Written by: Isla Herring
When I stopped eating meat at 11 years old, I never anticipated the challenges it would hand me while in a foreign country. As someone studying abroad who speaks limited Italian, shopping for food and ordering at restaurants is a difficulty I did not quite prepare myself for.
Italy is commonly recognized for its food, whether it is pizza, pasta, cheese, sandwiches, or soup, the list can go on. I have always heard amazing recommendations about food from Italy and it was something that excited me when looking into studying abroad. Once I arrived here and was faced with menus in languages that I could not understand, I began to worry about how I would manage my diet in Florence.
My first night in Florence was an experience that has lingered in my head for all of my meals since. I was attempting to read the menu and decipher the codes for allergies that are provided at the end of the page. I saw a number that told me if dishes contained fish, a number for eggs, and many numbers for other allergies and sensitivities, yet I saw no indication that meals contained meat. I decided that my best option would be pasta because I was famished and had hoped that it would be simple enough to understand if it contained meat.
When the server set my plate down in front of me, my stomach immediately dropped. What I had ordered, thinking it was just a version of a red sauce, contained lumps of meat that I didn’t recognize. I told myself not to panic because this was just a meal, but from the stress of my travels, the lack of food in my body, and being in a place where the servers hardly understood me, I did indeed panic.
I said to my roommates once the staff had walked away that my food had meat in it and I did not know what to do. Everyone looked at me with a face of concern as they could read the overwhelming emotions coming over me in that moment.
“Trade with me,” was the first response that I heard. Luckily for me, my roommate ordered a meatless pasta dish and offered to switch with me so that I could get some food in my body. I knew then that going forward I had to make a conscious effort to improve my understanding of the language and vegetarian options while abroad.
My first step was to search for how to say, “without meat,” in Italian, which I learned is, “senza carne.” I knew this term would come in handy for me going forward. I also searched for, “fish,” which is, “pesce,” and practiced the pronunciation of these terms.
After some basic terminology lessons, I wanted to find more places in Florence that were vegetarian or vegan friendly. Although now I felt confident that I could avoid meat, I still wanted meals that were more than just a noodle or a bread. I wanted to find options that still offered me protein and vegetables.
I did some basic web browsing to see some places that were close enough for me and decently affordable for a student on a budget. The first place that I found was called “#Raw Vegan Firenze,” a restaurant that offers a variety of vegetarian and vegan options for a reasonable price. They have many juice options as well and focus on clean and healthy ingredients.
The next place that I found was “Brac,” which offers Mediterranean food. It can be slightly pricey, but has many accommodations and vegetarian options for more of a sit-down dinner experience. They are recognized for their vegetarian and vegan options, along with gluten-free accommodations.
The last place that I want to mention is one that I discovered on my own when strolling around the city. It is called “Shake Cafe,” and it has many options for acai bowls, salads, and wraps that I very much enjoyed. They focus on healthy cuisine, sustainability, and high quality ingredients. The place is very cozy and welcoming and the staff were very understanding and kind. I ordered a falafel wrap that came with onions, beets, greens, hummus, and a lemon vinaigrette.
I found that there are many places here that offer vegetarian meals that are more than just a salad or a carb. Some quick research immediately made me feel much more comfortable in this new city I call home. I began to make a list in my notes of places that I discovered were viable options for my diet. This way, when I’m in a pinch for food, I know I have places to go to on hand now.
I also did some more research on quality vegetarian protein sources and began to compile a list of these foods as well so I could search for them at restaurants, and grocery stores when cooking for myself. The top searches were foods like, seitan, tofu, lentils, beans, sprouted grains, oats, nuts, and eggs. These have become foods that I focus on when preparing meals and dining out to ensure that my diet is staying balanced with nutrients and substance.
Overall, the transition to new food is a challenge for everyone, and for those who have dietary restrictions, the process can be even more strenuous. My advice is to do some research and stay optimistic because there are people everywhere who share your same struggles, regardless of language and location.