Question/Concern about Vegan Food Onboard

[professorandmom]

Which is highly unlikely to be vegan margarine.

Oops = sorry, I knew butter was a no go but my niece eats margarine...
Can't imagine the eating out challenge

Barb

 

[°O°Joe]

Good news!

I had faxed in a letter over the weekend to the special services people explaining my diet and concern, and a lady just called me to discuss it with me. She said there have been Vegans in the past who were pleased with what they were offered onboard and others who felt it wasn't what they had expected in terms of variety or of the gourmet level and wanted to know what sort of foods I was interested in and/or expected.

I let her know that I'm really not a picky eater as far as what I wanted to eat onboard. I was just wanting to make sure that I would be able to eat onboard period.

She told me that my reservation does now list me as Vegan so the chefs would know that, and the servers/chefs may even discuss my meal for the following evening at each dinner so that they could work ahead on it so it would be ready to be served at the same time as everyone elses meals.

I asked about the availability of soy milk onboard for use with some of the dry cereals that are Vegan for breakfast. She told me there is soy milk and rice milk as well as (and this really made me quite excited)...

Soy Ice Cream! Which also happens to be on my vices in life. Can't get enough of that stuff.

So there ya go.

I'll be sure to try to take notes of the actual dishes I end up eating onboard as well as possibly even take pictures of them and hopefully they can all be compiled into one thread to be a sort of resource since this topic does seem to come up from time to time on here.

Just a couple more weeks. And we upgraded to a verandah last night. So double Yay for that!

Awesome!! I don't consume animals or their byproducts either, so I was glad to have come across this thread.

What was the fax number that you sent the letter to? I am sailing on the 4th of November - and I was just going to wing it... But knowing there is actually someone out there that gives a darn, I might actually take the time to write the letter. I actually do very well on fresh fruits (I LOVE fresh fruits, especially for breakfast and snacks) and salads... the more veggies the better. And I would like to imagine that I could get steamed veggies and rice or noodles just about anywhere.

Also - good to know there is a salad bar with beans and such. I wonder if they have hummus and flat bread or anything like that?

I tend to eat more of the whole foods - I'm not a fan of most processed soy foods (soy milk, soy burgers and hot dogs or soy ice cream) so unless it's edamame, tofu or tempeh - soy is pretty much out of the question for me...

Also I wonder about the pizza. A lot of times (at least around here) you can find vegan pizza. I just have them cook it without the cheese and leave out any butter or anything in the crust if it's possible... Veggie pizza without cheese is AWESOME!!

 

[nicholas]

You can find the number to fax it to on the bottom of the medical form which you can find on the disneycruise.com site. I didn't bother with the form itself, because it requires a physician's signature and really only has places for the doctor to say you need a wheelchair and/or oxygen. So I just wrote up my own note detailing my dietary needs and faxed it on over. Took them a few days to get back to me, but eventually and very helpful woman named Carol called me.

As far as pizza goes, the Vegetarian Walt Disney World and Greater Orlando book has a small section on DCL and it mentions that the pizza crusts are Vegan. It is about four years old though, so who knows if the recipes have changed since then?

 

[atinkerbellmom]

Awesome!! I don't consume animals or their byproducts either, so I was glad to have come across this thread.

What was the fax number that you sent the letter to? I am sailing on the 4th of November - and I was just going to wing it... But knowing there is actually someone out there that gives a darn, I might actually take the time to write the letter. I actually do very well on fresh fruits (I LOVE fresh fruits, especially for breakfast and snacks) and salads... the more veggies the better. And I would like to imagine that I could get steamed veggies and rice or noodles just about anywhere.

Also - good to know there is a salad bar with beans and such. I wonder if they have hummus and flat bread or anything like that?

I tend to eat more of the whole foods - I'm not a fan of most processed soy foods (soy milk, soy burgers and hot dogs or soy ice cream) so unless it's edamame, tofu or tempeh - soy is pretty much out of the question for me...

Also I wonder about the pizza. A lot of times (at least around here) you can find vegan pizza. I just have them cook it without the cheese and leave out any butter or anything in the crust if it's possible... Veggie pizza without cheese is AWESOME!!

Just note, the pizza crust, pasta ans other noodles on board contains eggs. Palos may be able to do a "special pizza" for you if you request it from the HS the night prior at dinner. I have found the egg & milk restriction to be a little hard. Grant it, it may be easier for an adult than for a child. I think if it keeps coming up, more people will understand that egg free dairy free also includes things that are cooked with eggs. Down to bread........ So needless to say, the bread and butter on the table to tie you over is a big NO NO with us. A few kids server made rootbeer floats for the kids at the table across from us last cruise. I looked and said, "rootbeer, something my kid will never have ". Countdown for you Nick, be sure to post when you get back.

 

[yndygo]

A few kids server made rootbeer floats for the kids at the table across from us last cruise. I looked and said, "rootbeer, something my kid will never have ".

Okay, I'm missing something there... what's in Root Beer that's the problem?

I could see the 'float' part - but you could always substitute rice dream, but what's in root beer that isn't vegan?
I just went and looked at the ingredients and didn't see anything?

 

[atinkerbellmom]

Okay, I'm missing something there... what's in Root Beer that's the problem?

I could see the 'float' part - but you could always substitute rice dream, but what's in root beer that isn't vegan?
I just went and looked at the ingredients and didn't see anything?

Hey lady- You could have asked me this off post, but I will answer since now others will ask. A lot of rootbeer has eggs in it. Considering OUR problem as you know, we do not trust any of it because a lot has eggs. Same as the marshmellow thing, many have eggs, so we just eliminate it rather than see if they are the ones that do or do not. Same as icecream. Many has eggs and some does not. Did you know Orange Julius (is it okay to mention names?), has eggs. So does Ovaltine. The list goes on and on. Some people just do not realize it. But due to our situation as you are aware, we have it down to a "Harvard Science." I think they should send some of us to get degress in Harvard school of ingredients.... Same as pudding, some has eggs. Some people do not get it and I get tired of trying (you know the drill). As a lady at a restaurant offered my DD a slice of lemon marigne pie and told her it should be safe, we very nicely said no thank you and said, I guess we should just ignore all the white stuff on top. As you know, we are use to it. I do not want to change this thread or hog it, so I will try to limit the response. I am sure it will come up on another allergy thread. . As always, (Yndygo, I will PM you when I have a break at the office or tomorrow/to night).

 

[professorandmom]

There are a lot of ingredients which "lay eaters" might not recognize as possibly being derived from animal products. I know Vit D (which is fortified in many things) is a no-no...

I believe there are vegans who basically extend vegetarian to include no eggs and dairy (my niece) and another group who are very careful and are pretty restricted to specific foods which are carefully created to be vegan. As I understand from my niece, they often avoid leather shoes, hand-bags etc.

This is an interesting thread.

Thanks for all the educational opportunities
Barb

 

[crisi]

Hey lady- You could have asked me this off post, but I will answer since now others will ask. A lot of rootbeer has eggs in it. Considering OUR problem as you know, we do not trust any of it because a lot has eggs. Same as the marshmellow thing, many have eggs, so we just eliminate it rather than see if they are the ones that do or do not. Same as icecream. Many has eggs and some does not. Did you know Orange Julius (is it okay to mention names?), has eggs. So does Ovaltine. The list goes on and on. Some people just do not realize it. But due to our situation as you are aware, we have it down to a "Harvard Science." I think they should send some of us to get degress in Harvard school of ingredients.... Same as pudding, some has eggs. Some people do not get it and I get tired of trying (you know the drill). As a lady at a restaurant offered my DD a slice of lemon marigne pie and told her it should be safe, we very nicely said no thank you and said, I guess we should just ignore all the white stuff on top. As you know, we are use to it. I do not want to change this thread or hog it, so I will try to limit the response. I am sure it will come up on another allergy thread. . As always, (Yndygo, I will PM you when I have a break at the office or tomorrow/to night).

Gelatin is the other dessert issue for vegetarians, and you don't even need to go into vegan, lots of plain vegetarians don't do gelatin - in a lot of pies, custards, candy....

 

[°O°Joe]

Hey lady- You could have asked me this off post, but I will answer since now others will ask. A lot of rootbeer has eggs in it. Considering OUR problem as you know, we do not trust any of it because a lot has eggs. Same as the marshmellow thing, many have eggs, so we just eliminate it rather than see if they are the ones that do or do not. Same as icecream. Many has eggs and some does not. Did you know Orange Julius (is it okay to mention names?), has eggs. So does Ovaltine. The list goes on and on. Some people just do not realize it. But due to our situation as you are aware, we have it down to a "Harvard Science." I think they should send some of us to get degress in Harvard school of ingredients.... Same as pudding, some has eggs. Some people do not get it and I get tired of trying (you know the drill). As a lady at a restaurant offered my DD a slice of lemon marigne pie and told her it should be safe, we very nicely said no thank you and said, I guess we should just ignore all the white stuff on top. As you know, we are use to it. I do not want to change this thread or hog it, so I will try to limit the response. I am sure it will come up on another allergy thread. . As always, (Yndygo, I will PM you when I have a break at the office or tomorrow/to night).

I wonder why they feel the need to put liquid chicken in root beer??

Do you know any specific brands I should avoid? I generally read the ingredients on EVERYTHING I buy... and I believe the USDA requires the producers of these products to list common allergens below the ingredients, right??

 

[°O°Joe]

Just note, the pizza crust, pasta ans other noodles on board contains eggs. Palos may be able to do a "special pizza" for you if you request it from the HS the night prior at dinner. I have found the egg & milk restriction to be a little hard. Grant it, it may be easier for an adult than for a child. I think if it keeps coming up, more people will understand that egg free dairy free also includes things that are cooked with eggs. Down to bread........ So needless to say, the bread and butter on the table to tie you over is a big NO NO with us. A few kids server made rootbeer floats for the kids at the table across from us last cruise. I looked and said, "rootbeer, something my kid will never have ". Countdown for you Nick, be sure to post when you get back.

Thanks, I'll check into it. Are you sure about the noodles, though? I eat noodles all the time, and rarely do I find noodles that contain eggs... the obvious exception being 'egg noodles' but I just avoid those... I don't understand why ALL the noodles on board, even spaghetti (nobody puts eggs in spaghetti), would have eggs in them, since 80% - 90% of pasta in my local grocery store is without...

 

[crisi]

Thanks, I'll check into it. Are you sure about the noodles, though? I eat noodles all the time, and rarely do I find noodles that contain eggs... the obvious exception being 'egg noodles' but I just avoid those... I don't understand why ALL the noodles on board, even spaghetti (nobody puts eggs in spaghetti), would have eggs in them, since 80% - 90% of pasta in my local grocery store is without...

Eggs make pasta taste richer, so almost all recipes for fresh noodles have eggs. Mario Batali's basic pasta recipe is flour and eggs. In fact, it can be challenging to find pasta dough recipes that don't have eggs.

 

[°O°Joe]

Eggs make pasta taste richer, so almost all recipes for fresh noodles have eggs. Mario Batali's basic pasta recipe is flour and eggs. In fact, it can be challenging to find pasta dough recipes that don't have eggs.

Interesting... I'm not going to debate that at all, because I don't know anything about it. I've never seen a recipe for homemade pasta.

I just wonder why that is, since like I said before, just about all the pasta you find in the store doesn't contain eggs...

 

[crisi]

Interesting... I'm not going to debate that at all, because I don't know anything about it. I've never seen a recipe for homemade pasta.

I just wonder why that is, since like I said before, just about all the pasta you find in the store doesn't contain eggs...

Google "pasta dough recipes"

Why don't store brands have it?- I think most of the "fridge pasta" does, but its probably a lot cheaper to take the eggs out for dried pasta - probably also keeps better, fewer contamination issues.

Upshot however, is never assume you know the ingrediants for something - particularly if you are dealing with an allergy.

 

[°O°Joe]

Google "pasta dough recipes"

Why don't store brands have it?- I think most of the "fridge pasta" does, but its probably a lot cheaper to take the eggs out for dried pasta - probably also keeps better, fewer contamination issues.

Upshot however, is never assume you know the ingrediants for something - particularly if you are dealing with an allergy.

Thanks for the insight... I guess I know now to be a little more skeptical when ordering pasta.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Gelatin is the other dessert issue for vegetarians, and you don't even need to go into vegan, lots of plain vegetarians don't do gelatin - in a lot of pies, custards, candy....

yeah, try explaining that to my 2yo who wants the candy her cousin is eating!!! That's always fun.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Also - good to know there is a salad bar with beans and such. I wonder if they have hummus and flat bread or anything like that?

I do remember having hummus and pita bread as an appetizer at Triton's/Lumiere's for lunch.

 

[professorandmom]

I know my niece struggles with marshmellows (is it Easter without peeps???)...I knew about the candy thing and posted that way back on page 1............however, there just isn't that much candy (for free) on board
Barb

 

[crisi]

I know my niece struggles with marshmellows (is it Easter without peeps???)...I knew about the candy thing and posted that way back on page 1............however, there just isn't that much candy (for free) on board
Barb

I have a vegetarian friend who insists (against all logic, but due to tradition) that "peeps don't count." But since I'm a firm believer in "every vegetarian gets to define for themselves what that means" I'm not judging.

They do make vegetarian marshmallows (and gummy bears), but you have to generally go out of your way to find them.

 

[atinkerbellmom]

Upshot however, is never assume you know the ingrediants for something - particularly if you are dealing with an allergy.

You can join us in the allergy thread anytime. I knew I liked you.

Nick- still your thread bud. Just keep bumping until you go and return. Have you packed yet???????

 

[nicholas]

LOL. Not packed yet, but the DCL is only HALF of my vacation. On the 21st I am headed down to WDW for a week and THEN a week on the boat. Trying to pack for a two week trip (both casual for the first week, and with more formal stuff for the second) is way too daunting for me to even deal with right now.

I'll probably start packing at 11pm the night before. LOL