Fries at Burger King

A vegan at Burger King? Yes! My latest research says Burger King french fries are vegan. The catch here is that there is a risk of cross-contamination. The fries and onion rings are supposed to be cooked in one vat of oil, and the chicken and fish is suppose to be fried in another. The onion rings are not vegan because they're battered with milk. So this is a tough one. Are the fries vegan if cooked with onion rings? And how often do the fries accidentally get cooked in the meat oil vat? I have no idea. I have found onion rings in my carton of fries. But I never found meat in them. And they never have a meat flavor. These fries are very good! And ordering straight from a menu without special requests is refreshing.

A Vegan Wrap at Jason's Deli

I ordered the Veggie Spinach Wrap without cheese, and I requested them not to cut it in half with a dirty knife. This time I chose chips and salsa for my side. This is a good meal for a vegan.

Click here to see the Jason's Deli website

Sweet And Sour Tofu at Mei Wei Asian Bistro in Huntsville AL

This is the Sweet and Sour Tofu dish at Mei Wei in Huntsville AL. This is tofu with green peppers, red peppers, pineapples, and sweet and sour sauce. It's served with rice. With a drink it costs about $9. This is enough food for 2 meals.  If split in half, each serving is no more expensive than cheap fast food.   

Sweet And Sour Tofu at Mei Wei Asian Bistro in Huntsville AL

Mei Wei also has several other dishes the employees say can be vegan, such as the Singapore Noodles, General Tao, and Orange Mandarin. And they do have rice and edamame.

The employees at Mei Wei have given inconsistent information about the vegan status of the food. I'm not 100% sure this tofu is vegan. According to one source, it could be washed in egg. And the Singapore Noodles may have chicken flavoring. I'm also concerned about the use of fish sauce, which they admit is in many of the sauces. At one point, Mei Wei had a vegan menu in a notebook for reference. An egg noodle meal (Lo Mein) was on the vegan menu.......it actually said "egg" in the description of the dish in the vegan menu. They may not understand the vegan perspective.

I really like this place. I just wish I could trust the food. The flavors have always been good. Another issue is that the vegetables are not always thoroughly cleaned. The MeiWei near downtown is modern and comfortable. The employees are always nice. So I have mixed feelings about this place. I'll check back with them later.

Click here to see the Mei Wei website

Dirty Potato Chips

Mediterranean Veggie sandwich at Panera Bread

Panera Bread has a few vegan foods. This is the Mediterranean Veggie sandwich without feta. It comes with plain chips and a pickle wedge. I order mine uncut to avoid the dirty knife.

UPDATE: This bread does contain honey. I choose to avoid honey, so next time I order this meal I will be getting this served on Sesame Semolina bread.

Click here for Panera Bread's vegan menu

Steamed Buddha's Feast at P.F. Chang's

I get the steamed Buddha's Feast with no mushrooms. I don't like mushrooms, so I often get extra broccoli instead of mushrooms. I like to eat this with rice, and I sprinkle the chili oil and soy sauce on top.

Click here to see P.F.Chang's website

Edamame And Hot Tea At P.F. Chang's

The edamame is steamed and has a sprinkle of sea salt. This is one of my favorite snacks.

The hot tea is very good. This was the peach flavor. Sometimes I add sugar, but it really doesn't need it. This has a light, fresh taste, and adding sugar seems to make it taste too much like candy.

Click here to see P.F.Chang's website

Introduction

Hello to everyone! Welcome to Monk Island. My focus is on easily prepared meals, cheap foods, take-out foods, snacks, restaurant meals, and any food that could be good for plant eaters who are traveling or can't cook. I'm not a vegan chef or nutritionist. I'm not here to debate issues or criticize people who are unlike myself. I'm not rich or famous. I'm just an active individual who really enjoys sharing photographs of food, and my food of choice is vegan. Take from it whatever you choose.

My goals for this blog are to:

• present photographic documentation of my food with some comments
• share useful information with current and potential vegans
• present evidence that a plant-based diet can be fun, inexpensive, and easy
• promote a positive view of veganism
• educate anyone interested in plant-based eating
• present occasional essays on related subjects
• spread information about plant-based products
• present restaurant reviews from the perspective of a vegan

You may want to know about me. I live in the south-eastern United States of America (a vegan food desert). I discontinued consumption of pigs in 1987, birds in 1989, then cows and eggs in 1995. I became a vegan in 2009. My gradual transition was effortless. My desire for animal-based foods is completely gone. The greatest challenge is being a social anomaly, but I have absolutely no regrets. I'm healthier now than I've ever been. Cognitive dissonance associated with food, cleanliness, and my friendship with animals is now resolved. Eating is much more simplified with fewer choices, naturally ready-to-eat foods, and clearer boundaries for what is "food". I can taste my food better because my sense of taste has adjusted to appreciate the subtleties of nature. Becoming a vegan is one of the greatest things I've ever done for myself.