;) TIPS for EATING OUT

[aubrey]

Hi, friends!

I got to thinking about eating out the other day. This weekend, the boyfriend and I have plans to eat out with friends and I met up with my sister for dinner out last night. Kansas City, though a wonderful and vibrant city, has very few vegan and vegetarian eateries, let alone, no raw ones!

My sister is a cheese and heavy food enthusiast. She insisted we go to dinner at Brio, a Tuscan restaruant. They really didn't have many raw things to eat on their menu.

I did find a wonderful salad there, though, made of romaine, olives, and other veggies. I had them bring me a a lemon and some EVOO to use as dressing while my sister dined on yucky lobster bisque and spinach artichoke dip and bread. I was amazed at how I craved none of this while watching her eat (I can't have dairy anyway, due to allergy), but got to thinking...how hard is it for others around here to be social and go out to eat?

I thought I would start this thread so that anyone can add their helpful tips, hints, and suggestions for anyone who is curious about how to manage eating out at a cooked food restaurant, and perhaps even people looking for fresh ideas might be able to find them here. In a world where people are always on the go, and the customary time to socialize is via eating out, I figured maybe we all could brainstorm!

[RawVee]

What I love is that I feel so great after I eat raw. Whereas, other people eating SAD food feel bloated, tired, and uncomfortable when they stuff themselves on cooked food. All I think about it how I'll feel *after* if I eat cooked. That's all it takes. :)

That salad sounds yummy. I think it was Victoria Boutenko's book Green for Life that had a great suggestion to make up little cards to give to the chef, explaining that you're a raw vegan, and making a huge list of raw veggies that they could make you a nice salad with. She said that most chefs are happy to create something off menu and she's gotten some fantastic salads out of it. I'd just suggest really specifying that nothing is marinated, roasted, etc.

[trinity082482]

What I love is that I feel so great after I eat raw. Whereas, other people eating SAD food feel bloated, tired, and uncomfortable when they stuff themselves on cooked food. All I think about it how I'll feel *after* if I eat cooked. That's all it takes. :)



I'm the same way. I keep reminding my self that raw feels soo good and if I eat non raw foods I won't be feeling so beautiful afterwards. Many times this way of thinking actually does help me during my times of struggle.
:)

[trinity082482]

Hi, friends!

I got to thinking about eating out the other day. This weekend, the boyfriend and I have plans to eat out with friends and I met up with my sister for dinner out last night. Kansas City, though a wonderful and vibrant city, has very few vegan and vegetarian eateries, let alone, no raw ones!

My sister is a cheese and heavy food enthusiast. She insisted we go to dinner at Brio, a Tuscan restaruant. They really didn't have many raw things to eat on their menu.

I did find a wonderful salad there, though, made of romaine, olives, and other veggies. I had them bring me a a lemon and some EVOO to use as dressing while my sister dined on yucky lobster bisque and spinach artichoke dip and bread. I was amazed at how I craved none of this while watching her eat (I can't have dairy anyway, due to allergy), but got to thinking...how hard is it for others around here to be social and go out to eat?

I thought I would start this thread so that anyone can add their helpful tips, hints, and suggestions for anyone who is curious about how to manage eating out at a cooked food restaurant, and perhaps even people looking for fresh ideas might be able to find them here. In a world where people are always on the go, and the customary time to socialize is via eating out, I figured maybe we all could brainstorm!


I wanted to add to your post also that when I go out to eat I try to have some water and a salad. I've been surprised many times to see that some restaurants have dehydrated foods that are raw.. but I never really noticed because I always thought legally restaurants had to sell food that is cooked. My experience out in the world of food is so difference. I pay attention to things I never would have noticed ever in my life.

[holisticfox]

Buffets are easier. They've usually got a salad section and a fruit section. I went to the Ponderosa (Rutland, VT) with my sweetheart a few days ago and they had a lovely assortment of veggies, and even whole fresh apples. The waitress was looking at me really funny the whole time, but she probably just figured I was watching my weight. No one ever expects the fat chick to eat a salad. No, we eat mountains of bread and meat and cheese... But that's a different topic.

[aenea]

ooo KC, I live in Kansas near wichita not tooo far from me:) Yeah i've been wondering how to eat out and what not. I Haven't started the diet yet still waiting for the book comes on the 6th woohoo. Always good to run across these tips though thanks!

[SuzieQ]

:) Hi! I went raw three weeks ago and I ate out to eat with a girlfriend and chose to eat SAD. I was so sick! I grew up around KC so I understand your dilemma!
I am almost afraid to go out to eat at this point. I feel very vulnerable at this point. I feel like I would make a bad choice.

I wish you the best heath and sucess in your quest for raw food in KC.

[aubrey]

Rawvee: EXCELLENT idea! Thank you!

Trinity: I know what you mean...you do look at the world differently once you start eating raw. You realize just how few options people are REALLY given when they go out to eat, and it really makes one want to raise some consciousness.

Holistic Fox: we have an amazing Casino on the Missouri River up here (Ameristar) where they have an enormous buffet, and a large raw salad bar. Last time my boyfriend's family took us to lunch there, I remember thinking, "Thank Goodness!"...the only thing is, sometimes, when everyone is hitting the dessert bar and showing up to the table with your old favorites, that's when I wish I would have stashed some raw fudge balls in my purse. I just try and remember that it may look good, but once you go raw, it just really doesn't TASTE good anymore.

Aenea: Hi! Good luck with your journey into raw...yeah, the Midwest is not the optimal place for raw foodies, but it can be done...I am determined! Do they have any health food stores in Wichitah?

SuzieQ: I know what you mean...only at dessert time am I tempted. I am thinking the trick might be to order fresh fruit or berries, and if they don't have that, then maybe bring a back up of your own, whatever your vulnerability is...mine is for sure chocolate!

[rawwannabe]

Honestly, that's the hardest part for me. Our solution has been to only go out once in awhile...which kinda stinks.

Good for you, though!

[JGex]

I always look for a Jason's Deli..... there's one in Lawrence, KS that we always go to when we are there for Wakarusa Music Festival. There are all sorts of stuff for the SAD eaters with us, and most of the tremendous salad bar is organic. They also serve fruit plates.

[Sharon in Colorado]

Thanks for the tip. A Jason's deli popped up here, but I never went in. I know about most deli's, used to go to them all the time, and don't ever remember healthy food being served there!

[beanmonkee]

Aubrey, if you find any raw places in KC, let me know. If you haven't been to Eden Alley on the Plaza (in the basement of Unity Temple), you should check it out. They don't have any raw entrees, but I bet if enough people requested some raw menu options, they would do a raw special or something. They're great there. I was there last weekend, and I had their green juice (cucumber, lemon, apple, and maybe that was all?) and a salad. I had also broken my raw diet at lunch by eating almost an entire box of Annie's Mac and Cheese, so I didn't feel very good. Oops.

If you want to explore raw options in the area, I'm from around here (obviously from the previous paragraph), and I would love to go exploring with you. I'm only on day 2 of my 30 days, and I'm already craving chocolate. And it's too cold to want to go to Whole Foods and see if they have any raw stuff. Boo.

Also, there is a Jason's Deli around 119th and Metcalf. It's in that area near Bed Bath and Beyond, I think.

[sherahtaylor]

Ah yes...this is one of the hardest things I've had to deal with since going raw. Whenever we go on vacation we'd always carefully budget so that we could have fun eating out and I enjoyed that sooo much.

I went to McGrath's a while back, and looked at all the things they had to offer in the entree's, etc - I noticed the ingredients such as pineapple, olives, cranberries, raisins...and then wrote it all down on a napkin and asked the waitress to put it all together and make a salad, whatever they had available. I got a MOUNTAIN of a salad that was delicious, but dry - I didn't think to bring dressing and had a lemon, but it still wasn't enough to satisfy that craving for something good tasting that your brain seems to expect when going out. I'll have to get one of those cards, that sounds like a good idea.

[SuzieQ]

Thanks for the ideas! You have all been an inspiration to me. I am going to make Alissa's rasberry dressing to take with me to a restraunt tonight and order a "raw" salad. I hope it works!
Good luck everyone. Thanks for your support.

[aubrey]

I always look for a Jason's Deli..... there's one in Lawrence, KS that we always go to when we are there for Wakarusa Music Festival. There are all sorts of stuff for the SAD eaters with us, and most of the tremendous salad bar is organic. They also serve fruit plates.

Yes! That is a great thing to mention! There is also one in Westport, and I do go there from time to time. Good call. I go to Wakarusa each year, too. A friend of mine's husband plays in a great soul/funk/rock/blues band there. :)

[aubrey]

[QUOTE=beanmonkee] If you want to explore raw options in the area, I'm from around here (obviously from the previous paragraph), and I would love to go exploring with you. I'm only on day 2 of my 30 days, and I'm already craving chocolate. And it's too cold to want to go to Whole Foods and see if they have any raw stuff. Boo. [QUOTE]

I have been to Eden Alley, and really enjoy going there. They are also very accomodating. I would love to go exploring with you! Yay! Raw Food Friend!

About the chocolate thing...someone recommended to me the Fudge Balls in Alissa's book, and I made them last night! They are excellent! You should try them...they fixed my chocolate craving. Chocolate cravings, I have learned, also come from a magnesium deficiency, so you might want to find some supplements or eat foods higher in magnesium.

As for Whole Foods or Wild Oats, they have a lot of raw stuff. Wild Oats has an excellent bulk bin area full of raw nuts and seeds and dried fruits (if you don't have a dehydrator yet), and they also carry raw nut butters in the peanut butter aisle. You can also find great fresh frozen organic fruits with no sugar added, and they have a great bulk spice area where you can find many different raw herbs and spices to liven up your dishes. The only thing they don't have is RAW carob powder...I had to order that online. (They only had roasted). Send me a message, and perhaps we can work up a time to go explore raw food in KC!

[aubrey]

didn't think to bring dressing and had a lemon, but it still wasn't enough to satisfy that craving for something good tasting that your brain seems to expect when going out. I'll have to get one of those cards, that sounds like a good idea.

Once a month, a big group of us go out and try a new restaurant in KC, or revisit an old favorite. Tonight, we are going to the Golden Ox, a steak place. I am going to take a card tonight...and my own dressing. I'll let you all know how that turns out. If you can eat raw at a steak joint, I'll be convinced that you can do it anywhere!

Thanks to everyone for being so collaborative! This is great, and keep the suggestions, tips, and hints coming!

[RedOrchid]

I live in Topeka, so it's sooooo cool to get ideas for around here. I just thought I'd drop in and mention that I'm totally in love with the Merc in Lawrence. I know that they aren't a restaurant and I never seem to make it there in time to find out what they have in their deli, but they are a great co-op. I've been so impressed, and it's been a blessing to me that they take food stamps, since I happen to use them. I was also really surprised to find the organic produce at Supertarget in Lawrence and Dillons here in Topeka was really affordable. I even bought extra bananas because they were 99 cents a pound at the merc and then 69 cents a pound at Supertarget! I never imagined I'd be able to find organic bananas cheaper at Target!

I'm so glad you all mentioned Jason's Deli! We are just getting one here in Topeka and that might be fun to go there for Valentine's day or something. :)

Another place I love is Chipotle. I like to go and get a salad with guac and salsa. They have the best guacamole I've ever had! It can be a little pricey, though.

[chilove]

Bring some raw dressing, some diced avocado and some flax crackers with you and order a large salad. Very satisfying!

The best bet for raw is Mexican! Order a large plate of lettuce and tomatoes, with guac (be sure to make sure that they don't put sour cream in it, if they do, just ask for plain avocado) and pico de gallo on the side. Put the guac and pico de gallo on the lettuce and mix up. It is super yummy and satisfying. A lot of salsas are made with stewed tomatoes, so be sure to ask before you have some. Pico de gallo is always raw.

All the best,

Audrey
www.rawhealing.com

[aubrey]

[QUOTE=RedOrchid] I even bought extra bananas because they were 99 cents a pound at the merc and then 69 cents a pound at Supertarget! I never imagined I'd be able to find organic bananas cheaper at Target!
QUOTE]

That is awesome! I will have to go check out the Super Target by my place!

The boyfriend and I ended up staying in last night...we thought about it, and why spend all that money to eat out when we have food at home? I know there are social aspects to going out to eat, but sometimes maybe its best to also stop and think whether that is something you really want!

Last night, we ended up staying in, and I made squash noodles with my own raw tomato sauce...I messed up the sauce a little, though...I put the same amount of onion in it as I would have with cooked sauce, and the onion was way too overpowering! LOL! So I ate about half of it and then went for another guilt free slice of Anne Wigmore's banana cream pie!

Thanks for all the tips...keep 'em coming!

[aubrey]

Did the notecard thing and it worked great!!! :D I got an awesome salad out of it at Red Robin!!

[christiahall]

I like the idea about giving the note to the chef and asking him to prepare something for you that is completly raw. Has anyone else done this before? Is it inconsiderate? The hardest thing for me on this diet is that I don't want to be a pain in the butt.

[salsababy]

I think that American style rest. that have a bit of everything is easier to find something raw than a particular style. For example, I was very suprised to be taken to vegetarian places only to find that they only serve tofu, rice, pop, etc. No fruits and no veggies. Not even stir-fry. You would think a vegetarian rest. would have fresh produce (even in their dishes) but the places I went to didn't. Weird. :(

[aenea]

I find that at least around where I live, the individuals are pretty nice about letting you break some stuff in. Like say you buy a salad from them, but want to use your own dressing, just bring a small container with your stuff in it. Or if you know they can't provide you fresh fruit chop some up and bring it with you. Just make sure and still buy something from them and still live a tip:)

[aenea]

oh and i also forgot yes they do have a health food store!! It's called Green Acres. Also Dillons and Wal-mart both have a very small organic section in their stores. Sams also has some stuff figured i'd use it for things I need to buy in bulk to save money.

[RawVee]

I like the idea about giving the note to the chef and asking him to prepare something for you that is completly raw. Has anyone else done this before? Is it inconsiderate? The hardest thing for me on this diet is that I don't want to be a pain in the butt.


Christia;

You aren't being a pain in the butt. Believe me, chefs get requests that are way more high maintenance than that (I know a lot of chefs, including my bro). The hardest thing on this diet isn't that you don't want to be a pain in the butt, but that you have to know you are WORTH this, and you DESERVE to be happy and healthy!!! :) Don't think about what anyone else thinks, because this is for you. If the chef is going to freak about making you a *salad*, then he or she is clearly in the wrong business. A lot of chefs welcome the chance to be creative and deviate from what's on the menu.

[aubrey]

I am always incredibly amazed at how unhealthy many vegetarians are...I remember years ago when I tried to be a vegetarian and was taken off the diet by my doctor for being severely anemic how I blamed the diet...really, I should have blamed myself. Me and the vegetarians I hung out with ate nothing but ptoato chips and other "vegetarian" junk foods. And some vegetarian restaurants are no better...

[ChiChi]

I went away for my birthday this weekend in las Vegas. I told myselp that I was going to eat whatever i wnted because it was my birthday and I was away and I had fasted for 21 days and have been completly raw for the rest of January after that and I would go back to becoming raw after that. So i did eat everything I wanted for three days and I do mean everything. I did not feel sick or bloated but I just knew that I had gained 10 punds in one weekend by the time I got back home. I weiged in today and I was surprised to see that I had lost 3 pounds instead of gaining any. :D .

[beanmonkee]

I just got back from having a successful raw meal at the Cheesecake Factory. I ordered the portabella mushroom sandwich un-grilled with just the tomato and lettuce, and I asked for guacamole without the chips or sour cream on the side (which I spread on the mushroom). They even brought it out in a lettuce bun.

They also had build your own Thai lettuce wraps that would work.

[aubrey]

Awesome! That sounds extremely yummy! And the mushroom is a good winter food for us here in the midwest...catching up on all the vitamin D we can't get because its not fun to go out in the sun!

[Morn]

Ruby Tuesdays and Big Boy's always have a salad bar. I also like to go to japenese restaurants and order vegtable sushi and a salad. I love fresh ginger and eat a ton of it on top of my sushi! It will depend upon the restaurant, but many will make them without the rice if you want. I choose to go to restaurants that will acccomodate me. Sometimes I do feel ackward though as if I am asking some huge favor and it seems to draw a lot of attention to me. It seems every restaurant I go to I am always creating my own meal off the menu. So sometimes it is just easier to eat before you go, (you can eat light and then when you get to the restaurant order a dinner salad).

[tvillemom]

I always keep a baggie at my home of soaked sunflower seeds....I soak my seeds overnight.....and then during the next day, I soak my seeds in Bragg's and then dehydrate them until they are crispy.....YUMMO! These are a great addition to any "plain" salad.
I also LOVE to slice and pit some dates...and then stuff them with either almond butter or plain dehydrated almonds!! A great, simple dessert....and you definitely won't feel deprived, AND they are easy to carry with you (they won't melt like fudge balls!)
Wendi

[Lucy]

I would like to ask as much help as possible to how to deal with my mother in law's dinners. She is wonderful,but a MEAT/PORK/ SAUSAGE and evrything eater.She trys to accomodate me,but does'nt work very much.Normally she makes a small salad and a cooked food,and I don't know how to deal with her because she HATES vegetarians/vegans and raw fooders the most.
She likes me very much,but she doesn't agree with my way of thinking and eating. Help me please.What should I do?
And thanks,
Lucy

[aubrey]

1. Cheesecake Factory: I handed a gentleman named Doug my card, and he made me a wonderful veggie platter complete with a Thai style dipping sauce, all raw, and brought it out to me. It was amazing! I got the impression that the chefs sort of like the challenge!

2. Lucy: I feel your pain. My boyfriend and I went to spend the day with my parents yesterday. I had gotten some mung beans to sprout, and had ordered some sea vegetables. My Dad automatically started making fun of me. "Oooh...what's this? Kelp? Well, I guess if sea otters eat it and they don't get heart attacks..." and then when my sister got there and said she was starving my Dad said, "Well, your sister has some mung beans here...sounds good, huh?". This continued all day. At the movie, he kept offering me Twizzlers and popcorn, which I kept having to repeatedly turn down. When we got home, my Mom was making sandwiches and basically just stuck one under my boyfriend's nose...it even was stathered with gravy after he told her "no thanks"! When we all sat down for dinner, my Mom had made Italian sausage, pasta, a cream sauce, a red sauce, and garlic toast. I made some of Alissa's "mashed potatoes and mushroom gravy"...my sister made the comment that it looked like prison food, and asked why I was going to such extremes to lose weight (I'm NOT doing it to lose weight...I'm already thin)! I went to bed really upset last night. I had talked to them once before about this, and my mom had seemed great about it, but she keeps offering me cooked food. I had told them from the beginning that this is something I had to do to care for my chronic health problems...and it has worked. Seeing me so healthy, their attitude is now, "Well, you are healthy again, so eat with us!". I live with them now, but my boyfriend and I are going to move in together soon and I cannot wait. I love my family, but when they start referring to my sprouts as a "science project", it really starts to eat away at my good nature. I say be respectful, understanding and polite at first, and explain why this is so important to you. Next, if that doesn't work, try just doing your thing, and hope no one starts in on your for eating an avocado salad. If that doesn't work, then you might have to do what I do: a "come to Jesus talk" where I'm about ready to say, "I love you all very much, but you are being disrespectful and inconsiderate and if you keep this up, you won't be seeing much of me anymore, even if you are my family...remember the days when you would all gather around me with the damp rags when I was writhing in pain, calling around, asking anyone if they knew what to do? When you took me to the hospital and they couldn't do anything for me? When we found out there was no cure? When I almost lost my job due to disability? That's ALL GONE NOW, thanks to my healthy lifestyle. And if you can't support me being healthy, free of pain, then shame on you!"

I guess what I am trying to say is, sometimes there is no easy way.

[Lucy]

Hi Aubrey,
thank you very much for your letter. I understand you very much. Unfortunatelly evrybody is on authomatic pilot and can't go off cooked and unhealthy foods. the problem with my in-laws house is that we go there for dinners.she really loves to receve us,but with cooked foods. i think i will bring a lot of food from now on. she talks bad about my friend that is a vegan and brings food to evryplace she goes,and i fell so bad about that.
i really love her,but she is very much into meat and cooked food.it is a very unconfortable essue for me.
another essue is when i go home (Brasil) my aunt makes fun of me,but i'm very happy that my mother agrees with my way of living.
it is very difficult to deal with people that makes fun of us,and sometimes when i go out with friends they don't understand why i'm having orange juice and a salad instead of a pizza and bear.
my husband is trying to eat vegetarian/raw but sometimes some of his friends and family takes him away from his goal.
i think that from now on i will care less and less about people that makes fun or don't understand my way of thinking because my life is on my hands and i am the one incharge of taking care of her (my life). think that your life is your child,and that you have the biggest responsability on bringing her the best on life,and it isn't anybody's bussiness.
hope you understand my English,and thanks a lot for you letter.
Lucy

[aubrey]

Sure, Lucy you are welcome.

I'm sorry you have to go through that...I bring food to my "in-law's" house, too. They both are very obese, so I try and bring raw desserts. They have enjoyed them so far, and its an easy way to incorporate raw into other people's lives. Everyone loves dessert, and I have yet to meet someone that doesn't like fruit. Perhaps try that. If she loves you, and I am sure she does, she will want you to be happy and will end up accomodating you! Best luck!

[Lucy]

Thank you very much Aubrey. Sorry about your father talking with you like that.Maybe he's afraid of changing,like my aunt in Brazil.Evrything that isn't "normal" is weird and not welcome for her.
Must be difficult for them to change and seeing people changing and being different from the society,it must be scary for them.
I"ll try some different stuff with my mother in law.I did try the desert but didn't work with her,but my father in law loved it. She doesn't accept another way of eating,only the "normal"way like my aunt.
She makes vegetable quiches for me,and that is a BIG DEAL for her because she would only makes sausages quiches.Because of that I know that she likes me,it's a big effort to accomodate me,but I don't know how to tell her that I'm a raw fooder now,not a vegetarian anymore.She will freaked out ,literally.
Even my husband was a little concern to tell her that I would eat only the salad.Let see.I will win this battle.It is my body,mind and spirit.
Thanks again and again for your letter.I really appreciate that.
Lucy

[mershwista]

It's difficult in most restaurants...especially when you get asked for the millionth time why you're "just" getting a salad by whomever you're with. Frustrating, really. And I hate to ask the cook to make something special off the menu just for me...I've worked in restaurants and know how temperamental those cooks can get. They're not happy to do it, but most of the time they will...cussing a throwing a fit as they do it, whining about how some idiots are just so picky they couldn't just get a menu item...yeah, heard it all. So knowing that such a scene may commence upon my ordering something not on the menu, I usually just get a salad...even if it's a plus-this-minus-that salad. At least it's "on the menu".

[Stina]

I'm getting my first test in this department. My friends and I are going to an event tomorrow night and plan on eating out at a Chinese restaurant. My first gut reaction was, oh, good, a chance to cheat on my Raw food diet. Then the second thought: oh, yeah, a chance to trigger vicious food cravings all over again that have died down, a chance to feel stupid and dead and bloated after eating dead food, you know. So I'm prepared to order a less-than-appetizing plate of salad and bring my own small container of avocado dressing to smother it in. And what an opportunity to show my friends a classy way to handle an awkward situation with discretion and just let my Raw-glo do the talking!

[mershwista]

I think my friends would be embarrassed to death if I ever tried something like that...I'm glad yours are more understanding.