341: Say Goodbye to Dining Out Stress with These 5 Vegan Cuisines

Are you tired of staring at a menu, wondering if there’s anything you can eat that’s whole food plant-based, healthy, and satisfying? Or worse, settling for a sad side salad while everyone else enjoys their meals? It doesn’t have to be this way!

In this episode of Power on Plants, we’re uncovering the top 5 most healthy vegan-friendly global cuisines that make dining out on a whole food, plant-based (WFPB) diet not just possible, but absolutely delicious. 

From the nutrient-packed stews of Ethiopian cuisine to the vibrant flavors of Thai dishes, we’re sharing the insider tips on what to order, how to customize your meals, and why these cuisines are natural havens for healthy vegans date night, work meetings, or family outings. 

Here’s a taste of what you’ll learn:

• The tasty ingredient at Ethiopian restaurants that doubles as a plate and utensil 
• How to navigate Indian, Mexican, Mediterranean, and Thai menus like a pro, with specific dishes to try and modifications to request.
• The one question you must ask at Thai restaurants to avoid hidden ingredients that aren’t healthy. 

Say goodbye to the stress of dining out and hello to the flavorful, satisfying meals that align with your oil free whole food plant-based lifestyle. 
 
 Whether you’re new to WFPB eating or a seasoned pro, this episode is packed with practical tips to make your next restaurant visit a breeze!

👉 Ready to transform your dining-out experience? Listen to the full episode now!

Your plant-based journey just got a whole lot tastier! 🌱

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Episode Transcript

Anita (00:01):
Hey sister, welcome to the Power on Plants podcast.
Are you tired of staring intothe fridge wondering what to eat
so you can just feel better?
Do you want to avoid spendinghours in the kitchen making
complicated meals in the name ofhealth?
Would you love to leave fatiguebehind and finally have the
energy to do all the things youwant to do?
Hi, we're Jared and AnitaRoussel, christ followers,

(00:24):
health care professionals,parents of four and big fans of
great tasting food.
We, too, tried exercising more,eating natural and clean foods,
but we still found ourselvesstruggling with what we thought
were changes that come with ageor bad genes, and we weren't
finding answers the traditionalroute.
So we dug into the research andcreated our secret nutritional

(00:45):
weapon sustainable plant-basedliving.
The truth is, you can eat morewhole plant foods and it's not
hard.
You just need the way.
That's realistic and delicious,so you never feel deprived.
If you're ready to enjoy yourmeals, no longer be held back by
your health struggles andactively live your life, then
you're in the right place.

(01:05):
So grab your favoriteplant-based cup of happy pop in
those earbuds and let's getstarted.
Hello sunshine, welcome toanother episode of Power on
Plants, where we help you tofinally feel good so you're able
to actively live your dreamsthrough the incredible power of
healthy, plant-based eating.
We're so excited about today'sepisode because we're tackling

(01:29):
one of the biggest challengesmany of you face dining out
while staying true to yourplant-based lifestyle.
Have you ever stood virtuallyfrozen in front of a restaurant
wondering is there anything thatI can actually eat inside there
?
Or sat at a table watchingeveryone else enjoy their meals
while you picked at your littleside salad?

(01:49):
Well, those days are over.
Today we're exploring the topfive most vegan friendly
cuisines around, complete withexactly what to order and why.
These food traditions arenatural havens for eating whole
food plant-based.
So if you're ready, let's diveinto the delicious world of
global plant-based dining.
Jared, you want to start us offwith the first restaurant?

Jarrod (02:11):
I would love to.
First up is Ethiopian cuisine,which might be the best-kept
secret in the plant-based world.
Ethiopian cuisine is naturallyplant-friendly due to the
traditional fasting periods,during which Ethiopians avoid
animal products for asignificant portion of the year.
This cultural practice has ledto the development of numerous
delicious plant-based dishes.

(02:32):
Say that five times deliciousplant-based dishes that are
central to their cuisine, makingEthiopian restaurants
particularly accommodating forplant-based diners.

Anita (02:43):
But one thing makes Ethiopian food so special, and
that is the foundation of injera, a fermented sourdough
flatbread made of teff grain.
This nutrient-dense, naturallygluten-free bread serves as both
your plate and your utensil, soyou tear off pieces to scoop up

(03:04):
the various stews or vegetablesthat are served on top of it.
So not only can Ethiopiandining be nutritionally
beneficial, but it can also bereally fun.
Sadly, we don't have anyEthiopian restaurants in our
area and right now, finding allthis out about Ethiopian food,
I'm actually a little bitenvious because I did some
research into this because Iknow Ethiopian food is great for

(03:24):
.
Actually a little bit enviousbecause I did some research into
this because I know Ethiopianfood is great for eating whole
food, plant-based.
But of course we've missed outbecause we don't live in a big
city.
But if you live somewhere evenlike Nashville, I looked it up
and there's something like fiveto 10 Ethiopian restaurants just
in Nashville alone.
So if you live anywhere near alarger city, do not miss out on
this cuisine.

Jarrod (03:44):
When you visit an Ethiopian restaurant, look for
these three powerhouse dishes.
First is mesir wat, a rich,spiced red lentil stew that's
hearty and protein-packed.
Second is gomen collard greenssauteed with aromatic spices and
garlic.
And the third option, shiro, asmooth sp spice stew made from

(04:05):
ground chickpeas or split peas.
Just be sure to ask for nonider kibbeh, that is, clarified
butter in your dishes and getthis.
Most Ethiopian restaurants arevery accommodating and can
prepare oil-free versions uponrequest.

Anita (04:20):
I'm just impressed to hear you pronounce all of those.
That's all I have to say aboutthat.

Jarrod (04:25):
I dabble in the languages.

Anita (04:28):
I love it.
Next, let's travel to India,where filling your plate with
vegetables has deep culturalroots that go back thousands of
years.
Indian cuisine offers anincredible variety of
legume-based dishes, vegetablecurries and whole grain options.
So when dining at an Indianrestaurant, these three dishes
are great options to consider.

(04:50):
First is hana masala.
This is chickpeas simmered in afragrant tomato-based sauce
with warming spices.
And then there's dal, which isvarious lentil stews that are a
protein-rich and deeplysatisfying dish.
And third, aloo gobi.
I love this one.
This is a comforting potato andcauliflower dish with turmeric

(05:14):
and cumin.
I like it so much that I evenincluded a recipe for this
inside our cookbook.
You can check that out atpoweronplantscom forward slash
cookbook.
But here is the key to requestno ghee, which is clarified
butter or cream, when you'revisiting an Indian restaurant.
Many restaurants are happy toprepare dishes with less oil, or

(05:36):
even oil-free, if you askpolitely.
So pair these dishes with somebrown rice instead of naan bread
for a more whole food,plant-based approach when you
visit.

Jarrod (05:46):
Now our next option.
Mexican food sometimes gets abad reputation in the health
world because of how it's oftenprepared in American restaurants
, swimming in cheese and sourcream.
But authentic Mexican cuisineis built around corn, beans,
rice, tomatoes and avocados allplant foods.
Here are three fantasticoptions at Mexican restaurants.

(06:08):
First, veggie fajitas.
We love veggie fajitas.

Anita (06:13):
This is what we order at our local restaurant when we go
out to eat.
We love theirs and we ask foroil-free or no butter added as
well.
It's just so satisfying, thosesizzling fajitas that come out
and they pile ours high withsome type of mushroom I think
they use oyster mushrooms onours and then sweet potatoes at
this one.
It's amazing With the standardthings as well, like your side

(06:37):
of guacamole, and then it hasthe all the different sides that
you get with it, like thelettuce and the tomato, pico,
things like that, and then ourswith ours.
They include a side of rice orbeans, something like that.
And then, of course, you getyour grilled veggies the other
ones that I haven't mentioned,like the bell peppers and the
onions.
Yes, it's always such a treat.
And then there are thetortillas.

(06:59):
The homemade tortillas areamazing, so don't miss out on
ordering the veggie fajitas whenyou visit your local Mexican
restaurant.

Jarrod (07:09):
It never disappoints.
Second, bean-based soups, likeblack bean soup.
Number three bean burritosloaded with brown rice, beans,
veggies of your choice, andsalsa or pico de gallo.
We do recommend asking if thebeans are cooked with meat or
meat fat.
Many times they can containthings like pork fat and then
simply request no cheese, nosour cream, butter or oil.

(07:32):
We also recommend corntortillas over flour ones, as
butter is often used in theflour variety.
And there you have it Severaloptions for the perfectly
delicious whole food plant-basedMexican meal.

Anita (07:45):
You are making me hungry.

Jarrod (07:46):
I know, me too, it's one of my favorites.

Anita (07:48):
I love, love, love Mexican.
But you don't have to stop atMexican, indian or Ethiopian
cuisine, because next up we haveMediterranean food, which has
gained worldwide recognition forits health benefits, and for a
good reason.
This cuisine emphasizes loadsof vegetables, legumes, whole
grains and herbs.
When dining Mediterranean style, look for these tasty options.

(08:09):
Falafel is a great option,which is a chickpea patty that
can be enjoyed with a wholewheat pita or on top of a salad,
if you want to omit the bread.
And then there's lentil soup.
This dish is especially hearty,it's comforting and it's
typically made with very simpleingredients.
Also, consider trying stuffedgrape leaves.

(08:31):
These are made with rice andherbs on the inside that are
wrapped in tender grape leaves.
Simply request no oil in yourhummus or on your salad and ask
if dishes can be preparedwithout added oils, because many
Mediterranean restaurants nowoffer oil-free options, as this
cuisine has become very popularamong health-conscious diners.

Jarrod (08:54):
And finally consider enjoying some delicious Thai
cuisine, which offers anexplosion of flavors through
their herbs, spices andvegetables, rather than relying
heavily on animal products.
These three dishes aretypically easy to make
plant-based.
First, vegetable pad thai.
This is made with rice noodles,vegetables and tofu.
Just ask for no egg or fishsauce.

(09:15):
Then there are vegetable springrolls, a simple dish of
vegetables that are wrapped inrice paper.
And, last but certainly notleast, vegetable curry, which is
a coconut-based meal that'sfilled with vegetables.
You can ask that it be preparedwith light coconut milk.
The key with Thai food is torequest no fish sauce, oyster
sauce or eggs.

Anita (09:35):
I would say, also ask if they use MSG Thai or Asian
restaurants.
That's another thing you mightwant to ask as well.

Jarrod (09:42):
That's actually a great point, because sometimes they
don't advertise that on menusand then we've had times when
we've enjoyed that but thenmaybe didn't feel the best
afterwards and later learnedthat they did utilize MSG yes.
So you want to ask about thator just simply say, hey, no MSG
please, because I'm a littlesensitive to it.
I think most restaurants areaccommodating.
Yes, Most Thai restaurants arevery familiar with vegan

(10:04):
modifications and canaccommodate requests easily.

Anita (10:07):
So there you have it Five global cuisines that make
plant-based dining not justpossible but absolutely
delicious and enjoyable.
Remember, the key to successfuldining out is clear
communication, so don't beafraid to ask questions and make
special requests.
Most chefs are happy toaccommodate dietary preferences,
especially when you approachthem with kindness and

(10:30):
appreciation.
And now that you're armed withthese global plant-based dining
secrets, imagine transformingnot just your restaurant
experiences but your entire life.
Inside our one-of-a-kindAccelerator course and coaching
program that is opening soon Inaccelerator, we'll lead you step
by step through our signaturefive step framework for the

(10:51):
simple and enjoyable way to healyour body naturally with whole
plant foods.
And the bonuses we're offeringthis time around are exceptional
.
We're including our entirebrand new weight loss revolution
video course, as well as ourcholesterol course, absolutely
free, to secure your spot on thewait list and ensure you don't

(11:12):
miss out.
Head to poweronplantscomforward slash accelerator today,
friend, we cannot wait to showyou exactly how to make whole
food, plant-based eating quick,enjoyable and delicious, so that
it works for you and you canfinally feel great, to fully
enjoy living your best years.
Yet We've enjoyed spending timewith you today.

(11:33):
Know that you're loved, you areprayed for and we look forward
to seeing you very soon.
Thank you.