Restaurants
Eating at a restaurant is supposed to be enjoyable, right? As a raw vegan I kind of forgot that at first. What would I eat? I imagined myself staring at the menu while my hungry friends waited, thinking "Not again!" I wondered, should I order something and then push the food around on the plate? I was so anxious about it I started turning down invitations to go out!
After being stressed I decided to do something about it. I discovered that there are plenty of solutions available when you open yourself up to the possibilities.
Here are a few tips on handling restaurant situations when you're a raw vegan:
Get over it! Quit being shy or embarrassed about your raw vegan lifestyle and remember you are not the only one who eats differently than most. We all know people who have food allergies or intolerances or have specific dietary needs. Restaurants are used to dealing with special diets.
Find out where you'll be dining and check out their menu ahead of time; most restaurants have them posted on their websites. Then, call the restaurant and explain your situation and ask if they can accommodate your dietary needs.
If you're didn't know where you'd be dining in advance, excuse yourself while everyone else is perusing the menu and go talk to your wait person and/or the chef. I've always found them to be extremely accommodating. Sometimes the chef is happy to be challenged with something out of the routine.
Be prepared and bring your "restaurant bag" with you. Mine is a small bag filled with goodies I enjoy, like nutritional yeast, dulse flakes, flax oil and enzymes. For added deliciousness, go to YouBars.com and design your own yummy bar. They're great for your restaurant bag.
You can also have a big smoothie or salad before you leave the house. This way you be able to relax and enjoy the experience if you end up going somewhere with limited choices for someone on a raw vegan diet.
Ultimately, going out to a restaurant should be fun, so don't stress yourself out. Make the best food choices you can and treat yourself every now and then. If you see something you've just got to have, order it! Then, eat it, enjoy it and be done with it. No guilt, no remorse and definitely no bad self talk. You can get right back on track tomorrow.
