An easy way to try new foods is to go to restaurants that offer a variety of vegetarian entrées. Eating Chinese? Try the bean curd (tofu) dishes, or ask for vegetable fried rice (without eggs) and garlic eggplant. Going Italian? Try marinara, arabiata, or garlic and oil over spinach fettuccini. Having Mexican? Order bean burritos, tacos, and tamales minus the cheese (make sure there’s no lard in the beans), or make a hearty meal out of refried beans mixed with Spanish rice and served with fresh tortillas, salsa, and guacamole. In Indian restaurants, you’ll find fabulous vegetable curries, lentil soup, potato-filled samosas, and other delights. Japanese, Ethiopian, Middle Eastern, Thai, and other ethnic restaurants also offer delicious vegan items.

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• If you’re stuck at a behind-the-times restaurant without much veg variety, ask if the chef can whip you up a vegetarian entrée. Most restaurants will gladly accommodate special requests, and you’ll be surprised at the creativity of some chefs!

• If you’re attending a catered affair, discreetly catch the server before your food has arrived and ask him or her to remove the meat from your plate and add an extra vegetable to it.

• When dining at someone else’s house, let your hosts know in advance that you’re a vegetarian. Offer to bring a veggie dish to share.

• Traveling? Don’t forget to let travel agents know about your vegetarian preferences in advance. Airlines will provide you with a vegan meal that will put standard airline fare to shame. Be sure to order at least 24 hours in advance, either through your travel agent or the airline’s reservation line.

“Where can I eat when I’m on the road?”

Bean burritos, tacos, and baked potato bars are sprouting up all over. The Hard Rock Café, Denny’s, Ruby Tuesday’s, and TGI Friday boast briskly selling veggie burgers on their menus. In response to demand, baseball parks across the country are offering veggie burgers and dogs to sports fans.

ASK THE EXPERTS:
Carla Bennett, author of Living in Harmony