Dining Guide / Vegetarian Cuisine

Because there is no religious prohibition on meat Thailand doesn't have a vegetarian tradition as does, for example, India. Therefore, there are not many purely vegetarian, or lacto-vegetarian, restaurants in Bangkok or the kingdom.

Of course, one can always order a mixed salad or a dish of vegetables at any restaurant and then one has a vegetarian meal. But explicit health food restaurants go further than banning meat from their kitchens.

Cooking in health-food restaurants always is as fast as possible in order not to destroy nutrients. And it includes ingredients normally used to a much lesser extent in ordinary restaurants that, of course, also serve vegetables. Among these ingredients ranking high in health food restaurants but hardly used in others are nuts, cereal mixtures like granola, and oats.

Health food restaurants, however, are not only an alternative for those more concerned about health than the average person but also for those who want to lose weight. As health food is always higher in fiber than other foods one can eat larger, filling portions without a high calorie intake.