Going veg in France? Here’s your passport to flavor!

I’ve been a ‘Veggie Girl’ for longer than I care to reveal. Trust me when I say that salad gets really old and boring after eating it three days in a row. People seem to think it’s the only ‘safe’ thing to eat if you are doing the ‘Healthy Veg Thing’ in France.

Well, it’s time to give your taste buds a treat! Variety is the spice of life, so try some ‘ethnic eats’! Your palette will be singing merci beaucoup!

From Thai to Indian, there is a plethora of flavor just waiting for you to sample, mes amis! Take a gourmet tour around the world and you’ll be amazed at what you’ll find. I won’t let you be stuck in a food-rut: explore new cuisines! Now grab your passport, ALLEZ !

If I said ‘sushi’ you would think fish, right? Well, that’s just plain wrong! Sushi is a Japanese food consisting of cooked vinegared rice combined with other ingredients, usually raw fish or other seafood. However, there are veg versions! Try a cucumber or avocado roll, miso soup, seaweed salad, steamed edamame, or vegetable tempura. Many Japanese restaurants offer brown or black rice instead of white rice for a healthier option. And don’t forget the sake! Now you knew that I wouldn’t forget that, right?!

Indian food is a delight for the senses – oh, the spices! No, it’s not at all spicy as in ‘hot’. It is full-bodied with many deep flavor profiles and it is truly a treat. So many options here as well! Try some garlic naan to start and head into some veggie curry, lentil dishes, stir-fried okra and even veggie kebabs! They will also add tofu to anything if  you like. There’s usually a veggie combo plate offered at most Indian restaurants, I suggest you order one and taste the rainbow for yourself.

Treats from Thailand! Well, now we are talking about some heat. Some dishes can be on the hot and spicy side but there are many mild choices too. Options include: stir fried veggies, glass and rice noodles, papaya salad, tofu, rice and pumpkin coconut soup.

Try some Asian delights: peanut sauces, chili sauces, lemon and ginger tofu, stir fried noodles, spring rolls, sesame broccoli and cucumber salad. I don’t know about you, but put peanut sauce on cardboard and I’d eat it! (Well maybe not, but it’s so yummy!)

Middle Eastern food is not to be missed. You will always find homemade hummus in my fridge! I love falafel, stuffed grape leaves, tabouleh, baba ghannouj, fava beans, roasted eggplant and pita bread. Sign me up for some of that s’il vous plait!

There’s just no excuse to not add a little culture into one’s life especially when it comes to cuisine! I’m a girl who likes options and gets bored easily so, with so many ‘ethnic eats’ to choose from, I’m always game to eat out.

Never be afraid to ask what’s in a dish or add in something that you like. I used to ask so many questions, I honestly thought that I was irritating the server but that wasn’t true at all. They are happy to go over the details of a dish, they want you to have a good experience and enjoy your meal. Whether you have food allergies, vegan, vegetarian, health conscious, low fat, no sugar, raw… There will be something fabulous waiting for you on this tour de eats!