Are you looking for a vegan meal but don’t want to cook? Or maybe you’re on the go and need a quick bite? No problem! You can get vegan meals at fast food restaurants.
While it may not be as easy as walking into a vegan-friendly joint and ordering whatever you want off the menu, with a little bit of creativity and knowledge, you can make it work.
Here are some tips on how to do just that.
Do Your Research Ahead Of Time
One of the best things you can do when trying to order a vegan meal at a fast food place is to do your research ahead of time. While not all fast food restaurants are created equal in terms of vegan options, many of them do have at least some options that will work for you.
The first step is to visit the website of the fast food restaurant you’re interested in and see if they have any vegan items listed on their menu. If they do, great! If not, don’t worry, there’s still hope.
Even if a restaurant doesn’t have any explicitly vegan items on its menu, chances are there are still some items that can be made as such with a few simple substitutions.
For example, many fast food places will allow you to swap out meat for a veggie patty, chicken for sauteed shrooms, or dairy cheese for some plant-based cheese.
Once you know what your options are, you can call ahead to the restaurant and ask to speak with a manager about making your meal meat-free. Just kidding. Please don’t do that.
Just go up to the counter and ask the people working there to sub the meats for shrooms or some other meat-free options.
Easy peasy!
Be Prepared To Improvise
Even with all the planning in the world, there may still be times when you find yourself at a fast-food restaurant with limited or no vegan options. If this happens, don’t despair! There are still ways to make it work.
One option is to order something from the kids’ menu. While kids’ meals are usually geared towards meat-eaters, there are usually one or two vegetarian options that can easily be made vegan by leaving off the cheese or swapping out the milk-based dipping sauce for ketchup or BBQ sauce.
Another option is to order several side items and create your own makeshift meal.
For example, many fast food places offer french fries, salads, fruit cups, and other sides that can be combined to create a satisfying, if not exactly gourmet, meal.
Just Take A Look At The Menu
There are plenty of fast-food joints that have a separate vegan menu nowadays, so there’s a good chance that all of this prep might be completely unnecessary.
Popular posts like Carl’s Jr, Cheesecake Factory and even McDonald’s all have vegan (or at least vegetarian) menus that make it easy to find something that’ll fit your dietary restrictions.
Honestly, just look at the Cheesecake Factory vegan menu. There are pasta, appetizers, burgers and a whole lot of other stuff, so we’re sure you’ll be able to find tons and tons of delicious meals.
Our Top 5 Places To Eat Meat-Free
As a non-meat eater, it can be tough to find decent fast food options. However, there are more and more plant-friendly joints popping up all the time.
Here are five of the best!
1. Chipotle
Chipotle is a great option because they have a wide variety of vegan-friendly ingredients that you can mix and match to create your perfect meal. Plus, their sofritas are absolutely delicious!
Truly, you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, but our personal favorite is the Veggie Burrito Bowl with black beans, veggies, rice, guac, and salsa.
2. Taco Bell
Taco Bell is another great fast food joint for vegans because they offer a bunch of options, including the black bean burrito and the 7-layer burrito (without the dairy). Plus, their chips and guacamole are cruelty-free as well!
3. Carl’s Jr.
Carl’s Jr. may not be the first place you think of when you’re looking for vegan options, but they actually have a pretty decent selection. Their “Beyond Burger” is a meat-free patty that you can add to any sandwich or salad. Plus, their french fries are to die for.
4. Del Taco
Del Taco is another splendid option, thanks to its wide selection of vegan ingredients. Their bean burrito is a great choice, and their chips and guacamole are also amazing.
If we had to choose one thing from the menu, it would be the Beyond 8-Layer Burrito. It’s got black beans, rice, house-made guacamole, and is as delicious as they come.
5. Burger King
Not too long ago, Burger King added the Impossible Burger patty to its menu, and it’s been a game-changer for vegans everywhere. The patty is made from soy, and can be added to any sandwich or salad. They’ll even prepare it away from the grill if that’s what you want to.
Also, they’ve began dabbling with Impossible chicken nuggets as well, so be on the lookout for those!
Will This Cost Extra?
More often than not, you will actually pay less for a vegan meal than you would for a meat-based one. This is because plant-based proteins are typically cheaper than their animal-based counterparts. Also, veggies aren’t that expensive, so you’d usually save a few bucks if you went the plant route.
But, don’t be surprised if you’re asked to pay a bit extra for vegan cheese or other add-ons. This is because these items are often more expensive than their dairy-based counterparts so you might be expected to pay extra.
Conclusion
So there you have it – everything you need to know about ordering a vegan meal at a fast food restaurant! With a little bit of planning and creativity, it’s definitely possible to find something that will satisfy your hunger without compromising your values. Bon appetit!
