Hold the Meat! Give Me My Wallet!
Although some restaurants and restaurant chains are slowly incorporating vegan options, it isn’t fast enough and the prices just don’t add up. Vegans are being grossly overcharged for our desire to be cruelty free. Charging us extra is cruel in itself. Who is standing up for vegans?
When I ask a certain arched food chain to hold the meat and substitute it with a tomato, I am charged nearly a dollar extra for a sliver of soggy red goop.
When I go beyond the bun and order an item sans meat, I am charged a dollar for “adding” beans. Beans!
Forget having it my way, when a burger chain refuses to give me a burger without the meat; no substitutions! I am forced to buy the whole burger, meat served on the side. Gross!
And when I recently went to a diner, I am offered one vegan option, a salad (eye roll). For $1.00 I could add chicken, for another dollar I could add fish. I, the hungry vegan, added avocado, which resulted in four mushy slices for a ridiculous $2.79! Why are vegans being punished? In what universe is an avocado’s life worth more than a living breathing animal’s?
If I happen to get thirsty, and want tea with soy or almond milk instead of cow’s milk, it’s an extra $.70! And while that might not seem like a lot, it certainly adds up. Especially when you include the already high prices we pay for organic and vegan grocery items. Can we ever catch a break?
That has become the option – pay more or starve. Why are vegans charged more for eating less? And for eating less cruel for that matter?
What Can a Hungry Vegan Do?
Something has to give. We can’t be nickel and dimed forever because of our choices. There must be a better way. Do we stand there in line and try to rationale with the workers? Do we write to corporations?
Sometimes it takes a personal stand to beat the system: a way to stick it to the meat-eating world and eat in public too.
A list of items to pack to “beat” the system:
- Avocados: Bring them everywhere! No seriously, pack them in your bags, pockets, purses, anywhere they will fit! Not only do they save you money when you go out to eat, they are the perfect pre-packaged protein! You can also buy the sealed packages of guacamole, although they need to be refrigerated. If you are anything like me, you already pack a cooler wherever you go, because face it, we are always hungry!
- Non-dairy milk products: If you don’t have a cooler, or are eating far from home, pack the sealed type that doesn’t require refrigeration. Packing diary free milk comes in handy for so many food options. Think cereal, think oatmeal, think tea and coffee, think chocolate “milk”!
- Fruits and Veggies: This is simple and probably something you all do anyway, but it’s worth the mention. They are portable, healthy and don’t cost a lot.
- Vegan butter. How many times do we just want toast and no one carries dairy free butter? Bring your own, it’s the only choice sometimes. This is also the same for vegan cream cheese, mayo and dressings.
- Your favorites: Anything that the outside non-vegan world doesn’t have. After all, what’s the point of eating out if you’re just going to starve? Pack what you need and enjoy your meal and your hard-earned cash.
What About You?
Have you been overcharged for your vegan food choices? What are the ways you cope or get around it? What are your must-have food items you bring everywhere? Please leave comments below to help out a fellow hungry (non millionaire) vegan.
Alfred says
Nice article!
Sarah says
Yep, Ashley did a really nice job.
Avocado lover says
Avocados are amazing because their oils and fats are really good for the body