Places to Eat Out for a Pant Based Diet

Quick Take

Eating at restaurants can be a bit overwhelming when you first transition to a whole food plant-based diet. But it can be done! And now that folks are venturing more outside of their home after a year staying put, dining out may be top of mind again. Follow our tips for ordering plant-based meals at nearly any type of restaurant.

Before we begin: Get plant-based meals delivered!

Not ready to dine out? That's OK! Get ready-made and delicious plant-based meals delivered by MamaSezz. They arrive fresh and ready to heat and eat so you can enjoy whole food plant-based living from home. Get started today.

Worried you'll never go out to eat again now that you eat WFPB?

How to dine out on a WFPB diet at any restaurant

Key takeaways

Worried you'll never go out to eat again?

vegan menu online

This is a common fear for plant-based beginners. And while this last year it may not have been a problem, as restrictions easy and outdoor dining becomes an option again in warmer areas, you may soon find yourself staring down a menu. The good news is, there are plenty of ways to navigate dining out on a whole food plant-based diet.

To make things easy on yourself, choose vegetarian/vegan or at least veggie-friendly spots when possible. While whole food plant-based restaurant may be harder to come by, you can search vegetarian and vegan restaurants in your area using HappyCow. You'll be more comfortable ordering from servers who understand your dietary preferences.

That said, you won't be choosing the restaurant in every social dining situation and sometimes you may be stuck in an area with not a whole heck of a lot of options. Don't panic! It's all going to be OK.

So what do you order if you want to eat whole food plant-based meals when you go out to eat? Check out our suggestions below:

How to Dine Out on a WFPB Diet: By Restaurant Type

vegan burger

American Bar and Grill

Veggie burger (no egg)
Baked potato (no butter) with corn, beans, or salsa
Fresh salads, sides of brown rice, beans, or fresh vegetables.

Chinese Restaurant

Stir-fried vegetable dish (ask for no oil, no oyster sauce)
Vegetarian noodles soups
Garlic eggplant
Sautéed green beans

Indian Restaurant

Bombay potato
Chana masala (savory chickpea)
Chana saag (spinach and chickpeas)
Dal (savory dried lentils)
Saag aloo (spinach and potato curry)
Tarka dal (lentil stew)
Veggie curry
veggie samosa

Italian Restaurant

Grilled eggplant with marinara
Grilled or steamed veggies
Minestrone soup
Whole grain pasta, if possible
Vegan pizza (no cheese or oil – ask if you can get your favorite veggies, whole wheat crust, sans cheese!)

Japanese Restaurant

Brown rice vegetarian sushi
Udon or soba noodles
Seaweed salad
Miso soup

Mexican Restaurant

Beans, rice, and veggie burritos (no cheese, no sour cream)
Vegetarian chili
Bean and vegetable–based soups

Middle Eastern Restaurant

Hummus and Baba Ghanoush with fresh veggies
Dolmades (grape leaves stuffed with rice)
Tabbouleh (tomato and herb salad)

Thai Restaurant

Fresh veggie spring rolls
Veggie Pad Thai (no egg, no fish sauce, no oil)
Steamed vegetable dishes
Vegetable curries (no fish sauce)

Key Takeaways and Final Tips for Whole Food Plant-Based Dining Out

1. You don't have to go to a "whole food restaurant" to eat whole foods when you go out to eat. Look at the menu online ahead of time if you can so you can get a good idea of what they offer. This will make you more comfortable and make the ordering process go smoother if it's not a super veggie-friendly place.

2. Look for "steamed" "baked" and "grilled" veggie dishes — and ask about oil and any hidden animal products.

3. Be super nice to your server. Sometimes it can be awkward to explain our dietary preferences but a good attitude goes a long way!

Updated 4/15/21

By Ali Brown

Ali is a mom, wife, and nutrition and lifestyle writer and editor. She has her Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies.

Places to Eat Out for a Pant Based Diet

Source: https://www.mamasezz.com/blogs/news/how-to-dine-out-on-a-whole-food-plant-based-diet