by Judith Willson

Created on: May 16, 2010   Last Updated: September 25, 2010

Think of a fast food outlet and you probably think of burgers, fried chicken and ribs.  Not exactly a vegetarian’s paradise.  However vegetarians can usually find something they consider edible in most fast food restaurants.  Just because it is vegetarian does not of course mean that it is healthy but as an occasional treat the odd bit of junk food is ok. 

Depending on how strict a vegetarian you are, fries are an obvious option.  Most are now fried in vegetable oil and separately to all those burgers and chicken bits.  If you are very strict you will probably want to check first.  They might contain all the fat, starch and salt you need for the day (probably more) but no bits of animal. 

Some fast food restaurants provide vegetarian burgers.  This depends on the company and on the country.  A Burger King here in Scotland has two different veggie burgers on sale, and this is true for most countries with lots of vegetarians.  The same company in a more carnivorous society probably won’t.   Some of these veggie burgers are great, some of them rather less so.  However put enough ketchup on anything and you won’t notice the taste. 

You can usually find some other snacks such as onion rings and potato wedges.  In some places you might be able to get a baked potato or corn on the cob and these are actually reasonable healthy options. 

Fast food salads are not as healthy as they might sound, mainly due to the dressings used.  However there is usually a meat-free one that will suit a vegetarian.  Desserts are another option.  Again strict vegetarians will want to check the ingredients list to ensure they are not consuming any animal by products.  Don’t feel guilty about having a pudding for lunch. It probably won’t be much less healthy than the savoury options.  You are unlikely to get anything particularly nutritious in a fast food joint anyway so if you fancy ice cream then go for it. 

The drinks should be fine for vegetarians.  Of course sodas are not in the least good for you but you haven’t gone into a McDonalds, KFC or Burger King for a balanced meal so worry about this later.  

It is actually not that difficult to find foods suitable for vegetarians in fast food restaurants.  They do sell more than chicken wings and burgers.  Remember though that junk food should be an occasional indulgence and not your staple diet.  It might be a vegetable you are munching but it is a deep fried vegetable covered in salt.

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