How To Eat Out Without Eating Meat

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Written by Jenny Rose Edwards

Eating out as a reducetarian has become so much easier in the past few years. There are extensive vegetarian (and even vegan) menus in restaurants, and owners are a lot more willing to cater for meatless diets, too.

Despite the fact that times are changing, it can still be tricky to find suitable meals in some restaurants and eateries. So we have created a list of top tips for eating out without eating meat!

READ THE MENU BEFORE LEAVING

This is likely something that you do regardless of eating a reducetarian diet or not. It’s a vital part of eating out when you have dietary requirements, as online menus tend to have filters where you can adjust the menu to your diet.

CALL THE RESTAURANT AHEAD OF TIME

Another thing to do before you head to the restaurant is call them ahead of time. It’s ideal that you call them a few days before, as sometimes restaurants are willing to create something that caters to your specific needs.

DOWNLOAD APPS

Apps like HappyCow and Vegan Xpress are brilliant for finding nearby restaurants and eateries that will serve meatless options. You can usually filter the apps by your specific diet, and sometimes they will have additional information, such as photographs of the food!

BE CLEAR & POLITE

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Of course, this is something that should be necessary for everyone that eats out! Being kind and patient can go such a long way when you are requesting something new. Particularly when travelling to different parts of the world, the idea of meatless dishes can be quite a new concept, so it’s important to always be clear and polite.

GO FOR ASIAN CUISINE

Indian restaurants will, more often than not, have a huge variety of vegetarian dishes to choose from. They are known for having delicious side dishes with ingredients such as okra, spinach, aubergine and more. Eating meatless can be so much more fun and exciting when you broaden your choice of cuisines! Japanese restaurants are also a great choice for reducetarians, you may find vegetable sushi, vegetable yakisoba, miso soup, and lots of other interesting dishes.

GET CREATIVE WITH SIDE DISHES

Sometimes it’s necessary to get creative with the options that you already have. Order bread, french fries (if they aren’t fried in the same oil as meat), olives, salad, and make yourself a main dish!