*My Style of Fast Food*

Photo found via Google

                                
Between working full time and going to school full time, I find myself not having a lot of time to always cook or sit down in a restaurant for elaborate meals; so fast food it is!  When people hear "fast food" they probably picture burgers, fries, meat tacos, etc.  Being vegetarian and going to a fast food restaurant can seem challenging, with no options, but I make it easy with many options!  If you are vegetarian and  haven't been to a fast food restaurant since you became one, then this is a must read!  Below is a list of different fast food restaurants with a variety of items I order.  Do not be afraid to try them out or ask the workers for vegetarian options that are not always shown on the screens!

• Taco Bell
• 7 Layer Burrito (just how it is)
• Cheese Quesadilla (plus onions and extra sauce...yum!)  
• Bean Burrito (plus sour cream, plus guacamole, and plus fiesta salsa)
• Mexican Pizza (Minus the meat, extra beans)
• Any of the nacho choices (minus the meat and maybe even add on some jalapenos for that extra spice!)
• Spicy Potato Soft Taco
• Crunch Wrap Supreme (minus the ground beef, add beans)
• McDonald's
• Big Mac Meal (substitute the meat for a slice of tomato and extra pickles!)
• Cheeseburger or Double Cheeseburger (substitute meat with tomato and extra pickles, and add Big Mac sauce...promise it is delicious!)
• Salads
• Fries
• Milkshakes
• Smoothies
• Burger King
• Whopper or Whopper Junior (substitute the meat for a slice of tomato and add extra pickles)
• Veggie Burger
• Fries
• Onion Rings
• Milshakes

As you can see, the Mexican style fast food restaurants usually have a larger variety of items for vegetarians than other places, since they have the options of beans in place of the meat!  I hope this gives others a little push to try something new and know they have these options of changing up their menus!

*Vegetarian Essentials*

The life of a vegetarian: easy or just too hard!?  Answer:  It is easy, but you must know what is essential for your main food groups!

A vegetarian diet can be very healthy for a person's health, but only if they have the proper nutritional intake!  Becoming a vegetarian can cause a person's body to have a decrease of protein, iron, calcium, zinc, vitamin D, and vitamin B-12.  The article posted on Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is a great informational source for Vegetarians and those looking to become vegetarian!  A proper vegetarian diet must include daily servings from all of the main food groups, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods and dairy products.  The picture listed below is one I found that not only lists the basic food groups for a vegetarian diet, but lists the number of servings one should have on a normal day to day basis.

  

Even though all the food groups are important, a vegetarian should definitely focus on where they are getting their protein since they are not eating meat anymore!  Protein can be found in beans, whole grains, soy products, nuts, dairy, and eggs so make sure you are getting the proper intake of these.  Being a lacto-ovo vegetarian (one who does not eat meat, poultry, or fish but still eats dairy products and eggs), I find my protein in all those listed above! 

*Vegetarian Life: Picky Yet Easy*

Welcome to my new page, Picky VeggieIsta!  This page along with my Facebook and Twitter accounts, have been created to explain one of the things that makes me, well me!  I am not Vegan, because I still love all dairy products; I just do not eat meat.   It can be hard at times, especially the fact that the majority of my friends and my whole family love meat!  I find myself cooking and creating new recipes that do not consume of meat which I will include some in my future posts!  Also, with my busy schedule I find myself at many different fast food restaurants.  People always ask me how and what I eat when I go to those places. I will tell you throughout the next few weeks!  I hope you enjoy!