Vegan and Eating Out in South Texas

So I should start by saying that I'm not pro-dining out... but I find it incredibly irresistible as I grow increasingly tired during these last two weeks of pregnancy... hehe.

Today was one of those days when cooking just seemed like a foreign language I'd never master. I had an appointment with my midwife this morning, I came home to steam clean my floors, take the dog out, finish up some laundry, read up on the coming birth, etc etc.  By the time I realized it, I had neither made it to the grocery store nor started a plan for dinner... bad Norma. I text Kev and let him know it was gonna be a take out night and he was totally ok with it.

Being vegan in South Texas isn't very take-out friendly. I suppose that's a good thing because it means we kind of have to stick to making our meals at home in order to eat somewhat healthy. We have limited options and majority of the time when we say take out, we mean a veggie burger or some Chinese (a.k.a. tofu covered in some sweet tasty but really bad for you sauce.) It's really quite a sad selection. So needless to say, it's not something we care to do often. So today I figured it would be veggie burgers for all and I'd save myself the hassle of making dinner for tonight. Boy was I in for a wake up call... a grumpy one.

I stopped by our favorite burger joint... a local business named Burguesa.

They make custom "Mexican" style burgers.

I remember being thrilled to learn they offered a veggie burger option... topped with avocado, jalapenos, beans and fresh veggies, it was simply delightful! They served it with a side of spicy french fries and you had the option of having some fresh made lemonade instead of the usual sodas. So as I'm driving closer to this heavenly burger joint I see that their sign is down and they are now closed. WHAT?!?!?!?! Closed!??!?!?!?! Noooooooooooooo! ----Yup, that was the pregnant lady reaction. I'm already hungry by this time and I'm facing yet another local business with it's doors now closed. Terrible. By this time, I'm so caught up in my feelings that I failed to notice I wasn't the only unhappy camper in the car. My son Derek is in the back seat crying now... great... now I feel like terrible mom haha... Why is my son crying over a burger place? eesh.

I proceed to drive over to the local Burger King. Gosh I hate this place, but at least they have a veggie burger. Not a great one, but a veggie one.

I sit in the drive thru for a good 15-20 minutes because apparently everyone else in our area decided to stop by this one BK. I look at their menu and finally drive up to the order speaker. "I'll take a veggie burger please." "Ma'am, we no longer offer a veggie burger." "I'm sorry I said veggie burger." "Yes ma'am, we no longer have it." ------------------ARGH! Why leave it on the menu? Why get a pregnant ladie's hopes up??? lol I drove off in a rage (mostly because by this time my belly is talking to me and telling me it's about to eat my insides if I don't stuff my face soon.) I drive the short drive home talking to myself about how this would never happen if I could just stop being lazy and make dinner lol. Ugh, So here I am now, still exhausted... but now munching on some steamed edamame beans while I figure out what my easiest option is for tonight.

I've decided to pop some food in the oven and let the oven do all the work. I'm over my fit, and I'm now working on being more organized. "Always have a back up plan Norma." So tonight, I'll work on the menu for these type of days. I'm sure there are more of these days in our near future with a new baby coming. I'll have to think of quick vegan meals for days when I feel like I won't make it past 5 o'clock.

-Norm