Being a Vegetarian on holiday

Tarry · 28 August 2017 at 7:16PM

I am a veggie, but that's because I've never fancied eating meat. I do eat cheese, eggs etc. I self cater on holiday which helps as I eat in the mornings, grab a sandwich for lunch or something and than eat main meal in the evening at home.
I tend to go to Ireland at the moment though.

melanzana · 28 August 2017 at 7:30PM

Tarry wrote: »

I am a veggie, but that's because I've never fancied eating meat. I do eat cheese, eggs etc. I self cater on holiday which helps as I eat in the mornings, grab a sandwich for lunch or something and than eat main meal in the evening at home.
I tend to go to Ireland at the moment though.

If you ever go to Cork, you have to go to Paradiso (Denis Cotter's place), look it up. Divine, even though I am not veggie. Cork is lovely also!

In Dublin there is just SO MUCH CHOICE, but Govindas, Cornucopia, and Blazing Salads are those I would recommend for reasonably cheap and cheerful veggie food... for Dublin!

Hope you enjoy Ireland.

peachyprice · 28 August 2017 at 7:46PM

GwylimT wrote: »

Parmesan is not vegetarian.

I doubt much of the cheeses OP's daughter was having on her pizza in Florida was either

Doshwaster · 28 August 2017 at 8:43PM

peachyprice wrote: »

I doubt much of the cheeses OP's daughter was having on her pizza in Florida was either

My experience of cheeses in the US is that they are so processed they haven't been anywhere near a cow.

michele-p · 28 August 2017 at 10:00PM

Hi, I can sympathise with you and your daughters struggles! I'm vegetarian - and some holidays can be so difficult for me to eat well. For example, I'd give France a wide birth, we went to the Dordogne last year, luckily we had a self catering house, but the few times we tried to eat out it was really hard! I was sick of cheese and bread. It was a bit easier further up in the Loire valley, they were much more understanding there. I found the French attitude very harsh and not helpful in most places we went. My husband was getting very fed up with me not being able to eat in the places we found (he's a meat eater!). Spain I do also find a bit difficult.

My all time favourite it anything Greek, feta, courgette, spinach pie, giant butter beans, I'm in heaven. The restaurants are usually very helpful, and will put dishes together if you explain, I usually order 2/3 starters if nothing on the main meals appeals. And of course Greek salads are amazing.

So my ultimate veggie recommendation is a place called Parga, on the mainland. You fly into Prevezza - about 45 mins away. It's my favourite Greek place. You can book flight only now on Easyjet, in which case try to get as near to the harbour as possible. Or Olympic do some great packages too. Italy is also fab for food!!!

I also struggle a bit in America, they aren't big on vegetables, and I often crave them when being denied! You'd think it would be so much easier there, we did a road trip New York, Boston, Washington DC and Maine, I did eat OK, but had to really check the menus to make sure they had a veggie protein based option.

I turned veggie at 13 - I'm now 41. To be honest I think now it's more habit than anything, at least in the UK things are so much better than when I first decided not to eat meat. I was the fussiest of eaters too, nightmare for my parents. I'm not quite as fussy these days, I can handle my veggie burger if it's been on the same grill as the meat - I can pick out meat from a sandwich in an emergency.

Good luck with your next holiday - it can be better!!`

Spendless · 28 August 2017 at 10:49PM

peachyprice wrote: »

I doubt much of the cheeses OP's daughter was having on her pizza in Florida was either

There was so little choice for her, I'm afraid that with some descriptions I had to go with the 'ignorance is bliss' attitude, However a quick google tells me that (usually) margarita pizza is made with mozerella and I'd say 99% of the pizzas eaten were descibed as 'margarita' I do remember a 4 cheese pizza being offerred once (the day we arrived) and when she queried which 4 cheeses and one of them was parmesan, the owner/manager offerred to change it as their pizzas were made fresh to order, so he could add or eliminate any ingrediant.

Spendless · 28 August 2017 at 10:59PM

Thanks for everyone's input. This is being really helpful. We holiday in France frequently but haven't done so, since DD stopped eating meat, so have never scrutinised their menus for veggie options.

One of the things I've found hardest, with both this years and last years holidays is that my plan b if nothing was on the mains section, was for her to eat some meat free starters or sides, only to find neither place really offerred them, or only meat loaded ones.

Something I pointed out to her when she wanted to become vegetarian was how restrictive it would be when eating out, but I was taking about menus in the U.K. I hadn't realised they were good compared to other places.

So, from the comments for Europe, Spain is a maybe. We have a spanish tapas restaurant here, I'm thinking we may go for my birthday next month and see how she gets on trying the food.

Greece sounds fantastic for food for her. I've been to Greece once when I was in my early 20s and really hated that you couldn't flush toilet paper down the loo.

Some years later, I struck up conversation with a Greek bloke and he told me it's to do with the rock below Greece and the plumbing they're able to have. It puts me off going back. Sorry, I know I've just thrown another 'problem' out there for suggestions.

Re-read the thread. Sounds like Turkey is a possibility too.

michele-p · 28 August 2017 at 11:19PM

hmm, adding in the loo paper issue is a bit of a spanner in the Greece works! I've never found it an issue to be honest, the rooms usually get cleaned every day most places, I just get on with it, as I've loved every trip to different parts of Greece I've been to. Turkey may be the same, I can't remember to be honest. Other places I've eaten well have been Egypt (though it's a bit of a no go at the moment) and the 1 time I went to Turkey. Both can have a reputation for iffy tummy\s though, and at the moment I'd probably not visit either.