Vegtaste: Top Rated Articles

Vegan Baking 101

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 22:22:19 America/Phoenix

After I went vegan, I realized that one of the most challenging aspects is saying no to traditionally made desserts and baked goodies. But guess what, most desserts and baked goods can be made dairy/egg-free with a little bit of preparation and knowledge! ;)

Here are some helpful tips from The Post Punk Kitchen on how to bake egg & dairy-free yet delicious goodies - cholesterol-free!

Vegan Eating In [Almost] Any Restaurant In the U.S. (Updated 9/12/2008)

Tue, 27 May 2008 20:08:29 America/Phoenix

When eating in restaurants in the U.S., and you are a vegan, what menu item should you choose? I have come across this extensive list of major restaurants in the U.S. and many of them were more accommodating than others. It is also helpful for lacto or ovo vegetarians to know, since most of the ingredients are listed. :)
I personally prefer eating at a more vegetarian-friendly restaurant (i.e. as listed on HappyCow.net or VegCooking.com), but if I were to travel or eat out with my omnivore friends, this alphabetized list would come in very handy. Hope you feel the same.
Note: I am constantly updating this page according to my knowledge. I have already updated most of the links from the source (listed at the bottom of the page**). If not, please let me know. Same goes for content. Thanks! :)
A&W: website
Unfortunately, no items at A&W are vegan. The fries would be except that they are fried in the same oil as the chicken.
Applebee's: website
Although Applebee's fries in 100% veggie oil, non-veg items may be fried along with veg items. The Sizzling Vegetable Skillet is vegan if requested without butter. You can also order a salad and the steamed vegetable plate.
Reader's comment: There is no "Sizzling Vegetable Skillet" available at the Applebee's near me. The selection varies state-to-state.

Arby's: website
The garden salad, side salad, liquid margarine, marinara sauce, turnovers, Arby's sauce, bbq sauce, & bbq dipping sauce are all vegan. The same oil that is used to fry meat is used to fry french fries. It also offers a baked potato.

Au Bon Pain: website
The plain, sesame, and cinnamon raisin bagels are vegan. Other options are the garden vegetarian soup, the caribbean black bean soup & a salad.

Auntie Anne's: website
In response to your question about vegan, the pretzel mix does not contain any ingredients from animal, dairy or egg sources; however, there are other factors to consider. Most of the dips, some of the toppings (i.e., parmesan herb, sour cream & onion, chocolate glaze), and even the Dutch Ice products would contain ingredients that would be from animal sources (primarily milk or dairy related) plus the pretzels are dipped in butter. Overall, though, there are several of our pretzels that you can enjoy (Original, Whole Wheat, Cinnamon Sugar, Garlic, Jalapeno, Glazin' Raisin, etc.-- including Chocolate Toffee) that would not contain any ingredients from animal sources provided that they are requested without butter. A secondary alternative with consumers in a situation as yours would be to use one of our At Home Pretzel Kits (available in most stores). This product allows you, the consumer, to prepare the product under your own control, in the privacy of your house, and still have the enjoyment of the product. The ingredients for this product are listed on the side of the package and does not contain any ingredients from animal sources.

Backyard Burgers
This restaurant chain in the South and the Midwest, offers a delicious garden veggie sandwich.

Baskin-Robbins: website
The ices and the sorbets are vegan-friendly.

Big Bowl Asian Kitchen: website
Big Bowl Asian Kitchen does not position itself as a true vegetarian or vegan restaurant, but we do have many options for strict vegetarians. Our servers are very well educated on our ingredients, and will be able to offer many suggestions. If a guest makes sure to let them know of his or her preferences at the outset, we can very easily accommodate them. We have some great options with our stir-fry bar, either by creating your own dish or allowing us to create one for you, as well as our salad selection, and our Kung Pao dishes can also be prepared without any chicken stock. Our peanut noodles, vegetable potstickers and wontons are vegan. Vegetarian wonton soup and shanghai vegetables made with a vegetarian oyster sauce are also vegan. We do also have a delicious vegetable broth that we can substituted for Chicken broth in many recipes upon request.

Ben & Jerry's: website
Only the sorbets are vegan.

Blimpie: website
You can visit Blimpie's nutrition pages by clicking here. This will link to ingredient information.

Bojangles: website
Because Bojangles uses a mix of animal/veggie oil to add flavor when cooking food, the only vegan suitable items are the cajun pinto beans, corn on the cob, green beans & the marinated coleslaw.

Boston Market: website
Chunky cinnamon applesauce, apple cobbler, fruit salad, zucchini marinara, cranberry walnut relish, & steamed veggies are vegan options. Menu items vary from location to location, so if you live somewhere that has many vegans/vegetarians, more choices may be offered.

Bruegger's Bagel Bakery: website
Many of the bagels are vegan. Non vegan bagels are the honey grain bagel, egg bagel, sun-dried tomato and spinach herb bagels (contain romano cheese), and the jalapeño cheddar (cheese) bagel. You can top the bagels with hummus, dijon mustard or any other variety you wish. Vegan soups include the Chile Cilantro, Garden Split Pea, Vegetable Tomato Lentil, Tucson Minestrone, Gazpacho, Marcello Minestrone, Roasted Roma Tomato & Ratatouille. Also, the Leonardo da Veggie sandwich can be made vegan-style. You can obtain ingredient information if you ask.

Buffalo's Cafe: website
I received this response: "We do not have nutritional information available for me to double check ingredients, but we do have salads that can be ordered without eggs and cheese and a balsamic or raspberry viniagrette can be used for dressing. "

Burger King: website
The Bk veggie burger is vegan if ordered without mayo, but there has been some concern over the bun which may contain a very tiny amount of dairy, and may be made with egg . If you are concerned about it being prepared on the same grill as the meat burgers, you can ask to have it microwaved. Also, you'll want to avoid the french fries which contain chicken flavoring. If your Burger King offers bagels, they are reportedly vegan as well.
Comment from the reader:
Burger King's BK Veggie is NOT vegan, although it is vegetarian. They changed to a Morning Star brand patty that contains egg whites and casein. Their web site says this quite clearly, to their credit. But the store staff have no clue.

California Pizza Kitchen: website
I've found this website with several vegan options in their list of options for vegetarians, vegans, and gluten-free foodists. They have the Smashed Pea & Barley Soup that can be made vegan, Lettuce Wrap with Vegetables, Tuscan Hummus with Neapolitan crust, salads, Tricolore Crust without cheese, Neapolitan pizzas without cheese (no honey in dough), in addition to vegan options in Kid's menus.

Carl's Jr.: website
The baked potato topped with broccoli & served with the margarine pats (the whipped margarine usually served with the potatoes contains whey) is a vegan option. All the buns except for the honey wheat do not contain animal products. The honey wheat obviously contains honey. The breadsticks and English muffins are vegan. The salad bar offers a number of alternatives for a vegan. However, the processed salads (i.e. potato and macaroni) and the croutons do contain animal products. The fat free french & fat free italian dressings are vegan. The french fries are fried in shortening that is a combination of partially hydrogenated soybean and cottonseed oil.

Carrabba's Italian Grill: website
Menu items that do not contain animal products are the Margherita pizza, Spaghetti (angel hair, rigatoni, penne and linguine) with Pomdoro sauce or Picchi Pacchiu sauce or the Manicotti. There are no animal ingredients in the bread, but be sure to order without butter. They also offer a vegetable of the day, such as sautéed spinach or broccoli, pan seared vegetables, grilled vegetables and roasted potatoes.

Cheeseburger cheeseburger: The grilled portobello mushroom sandwich and Boca burger are vegan at Cheeburger Cheeburger, which can be found throughout the Midwest and the South and on the East Coast.

Cheers: Cheers offers a vegan veggie burger. Load it up with all the fixings for a filling meal.

Cheesecake Factory: website:
- Avocado Eggrolls are NOT vegan - they are sealed with an egg wash.- Sweet Corn Tamale Cakes are NOT vegan This item is made with Heavy Cream in the cake itself. The Tomotillo Cream Sauce does have chicken broth. The Corn Cake itself does NOT contain Meat. It can be ordered without the sauce.- Thai Lettuce Wraps with no chicken- All Salads can be modified to be made without meat, cheese etc and you can get oil & vinegar on the side- The following dressings do not contain eggs: Chinese, Cilantro, Citrus Vinaigrette, Honey-Mustard, Japanese, Vinaigrette, Lime Vinaigrette, Peanut Vinaigrette, Shallot Vinaigrette, Asian Vinaigrette, Sheila’s Vinaigrette.- Side of Veggies (i.e. Snow Peas & Vegetables or Asparagus)- Vegetable Pizza – pizza dough does not contain eggs- Portabella Burger On A Bun – no bunSpecial Note:- Most of our Pastas do contain an egg base- All our Bread items contain an egg base
Reader's comment:The manager at the Cheesecake Factory near me informed me that their pizza crust was indeed made with eggs. And the Thai wrap without the chicken would be pretty bland since they have no appropriate protein filling to substitute in its place. You would have shredded carrots, bean sprouts, thin noodles (egg?), and a green pepper-onion mix.

Chili's: website
At Chili’s, you can have the tostada chips and salsa as appetizers, followed by the veggie quesadillas—replacing the cheese and sour cream with extra vegetables—or the Cadillac Fajitas without the meat.

Chipotle: website
Their crispy corn and soft wheat tortillas, the cilantro-lime rice, seasoned black beans, fajita vegetables, salsas, guacamole, and the romaine lettuce are all vegan. A vegetarian burrito or an order of tacos without sour cream or cheese would also be a good vegan choice. (Be sure to order it with black beans—the pinto beans are cooked with bacon.)

Chuck E. Cheese: website
Both the dough & the sauce are vegan. There is also a salad bar. The fat-free catalina & italian dressings are vegan as well. From their website, you can email to request a complete list of ingredients and nutritional info.

Church's Chicken: website
The apple turnover is vegan as is the corn on the cob when ordered without butter.

Chuy's: website
Options for vegans include: Guacamole Tacos without cheese, Dinner Salad with Cilantro Vinaigrette, Veggie Enchiladas without cheese, the tortillas, pico de gallo, rice, beans(refried), and guacamole.

Cici’s Pizza: This restaurant is inexpensive and will deliver to your home. Just be sure to ask about the vegan status of each item on your pizza. Cici’s also offers a pasta-and-salad buffet with many vegan options.

Cinnabon: website
Unfortunately, all of their baked products contain lecithin, which is a beef derived additive used as a "dough conditioner" that makes the dough easy to work with. Most of their products also contain some type of dairy product, such as eggs or milk. So it isn't a very vegan-friendly place. Sucks.

Claim Jumper: The Broiled Portobello Stack is vegan if you ask for an unmarinated portobello mushroom.

Country Kitchen International: website
This was their response: "According to your definition of vegan: a person whose diet excludes all forms of animal products including meat, fish, poulty, eggs, dairy, gelatin, whey and honey; eliminates almost every meal available at Country Kitchen. While there are components in our restaurants that can be prepared according to vegan guidelines, there are no specified recipes used in our restaurants for this purpose. I must also emphasize that you must be vigilant in your efforts to have your meal prepared appropriately, as Country Kitchen does not have sterile cooking surfaces specifically designed for vegan meal preparation. Following is a list of a few items that may be special ordered inour restaurants to meet your needs. 1. Oatmeal without glass of milk 2. Garden Salad entrée size, with no dressing 3. Sauteed vegetables 4. Vegetable stir fry (request double vegetables instead of chicken)5. Spaghetti without meatballs and cheese (this may have unknown ingredients that eliminate it's vegan potential, but may qualify. Check with your local restaurant.) I am hopeful thatthis will meet your needs. "

Cousin’s Subs: A hot veggie sub is your vegan option.

The Daily Grill: Located throughout California, offers a vegan grilled vegetable plate.

Dairy Queen: DQ offers a vegan "ice cream" bar called Star Kiss. Dairy Queen also has vegan slushes in cherry, grape, blue raspberry, lemon lime, watermelon, and kiwi strawberry flavors. The selection varies by location

Del Taco: website
The French fries, chips, green chili sauce & hot sauces are vegan. The shell for the tostada salad may be cooked along with meat products. All oil used at Del Taco is of vegetable origin.

Denny's: website
Denny's currently carries a Boca Burger which is vegetarian, but not vegan. Vegan items are the hashed browns/hashed browns with veggies (onions, green peppers, mushrooms, tomato, diced green onion), Diced Skillet potatoes,Diced Skillet potatoes with veggies (onions, green peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes, diced green onions), oatmeal (Oatmeal n' fixins contains honey), grits, fresh fruit, applesauce, nut topping, any fruit topping, frozen strawberries, all flavors of jelly, fruit syrups, toasted bagels, english muffins, light rye bread, plain french toast bread, boule bread, multi-grain bread (contains caramel color), tweener bread, margarine is composed of soybean oils with artificial butter flavoring. All oils used for frying or grilling are soybean based. Deep fry procedures are as follows: French fries, Skillet potatoes, & Mozzarella sticks are fried in fryer #1. Seasoned fries and chicken products are fried in fryer #2. Onion rings, fried shrimp, fried fish, & chicken-fried steak are fried in fryer #3. Please note that all bread products are purchased locally, so you may want to double check bread ingredients. Request dry bread to avoid buttery spread.

Disneyland: website
I recommend that you visit the city hall and pick up a menu book that they offer. I believe that it contains a list of ingredients. The following list has not been confirmed. I found these things listed on various internet veggie forums. Please use this only as a guideline & check for yourself because I can not promise that it is totally accurate.There is a portobello mushroom sandwich at the Blue Bayou, you can ask for veggie burgers at The Hungry Bear & Village Haus restaurants - the buns are vegan, veggie sandwiches are available at the Carnation Cafe, & there is also a veggie gumbo in New Orleans Square, Casa Mexicana has vegan beans, & you may also give the hotel restaurants a shot. Disneyland has visitors from all over the world & not all countries eat as much animal products as the US does, so they have to have a variety. They probably have even more than I have listed, so check it out!

Domino's Pizza: website
Whey is a dairy derivative and is used as an ingredient in all of the dough related products, (hand tossed, thin crust, deep dish and breadsticks). The sauce does not have any animal products in it. There are salads to choose from. The vegan dressings are the italian & lite italian.

Don Pablos: website
Vegan: Corn Tortillas, Chips and/or Salsa, Fajita Onions and Peppers, Red Sauce, Guacamole, Pico de Gallo, Chile Macho Salsa, Tabasco Marmalade, Charra Beans, Refritos, Spinach & Poblano Filling, Pecos Valley Vegetables.

Dunkin' Donuts: website
For a complete menu with all ingredients listed, you can click here .

Eat N' Park: website
The chicken stir fry can be made vegan by requesting it without the chicken. Unfortunately, the Garden Burger has cheese in it. The salad bar has numerous vegan choices. There are also fruit cups, a 3 bean salad, & fresh strawberries to choose from.

Einstein Bros Bagels: website
You can email Einstein Bros for a complete listing of ingredients as well as nutritional information directly from their site.

El Chico's: website
The french fries are vegan.

Elephant Bar: website
Wok Steamed Vegetable Platter (fresh vegetables with steamed white rice); Wok Fired Pan Pacific Vegetables with Asian Noodles (no eggs in noodles); Mediterranean Baby Spring Greens Salad (omit cheeses); and Mixed Baby Greens Salad (omit blue cheese). The wait staff will be happy to modify and/or omit ingredients of the menu items to allow you to stay within any guidelines.

El Pollo Loco: website
The BRC burrito is vegan if you order it without cheese. The flour, spinach-flavored, and tomato-flavored tortillas are vegan. The corn on the cob, cucumber salad, guacamole, hot sauce, italian dressing, pinto beans, salsa, & spiced apples are vegan. I believe that both the fiesta corn & the spanish rice are vegan, but I recommend that you check the ingredients in the margarine.

5 & Diner: They have several vegan options, including a vegetarian burger and the Veggie Delight.

First Watch: website
Looks like they have added veggie options on their menu.

Flat Top Grill: website
This is the response I received: I should start by explaining what type of restaurant we are. We are a "create-your-own" Stir fry concept. As a guest you are physically selecting the items that you would like us to stir fry for you from over 60 different ingredients. Everyday we offer the following: 2 or 3 different rices, 3 types of noodles, 25 fresh fruits and vegetables, 22 different sauces, 5 protein selections,& 3 seafood options. It is a fixed cost for as many bowls of stir fry you care to eat during your dining experience. For vegan (and all customers) we provide information detailing all ingredients of our 22 signature sauces, noodles and rices. In addition, you can designate your stir fry to be cooked in a separate sanitized wok using utensils that touch only your selections. This process is also very popular and encouraged to guests with any type of dietary restrictions or food allergies. In short, we provide you with all the information on our food and then allow you to select the items that you desire to eat. As the food items change on a daily basis, the sky is the limit in terms of what you can have prepared.

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts: website
This was their reply: In answer to your question, at the hotels, we currently do not have specific dishes in our menus that are entirely vegan. However, I am aware, and please be assured, that whenever such requests arise, our chefs will be happy to recommend or create an alternate dish that will comply to this specific diet. I would also like to mention that we always have a selection of vegetarian dishes featured in the menus. We appreciate your comments. More than often, It is only through suggestions or comments such as yours that provide us with insight into improving our service.

Friendly's: website
Guest services was unable to provide me with a list of vegan products. However, if you have specific items that you would like them to check on, just give them a call at 1-800-966-9970.

Fuddrucker's: website
The fudwrapper is vegan if ordered without the cheese. All tortillas other than the cheese are vegan also.

Giovanni's Pizza:
The dough and pizza sauce are vegan. The salads are vegan if ordered without the meat.

Godfather's Pizza: website
A vegetarian specialty pizza may be ordered without the cheese to make it vegan. The pizza dough, original and taco pizza sauce are vegan. Some locations have salads.

Golden Corral: website
Golden Corral is a buffet concept which offers a full salad bar with all sorts of fresh fruits and vegetables. They also offer of fresh steamed vegetables on the hot buffet.

Golden Fried Chicken: website
The carrot raisin salad is vegan. The french fries unfortunately contain animal shortening as do the apple turnovers. The pinto beans and green beans both contain chicken.

Gold Star Chili: website
The red beans, tossed salad and spaghetti are vegan.

Great Steak & Fry Co.:
Vegan side items include baked potatoes (at some locations), which may be requested plain, served with broccoli, or with mixed vegetables in an all-vegetable broth, french fries, & salads

Great Steak & Potato Co.: website
Their grill oil is a soy based, butter flavored (artificial) oil with no animal products or by-products in it. As is the liquid margarine. The bread product does not have any animal or by-products in it either. As far as the salad dressings, stay away from any creamy dressings---i.e.: Ranch, Blue Cheese, 1000 Island. The French, Lite French, Italian and Lite Italian are animal product free. Whey is not used in any of these afore mentioned items. Items within vegan guidelines are: ---Baked potatoes (with margarine, broccoli, or grilled veggies) ---Salads (with the above mentioned dressings---try one with either grilled or fresh veggies on it). ---A Veggie Delight (without the mayo or cheese) ---Try a fresh veggie sandwich with lettuce, tomato, onions, green peppers, mushrooms, olives and cucumbers (maybe even banana peppers) and top it with Lite Italian dressing. ---Fresh Cut French Fries---100% peanut oil with no fillers or additives, fresh potatoes daily and salt (or not).

Hard Rock Cafe: They offer a vegetarian burger, a veggie sandwich, and salads.
Hard Times Café:
There are several options including Café Veggie Burger and the Veggie Chili. Be sure to tell your server that you don’t want any dairy products in your Veggie Chili.

Hardee's: website
Even though Hardee's does carry salads, they do not have any suitable dressings for them. The specialty & the sourdough buns are both vegan.
Harvey’s:
With locations in Canada, they offer a vegan veggie burger.

Hooters: website
Unfortunately, they were not able to provide me with a list of menu items. I received this response: "Currently, we do not have nutritional information available for our menu items. However, our product development team has undertaken this project and will release the information in the near future. We regret that we cannot offer more help at this time. Please periodically visit our website for nutritional updates." Please remember that if you want more vegan options while dining out, you have to let restaurants know.

Hot Stuff Pizza: website
The pizza sauce and breadsticks are vegan.

Houlihan's: website
The tomato bruschetta is vegan if you ask that the romano cheese be left off. They are test-marketing a vegan burger in three of their restaurants. It contains couscous, black beans, carrots, onions, and barbeque sauce. The roll is not vegan. A salad can be ordered void of meat & cheese & topped with an oil & vinegar dressing. They also have a vegan pasta dish consisting of rigatoni and marinara sauce.
Houston’s:
They offer a veggie plate and the Vegetarian Burger. Just be sure to order the burger on vegan bread.

Huddle House: website
As of yet, Huddle House has not analyzed their products for vegan friendly options & were unable to provide me with any answers. Shame.

In-N-Out Burger: website
A Wish burger with mustard or ketchup instead of the dressing, an order of fries, and a soft drink would be condusive to the vegan diet. The buns do not contain any dairy or egg products and the fries are cooked in cotton seed oil. Although the Wish burger is not the menu, you can order it at all locations.

International House Of Pancakes (IHOP): website
Here is an exerpt from the response that I was sent: As we understand the criteria for vegan, it is our belief that very little of our menu qualifies. Many of our vegetables would qualify, however due to the cooking methods we cannot guarantee that they would not be subject to exposure non-vegan ingredients.
Iron Skillet:
Swing by a Petro truck stop and you’ll find this restaurant, where you can refuel with the stacked salad bar and spaghetti with meat-free sauce.

Jack In The Box: website
Pita bread, potato wedges, the grape, strawberry and capuccino syrups, the hot, taco, teriyaki, barbeque, sweet and sour and soy sauces, malt vinegar packet, salsa and apple turnovers are vegan. For a complete menu with all ingredients listed, you can click here .

Jamba Juice: website
While all of our fruit and vegetable juices are vegan, to know whether a smoothie is vegan or not requires looking at the ingredients list. Ingredients they use that are vegan include sorbet and soy milk. Please note the difference between sorbet (non-dairy) and sherbet(contains dairy)! Vegan smoothies include the Jamba PowerBoost and Protein Berry Pizzazz, both of which are made with sorbet.

Jason’s Deli:
The Garden Po’ Boy, the Portobello Wrapini, and the Spinach Veggie Wrap are your vegan options. Be sure to ask about the vegan status of each of these dishes—it varies by location.

John Harvard’s:
They offer a grilled portobello mushroom sandwich and a veggie burger. Be sure to check the vegan status of your choice when ordering.
Johnny Rockets:
Features the Streamliner, a vegan Boca burger with grilled onions, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and mustard.

Kelsey’s, with locations in Canada, has several vegan options, including Kelsey’s Vegetable Burger, the Roasted Vegetable Wrap, and the Vegetable Fajita. The vegan status of these dishes varies by location, so be sure to check with your server when ordering.

Kenny Rogers' Roasters: website
A "side sampler" consisting of three side dishes can be made to order. Side dishes include: corn on the cob, side salads, baked potatoes, and baked hubbard squash.

Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC): website
The 3 bean salad is vegan. The corn on the cob is as well if you get it minus the butter & some locations have a garden salad.

Little Caesar's: website
The dough and tomato sauce are alright. As is the crazy sauce & the crazy bread (without the parmesan). I usually order a veggie pizza minus the cheese. Vegan dressings are also available. They are the Greek, Italian, and the Lite-Italian. Keep in mind that the Veggie Spice for Italian cheese bread DOES include parmesan cheese in the recipe. I think that they offer a vegetarian guide if you request it or contact corporate headquarters.

Long John Silver's: website
Ordering a wrap void of the meat, batter crumbles & white sauce (you can use picante sauce in it's place) is vegan. Rice and corn cobbettes without butter are vegan.

Macaroni Grill has several vegan options, including all the pastas with garlic and oil and its Capellini Pomodoro. Try these tasty bites without the cheese: Tomato Bruschetta and Penne Arrabbiata. When opting for a salad, choose the house or garden without the cheese and top it with the restaurant’s balsamic vinaigrette, Italian dressing, or roasted-garlic vinaigrette.

Manchu Wok: website
You can order stir-fried veggies (fried in canola oil) and steamed rice.

Manhattan Bagel Co.: website
The only bagels that are not vegan are the jalapeño cheddar, cheddar cheese and egg bagel. A soybean extract is used for the dough conditioner. Its bialys—a flattened onion-and-poppy-seed bagel—are also vegan. The Manhattan Grille and Vegetable Garden sandwiches can be made on a bagel, a roll, or a tortilla and are vegan if you omit the spreads and cheese.

Mazzio's Pizza: website
The pizza sauce & the thin and original crusts are vegan, but the deep pan crust (contains milk product) is not . The 3 bean salad , italian dressing, french dressing, marinara dipping sauce, some types of pasta & the marinara sauce made with olive oil (served w/ pasta) is vegan.

McDonald's: website
Vegans can get bagels, green chilies and burrito mild sauce. For a complete menu with all ingredients listed for US locations, you can click here .

Miami Subs: website
The garden salad is made up of iceberg and romaine lettuce, carrots, cucumber, tomatoes, egg, olives, cheddar cheese and pita bread. Each restaurant will be happy to omit any of these ingredients to accommodate personal preferences.

The Veggie Stack sandwich is your vegan option at Mimi’s Café, which is located on the West Coast and in the Midwest.

All of Moe’s tacos, fajitas, salads, and burritos can be made vegan by substituting tofu for meat and skipping the cheese. Just be sure to ask for a vegan tortilla.

Mrs. Fields Cookies: website
Nothing. All of Mrs. Fields products contain eggs, milk, and/or butter.

Nathan's Famous: website
The fresh cut fries are fried in 100% corn oil, however, non-vegan items may also be fried in this same oil in some restaurants. The individual restaurant managers can advise the guest when ordering if this is the case in that location.

Oggi's Pizza & Brewing Company website
They have many vegan options from pastas, wraps, salads, and "create your own" pizzas. You can check out their menus according to your specific location just to make sure. In my part of town, they offer the following:
- "CREATE YOUR OWN PIZZA" which can include any of the following:
Artichoke Hearts, Bell Peppers, Black Olives, Fresh Mushrooms, Fresh Tomatoes, Fresh Zucchini, Jalapeños, Kalamata Olives, Pesto Sauce, Pineapple, Red Onions, Fresh Garlic, Spinach, Sun-Dried Tomatoes , Portabella Mushrooms
- RAIN FOREST WRAP without the provolone cheese
- PASTA POMODORO
- GREEK SALAD without the feta cheese

O’Naturals, a restaurant chain in New England, offers healthy, all-natural fast food for diners who want great food to go. Its menu features a large vegetarian selection, and vegan items are marked for easy identification.

Old Spaghetti Factory: website
Both the Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce "Marinara" and the Spaghetti with Mushroom Sauce are vegan entrees.The Balsamic Vinaigrette salad dressing is vegan as well.

Olive Garden: website
Guest relations response: I appreciate the challenges you face in honoring your personal convictions. The good news is a few of our menu items can be adjusted to accommodate a vegan diet. Please remember that all food is prepared in the same area, so there is a possibility of cross-introduction. To minimize this risk, I recommend letting a manager know that you are vegan; he or she will be happy to accommodate your wishes to the best of their ability.
Depending on your personal philosophy, Olive Garden suggests the following items as vegan, meaning they contain no animal-derived ingredients including meat, dairy, eggs, or honey:
- Minestrone Soup
- Garden Salad with oil and vinegar (instead of our house dressing)
- Marinara Sauce
- Capellini Pomodoro
- Steamed Veggies without seasoned butter

Outback Steakhouse: website
Steamed veggies (ask for no seasoning),baked potatoes, sweet potatoes,all should be fine. There are no animal products in the margarine, or the hamburger buns. The dinner loaf bread has honey in it. There are eggs in the mayo-based dressings, fat-free tangy tomato and mustard viniagrette should be fine. They currently fry in a blend of lard and vegetable oil, but are looking for a veggie 'equivalent'.

A great place for bagels, breads, soups, salads, and sandwiches is Panera Bread. A bagel with roasted garlic hummus is one vegan possibility. Each location varies its menu options, so just ask about the vegan options before ordering. Personally I love their Mediterranean veggie sandwich with no feta cheese.

Panda Express: website
Unfortunately, Panda Express is not able to offer customers the option of vegan dining. Virtually every item on the Panda Express menu in some way contains meat, egg or dairy products. The only item that might possibly fit into the vegan diet is the steamed rice, but even this might not be an accepted item in the vegan diet. We apologize that we are not able to meet the needs of those that maintain a vegan diet.

Papa John's Pizza: website
Their sauce is vegan & the original dough is also. However, the thin crust is not because of its parmesan cheese content.

P.F. Chang's: website
They have pretty good vegetarian menu items .

P.F. Chang’s is one of the most vegan-friendly restaurant chains around. Its vegetarian menu is terrific, and everything can be made vegan, from appetizers such as Tofu Lettuce Wraps to entrées like Orange Peel Tofu.
According to Guest Relations: Thank you for your note and inquiry. There are a couple of items on our menu that are vegan and others that can be when modified. If cane sugar is not an issue for you, I recommend any items from our “Vegetarian Plates and Sides” and vegetarian marked menu items. If cane sugar is an issue, I recommend the following:
Steamed Buddha’s Feast - you can add soft tofu or pressed tofu to this dish
Stir-Fried Spinach - garlic, salt and pepper. You can add soft tofu or pressed tofu to this dish.
Garlic Snap Peas - garlic, salt and pepper. You can add soft tofu or pressed tofu to this dish.
You can also order any vegetable or tofu with a modified sauce.I hope this information is helpful.
Have a wonderful day!
Tiffany Hamby
Guest Relations Manager
P.F. Chang's China Bistro

Pei Wei: website
They have pretty good vegetarian menu items which vary by location, including Blazing Noodles (my favorite), Thai Dynamite, etc. Check with your waiter to ensure your dish is vegan.

Pita Pit: website
Customers get to choose what goes into their Pitas from a large selection of fresh vegetables and sauces. They offer 4 vegan pitas Garden, Hummus, Babaganouj, and Falafel. Please ensure that you ask for the falafel to be micro waved, not prepared on the grill, to ensure no contact with meat. Vegan sauces include: Special Sauce, Dijon mustard, mustard, hot sauce, and BBQ. Some products may vary in the different regions, so please ask your local Pita Pit to ensure these items meet your vegan requirements.

Pizza Hut: website
The Thin 'n Crispy crusts, regular pizza sauce, spaghetti marinara sauce, pasta, Italian and French dressings, dessert pizza crust, cherry topping and the icing are all options for vegans. UPDATE: In addition, at Pizza Hut, everyone Can Smile and Say, “Soy Cheese!” (...almost ^^;) Currently, the soy cheese pizzas are available only in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, but if sales go well, the availability of soy may go nationwide or even global. This is great news! Until then, VegCooking.com's pick for a slice of paradise is the Veggie Lover’s pie, including fresh mushrooms, red onions, green peppers, tomatoes, and black olives. You can choose the “Thin ’n’ Crispy” crust with traditional pizza sauce, which is vegan. But if you live in Indiana or near Indiana or just need an excuse for a road trip, stop by a Ft. Wayne-area Pizza Hut today! Tell them you appreciate the addition of soy cheese to their menus. Your visit may someday help the rest of us enjoy a “cheesy” slice of Pizza Hut heaven! ^^

Pizza Pro: website
Their crust & sauce are both vegan, so a cheeseless pizza is an option. Their breadsticks are also alright.

Pizzeria Uno: website
The thin crusts are vegan and you can special-order vegan deep dish crusts that do not contain cheese. The regular pizza sauce and the Uno pizza sauce are also vegan. All pasta is vegan. There is a vegan Grilled Vegetable Marinara served with ziti pasta. It is possible at to Pick-A-Pasta. You may choose the pasta and choose marinara sauce. There are a number of salads including Pasta & Greens (marinated ziti pasta tossed with salad greens and served with Ike's dressing), and the House Salad (tomatoes, carrots, onions, peppers, cucumbers, and croutons) as well. Breadsticks are also animal free.

Located throughout Florida, Pollo Tropical offers Caribbean-inspired fast food, including several vegan options such as the Vegetarian TropiChop entrée. Other vegan items include Balsamic Tomatoes and Bananas Tropical. The chain’s black beans, French fries, white rice, yellow rice, boiled yucca, and corn are vegan too.

Popeye's website
The apple pie & the corn on the cob (asked for without butter) are vegan.

Pretzel Time website
I received this response: "Although our pretzels do not contain any animal products in themselves, many of our toppings do. For instance, the butter-flavored topping still contains a small portion of dairy. You may want to simply request a plain pretzel with no butter, and you may add a topping at your discretion."

A great alternative to Subway is Quiznos Subs. It offers a veggie sub that’s filled with guacamole, black olives, lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, and mushrooms—just be sure to order it without the cheese and ask for the balsamic vinaigrette instead of the red wine vinaigrette. Grab a side garden salad and some potato chips, and your stomach will be appeased in no time.

Pyramid Brewery offers a Boca burger that can be substituted for any nonvegan burger on its menu. The Margarita Pizza is also vegan.

Rainforest Café:
The Natural Burger without the Safari Sauce and the Morningstar Garden Grill are the vegan options.

Red Lobster: website
From the sites FAQ: We are sorry we are not able to provide general nutritional information, as our chefs are continuously creating and customizing recipes for our menu. While we do not have vegetarian items on our menu, some of our items can be prepared without meat or seafood. I encourage you to speak with the manager about specific menu suggestions that may best meet your needs.

Red Robin: website
The response I received from Red Robin is just another example of why it is important to let restaurants know what you want. Make your opinion count. "We have had a few requests for a true vegan menu choice and we evaluate our menu choices by watching and listening to the trends that our guests are requesting. We do not know when we will put this menu option on the menu. Please keep your eyes out for it, as we are trying new ideas all the time."

Rita's Italian Ices: website
The ices & the pretzels are vegan.

Romano's Macaroni Grill: website
I received a wonderful email from a manager with this restaurant. She was very eager to share the vegan options with me. She informed me that the following items are indeed vegan: peasant bread which is presented to all guests and served with olive oil and fresh cracked pepper, the Capellini Pomodoro, and all of the pastas with exception to the orzo (it is cooked with chicken stock) are vegan and 100% semolina wheat. Since most dishes are made to order, you can ask your server for suggestions or there are a couple that can be modified to be vegan. The Pasta Vegatali can be requested with red sauce only, no pesto or cheese. The pizza dough is vegan so they could easily make up a vegan pizza. Although the popular Calzonettos are mostly made with meat and cheese, The Mushroom and Pepper Calzonetto can be made with no mozzarella or sun-dried tomato mayonnaise and still tastes great. Watch out for sauces served with these sandwiches, request red sauce only. If you would like to order a salad, you'll need to tell them no cheese or croutons and request balsamic vinegar and olive oil not the balsamic vinaigrette dressing. None of the dressings offered are vegan.

Round Table Pizza: website
Although the sauce is vegan, the dough is not. Some locations have a salad bar. You can get a Garden Vegetable sandwich that is vegan if you request it without cheese and garlic sauce.

Roy Rogers:
You'll find baked potatoes, sides of veggies, and a salad bar. And its mashed potatoes are vegan if you forgo the gravy.

Roy's Restaurant: website
Although they do get requests for vegan menus, especially for banquets, they do not at this time have one. However, they can accomodate it if requested. Just let the server know and he/she will communicate it to the Chef. They will then make a special dish depending on what the guest wants.

Ruby Tuesday: website
Offers an all vegetable patty veggie burger - be sure to order without cheese. Also, you can order the "Portobello Mushroom" Sandwich without cheese - the mushroom is marinated in house with garlic, balsamic vinegar, dijon mustard and signature blend of seasonings. They also have a salad bar.

Ryan's: website
I received the following reply: Ryan's does offer dining options for vegan customers. We are a buffet restaurant, featuring all you can eat selections. While we do offer meat, chicken and fish, among the items we feature are an extensive salad bar, baked potatoes and fresh fruits every day. Our salad bar offers the usual items along with olives, fresh cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, nuts and/or sunflower seeds and raisins, oil and vinegar dressings. Our fresh fruit selections vary by season and include items like cantaloupe, whole strawberries, golden pineapple, watermelon and grapes. We try to offer a minimum of four fresh fruits every day. In addition we offer a selection of hot vegetables (however, some are seasoned with butter, margarine or meat) and rice. I believe a vegan could eat very well at Ryan's. I often eat a meal of vegetables and fruit myself and leave feeling full and satisfied. I hope this answers your questions.

Shakey's Pizza: website
The crusts & the sauce are vegan. They actually have a cheeseless Garden Ranch Pizza! There is garlic butter on the crust, but don't be fooled, it is actually vegetable margarine! How cool is that! This pizza is topped with green peppers, mushrooms, roasted red peppers, & tomatoes.They also have many vegan pastas. The marinara sauce served with many of the pasta entrees is vegan. The pomodoro sauce, composed of chunks of Roma tomatoes, olive oil, basil, oregano, and garlic, is also vegan. However, please note that the roasted red pepper sauce contains chicken stock and the bolognese sauce is meat-based. They also have a large salad bar that usually contains things like alfalfa sprouts, a 3 bean salad, raisins & sometimes even sunflower seeds.

Shari’s:
They offer a flame-grilled Gardenburger as its vegan option.

Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q : website
I'm afraid the only options for you at Sonny's would be the salad bar. You can get a selection of vegetables to go on your salad. You would need to use the Italian salad dressing.

Souplantation: website
Same as Sweet Tomatoes. The 60 foot make your own salad bar has an abundance of fresh vegetables and other toppings to make a fabulous salad. They also have many items at the soup and pasta bars labeled vegetarian, and each of the bars is equipped with a list of ingredients of all their recipes so you can easily check for any items you want to avoid.

Starbucks: website
Starbucks does not keep a centralized inventory of all of their retail stores. They recommend that you contact your local store individually. You can find store locations on their website.

Steak Escape: website
Salads ordered without the cheese are okay, as are the french fries.The smashed potatoes, consist of a baked potato served with sauteed vegetables. However,the grill used to saute all of the vegetables is also used to prepare the meat, but it is cleaned in between orders. The multi grain & white rolls are without animal ingredients, so a vegan sandwich is not out of the question. Various mustards could make good toppings.

Subway: website
Italian Bread contains no animal derived ingredients. The Wheat Bread contains honey, which is the only ingredient that may be considered animal derived. The deli style roll may contain egg and honey, which are the only ingredients that may be animal derived. The Fruizle smoothies are vegan.Subway restaurants have the choice of offering a few other menu items besides those on the national menu. Among them is a meatless burger. The most popular brands are Wholesome & Hearty's Gardenburger and Morningstar Farms' Veggie-Max. Both of these contain egg whites and cheese. Vegan Boca Burgers or White Wave soy turkey subs may be offered at certain Subway restaurants in certain areas. The "turkey" in the soy turkey sub is vegan but the soy cheese used on it contains casein (a milk protein). If you are interested in seeing a veggie burger in your area, contact your local Subway restaurant.

Summits Wayside Tavern: website
This was their response: "We try to be very vegetarian conscious at our stores. One of our veteran managers is a strict vegetarian and she keeps us full of good suggestions. As far as vegan options I think that we could make several items work for you. Many of our vegetarian items do contain cheese, but as all of our entrees are made to order it would be no problem to not include it. We offer nachos, burritos, sandwiches, salads, a variety of vegetable side items and soon we will offer a veggie fajita. It is a growing concern with many of our patrons and we are stretching ourselves to meet those needs. I hope that this helps. Please visit one of our locations and ask a server about your options."

Sweet Tomatoes: website
Same as Souplantation. The 60 foot make your own salad bar has an abundance of fresh vegetables and other toppings to make a fabulous salad. They also have many items at the soup and pasta bars labeled vegetarian, and each of the bars is equipped with a list of ingredients of all their recipes so you can easily check for any items you want to avoid.

Ohio’s Swenson’s:
Drive-In offers the Veggie Special.

Taco Bell: website
The burrito, corn, & wheat (used for the soft tacos) tortillas are all vegan. The pinto beans & red sauce are also vegan. So is the green sauce, the hot & mild sauces, the pico de gallo & the salsa. Corn oil is used in all frying processes. No animal ingredients are fried with these things. The tortilla chips, taco, tostada, taco salad & pizza shells are all vegan. Other vegan items are the cinnamon twists & the border ice products. You can have the mexican pizzas made special and they are delicious (minus meat & cheese). They consist of the bottom shell, beans, shell, beans again & then the sauce & veggies.

Taco Cabana: website
Their black bean tacos and burritos are vegan, but the only location that has vegan beans & rice is the one in Denver, Colorado. They claim that Denver customers are the only ones who have showed enough interest in vegetarian options. Tortilla Chips, and the verde, roja, pico de gallo and del fuego are vegan.

Taco Del Mar
Taco Del Mar is another taco chain that I highly recommend as a vegan. They make excellent burritos and everything that you'd think would be vegan is vegan. they also make the burritos in front of you (like Subway) so you can watch to make sure they don't put sour cream on anyway :

Taco John's International: website
Food is cooked in canola oil. The bean burritos are vegan if ordered without the cheese. The Corporate Communications & Relations Manager (surprise, surprise!) is a vegetarian & suggests that you add tomatoes to the bean burrito to make it even better tasting. The guacamole & the nachos are vegan. The shells used for the fajita salads & tacos are fried in the same oil that is used to fry the meat.

Taco Tico: website
The tortilla chips and tico de gallo sauce are vegan. I think that the fresh mex wrap is vegan if you get it without the cheese, but I recommend that you check the ingredients used in the rice. They also offer vegan burritos if you request them. Foods are fried in veggie oil & made separate from meat products. Deep fried corn tostadas without cheese should be okay. You can use the hot, mild, and green chili sauces. Vegans can also munch on the cinnamon crustos.

T.G.I Friday's: website
The veggie medley is vegan so long as you get it with a plain baked potato instead of the rice pilaf (made with a chicken base). The house salad and angel hair pasta in garlic & olive oil (with mushrooms & pepper, on request) are also vegan options.

Tony Roma's: website
The side salad is vegan, but I am unsure of the croutons. You can also order a baked potato.

Tubby’s, with locations in Michigan, has the vegan Hot Veggie Stir-Fry Sandwich.

Village Inn has a Boca burger that is vegan if ordered without mayonnaise and cheese.

Wahoo's Fish Taco: website
Vegan items include (when ordering, one should always make sure that there is NO cheese or NO rice if that particular menu item includes it): both types of beans that they use: the Cajun and black beans. They prepare the beans using only spices--no oil or lard or animal products. The blackened mushroom tacos--just be sure to ask for NO cheese. They use corn tortillas. The blackened mushroom enchiladas with NO cheese. A side garden salad can be ordered using the oil and vinaigrette dressing. Chips and Salsa, Maui onion rings (made in a beer batter), and french fries. You could also modify the veggie bonzai burrito (flour tortilla), by omitting the rice. Also, vegans can order the veggie bowl so long as you get it without rice.
Editor's Note: I tried the blackened mushroom enchilada and liked it a lot! I suggest getting two of them with a side salad for fullness & nutrition. :)

Wendy's: website
Vegan choices include the french fries, deluxe garden salad, the French and Reduced fat/reduced calorie Italian dressings, applesauce, banana strawberry glaze, and taco chips. You can also ask for a veggie sandwich, which includes everything that would normally be on the burger except the meat—there’s even a button for it on the cash register. For a complete menu with all ingredients listed, you can click here .

Western Sizzlin: website
There are fresh vegetables and garbanzo beans. Franchises have the liberty of choosing their own menu offerings, so not all restaurants are the same. Your best bet would be to check your individual location.

Western Steer:
There are steamed squash and carrots that are prepared in an all-vegetable stock. The French fries at this restaurant chain are all vegetable. They are fried separately in vegetable oil. There is a large number of raw vegetables at the salad bar. There may be a three-bean salad, pickled beets, soy nuts, alfalfa sprouts, sunflower seeds, and raisins. Ken's salad dressings are used. The tomato vinaigrette is vegan.

Whataburger: website
Although the french fries are vegan, it is possible that they may at times be fried with chicken products.The garden salad with lowfat vinaigrette dressing is an option. For a listing of ingredients, click here

World Wraps, with locations in Washington and California, offers its vegan customers the Tofu and Mushroom Teriyaki and the Bombay Curry Veggie.

Whole Foods Market website
WholeFoods Market offers a wonderful "Veggie" sandwich for about five bucks. Most of their breads are vegan, and can be toasted before stuffing the veggies. Most notably, they have delicious "Eggless Tofu" which can be added into the all vegetable sandwich. I just tried it yesterday (8/28/08) and loved it! Much to my surprise, the sandwich kitchen had a note to workers to ensure that they switch gloves when making a "vegan" or "vegetarian" sandwich. Wow!! I'm just happy to have my sandwich with tofu. Try it with toasted French baguette with hummus or vegannaise. Great for lunch or quick grab for dinner!

EARTHLINGS - A Must See Documentary for Those Who Seek the Truth

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:30:53 America/Phoenix

Earthlings is "powerful, informative and thought-provoking,...by far the most comprehensive documentary ever produced on the correlation between nature, animals, and human economic interests."

Here is a trailer of this important documentary, narrated by Joaquin Phoenix (GLADIATOR) and music by Moby.

How to Become A Vegetarian

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:55:06 America/Phoenix

So, are you ready to become a veggie?

Whether you're determined with a noble cause to become a vegetarian, or you're just trying it out, I think you'll find your journey surprisingly pleasant.

The China Study - A Must Read Book on Nutrition & Cancer and Other Diseases

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 20:53:15 America/Phoenix

Do you know a person who is suffering from a heart disease, cancer, or osteoporosis? How about diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, or cataract?

What if a book based on a groundbreaking research told you that all of theses diseases are preventable or even reversible? You might wonder, is there a new drug or surgery that can fix all of those? The answer is no, but much much simpler.

Nutritious Foods Can Be Tasty

Tue, 20 May 2008 12:35:17 America/Phoenix

Many people think that eating healthy isnâ��t tasty. Instead of following a healthy well-balanced diet, people turn to â��fadâ�� diets such as low-carb diets and high-protein diets. But what all of us should really strive for is a well-balanced meal thatâ��s colorful and flavorful. Here is the first edition of my â��nutrition lectureâ��, that suggests some healthy tasty foods that can be easily incorporated into oneâ��s diet.

Al Gore on Meat & Global Warming

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 23:43:06 America/Phoenix

Here is what Al Gore said on meat consumption and global warming, according to Ezra Klein's blog:

Responding to a questioner: "One of the factors right now in the global trends of the food crisis is the increasing meat intensity of the diet in countries like China that are imitating the diet the US has long had. It is true that it would be healthier for us as individuals and as a planet if we consumed less meat. I acknowledge that. There's an undercurrent in the question, and you didn't say it, of why it hasn't been a more prominent part of the conversation so far. I plead guilty, and I guess I'd say there is only so much that we can do at once. I myself am a meat eater and maybe that's had some effect. But I want to acknowledge forthrightly that this is a significant part of what needs to be done, but we have to walk before we can run."

Colleges Meet Growing Vegetarian Demand

Thu, 29 May 2008 21:02:34 America/Phoenix

Vegetarianism is more popular than ever, particularly on college campuses. In fact, a study by Aramark, a leading food service provider, concluded that nearly a quarter of college students are actively seeking vegan options when they sit down to eat, for reasons ranging from their own health, to environmental concerns, and cruelty to animals. In addition, according to UTICAOD.com, 40 percent of college students are requesting vegetarian options in their dining halls. After all, since 1994, the amount of adults 18 and older who never eat meat has doubled.

Do You Drink Diet Sodas? Watch - Sweet Misery: A Poisoned World

Fri, 16 May 2008 23:40:57 America/Phoenix

Do you drink diet sodas? Millions of people drink diet sodas every day, perhaps hoping to reduce their caloric intake and be healthier. I mean, didn't the government approve this sweetener as safe? American Diabetic Association seems to believe that replacing sugar with these artificial sweeteners is the right way to treat diabetes, after all.

Intelligent Kids More Likely To Switch Over To Vegetarianism Later In Life

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 00:30:21 America/Phoenix

An interesting British study on the eating habits of the kids reveals that intelligent children are more likely to adopt vegetarianism later in life.

Those who were vegetarians by 30 were five IQ points more on average at the age of 10, according to the study published in British Medical Journal.

The Protein Myth

Fri, 16 May 2008 16:09:34 America/Phoenix

When I tell people I'm a vegetarian, often the first question that I hear is, "Oh, so, where do you get your protein?"

Well, cows and chickens have to get their protein from somewhere too. Note: They're herbivores!

Vegetarian Diet = Weight Loss?

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 21:02:04 America/Phoenix

Well, if the following article is correct, then I think we have found the cure for American obesity.

"WASHINGTON--A scientific review in April's Nutrition Reviews shows that a vegetarian diet is highly effective for weight loss. Vegetarian populations tend to be slimmer than meat-eaters, and they experience lower rates of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other life-threatening conditions linked to overweight and obesity. The new review, compiling data from 87 previous studies, shows the weight-loss effect does not depend on exercise or calorie-counting, and it occurs at a rate of approximately 1 pound per week.

How to Make Pho (Vietnamese Noodles) With Vegetable Broth

Mon, 05 May 2008 21:24:59 America/Phoenix

Ta-da! I found this golden recipe from Vegetarian Times, and have fallen in love with it ever since. Before I craved for Pho when I became a vegetarian, but not anymore, with this yummy recipe! (Personally I think it's a lot tastier than meat broth! Not only to mention healthier! ^^)

How to Make Coconut Crusted Tofu Katsu

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 20:07:08 America/Phoenix

One of my favorite dishes before I became a vegetarian was "Tonkatsu", a deep-fried crispy dish popular in Japan and Hawaii. (It's usually made with chicken or pork.) Inspired by an upscale vegetarian restaurant in San Francisco Millennium Restaurant, I've re-created this delicious dish from scratch for all of vegetarians & vegans out there. ;)

Rescue Me from Planet Junk Food

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 12:37:34 America/Phoenix

Is it possible to 'go organic', whole grain, and (gasp!) vegetarian in a household with one toddler, two teens and one "tween"? Just to give you the whole picture, my 16 year-old typically eats Frosted Flakes for breakfast, a turkey sandwich, apple and Doritos for lunch, and meat, potatoes, vegetable for dinner. Did I mention 8 Oreos for dessert? And I'll let you imagine who is eating the rest of that box at about 10:30pm.