When going out to a restaurant as a vegan, the best case scenario is for a menu to have a little “V” or plant-based emblem indicating which dishes are animal friendly. Yet, most of the time neither is present. Then, vegans have to go through the long process of perusing the entire menu trying to find a hidden treasure. Even after you find an option that seems safe enough, sometimes we still ask a server to confirm that it is vegan. Although knowledge of veganism has increased dramatically over the years, there are still many who look back at you with confusion. This is the kind of thing vegans should be aware of at restaurants. A brief explanation of what it means to be vegan and more questions may come until you are confident that the meal lacks any meat or its byproducts.
“Yes” it is Vegan, or “Yes” You Should Eat it?
There is one unclear answer that vegans may get when they ask an eating establishment if something on their menu is suitable to their diet: a quick “yes.” This is always strange and a bit unnerving. One reason to the quick “yes” is that the restaurant has already gotten the question from other customers and consequently checked their dishes, already knowing the ones that are vegan. Or, the other reason, they are too bothered to care or ask for more information about what it means and decide to lie with an affirmative to get the sale. Both scenarios, I argue, are detrimental to veganism.
Menu of Deception
Let’s begin with the latter situation. A restaurant that lies about their menu does not care for their customers. Too often, vegans are seen as arrogant animal lovers who will eventually give up the “fad” of abstaining from meat. While most vegans despise this and know it to be an untrue stereotype, it is still one that is dangerous to consumers. All vegans have differing reasons for their lifestyle choice and therefore we all live in contrasting ways.
This means that a person could be asking if something is vegan because of health issues related to meat or dairy. They could also want to avoid any of the myriad hormones and antibiotics in these products. It is the responsibility for eateries to respect the fact that people have a right to choose what they put into their bodies and deserve to know what is in the food they eat.
Secret Veganism
The instance where someone knows something is vegan even though it does not indicate it on the menu is just as harmful. I know, it’s already so difficult for people to find anything vegan; how can a café having vegan options be harmful? Well, the problem lies in the fact that they are hiding it. While the main purpose of labeling meals as vegan is to tell those who choose the lifestyle that it is okay for them to eat, the small “V” is also a way to bring the discussion of our food system to the forefront. If omnivores realize that their favorite take-out meals are vegan, they may start to realize how it should have a place on every restaurant menu. With more vegan alternatives clearly shown on menus, society will continue learning that these dishes are just as delicious and filling as any other.
While vegans already stay away from restaurants that do not have vegan options, perhaps they should also stay clear of those that do but hide them. This may be an extreme notion but it is a necessary next step to making veganism more normalized and understood by society as a whole. How will anyone be exposed to the idea of veganism or be disproved of its stereotypes if all the evidence of it is hidden away behind the counter? Tell us, what are your experiences of ordering vegan food at a restaurant?
Jenna Hunter says
It was interesting that article stated that a restaurant that lies about their menu does not care for their customers. My husband is vegan, and we went out to a restaurant last weekend. He ordered and was lied to about how they had a vegan menu. We will be sure to more research the next time we go out!