Video:Tips for Eating Out as a Vegan

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Transcript:Tips for Eating Out as a Vegan

Are you sick of going out and having nothing to eat on the menu except for undressed, uncooked vegetables? Eating out as a vegan does not need to be a painful affair. With simple planning you can enjoy eating out again.

This is Jason Smiles and this is About.com. Today I'm going to go over five simple tips for eating out as a vegan.

Plan Ahead With Menus and Location When Eating Out as a Vegan

Plan ahead: You can't do enough planning. Nowadays you can find numbers and menus listed online for specific restaurants. Even find reviews from other vegans online. you're welcome to call ahead of time. See if you can talk to a server or a chef to ensure you will leave satisfied.

Know your location: Know several different restaurants in the area that accommodate vegans and vegetarians just in case you're let down by your first choice.

Ask Questions When Eating Out as a Vegan

Don't be afraid to ask questions: Especially on specific menu items, you can make sure to ask all the ingredients involved in their preparation to ensure that everything in the menu item is vegan.

Substitutions: if you're eating out at a non-vegan establishment, see if substitutions can be made to specific items to make it vegan. For example, if you're eating a salad that usually comes with a dairy-based dressing, ask to sub vegetable oil or olive oil.

Have a Backup Plan When Eating Out as a Vegan

Snack: when all else fails, you have a chef that won't cooperate, your friend picked the restaurant and there's no vegan options, bring a snack. Don't let yourself starve.

Remember, planning ahead is the key to eating out as a vegan. For more information, go to About.com. I'll see you next time.