Day 8: A KINK IN THE CHAIN

            By turnpikes, in shopping centers, near malls – wherever you turn there they are. The “they” I am referring to are chain restaurants, and maybe I’m just a weird observer of these sorts of things, but it seems like chain restaurants make up a substantial part of the typical (and stereotypical) American cuisine. We’re all guilty of spending money there. Hell, for some people, these food joints are their favorite places to grab a bite to eat. Putting aside their high-caloric options and oversized portions, I still have a bone to pick with chain restaurants (no pun intended). The most bothersome fact about these places is that they have very few vegetarian/vegan-friendly choices on their menus (and by very, I mean CLOSE TO NONE).

            I became aware of this disappointing reality over spring break. While out with my friends, we decided to go to Applebee’s to put some dinner in our stomachs. Being that they are all proud meat-eaters, they had zero difficulty finding something on the menu to feed their hunger. I, however, did not share that same experience. First off, I am a very health-conscious eater as is; I watch what I put into my body, so that in and of itself limits my options. On top of that, I don’t consume any meat, poultry, or fish. As I perused the menu, I saw absolutely nothing to fit my style of eating. I wound up ordering a house salad – you know, the kind you get as a side to a larger-portioned meal. It was hardly satisfying, and it was at that moment that I realized chain restaurants should have more items for vegetarians and vegans to order. Why should we be penalized solely because we refuse to ingest prepared animal carcasses? How is that fair? The United States is supposed to be the “Melting Pot,” where cultures, ethnicities, and races mix together to form one great nation, yet on the whole, it seems we are very set in our ways. What I mean to say is if America is so keen on welcoming diversity, then why do people with differing views, or in other words, minorities, face so many more obstacles than those who are part of the majority? I don’t think that it’s right, and sure, it’s easy to look at this argument and think that they’re only chain restaurants, but in a society where equality is striven for, no issue of inequality is too minimal to go unspoken for. My question to you is what is one issue of inequality that either you or someone you know has faced?

Listed below are four chain restaurants and the items on their menus that a vegetarian could consume:

-Applebee’s: nothing on the menu itself…garden salad plain when requested; kids menu: grilled cheese sandwich or macaroni and cheese – nothing for vegans

-T.G.I. Fridays: Southwest Wedge Salad, Classic Wedge Salad, Broccoli Cheese Soup, French Onion Soup

-Ruby Tuesday: Fresh Garden Bar, Garden Salad, Broccoli Cheese Soup, Vegetarian Minis; Vegetarian Pasta Marinara

-Texas Roadhouse: House Salad, Caesar Salad, Country Veg Plate (which consists of four sides and limited to one salad)

http://www.applebees.com/MenuLandingStatic.aspx

http://www.tgifridays.com/menus/menus.aspx

http://www.rubytuesday.com/menu

http://www.texasroadhouse.com/our-menu/