That’s Makes Me SO-O-O Mad…

As a vegetarian, eating out can be a very frustrating experience.

I changed my eating habits around 25 years ago because my husband’s cholesterol was extremely high; and we needed to stop regularly eating hot dogs and beans, South 21’s double cheeseburgers (and onion rings), BIG steaks on the grill, and, of course, Kentucky Fried Chicken with all the fixin’s.

At first we cut back on meat, carbs, and desserts. Then we cut out beef and pork. Then I cut out chicken, and my husband cut back on chicken. Then, I went off the “deep end” and cut out all dairy products as well. For years, my diet consisted of beans, tofu, vegetables, soy milk, veggie burgers, fruits, and nuts. Due to bone density concerns over the past few years, I have added back into my diet some items, such as eggs, cheese, and salmon.

Now, with that little bit of information tucked away, this is what makes me so mad. I cannot tell you how many times I have had to send food back in a restaurant for having non-vegetarian items in or on it. In the past when I placed orders, the food would come to me with butter, mayonnaise, gravy, cheese sauce, chicken broth, etc., even though I explained up-front that I am a vegetarian. This has been so maddening.

Nowadays, many returned dishes later, I clearly speak up and say what I want and don’t want. Fortunately for me, I usually go to the same restaurants, and they know me (and my quirks) by now. Still, I don’t take a chance. I specifically describe what I want and don’t want. If I don’t do it, I might be eating, more often than not, something I just don’t want to put in my body.