Vegan Resources

Interested in becoming a vegan and making a difference in the lives of animals? Visit www.chooseveg.com to see how you can make the switch to a more humane lifestyle.

Want to find other vegan or vegetarian-friendly restaurants in the area and come up with your own top dining picks? Visit http://vegohio.com for humane dining options in your area.

Think you haven’t had vegan food before or you won’t be able to stomach any? You’d be surprised how many foods in your local grocery store are vegan, visit www.peta.org/accidentallyVegan to see which ones have been vegan all along and you didn’t even know it!

Interested in cruelty-free shopping? Concerned about whether or not your makeup is vegan or not, go to http://caringconsumer.com to learn how veganism can be more than just a dietary change.

How do you know if a food item is vegan or not? Click here to see which animal ingredients can be found in everyday food products.

Vegan Dining Tips
Don’t be afraid to veganize a restaurant’s menu options. It doesn’t hurt to ask if substitutions and omissions can be made; if you don’t ask, you’ll never be able to be a functioning vegan in this city. Also, if you don’t see any vegan items on the menu, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they don’t exist. For example, many places have veggie burgers upon request, but for whatever reason, they don’t list them on their menus. So ask...and you might receive!

Be informed. A lot of ethnic cuisines such as Indian, Thai, Japanese and Chinese, use animal ingredients that aren’t well-known, so it’s easy to be misled by the wait staff regarding the integrity of some dishes. If you plan on going to a certain restaurant, just make sure you are familiar with the menu’s glossary. It’ll make things easier on you and the restaurant staff. This also applies to fast food restaurants, knowing ahead of time what is vegan friendly, before you are in front of the drive-thru box, will be less frustrating for you and the others behind in line.

I always carry vegan non-dairy creamers in my purse, just in case if I need a cup of coffee and the establishment where I am doesn’t have any, I won’t be screwed. I also always have some vegan chocolate with me, so that I don’t feel left out when I need something sweet to eat.

I’ve found, when I am in the company of “layman people” who have no comprehension of the definition of vegan, that in order to save time and me from pulling their hair out and so that things can go smoother, when instead of saying “I can’t have any animal products, I’m a vegan,” that it’s best to say, “I’m allergic to...” (insert whatever animal product you’re trying to avoid). For whatever reason, people get the concept of food allergies and not the concept of humane food choices. Go figure.

Vegan Shopping Tips
Kroger carries a lot of vegan products in its special health-food sections (both frozen and dry goods). Check to see if your location does and if it doesn’t, most stores will try to get products in, if you just ask management. The Hyde Park location has an excellent olive bar that has exotic vegan options by the pound, such as curried couscous, wheat berry salad and hummus. Multiple locations.

The Clifton Natural Foods store carries vegan groceries, vitamins, beauty products and even has homemade vegan baked goods such as cookies and a killer carrot cake that you have to try. 169 W. McMillan St., Cincinnati, OH 45219. (513) 961-6111.

Wild Oats Marketplace carries a wide variety of vegan products and even has a deli case that has vegan options great for potlucks, or just for a quick dinner at home. Wild Oats also makes a decadent vegan chocolate cake. Multiple locations.

Last update: 26-06-2007 06:42

Published in : Magazine Items, Health