World Guide to Vegetarianism

Introduction

Millions of people around the world practice vegetarianism, a diet and lifestyle related to the restriction or elimination of animal products. There is a range of different ways to practice vegetarianism; just as broad is the spectrum of reasons why a person might choose to adopt it. Many are concerned about the treatment of animals in modern factory farms and similar operations. Others stress the environmental or health benefits. Regardless of the reasons, vegetarians can be confident that, over the last two decades, options for vegetable-friendly dining have increased worldwide. Now, there are vegetarian associations, eateries, and resources to be found in virtually every country on the globe. This guide is an introduction to the support and information available to the globe-trotting vegetarian.

Vegetarian Resource Group: Nonprofit organization offering a large variety of quality articles on the vegetarian lifestyle, including nutrition, recipes, food service, vegetarian businesses, and vegetarian restaurants throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Vegetarian Diet: Information from the National Library of Medicine about vegetarian health and nutrition, as well as further reading resources and directories of related organizations and professionals.

VegDining: Directory of vegetarian, vegan, and veg-positive restaurants in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

Vegetarian Times: News, views, and a huge amount of recipes from a leading magazine about the vegetarian lifestyle.

Australasia

Through Australia may not have as many vegetarian-friendly dining options as some other countries, it does have a vibrant support structure of vegetarian societies that trade information on new dining venues, recipes, and events. Throughout Asia, the story is mixed. Many Asian countries have traditionally depended heavily on staples like rice that are, of course, vegetarian friendly. However, meat has become more common in many areas and there are some regions with fewer vegan resources than others. Careful planning is required for the strict vegetarian who plans to country hop in the region.

Vegetarian Society of Queensland: Leading vegetarian resource organization in northeastern Australia that promotes the vegetarian lifestyle with free information packs, brochures, and other resources. Offers free vegetarian “starter kits.”

Vegetarian Society of South Australia: Nonprofit organization for vegetarians in the southern part of Australia. Includes listings of vegetarian restaurants throughout southern Australia.

New Zealand Vegetarian Society: Main vegetarian organization for the country of New Zealand. Comprehensive listings of vegetarian eateries all around New Zealand, plus a regular newsletter and other great perks for the vegetarian community.

Vegetarian Society of Singapore: News and information on living the vegetarian lifestyle in Singapore.

Vegetarian Guide to Tokyo: Comprehensive guide to vegetarianism for residents and travelers in Tokyo. Resources available in both English and Japanese.

VegVoyages: Tour operator devoted to arranging vegetarian-oriented group travel throughout India and Asia.

Canada

Generally speaking, Canada has been a big part of the upward trend in vegetarianism that the United States has experienced. In major cities throughout Canada, the savvy diner is likely to find a fair variety of stores and restaurants catering specifically to vegetarian tastes. There are also many voluntary associations of vegetarians distributing information and holding awareness events (and delicious feasts!) throughout the country.

Canadian Vegetarian Association: Nationwide organization devoted to furthering the causes of vegetarianism and related activism and creating a strong regional network of vegetarian associations. Maintains ties to thirteen citywide and regional vegetarian groups in Canada.

Toronto Vegetarian Association: News, nutrition, and publications for vegetarianism in Toronto, the capital of Ontario and the most populous city in the country of Canada.

Vegetarian Directory: Resources from Earthsave Canada on vegetarians restaurants, bakeries, groceries, nutrition consultants, and a variety of others veg-friendly services and retailers. Detailed overview of each dining establishment’s features.

GoVeg.com: North America’s Most Vegetarian Friendly Cities: Series of referenced articles on the most accommodating cities in the U.S. and Canada for the vegetarian lifestyle. Separate sections for large cities, small cities, and Canadian locales.

The Guide to Great Vegetarian Food: Canada: Patron-submitted reviews and information on vegetarian venues broken down across the provinces and cities of Canada.

Europe

Europe is, as it always has been, a vibrant patchwork of sometimes contradictory customs. There are no large, overarching vegetarian organizations, and the level of support for the herbivorous lifestyle differs from place to place. The United Kingdom is particularly strong, but much of continental Europe maintains its connection to traditional foods that may be heavy on dairy, as in the French case, or meat, as in the German. However, with versatility and a creative spirit, it’s definitely not impossible to remain a vegetarian while roaming Europe and the Mediterranean.

Vegetarian Society of the UK: Self-proclaimed “oldest vegetarian organization in the world.” Offers help for becoming vegetarian, information and resources for vegetarians young and old, and facts on running vegetarian-friendly business, as well as a diverse assortment of Internet resources on vegetarian eating in the United Kingdom.

Vegetarian Life and Style at The Guardian: Huge amount of information on all facets of vegetarian life, eating, news, and activism from one of Britain’s most respected newspapers.

Vegetarian Society of Ireland: Ongoing news about vegetarian in Ireland, plus a guide to vegetarian dining in Dublin and elsewhere across Ireland.

Vegetarians in France: Series of in-depth articles about aspects of French cuisine pertinent to the vegetarian lifestyle, centered around the theme of surviving as a vegetarian in France.

Vegan Travel in the Greek Islands: Great look at Greek cuisine and customs related to eating in Greece, with advice on how to implement the vegetarian ethos in the Mediterranean. Brief restaurant guide organized by island.

USA

In many ways, the United States has been the center of what is now a worldwide movement. Though there are certainly differences from state to state, major metropolitan areas can usually be expected to host a vegetarian-friendly eating venue or two, along with a grocer that offers whole foods. Even restaurants that aren’t geared toward vegans specifically often have options that are suitable, and special arrangements can usually be made to prevent the use of animal products such as oils in the cooking process. As such, there are strong vegetarian associations in every state, and a large range of options.

Vegetarian Society of DC: Nonprofit, volunteer group that promotes the benefits of vegetarianism throughout the nation’s capital. Offers a newsletter, events, and other resources.

Vegetarian Society of Hawaii: Comprehensive nonprofit guide to vegetarian living in the state of Hawaii. Full range of relevant info for all of the Hawaiian islands.

Vegetarian Society of Georgia: Offers a range of publications and links centered on vegetarian living and causes. Events have included vegetarian holiday dinners and more.

Vegetarian Society of Utah: Includes a restaurant guide, index of natural food stores, and networking resources for local vegetarians in Utah.

Vegetarian Tampa Bay: Along with the usual range of pro-vegan resources, Vegetarian Tampa Bay offers a long list of verified vegan recipes across the Internet.

Vegetarian Society of South Jersey: Organizes and supports an organic market with home delivery option for vegetarians of New Jersey.

Triangle Vegetarian Society: Lots of information and support for vegetarians living in the “triangle” area of North Carolina, which encompasses the townships of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill.

Other Areas

The status of vegetarianism in the rest of the world is as varied as the countries and regions themselves. Wide support for vegetarianism depends on a variety of factors: the variety of produce available, traditions in cuisine, the level of international exchange, and more. Before heading to a new place, it’s always wise to do some research to ensure that you’ll be able to get the kinds of foods that agree with your life choices.

Vegetarian Society of South Africa: Advice and information for vegetarians living in South Africa. Supports the celebration of World Vegan Day in South Africa and compiles all kinds of facts on world famous vegetarians, benefits of vegetarianism to health and the environment, and involvement.

Vegetarian in Moscow: Detailed journalistic article on Russian dining customs and sustaining vegetarianism in Moscow, along with a short guide to veg-friendly dining establishments. From the School of Russian Studies, which supports Russian and Central Asian study abroad.

International Vegetarian Union: Amazing searchable index of worldwide vegetarian businesses, organizations, and causes. Identifies resources throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, and North America.

HappyCow Compassionate Eating Guide: Searchable “food finder” with detailed user-submitted information about veg-friendly establishments and their features. Worldwide, broken down by region, country, and territory.

Veggie Global: Another great informational site for vegetarians with a worldwide focus.

Miscellaneous

Vegetarianism offers a lot of delicious recipes and culinary opportunities, but the lifestyle that millions of people have built around it doesn’t end there. There are all kinds of other resources for vegetarians, ranging from the social to the spiritual. These are the sites that don’t quite fir anywhere else – check them out for all your other veg-related interests.

VegWeb: Focuses on collecting and reviewing user-submitted vegetarian recipes. Thousands to choose from, many with illustrations.

VegGuide: Searchable index of thousands of vegetarian-centered restaurants, stores, and other businesses. Searches can center on a specific location, or users can browse the full list of resources by region.

Veggie Date: Social networking and dating website specifically for vegetarians.

Vegetarian Vacations: Guide to vegetarian holiday doors, vegetarian accommodations, vegetarian restaurants and cafes, and how to practice vegetarianism as a traveler.

Christian Vegetarian Association: Voluntary association of Christian vegetarians who consider vegetarianism an exercise of their faith, practice vegetarianism for Scriptural reasons or otherwise link their spirituality to their vegetarian lifestyle.

Jewish Veg: Exploration of the intersection between the Jewish faith and the vegetarian lifestyle.

Buddhist Resources on Vegetarianism: Resource page for Internet sites and further reading pertaining to the links between Buddhism and vegetarianism.

Islamic Vegetarianism: Commentary on various issues related to compassionate treatment of animals in the context of the Islamic faith, including the practice of vegetarianism as a form of spiritually pure living.