Eating to Live on the Outside: Veg Out
Alright, this week Eating to Live on the Outside hits the west coast—the way west coast! We’re heading to Hawaii to chow down at Veg Out. With a name like that, it should be good. Let’s hope so, because after enduring Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse, I could use a breath of fresh nutrient-dense vegetable-based air. Okay, synch up your grass skirt and let’s crack this menu open!
I’ll start with the appetizers and beverages first. Veg Out has a bunch of juices that might interest you. Personally, I’m not a big juice guy. I drink a little pomegranate juice every morning and that’s about it, but, I might try the Carrot Juice with beets. As for the appetizers, I’m either going with the Edamame beans or the Steamed Veggies—can’t go wrong with these!
Next up are the salads. Well, they all look good to me, but, there’re a couple alterations to be made. Take the Greek Salad for example. It’s prepared with Romaine lettuce, cucumber, tomato, red onion, Kalamata olives, and feta cheese. As usual, the cheese gets the axe. I’m also ditching the olives because they’re salty. So, after dropping these two things, I’ve got a pretty decent meal in front of me. The Veg Out Salad is an even better option; made with Romaine lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, cabbage, mushroom, tomato, red onion, and sprouts. You really can’t complain about this one. And finally, the Etsalada Salad; includes Mexican beans, seasoned tofu, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, onion, cheese, olives, salsa, and guacamole—wow, that’s a lot of stuff! Okay, I’m killing the cheese and provided the guacamole—AVOCADO!—isn’t made with sour cream, I’m keeping everything else. Not to shabby if you ask me. Oh! And as always, I'm keeping the salad dressing to a minimum.
Now, onto the Sandwiches and Wraps, this stuff is a little more hit or miss. For those of you that like garden burgers or veggie burgers, Veg Out has got a couple of them—they’re not really my thing—but, the Falafel Wrap looks pretty cool; prepared with lettuce, tomato, green onion, tahini sauce, hummus, and wrapped in a tortilla. Clearly, the concession is the tortilla. I can live with it. I hardly ever eat bread anymore, so I’d consider it a treat—hey, at least it better than downing a gallon of ice cream! Veg Out also makes an Avocado Wrap, but apparently it isn’t always available. So I’m not sure what’s in it, but remember I’m an AVOCADO FREAK. Meaning there’s a real-real good chance I’d order it. Sorry, I’m an addict.
Diversity should be Veg Out’s middle name, because there’re all sorts of different foods on this menu; including pasta, Mexican, Far East, and pizza entrees. But here’s the problem. None of these are all that Fuhrman-friendly. I’m bailing on the pasta dishes because there aren’t enough veggies to compensate for the pasta. Pizza is obviously out. I don’t do dairy, period. Now, the Old Mexico Entrees and the Far East Entrees are a little better. I like the Fajitas; made with sautéed bell peppers, onion, tofu, beans, rice, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and flour tortillas. Again, the cheese is out and the flour tortillas and sautéed peppers are concessions. I'd really prefer a salad over this. I feel the same way about the Yellow Curry; it’s prepared with tofu, seasonal vegetables, and your choice of rice, noodles, or flatbread. The noodles or the bread would be the concession here. I still want that salad.
While not perfect, Veg Out could work for an Eat to Liver. I admit, given Hawaii's love affair with spam, I was a little worried, but, Veg Out has potential. If push came to shove, you can make it work. I just find it interesting that week after week, the best options are almost always a salad—go figure. Okay, it’s your turn. Check out Veg Out’s menu and let me know how you handle Eating to Live on the Outside. Make a comment or send an email to diseaseproof@gmail.com.
I’ll start with the appetizers and beverages first. Veg Out has a bunch of juices that might interest you. Personally, I’m not a big juice guy. I drink a little pomegranate juice every morning and that’s about it, but, I might try the Carrot Juice with beets. As for the appetizers, I’m either going with the Edamame beans or the Steamed Veggies—can’t go wrong with these!
Next up are the salads. Well, they all look good to me, but, there’re a couple alterations to be made. Take the Greek Salad for example. It’s prepared with Romaine lettuce, cucumber, tomato, red onion, Kalamata olives, and feta cheese. As usual, the cheese gets the axe. I’m also ditching the olives because they’re salty. So, after dropping these two things, I’ve got a pretty decent meal in front of me. The Veg Out Salad is an even better option; made with Romaine lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, cabbage, mushroom, tomato, red onion, and sprouts. You really can’t complain about this one. And finally, the Etsalada Salad; includes Mexican beans, seasoned tofu, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, onion, cheese, olives, salsa, and guacamole—wow, that’s a lot of stuff! Okay, I’m killing the cheese and provided the guacamole—AVOCADO!—isn’t made with sour cream, I’m keeping everything else. Not to shabby if you ask me. Oh! And as always, I'm keeping the salad dressing to a minimum.
Now, onto the Sandwiches and Wraps, this stuff is a little more hit or miss. For those of you that like garden burgers or veggie burgers, Veg Out has got a couple of them—they’re not really my thing—but, the Falafel Wrap looks pretty cool; prepared with lettuce, tomato, green onion, tahini sauce, hummus, and wrapped in a tortilla. Clearly, the concession is the tortilla. I can live with it. I hardly ever eat bread anymore, so I’d consider it a treat—hey, at least it better than downing a gallon of ice cream! Veg Out also makes an Avocado Wrap, but apparently it isn’t always available. So I’m not sure what’s in it, but remember I’m an AVOCADO FREAK. Meaning there’s a real-real good chance I’d order it. Sorry, I’m an addict.
Diversity should be Veg Out’s middle name, because there’re all sorts of different foods on this menu; including pasta, Mexican, Far East, and pizza entrees. But here’s the problem. None of these are all that Fuhrman-friendly. I’m bailing on the pasta dishes because there aren’t enough veggies to compensate for the pasta. Pizza is obviously out. I don’t do dairy, period. Now, the Old Mexico Entrees and the Far East Entrees are a little better. I like the Fajitas; made with sautéed bell peppers, onion, tofu, beans, rice, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and flour tortillas. Again, the cheese is out and the flour tortillas and sautéed peppers are concessions. I'd really prefer a salad over this. I feel the same way about the Yellow Curry; it’s prepared with tofu, seasonal vegetables, and your choice of rice, noodles, or flatbread. The noodles or the bread would be the concession here. I still want that salad.
While not perfect, Veg Out could work for an Eat to Liver. I admit, given Hawaii's love affair with spam, I was a little worried, but, Veg Out has potential. If push came to shove, you can make it work. I just find it interesting that week after week, the best options are almost always a salad—go figure. Okay, it’s your turn. Check out Veg Out’s menu and let me know how you handle Eating to Live on the Outside. Make a comment or send an email to diseaseproof@gmail.com.
