Eating at a restaurant is a wonderful way to engage with peers and the culture around you, but if you are looking to stick to an organic diet, restaurant menus can present major difficulties. A huge number of restaurants, especially in the United States, are nowhere near certified organic. This is a result of both the difficulty (and costliness) in becoming certified organic in the US, as well as the standard agricultural practices in the US (which do not produce a comparatively large proportion of organic foods).
That being said, if you know what food items to look for and what specifications to insist upon when you order, you can provide yourself with some meal choices for restaurant dining with friends. For something to be organic, it must have been grown without the use of synthetic chemicals (like man-made fertilizers or pesticides), and must not be genetically modified (not a GMO). When discussing organic meat or animal products, they must also be raised without the use of antibiotics to encourage growth of the animal, consume organic feed, and be raised to accommodate natural behaviors (like grazing). Here are some bits of advice for choosing organic meals at restaurants:
- Look for certified organic restaurants
For a restaurant to be certified organic, an independent third party organization must verify the restaurant menu, and the restaurant itself goes through a vigorous certification process. This is not an easy process and costs the restaurant a lot of time and money, which is why most restaurants do not opt for this certification. However, it is the only way a consumer can know for sure that their meals from that restaurant are fully organic.
- Find restaurants that offer organic dishes
As organic foods become increasingly accepted as a healthier and more environmentally-friendly food choice, resources are expanding to help consumers seek out organic restaurants and groceries. If you are committed to eating fully organic, but don’t have access to restaurants that are certified, you can often find local spots with fully organic entrees on their menu.
Do your research on the best resources for your area, using websites like organicrestaraurants.com or calling the restaurant you’re considering for your meal to ask pointed questions about their food sourcing. Make sure you know the difference between the terms organic, organic when possible, natural, and local.
Once you find a few restaurants you like and trust are truthful about their organic offerings, be that person in the group that picks the restaurant! We all know the struggle of deciding a restaurant as a couple or in a group of friends – once you find places that work for your diet, don’t be afraid to suggest them when it comes time for a meal out.
- Avoid ordering foods from the Dirty Dozen list
When you’re unable to choose a restaurant that is certified organic (or one that offers 100% organic dishes), at least avoid ordering dishes containing produce from the dirty dozen list. These fruits and vegetables are best to buy/eat only if they are organically grown, because they are shown to consistently have the highest synthetic pesticide levels:
Apples
Pears
Cucumbers
Celery
Potatoes
Grapes
Cherries
Tomatoes
Kale/Collard Greens/Mustard Greens
Summer Squash
Nectarines
Peaches
Spinach
Strawberries
Bell Peppers/Hot Peppers
- Stick to the 80/20 rule
It’s pretty likely that restaurants around you will not offer enough organic meal options to eat out for every meal, and it may happen that your friends grow tired of your favorite spots after eating there with you a few times. Don’t let this discourage you – a diet is meant to encourage new and healthier eating habits, but it shouldn’t make your social life impossible.
On those occasions where your party’s restaurant choice doesn’t have the organic choices you’re looking for, just avoid the Dirty Dozen and choose meals containing ingredients from the Clean 15 list. Rest easy knowing that your remaining meals that week will be prepared at home just the way you like. If you can stick to an (at minimum) 80% organic, 20% leniency rule, you’re doing your body right and maintaining your healthy social interactions, as well.
- Accept that you will usually need to cook for yourself
Unfortunately, most restaurants in the United States do not aspire to transition to organic food sourcing, storage, and preparation. This means that an organic diet will most likely require the consumer to source their own food and cook organically at home to remain 100% committed.
However, Los Angeles is one of the easier places to stick to an organic diet and therefore does not rule out the ability to eat at a restaurant. If you prepare yourself with the knowledge of what locations will cater to your diet needs, you can find the most amazing meals that respect your organic food boundaries. To read more about diets, check out this diet comparison article. Or you can read about specific diets in these keto, gluten free, and Kcal diet articles.