A couple weeks ago, we went for the first day trip I've been on since the beginning of my eat to live journey. I mentioned it in this POST. After I wrote that post and after some internet research for other restaurants who might have delicious nutritarian-ish or at least whole food, vegan, or vegetarian choices, I got to thinking. It's can be a time-consuming search and I thought others might like to have information about good options in the real world and more specifically, in my area. It isn't all meat and dairy in the heartland. Admittedly, it's a lot of meat and dairy but not all.
There are options besides ANOTHER salad. The Grotto in Springfield, MO is a perfect example. Although there were no truly vegan choices on the menu, there was a lovely veggie melt available. Roasted portabello, zucchini, squash, and red pepper are folded into vegan whole wheat pizza dough to make a wonderfully rich and hearty lunch. It was listed on the menu as being topped with locally made goat cheese. I almost asked to have the cheese left off but we had walked and sweated our butts off at the zoo so I thought a little goat cheese was well deserved.
This sandwich is beautiful, deeply flavorful, and a satisfying choice amongst a pretty meat-filled menu. Although not a low calorie choice, (I'm guessing about 500-600 or so calories based on the ingredients) it's giant and served with a side salad, which I topped with red wine vinegar, so I wasn't able to finish the whole thing. I left about 1/4 of it on the plate so overall, certainly not the worst choice I could have made. The focus here isn't really on calories anyway but making the best choices under everyday circumstances.
Stay tuned. We like to travel and I'll be keeping my eyes open for other great restaurants and menu items with leanings to whole food, nutritarian, vegan, and vegetarian choices.
P.S. Happy accidental discovery made here too. Sam picked up the red wine vinegar that I had used to top my salad and poured some on the supreme style pizza that he and Jeff were sharing before I could grab the bottle back. A fortuitous oops indeed! They both loved the tangy note the vinegar added to the pizza and Jeff said he would be sprinkling his pizza with red wine vinegar at home as well. I took a little bite and it really is a nice addition to a classic flavor combination.
There are options besides ANOTHER salad. The Grotto in Springfield, MO is a perfect example. Although there were no truly vegan choices on the menu, there was a lovely veggie melt available. Roasted portabello, zucchini, squash, and red pepper are folded into vegan whole wheat pizza dough to make a wonderfully rich and hearty lunch. It was listed on the menu as being topped with locally made goat cheese. I almost asked to have the cheese left off but we had walked and sweated our butts off at the zoo so I thought a little goat cheese was well deserved.
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| The Grotto Grill Veggie Melt |
This sandwich is beautiful, deeply flavorful, and a satisfying choice amongst a pretty meat-filled menu. Although not a low calorie choice, (I'm guessing about 500-600 or so calories based on the ingredients) it's giant and served with a side salad, which I topped with red wine vinegar, so I wasn't able to finish the whole thing. I left about 1/4 of it on the plate so overall, certainly not the worst choice I could have made. The focus here isn't really on calories anyway but making the best choices under everyday circumstances.
Stay tuned. We like to travel and I'll be keeping my eyes open for other great restaurants and menu items with leanings to whole food, nutritarian, vegan, and vegetarian choices.
P.S. Happy accidental discovery made here too. Sam picked up the red wine vinegar that I had used to top my salad and poured some on the supreme style pizza that he and Jeff were sharing before I could grab the bottle back. A fortuitous oops indeed! They both loved the tangy note the vinegar added to the pizza and Jeff said he would be sprinkling his pizza with red wine vinegar at home as well. I took a little bite and it really is a nice addition to a classic flavor combination.
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