KatieStar

I was wondering if there are any veggies here who have made the move to Oz, if so how have you found it? Do people look at you as if you have two heads when you tell them you are veggie?

There does not seem to me to be the same choice of veggie food here as in the UK. Maybe I am looking in the wrong places. I was told by a new friend yesterday about a West end market stall that sells vegan pies so I will have to check that out.

Katie

turtletom

Kirsty Is A Vegy

SenoraJo

Hi Katie

Not two heads exactly, but amazed that you can live without meat/fish!!! However, I haven't had any negative responses, in fact although surprised, everyone I've talked to has been quite interested and for example if you're going round, will make sure there's a vege option.

I have found Coles supermarket to be the best in terms of Vegie stuff. Sanitarium brand do alot of dried/tinned vege minces and other health food stuff plus all the pulses etc. Vegie Delights, stocked in Coles, is a range of sauages, sliced 'meats', tofu, 'bacon' rashers etc plus Coles have a range of frozen convenience/party foods too, if you're in a hurry eg. vege burgers, vege snitzals etc. Organic & free range eggs also readily available. Not sure avout vegan stuff, as I'm a lacto, but Coles does do vege cheese.

Fresh fruit & veg, organic or otherwise is readily available both in the supermarkets, farmers markets and individually owned stores.

Lots of stuff for Asian cooking, so if you love Thai/stir fry's etc you'll be loving it, but yeah, I don't think there is as much choice but it's better than I thought it would be.

We're in NSW, not sure if choice varies across regions - maybe not so much in more rural/out of the way areas??

Must be OK as haven't lost any weight.........

Jo

monkeypeaches

My friend (who is an Aussie) is veggie and doesn't seem to have too many problems. At home he eats loads of veggies, tofu, veggie risotto/curry/stirfry and when eating out he'll go for a veggie pizza or to Wagamama (he's in Perth but I'm sure there's one in Brisbane too)

Bix

I knew a veggie once.

Died of salmonella

cresta57

Are the vegans fresh or frozen?

Pommie Granite

On the subject of food/restaurants:-

Are the onces in Melbourne packed out at weekends...like the ones in UK.

I know..I know...it depends....but on the whole....do you really need to prebook?

PG

ridds

LOL

Actually, there are loads of vegetarian options available. And the vege burgers and pies in the West End are excellent. No Quorn available in Oz though, due to it being a fungus.

Some useful links are:
Vege and Vegan Products
For a good site about being vege / vegan etc in oz, try the Veggie Association. As well as an extensive product list, they also have forums and discussion board where you can ask questions and get answers a bit like here

Also try Squirrels restauant in Newmarket - v good vege / vegan food (or at least it used to be, so I'm assuming it still is).

HTH

Pollyana

Interesting conversation overheard at work today
"Whats the vegetarian option today?"
"Well we have chicken curry or beef stew"
"No, VEGETARIAN"
"Yes we have vegetables with both of them"


Mind you this is the same crew that give me sympathetic looks when I say I want a sandwich without beetroot, and who today said if I wanted to pay the same price each day for the same sort of sandwich I needed to be served by the SAME PERSON each day....they admitted they make the prices up, which explains why a sandwich that is $3 one day is $8 the next And they can't see a problem with that.....!

KatieStar

Hi Cresta

My friend phones them up and asks them to keep 6 frozen for her. It is 6 for $20, as if you buy 5 you get one free. If you are interested I will get the number off her.

Katie

KatieStar

Thanks for all your replies. It i sad your friend died of salmonella Bix. I guess it was from under cooked eggs

I shop in Coles and have tried the sanitarium products. I liked the mince, not too keen on the sausages. Maybe they will grow on me.

I am going to have to try the marinated tofu in some stir frys.

It is better than I thought it would be Jo. It seems to have improved over the last few years from when I was here on holiday. I remember I couldn't get a cheese and tomato pizza, all had meat on them.

Thanks for the link Ridds. I have heard of Squirrels restaurant. I will check it out. I am also going to check out the Forest in West End where they do vegan cheesecakes.

LOL Pollyanna I guess some people just don't understand the concept of not eating meat. I had the same reaction in Belfast when I tried to order a vegetarian chow mien. The sandwich price is bizarre though. I would be a bit miffed paying $8 for something I had paid $3 the day before.

Katie

Stephen

Hi Katie

I'm a vegan. I guess I will miss Sainsburys for their range of foods, but having been vege for about 3 years now, I can honestly say that there has been a gradual but unstopable move way from processed foods altogether.

As a vege you can eat just as much crap as an omnivore. ie Chip butties and coca-cola all day.

Here is a good guide to shopping for processed foods from the Queensland Vegetarian & Vegan Society......

http://www.vegsoc.org.au/products.asp

Cheers

JustBecause

How is it with barbies & socialising? Do people act weird if you tell them you are veggie?

Perthforme

If were not ment to eat animals then why are they made of meat ?(Peter Kay )

Perthforme

But seriously, na eat what you like at a BBQ and good on ya