Increasingly, specialized types of restaurants in Edina, MN, are catering to people with different dietary restrictions or preferences. This can include providing gluten-free items on the menu, providing vegetarian dishes and offering vegan options on the menu.
For eating out in vegan restaurants, there are a few simple things to keep in mind. Some people may easily confuse vegan and vegetarian, and while there are similarities, there are also significant differences in these two types of diets and food choices.
Vegetarians and Vegan
Vegetarians are people who choose not to eat meat. This includes any type of animal raised for consumption, such as beef, poultry, fish, seafood, shellfish or any animal harvested from the wild for the purpose of consumption. Vegetarians may choose to eat dairy products and eggs, or they may choose to eat only eggs or only dairy.
Vegans are people who only eat plant-based foods, and do not eat any type of meat, eggs or dairy. This means they do not use butter for cooking nor do they eat milk or other dairy products.
This focus means that vegan restaurants need to be careful in the preparation methods and the added ingredients to the plant-based items. Vegans do not use cream-based dressings, any type of vegetable prepared in or with butter, nor do they consume cheese.
In addition, pure veganism eliminates any products derived from animals including honey, gelatin, albumin, whey and several other types of common ingredients. As honey is a common sweetener, this can become an issue when eating out To order at Edina, MN, vegetarian and vegan restaurants, be sure to look for a specific symbol on the menu. This is particularly important with condiments, as dressings and sauces may be vegetarian but not vegan in nature. In addition, if there is any concern, ask about specific ingredients, ensuring there are no animal products in the meal.
