Vegetarian Meals & Foods

[Maxine1980]

We are going this Summer and we are all vegetarian.We went almost 2 years back and found the choice not very good.I have done a contact via the Disney Paris site asking about vegetarian meals and if I could have a list of products which are vegetarian as you know there are lots of shops there selling takeaway food,icecream,cakes etc. Its been a week now and I've not heard back at all.
I was on a site other day which had menus up and if vegetarian options available,on some of restaurants the menus been placed on site,found that their vegetarian choices contained fish,there was a lot of dishes around that under vegetarian but they contained Parmasan cheese ( thats not usually veggie and while I mention it not all other cheese are veggie too )I did find on the site a contact dieticians which I don't know if email is valid or not,I only did email today so will give it a week for them to reply.
Litrally everything here right down to bread says if its vegetarian or not,you go in any coffee shops and things will state if contains nut,if gluten free or not if veggie and now they even catering more for vegans.
Don't want to starve over like last time,we hardly ate at all.

 

[bavaria]

check the restaurant review stickies - I made a lot of veggie reviews.

In France 'vegetarian' may include fish - I had to argue that anchovies are fish; the server insisted 'but little fish only'

Once the search feature returns to this site you may find more posts - I usually add something to the veggie info.

 

[bavaria]

you mention cheese - are you looking for vegatarian, or vegan food? or lacto-ovo?

 

[Maxine1980]

Yes we are lacto-ovo vegetarians.
We have cheese aslong as does not contain slaughter house products or rennet which is often used in cheese making,Parmazan cheese often is made with rennet which is from a calfs stomach lining I think.Its hard explaining it to people your requirments as its hard for some to understand that a bread roll may contain animal fat/lard same thing with cakes and so on.
We have all other types of dairy products and honey,we are not Vegan.

 

[Maxine1980]

Also say a meal that as worcester sauce that is used making anchovies,then you could have a soup that was vegetable based but it contain chicken bouillon,the list is endless what maybe in certain foods that don't look like a piece of meat or fish.

 

[bavaria]

I understand completely about the lard and animal products.

Be aware that things are not as strict in France, and you may find people don't understand why you are so concerned.

I recommend l'Auberge de Cendrillion and King Ludwigs for good meals. Walt's I only had an appetizer as I didn't find the entree to my taste but they were willing to make changes. Blue Lagoon I swear that there was fish roe on the side of the appetizer plate.

NPB buffet was a bad experience and the manager was frankly quite snotty about it - didn't think that I should be concerned.

 

[bavaria]

As for soups and sauces, I always ask if they are prepared with vegetable stock or chicken stock. I eat out almost every day as I travel 300+ days a year, and I have learned to ask when I am at a restaurant. Some places are better than others.

 

[bavaria]

And not to sound negative, but the only one who can take responsibility is you. After years of fighting at WDW I finally had them understand the need to change menus, and things got better. But in the early/mid 1990's I had to ask over and over and over again, and explain myself.

I've just gotten used to taking charge myself. I also use the menu as a starting point, and will ask for a number of sides to be put together as an entree.

Also watch out for bacon used as flavouring.

 

[Maxine1980]

If I don't hear anything back from there by email I'm going actually write in and request lists of whats in everything.Its not always a good idea to be asking when you in somewhere waiting to eat,as its busy others then get fed up if you asking a lot of questions.
Last year me and my partner stayed in Paris for a few days,have to say we got about a fair bit wether on foot or taking the Metro/RER and didn't find anywhere that was all for vegetarians compared if you go to London you get cafes and such specially for it. We luckily found Pizza Marzano ( here its called Pizza Express and they had the menus marked up as vegetarian,the menu was very similar to whats here in England) and we also had a lot of icecream at Hazagan Daz or however its spelt.All their icecreams are vegetarian and also pasturized so suitable for pregnant women.Ben & Jerrys all their icecream is suitable too for vegetarians even the Phish Food one that as a mallow filling in it,no gelatine.

 

[bavaria]

honestly, I travel all over the world during the year, and I get by just fine. I am not a 'bad' vegetarian. I am veggie due to health issues, and believe me there are times when I get very ill due to have eaten the wrong things.

But many veggies go to DLRP and we do get along just fine without too much advance planning. DLRP is actually quite easy compared to the US parks.

 

[Maxine1980]

You must be very used to explaining your diet then if you eat usually well all time when travelling.
I'm going contact McDonalds too as theres 1 in the Park,ask about the fries and if they have some sort of veggie deli sandwich.McDonalds should be fairly easy to contact.I did do an email to Planet Hollywood too,but I don't know if it be so suitable to eat in there with children.
In America I think the McDonald fries have beef extra or something in them,in U.K the fries are vegetarian so hoping they be same in Paris park.

 

[kevankiki]

I have a quick question about this now, DD is vegetarian and I noticed the menus are marked up on the dlpfoodguide web site - can someone confirm that the menus are marked up in the same way in the restaurants too?

I think things might be a little easier for us as DD does eat fish, I support her decision, and feel she is being sensible being as she is only 14.

 

[bavaria]

Annette, I don't recall the little mark on the menus themselves, I think that they have a notation on the table service menus though.

You must be very used to explaining your diet then if you eat usually well all time when travelling

. honestly, I don't explain. I may ask a question or two and leave it at that.

As you are new here and I want you to feel welcome, I think that its best for me to bow out now of this discussion. I am not here to judge anyones food choices and I would hope that others will offer the same respect to me.

Enjoy your planning and I hope that you have a good trip.

 

[Maxine1980]

Most of the menus are marked up if there is a vegetarian but for myself and my family as we are quite strict with the vegetarian diet this is not ideal for me,specially when I have my doubts over certain ingredients that possibly could be in the meals.
I even have doubts in this country at times,not all NHS hospital trusts offer vegetarian meals and its not always that great for school meals or canteens at work places. I remember having my son back in 2000,I went in Friday had him evening,I was allowed out the Sunday going on that I couldn't transfer back home yet,my son was fine but I had a bad urine output in labour ( they know this as I had epidural and catheter in) despite my local hospital having a Vegetarian Society approval label on their Kitchen doors there was nothing suitable. I remember a dietician coming down to see me,discussing it,later that day I was brought a yoghurt and I checked ingredients and found it contained Gelatine.Later on the dietician come down to say that the yoghurt sent down she later found out wasn't suitable,so how could I trust a meal fully prepared from scratch if noone could be bothered to read the yoghurt pot! I was glad to get out on the following Tuesday,I went about 5 days without a proper hot meal as noone could give me a clear answer about what was in what.Luckily I had family bring me over snacks and sandwiches but when you just had a long labour and are breastfeeiding you need proper hot meals.
I was in hospital again to have my daughter back in 2003 and the hospital menus were still not good,remember vegetarian option having some kind of Tuna bake,its hard to explain to someone in this country that there are different type of vegetarians to those who are also Vegan so I feel it be hard explaining to someone in another country,if hard here,my French isn't that great.
My daughter was in hospital last yr too and things still not improved and all they could offer was a fruit salad,luckily she was out by next day after an asthma attack the night before.
I'm just very sceptical when meals are stated as vegetarian as mistakes do happen and sometimes people can be naive about whats in something.

 

[Maxine1980]

Any response would be good to hear on this matter so please anyone if you have any info or recently visited and are veggie or vegan please post!

 

[kevankiki]

Annette, I don't recall the little mark on the menus themselves, I think that they have a notation on the table service menus though.

Many thanks - I think I might make a list from some of the counter service restaurants we are likely to use then (that's a point, wonder if Disney popcorn is vegetarian!)

I don't feel anyone is judging anyone here, DD has her reasons and I respect them totally, to the point that I check food labels on her behalf. In return she respects my decision to continue eating the diet I always have, and never, ever criticises me for it. She really is a

 

[bavaria]

and now this will be my last word, I promise.

I am vegetarian

I have visited DLRP many times

I lived in Paris for 6 weeks last year

I have posted many reviews on the restaurant stickies as noted, with comments about veggie items

I certainly did not go hungry for 6 weeks, nor have I gone hungry on my other travels

 

[Maxine1980]

Surely would think the popcorn is vegetarian,but I rather have fruit over popcorn. I actually recall a food stall that had fruit on sale too,I'm also staying at Santa Fe and I recall there being a petrol station near just near it,If I can get plenty of fruit that be ideal for me,I don't eat a great deal in Summer anyway,too hot,well certainly was last time,people were dropping down like flies cos of heat and probably not enough water.

 

[kevankiki]

I'm not a great fan of popcorn either, it's okay, but I can take it or leave it.

The DLRP popcorn was something else though, best I've ever tasted, and this is really for DD who loves the stuff (and she is the vegetarian)

I remember it came in a commemorative "bucket" with a handle and lid, I still have the bucket, and use it for my dishwasher tablets

 

[mulan1]

Hi Maxine,
I would be very interested to hear the responses to your emails.
I'm not vegetarian, but as a Muslim can only eat halal meat products, therefore, I also must be careful with regards to the meat content of foods that appear to be vegetarian, so when we go to DLP we'll be eating as vegetarians for a few days (well fish eating vegetarians-if they are still classed as vegetarians...?)
I'm a bit worried now actually if they do mark meals as vegetarian but are using meat stocks or lard etc...