The Subtle Vegetarian

Taco Bell just added three new vegetarian entrees to their menu:

• The cheese roll-up is a tubular quesadilla
• The triple-layer nachos have beans, red sauce, and nacho sauce
• The caramel apple empanadas are McDonald’s apple pies in disguise

I already waxed enthusiastic about the eggs at Dunkin’ Donuts, but one of my readers asked about eating vegan there, so I did some research. They have a nice site with detailed nutrition and ingredient information, and it turns out that there are lots of vegan options there, including some you might not expect.

If you’re a vegan, go for a bagel (but not a multigrain or blueberry) without cream cheese, or maybe an english muffin. Add a hash brown on the side, and drink a flavored coffee (but not pumpkin or vanilla). For lunch, get a fruit coolatta and the oriental salad. But vegans have to skip all of the eponymous donuts and munchkins, as well as all coffee coolattas.

Read on for the details…

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Yeah, fast food is sometimes in demand. And Mexican is often veggie friendly. Combine them and you get Taco Bell – Yum! Brands’ “Mexican” chain. It’s not actually good (or all that Mexican), but it’s something to eat in a pinch…

As I mentioned the other day, Taco Bell’s web site doesn’t include the word, “vegetarian”, but parent company Yum does have some information. Here’s the deal: The rice is vegetarian (specifically), as are the (refried) beans. The pizza sauce contains “natural flavorings” which is sometimes code for meat, and the stores use the same fryer for the potato bits and meaty stuff.

Now what do I like to eat there? Best is a modified Mexican Pizza – no meat, add sour cream. Costs a lot, but actually tasty! Also, the bean burritos (I get them without the nasty red sauce) and new special bean and rice burrito aren’t bad.

Not a destination. But lunch.

As mentioned yesterday, McDonald’s is a rare restaurant to address the issue of vegetarian entrees. KFC, of all places, also has a FAQ for vegetarians, pointing out a number of foods that are acceptable and even showing some sensitivity to the issue of shared frying oil.

Since the FAQ is down the page, here’s the summary. Corn on the cob, cole slaw, garden salad, three bean salad, and seasond rice contain no meat, eggs, or dairy. Mashed potatoes (without gravy) and biscuits contain dairy, while pasta and potato salad contain eggs. The potato wedges are fried in the same oil as the chicken.

Too bad they overcook all their veggies (Southern style, I’m told) or it would make a nice veggie side dish plate.

I got a laugh out of this one. Unlike most restaurants, which don’t even mention the word, “vegetarian” on their menus, McDonald’s actually has a special FAQ for vegetarians on their site! It basically says “you’re on your own.” But at least they address the issue, and at least they’re honest…

Quiznos has swapped out the old tasty guacamole-laden Veggie Sub for a new “Italian Caprese” option. But you can still get the old one!

If the Sub Technician you’re ordering from doesn’t remember (or know) what it was, here’s the content:

Guacamole, black olives, lettuce, tomato, red onion, mushrooms, mozzarella, cheddar, and red wine vinaigrette dressing

Special thanks to Quiznos for still offering a veggie option on the menu, and extra subtle vegetarian points are awarded for naming it something other than “veggie”!

Yesterday I told you about the off-menu “just eggs” option at McDonalds, and now I’m going to spill the beans on a similar option at Dunkin’ Donuts.

It’s not on the menu or in the register, but Dunkies will sell you the big round egg without the bagel for even less than Mickey-D’s buck eggs. They ring it up as “extra egg” and serve it in the white tray it’s cooked in.

Watch out, though. Dunkies has no forks. And I’ve had them pile three eggs on a bagel with cream cheese (yuck), so make sure the order taker communicates with the kitchen!

Kids love McDonalds. I’m not sure why, but every kid seems to love the idea of it at least. Even my veggie kids jump at the chance to go!

So what can they eat? Well, like so many other places, breakfast is easiest. And it just so happens that the Golden Arches houses an amazing breakfast deal: scrambled eggs!

See, they’ll sell you just eggs for a buck, and this is plenty for my kids. Add a massive orange juice (they only come in “massive” these days) and you have a pretty healthy veggie meal for a couple of bucks. The eggs are on the register but not the menu, by the way.

It’s too bad Mickey-D’s chooses to ruin their own “healthy” choices like apples and yogurt with syrup and caramel, but at least I don’t have to deny my kids the Arches.

Now if only there was a lunch or dinner option other than cheeseburger with no burger!