great. So why compromise your diet for sub-par food? As one person who recently went vegetarian told me, eating meat again at a function made her REALLY sick, and she didn’t even make it home before she had to stop the car. So, for this person it wasn’t worth it on two accounts. Not only did she compromise her ethics, but she also got seriously sick to her stomach.

Lastly, if you do make a mistake, don’t fret. No one’s perfect. It’s not a perfect system; animal exploitation is the norm. So, it may take some time to find your groove, but that my friend, is all a part of the process.

Best Wishes!

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