Jainism and Animal Issues 1997

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 21

Jainism and Animal Issues
VEGAN DINING OUT
Frequently we tend to think that eating out vegetarian is difficult, and vegan would be even more difficult. Nevertheless, it is not necessarily true. Here we have a list of what we can eat out. The information is good not only for vegans, but naturally, it is also useful for all vegetarians. All information below is subject to change, as restaurants frequently change food ingredients for a variety of reasons, and what was once vegan or vegetarian may no longer be. So always ask at the particular restaurant to make sure what you are ordering is still the same. As noted often, they fry vegetarian products in the same vat as meat items, so pay special attention and ask about it.
Although Jainism prohibits eating roots (carrots, onions, garlic, etc.), honey, and mushrooms, there are many Jains in this country who do. We believe that the violence caused to all these one-sensed (Ekendriya) lives is much less intense than the violence caused to the cows who have all five-senses plus the mind (Sangni Panchendriya). Therefore we provide information here for all, considering the principle of minimization of harm. However, we urge you avoid eating roots and mushrooms, and also dairy products, eggs, honey, etc.
Narendra Sheth
What is Edible?
AU BON PAIN: Au Bon Pain has a variety of vegan choices and even has suggestions for healthy, low-fat meals. At each location nutritional information is available. There are two vegan salads: the large garden and the small garden, both of which they make with two types of lettuce, red cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, cucumber, and red or green pepper. All four bagels are vegan.
AUNTIE ANNE'S: They offer a variety of hand-rolled pretzels. Although they flavor most of their pretzels with butter, upon request they will make one without butter.
BURGER KING: Burger King uses only vegetable oil for frying. Their national headquarters stated that it is standard procedure for fries and hash browns, both of which may be vegan, to be fried in oil separate from the 'food' products, meaning the chicken and fish. This differs from what they stated in a letter we received from an employee at Burger King. She wrote to us that the French fries are the only fried foods cooked in a separate vat. To be sure, ask at the restaurant you are visiting. The side salad is vegan, listing lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, celery, and radishes as ingredients. Burger King uses Paul Newman's dressings, which avoid using preservatives and artificial ingredients. The French, Reduced Calorie Italian, and Oil & Vinegar dressings are all vegan.
CARL'S JR.: French fries are vegan and fried in vegetable oil. Bread products which contain no animal shortening, eggs, or dairy derivatives include the bread sticks, hot dog bun, plain bun, flour tortilla, English muffin, and Kaiser bun. They have an all-you-caneat salad bar. They also offer a Lite Potato.
ARBY'S: Arby's is now using vegetable oil for frying. Vegan oil as meat products. options include a small side salad and a baked potato.
BASKIN ROBBINS: Ices and Sorbet products are vegan.
CHI-CHI'S: Chi-Chi's restaurants use soybean oil to prepare their refried beans and other deep-fried items. They list the following items as being vegan: Chips and Salsa and Vegetable Chajita. Although they use vegetable oil for all their fried foods, they fry meat products in the same oil as vegetarian products.
DAIRY QUEEN: Dairy Queen/Brazier stores use only vegetable shortening to prepare their foods, and the only food they fry is French fries. Ingredients in buns and onion rings depend
upon the local supplier. They offer a side salad which is apparently vegan.
DEL TACO: Bean burritos, quesadillas, and tostadas are all vegan if they omit the cheese. Refried beans are prepared with 100% soybean oil. All sauces are meat-free.
DENNY'S: They offer a garden salad with eggs as a garnish, but they can omit them. Vegan side dishes include French fries and onion rings, both of which may be vegan. All fried foods are prepared in vegetable oil, but they cook vegetarian items in the same
DOMINO'S: There are four different ingredient groupings for Domino's pizza crust, and any one of these might be used at your local units, so ask. Only one recipe is apparently vegan. The rest contain whey, and may contain egg, butter, buttermilk, cheese, and other dairy derivatives. Their sauce may be vegan.
EL POLLO LOCO: There is a vegetarian burrito available, which is a bean burrito, prepared with beans that they cook in olive oil. They make the vegetarian burrito, like other items, to order; so it can be ordered without cheese for a vegan burrito. The tortillas, both corn and flour, are vegan.
HARDEE'S: Hardee's uses vegetable oil to cook all fried products. They offer a pre-made side salad which is vegan. They fry their French fries separately from their fried meat products. Their mashed potatoes are instant and may be vegans except the natural flavoring, which is questionable.
JACK IN THE BOX: As a rule they fry French fries separately from the meats, but they do not enforce this. Bread products which may be vegan include their English muffins, hamburger bun, sesame bread sticks, tortilla bowl (wheat), pita bread, and gyro bread. Hashbrowns, French fries, and guacamole may be vegan. Jack in the Box offers a side salad which is vegan, and the low-calorie Italian dressing may be vegan except for the "natural ingredients." For dessert the apple turnover is vegan.
(17)
LITTLE CAESARS: Their dough and tomato sauce are vegan. You can order pizza without cheese. Items that are vegan are the Crazy Sauce, Crazy Bread without Parmesan cheese, Tossed Salad, and Greek Salad without feta cheese.