veggie items like chili... are veggie!

[CaliLuvinGirl]

WOW, I think it is so odd that Disney would put chicken stock in things that are obviously SUPPOSED to be vegetarian. I mean, they are definately trying to pass them off as veggie! Vegetable stock tastes pretty much the same and is the same price. UGH.

I have been a pescetarian (sp? LOL) for over three years. In two years I will turn vegan. The reason I am not already vegan is that my mom is worried about my protein intake, and makes me still eat fish, but when I am 18 I am allowed to go completely vegan. What I have noticed is how some people are super understanding (for example my aunt makes me something special whenever she throws a party. I don't request this, I am fine eating side dishes then eating when I get home, but if she makes steak she will make me a piece of salmon, even when she makes lasagna, she makes a seperate mini one for me with veggie sauce. She has even baught me books on vegetarianism.) But some people are completely ignorant. When I first went veggie, people would say things to me such as "Well, you are killing vegetables anyways" and I even had one friend who would try to sneak meat into my lunch (who I am not friends with anymore, lol. ) I never would try to convince people not to eat meat, but they would try to convince me TO eat meat. And it's like, I don't expect to change your point of view, don't you expect to change mine either. Now everyone is pretty used to it and don't care anymore, except I have one friend who lectures me on getting enough iron, calcium, protein etc when I go vegan, LOL. I just can't believe Disney isn't understanding. A lot of people at restaurants don't get it though. One time I asked at a restaurant if their broccoli and chedder soup had chicken stock in it and the guy replied with "yea, is that what you want?" and I said "No thanks, I don't eat meat" and he said "Not even chicken stock?" He was shocked! It was like, well DUH! An animal had to die right??? UGH!

Well, I really hope we find out an answer soon!!!

 

[Quest4Kingdom]

Finally found my phone and called some of the numbers on that gluten free list. After a couple false starts, got through to Chef Chris' voice mail, and left a message!


Teehee, Quest.

Ya had me at "update"! Thanks tho' for your efforts on this one! Can't wait for the real update! IN the meantime I'll snack on my organic, non-microwaved popcorn!

 

[bumbershoot]

CaliLuvinGirl, you are much younger than me when I gave up meat, but even then, people were weird about it. Whenever younger people make big decisions, people doubt it. My brother and SIL met as sophomores in college (ok well SIL was a junior), and they knew they never wanted to have children...getting married right out of college was hard enough on people, let alone the no kids thing, and I know that people are finally now getting a clue that they really really meant it (they've been married about 14 years now).

As for protein, did you ever talk with your mom about the protein needs of infants? It goes something like this...the time that we have the biggest overall growth...body, brain, everything, is in our first year. The most natural food for that first year (and beyond, for all of us extended nursers out there) is mama milk. Therefore, if one is thinking that one needs protein for BIG time growth, one would be really interested to see the protein content of that milk. Human milk averages about 4% protein.

Protein = not so important for body and mind growth after all....

That's from the Earth Save Foundation, the group started by one of the Robbins family, of the Baskin Robbins brand (though "they" say he gave up his inheritance when he went vegan).




Ooh quest, properly cooked popcorn, yum! Hubby had never had it until a few months back, and was amazed at how real it tasted!

 

[disneyobsessed808]

I went with my vegan BF to disneyland a year ago, and while I'm not vegan. I did want to make sure he was getting something to eat.

It was nearly impossible to find food that he could eat at DL. We went to main street, and they offered the list of vegetarian restaurants and said they would have something to eat for him. Alas, after checking at many of those, we were unable to eat there as most places had cheese.

We ended up going to the Pacific Wharf cafe, and he didn't want chili, so he didn't get that. We asked to speak to a chef, the first chef did not even seem to understand what vegan was. Then another chef came out and offered to make him a sandwich which was the best we got. Later, we ended up just going to Tortilla Jo's in Downtown Disney.

I'd suggest making an ADR somewhere and requesting a vegan meal.

 

[bumbershoot]

Got an email back...it said to contact the chefs.

So I'm glad I already did! He hasn't contacted me yet, but yesterday Disney Dining and then the operator-type person both assured me that he does return all calls.



disneyobsessed808, it's so hard to be vegan. The times I've done it I just slog through it until I can't take it anymore. And then that dairy addiction issue comes back.

 

[CaliLuvinGirl]

Bumbershoot:
My mom is pretty set on the whole no going vegan thing until 18 and I figure no sense in starting a big fight when chances are I won't get anywhere!

I am SOOOOOO looking forward to find out the answer! If they do put chiken stock in the chilli, we should write angry letters, lol.

 

[Quest4Kingdom]

My most difficult of all my addictions (besides DISing) is definitely dairy- especially nonhomogenized, creamtop organic whole full of fat milk! and yes, i do give in occasionally still, and douse my morning coffee with it... agghhh! slowly getting there, but not sure if i will ever be free from this craving! o well, thanks for updating as i enjoy my morning coffee with guiltified dairy!

 

[bumbershoot]

Woohoo!

Chef Chris is the coolest guy ever. 'twas much ado about nothing, I am ecstatic to report!


He said the chef that makes the vegetarian chili at DCA gave him quite a look when Chris told him that a CM told a guest there was chicken stock in it. There is no meat stock in the vegetarian chili.


He didn't have the ingredient lists at his fingertips, but he had talked with various chefs and it's his job to know what sorts of things they do and do not do at DLR.


They do NOT put meat stock in the vegetarian items like gumbo or chili. They do NOT put meat stock or fats into the beans or rice.

They want to please as many people at once that they can (we talked about how veggie refried beans help vegetarians, dieters, and those in various religions as well, and the omnivores generally won't really notice the difference unless they are completely used to the more traditional ways of cooking them), so when something states it is vegetarian or does not state clearly that it has meat in it (for instance, the marinara doesn't say it has meat, and it does not have meat, even though it's not called Vegetarian Marinara), it's not going to have meat in it or in the cooking process.

The fries at every restaurant are cooked entirely separately from meat items. Cross contamination, cross tastes, are both concerns. And the biggest thing he mentioned for the fries being separate from other things was the concern about Celiac.

Ooh darn I didn't ask about the veggie burgers, but from my experience, those things are microwaved, NOT grilled, so I have never been concerned about them at all.


While chatting about all that, I mentioned our corn syrup and HFCS issues, and I think I opened his mind about those things. He said that he often just grabs an Uncrustables sandwich, thinking "hey, it's a pb&j, it's good!", but he had never read the ingredient list. But now I've let him know how junky they are...hey, maybe they'll start an anti-corn syrup revolution! Ok OK I'll let you guys have your marshmallow Tigger Tails and whatnot, just stop putting it into surprising things like ice cream, or c.s. solids into Dole Whips. And take it out of Mickey Bars, so my son can have one, darnit!


I'm thinking of a follow-up email to him, thanking him.


My mind is eased.

 

[disneychrista]

That is GREAT! to hear. I always "assumed" that vegetarian meant just that. Now I can safely tell my DD that she can still have the chili w/o the cheese on it.

What is in the gumbo? I am ashamed to say that in all the years I have never tried it. Just wondering if it might something else my Vegan DD could eat.

 

[bumbershoot]

Augh, my reply is showing up before your question!!!! I hope the wonkiness of the boards STOPS soon.





The gumbo is rice and various vegetables, namely, okra, all stewed together and it's served in a breadbowl. It's rather salty sometimes, but then after sweating in the Disneyland heat all day, that might be good to help out your electrolytes! It's delicious and I'm just all atwitter that I wasn't wrong about it's base.

Since I'm not vegan I didn't ask about that, but I don't think gumbo is normally a dairy or egg type of thing. It's generally a very meaty and vegetabley thing (and Royal Street Veranda also serves a steak gumbo that my brother says is quite good), not a milky or eggy thing.

Everyone says that the places have ingredient lists, and a couple hours ago I realized I had already seen one of those ingredient list books at the Pooh candy/cookie shop, so you could always ask for a quick peek to make sure (or maybe City Hall will know).


Chef Chris said he recently talked to someone who wasn't just vegan, but who was on the "raw food" side of things (the man called himself something that sounded like "vaygen"...not "veeegan", but not just following a vegan diet, b/c nothing could be heated over 120 degrees), and they accommodated him (made some sort of lasagna without much cooking), so it really seems they can help just about anyone. And since hubby, son, and I are ovo-lacto vegetarian, we're possibly the easiest of all subsets to feed. (MY words, not his)

 

[Plantlady]

yippie!

two vegan meals for DH!

 

[bakers3]

Thank you SO much for this info Molly!!! LOL!!

I have been stressing out about what we will do for meals for our July trip. My 11 yo dd has been veggie (ovo-lacto) for 6 months - no biggie, she can eat all the cheesy things like pizza and other dairy-licious items. But we are taking our 13 yo niece with us and she is vegan. She has blood sugar issues and can get cranky without regular meals. Lord, I have been obsessing about what this child will be able to eat while we are in DL!!

We are packing lots of Clif bars and baggies of trail mix, nuts, dried fruit and various other vegan snacks from Trader Joe's for her. Now I will feel comfortable swearing to her that she is safe to eat the beans and rice (she loves bean tostadas) as well as pasta marinara and all the french fries she wants. No way will either kid touch the gumbo or chili (picky, they are) but the above items with some fresh fruit tossed in should keep her alive for 5 days!

Thanks again for all the great info in this thread!

Keri (who will be happily slurping down a Dole Whip while above mentioned niece is gnawing on some dried mango)

 

[bumbershoot]

This post thing is driving me nuts~!!!



Glad I could help, bakers3.

Note on the Dole Whips...well, actually, the site says they are dairy free, but they have sodium caseinate. As I think we've seen from this thread, how people classify themselves has many variations, so if she's cool with ingredients derived from dairy, she could eat one of them. Of course, the ingredient list is like a lab experiment (don't read unless you are brave OR don't want to eat them anymore) so she might not want to eat them even if she's OK with sodium caseinate, but it's worth mentioning.

Just be sure to tell the Plaza Inn people "NO cheese".

Remember that we are ovo-lacto, so I wasn't making sure things were vegan...if she wants to make sure they are she could check with City Hall I believe (they might have a list)...I won't feel offended, since I wasn't checking for vegan.

 

[Quest4Kingdom]

BUmbershoot, i vote you should get a complimentary vegetarian or your choice dining pass every trip- or somethin like that, for all ur efforts! plus you helped keep vegetarians dining at DL! (at least i know i'll be passing on the word!) Not only did we finally get answers, but yesss, the answers i had hoped for! whehw! this definitely makes things much easier knowing this... thanks much Now I'm craving those Dole whip things! (edit) yikes, just read the ingredients list for this- shoot! lol

 

[tink2dw]

Can you eat from the fruit and vegatable carts at DL?

 

[tink2dw]

Oh and I wanted to add that there is an Fruit And Vegie Store a couple of doors away from the Disney Outlet. I remember seeing organics in there.

 

[Quest4Kingdom]

Bumbershoot, sorry, got a quick clarification Q? When they said meat, that meant both chicken and/or beef, right? Since I never did feel clear whether meat usually referred to beef, as I had thought in the past.
thanks again!

 

[Quest4Kingdom]

Oh and I wanted to add that there is an Fruit And Vegie Store a couple of doors away from the Disney Outlet. I remember seeing organics in there.

Which Disney Outlet is this?

 

[disneychrista]

Bumbershoot, sorry, got a quick clarification Q? When they said meat, that meant both chicken and/or beef, right? Since I never did feel clear whether meat usually referred to beef, as I had thought in the past.

Not sure what "they" mean but as a former vegetarian who just started eating meat again a year ago & mother of a vegetarian turned vegan, when I say meat I mean any animal fleash (chicken, beef, pork, fish, sea food etc).

 

[tink2dw]

Which Disney Outlet is this?

In Anaheim there is a Disney Outlet Store a few miles from Disneyland check this info and their coupon! Take Harbor to get to it. All hotels can give you directions.
http://www.anaheimoc.org/member_details/member_detail.asp?memberID=5065