5 Tips for Traveling Vegetarians in Las Vegas
Finding restaurants which cater to vegetarian dietary needs can be a challenging enough process in your hometown. Trying to navigate a brand new city can make finding dining options even harder. On top of that, you’re looking to travel to Las Vegas. Vegas, accurately nicknamed ‘Sin City’ offers an array of artery-clogging, all you can eat, meat smorgasbords everywhere you look. Luckily for you, we have a few tips that will make traveling to Las Vegas and sticking to your vegetarian diet much easier.
Be Creative at Restaurants!
Plant-based restaurants are, of course, the ideal thing to aim for, but let’s face it: They’re not everywhere. In Las Vegas you may find yourself in a restaurant that lacks vegetarian and vegan options, so you’ll have to get creative and change up your meal. Most restaurants will not mind minor substitutions, so don’t be afraid to ask.
Here are a few ideas for substitutions or requests for those situations:
- Replace the meat in burritos with beans, rice, potatoes, guacamole, and extra veggies.
- Order pasta dishes with marinara sauce or grilled veggies tossed in olive oil.
- When in doubt, order side dishes!
Regardless of where you go and what is available for you, you can make it work. Just keep in mind that protein is key. Beans, peas, nuts, and yogurt can help you meet your daily protein needs and keep you fuller for longer.
Research Your Restaurants
To prevent being put on the spot and struggling to scour the menu for something you are capable of eating, take the time to prep for your trip. As many vegetarians know there are certain restaurants that may be easier for you to eat at. Mexican, Indian and Mediterranean fare will always be easy choices that should have multiple options for you. You could consider looking online at the restaurant’s website too. This will allow you to check out the menu beforehand, so make sure to see if there is anything you want before you arrive. Some restaurants also offer mobile ordering which will make it easier for you to order ahead and make any customizations to the meal. Restaurants do this by using online cloud-based POS systems. This makes it a lot easier for customers who might want to speed up the process, for example.
The best Henderson Mexican Restaurant is Borracha. Borracha offers a menu full of vegetarian and vegan options. Their veggie quesadilla and veggie fajitas are great options for picky eaters. If you are feeling adventurous, the vegan chili rellenos are delicious! Not to mention their simple but unforgettable coconut ceviche.
When visiting Vegas as a vegetarian, Borracha should be on the top of your ‘must visit’ list.
Snacking
For anyone traveling it’s likely that you will be tempted by sweets and unhealthy treats at some point during your travels. Sometimes, you just have to give in, you are on vacation after all! However, you want to be sure you are caring for your body properly. You can satiate a sweet tooth, and avoid unhealthy, salty, and sugary snacks by bringing some healthy snacks along with you.
Packing dried fruit and nuts in your bag will give you longer lasting energy and protein so you can spend all day exploring. These snacks can also help in times where finding a vegetarian option seems hopeless. You won’t have to worry about having an empty tummy if you already have snacks on hand. This can also help you save some money to spend elsewhere.
Make One Meal A Day
You can ensure you have something to eat and continue to save a bit of money by preparing one of your meals each day. Since you’ll be in Vegas you certainly don’t want to miss out on all the amazing food here. However, by having breakfast or lunch taken care of, you will stress less about finding vegetarian food on the go.
Stock up at the grocery store and have some options for quick meals each day. Don’t forget some snacks too. By preparing at least one meal per day, you’ll be able to find something to eat with no concern as to whether the food was prepared to your liking. Namely, because you are making it yourself!
PRO TIP: There is a Whole Foods grocery on W. Lake Mead Boulevard in North Las Vegas.
Listen to Your Body
While it can be relatively easy to find vegetarian options, sometimes it is not. Whether you haven’t had enough protein for the day, or you simply can’t find a restaurant without meat, these circumstances do happen. In these situations, you need to place your health above your morals for a moment and compromise with yourself. Sometimes, animal protein is the only available option.
Some say that’s cheating; others might say it’s not vegetarian. This is not true. It is loving your body and caring for it properly.
Many of us choose restrictive diets for a number of reasons such as religion, health, animal rights, etc. Whatever your pact with vegetarianism is, respect it. But also respect your body and its hunger. You aren’t going to be saving many animals with your hunger pains.
You don’t want to be the traveler who walks around the city for 45 minutes to an hour or longer, searching for a vegetarian meal on an empty stomach. It’s just not a fun way to travel; running the risk of low blood sugar and trying to stay focused while your stomach sucks at itself isn’t ideal under any circumstance. Your health is more important at this point.
And there you have it! A few tips that will make your trip to Vegas as a vegetarian much more enjoyable.