Lupin
27th May 2006, 12:36 AM
Will we survive??? :laugh
backtonz
27th May 2006, 12:43 AM
Will we survive??? :laugh
:laugh :laugh You will be fine in Auckland. There isn't much of domestic produce, so the more remote the place, the less the availability - except for supermarket frozen stuff..
:laugh :laugh You will be fine in Auckland. There isn't much of domestic produce, so the more remote the place, the less the availability - except for supermarket frozen stuff..
tchelseat
27th May 2006, 12:59 AM
www.vegsoc.org.nz
They keep an updated list of vegetarian and vegetarian-friendly restaurants, and you can narrow the search by location which is useful. We're at the tail end of the process for gaining permanent residence and have not yet been down to NZ to check out the veg situation for ourselves, but I would be interested to know what the grocery stores stock in terms of meat alternatives (ala Morningstar, Quorn, Linda McCartney, etc.). My guess is that those products do exist but at a much higher price than elsewhere (big surprise!).
They keep an updated list of vegetarian and vegetarian-friendly restaurants, and you can narrow the search by location which is useful. We're at the tail end of the process for gaining permanent residence and have not yet been down to NZ to check out the veg situation for ourselves, but I would be interested to know what the grocery stores stock in terms of meat alternatives (ala Morningstar, Quorn, Linda McCartney, etc.). My guess is that those products do exist but at a much higher price than elsewhere (big surprise!).
bob_the_engineer
27th May 2006, 01:30 AM
No, LOL
Wifey is a veggi, when I go shopping I spend more time reading ingredients than actually choosing things.
Beef fat,,,,,,,, placing this in the most unexpected places seems to be a favourite pass time here!
On a more serious note, you will be fine, we don’t have the V stickers, and very similar products are/aren’t suitable. An example is something as simple as a pack of gravy mix. Two of the most common brands available, one contains beef fat the other doesn’t. To find out which you have to read the ingredients (no V sticker).
Your first few trips to the super market can take you hours, the right foods there, it’s just a case of finding it!
On the up side the veg and fruit selection is amazing, you can get a good selection of veggie assuages from new world, they have canned vegi mince (appetisingly labelled as “Minced Wheat Gluten in Gravy”) this contains soy. You can also get vegi burgers but they tend to be soya or vegetables (not quorn), you can get tofu too (yuk)
If anyone finds quorn I’d like to know about it. Linda’s burgers are off the menu (which is a shame, I’m not a vegi but I really like them)
Strong vegi cheese can be hard to come by, but normal strength vegi cheese is easy to get.
To be honest I really don’t think its too difficult, ask before you bite and don’t be surprised to find ham in your macaroni cheese (I thought this was a bonus, but I’m sure you’d disagree, LOL).
Do remember if you ask in a Japanese restaurant “is this a vegetarian dish” it may be interpreted as does it contain vegetables (as well as lots of lovely meat,,,,,,,,,, LOL if only that was a joke!)
In summary, you’ll get by easily, it just takes time to find everything and being a vegi just makes it a little more difficult.
Bob
Wifey is a veggi, when I go shopping I spend more time reading ingredients than actually choosing things.
Beef fat,,,,,,,, placing this in the most unexpected places seems to be a favourite pass time here!
On a more serious note, you will be fine, we don’t have the V stickers, and very similar products are/aren’t suitable. An example is something as simple as a pack of gravy mix. Two of the most common brands available, one contains beef fat the other doesn’t. To find out which you have to read the ingredients (no V sticker).
Your first few trips to the super market can take you hours, the right foods there, it’s just a case of finding it!
On the up side the veg and fruit selection is amazing, you can get a good selection of veggie assuages from new world, they have canned vegi mince (appetisingly labelled as “Minced Wheat Gluten in Gravy”) this contains soy. You can also get vegi burgers but they tend to be soya or vegetables (not quorn), you can get tofu too (yuk)
If anyone finds quorn I’d like to know about it. Linda’s burgers are off the menu (which is a shame, I’m not a vegi but I really like them)
Strong vegi cheese can be hard to come by, but normal strength vegi cheese is easy to get.
To be honest I really don’t think its too difficult, ask before you bite and don’t be surprised to find ham in your macaroni cheese (I thought this was a bonus, but I’m sure you’d disagree, LOL).
Do remember if you ask in a Japanese restaurant “is this a vegetarian dish” it may be interpreted as does it contain vegetables (as well as lots of lovely meat,,,,,,,,,, LOL if only that was a joke!)
In summary, you’ll get by easily, it just takes time to find everything and being a vegi just makes it a little more difficult.
Bob
mark & Heather
27th May 2006, 02:40 AM
one of the funniest things i saw on our NZ trip was when we bought two cake muffins and some coffee at a really nice cafe north of auckland.
Heather ( who's a veggie ) bit into hers only to spit it out and scream when she found bacon in hers !
ooo..i did laugh..
Well, i've never heard of bacon muffins in england..but have to admit, they were nice !
Heather ( who's a veggie ) bit into hers only to spit it out and scream when she found bacon in hers !
ooo..i did laugh..
Well, i've never heard of bacon muffins in england..but have to admit, they were nice !
Lupin
27th May 2006, 04:15 AM
Okay, thanks for the tips...will go investigate the link, thanks :)
Will also slice a muffin before I bite :laugh and bear in mind the other tips for eating out. Will remember my glasses when shopping for the first few weeks :nice1
Will also slice a muffin before I bite :laugh and bear in mind the other tips for eating out. Will remember my glasses when shopping for the first few weeks :nice1
Howie
27th May 2006, 07:46 AM
Everyone told me that I wouldn't survive in NZ, but it's really been fine. I eat fish and that does help when going out. I have been to a few restaurants where there are absolutely no vege options, but this is pretty rare. Yes you have to ask all the time to make sure they haven't snuck any meat in, but I had to do this in the states too. People put meat in the strangest places. The real downside is the grocery store. The frozen food selection is tiny to begin with, so I guess it's not too surprising that there really aren't any vege options. I did come across some vegie burgers at Pack N Save, imported from SA, but they were incredibly expensive so I didn't try them. I still think everything at the grocery store is incredibly expensive though. In general, people (in Auckland anyways) understand that vegetarians exist and most try to accommodate.
There's an Indian takeaway near where we live and I went in there and asked what vege food they had. They told me that they don't usually make anything vege, which I thought was quite odd. But the owner was super nice and told me that they do have some vegetarian customers and that I could just call ahead and she would make something special for me.
The other strange thing is ordering vegie burgers from takeaways. They tend to be on the menu, but you never know what you'll get. Haven't actually gotten a proper veggie burger yet.
Does anyone have any great vege finds? I'm going to go and check out that website now.
There's an Indian takeaway near where we live and I went in there and asked what vege food they had. They told me that they don't usually make anything vege, which I thought was quite odd. But the owner was super nice and told me that they do have some vegetarian customers and that I could just call ahead and she would make something special for me.
The other strange thing is ordering vegie burgers from takeaways. They tend to be on the menu, but you never know what you'll get. Haven't actually gotten a proper veggie burger yet.
Does anyone have any great vege finds? I'm going to go and check out that website now.
StevieD
27th May 2006, 08:45 AM
This is one of our major concerns. My wife and kids are veggies. But the stuff they eat most of - Quorn products and stuff, is not available. So we will just have to try our best to get our daughter, who is the biggest problem, to eat something healthy. She is so fussy, but sure we will be ok.
Oregonkiwi
27th May 2006, 09:02 AM
I never had any problems as a vegetarian in NZ. I don't eat much frozen/convenience food, I can see that you might miss the range of products available overseas if you do eat a lot of those foods.
Sanitarium is one brand to look for
http://www.sanitarium.co.nz/products/meals/vegi-delight.html
Sanitarium is one brand to look for
http://www.sanitarium.co.nz/products/meals/vegi-delight.html
adamsat
27th May 2006, 09:05 AM
we will just have to try our best to get our daughter, who is the biggest problem, to eat something healthy. She is so fussy, but sure we will be ok.
Out of the five of use, myself and Lisa eat fish, the two girls are vegetarian and Cameron eats meat. Our eldest daughter was the biggest problem, but we have found some vege burgers in New World that she seems to like. There is loads of good fresh fruit and veg available though, and plates of roast pumpkin, yams, sweet potatoes and squashs have now come a regular part of the diet.
If you are a very strict vegetarian you do have to be careful. I ordered a vegetarian set meal at a function the other day an was served salmon. Not a problem for me but it was for some others.
Out of the five of use, myself and Lisa eat fish, the two girls are vegetarian and Cameron eats meat. Our eldest daughter was the biggest problem, but we have found some vege burgers in New World that she seems to like. There is loads of good fresh fruit and veg available though, and plates of roast pumpkin, yams, sweet potatoes and squashs have now come a regular part of the diet.
If you are a very strict vegetarian you do have to be careful. I ordered a vegetarian set meal at a function the other day an was served salmon. Not a problem for me but it was for some others.
Oregonkiwi
27th May 2006, 09:19 AM
I ordered a vegetarian set meal at a function the other day and was served salmon.
That would have annoyed the heck out of me! But a good point that often people do have odd interpretations of "vegetarian".
That would have annoyed the heck out of me! But a good point that often people do have odd interpretations of "vegetarian".
anna_c
27th May 2006, 09:31 AM
If you're reliant on meat substitute foods, you're not going to find the range - though they're certainly available (Quorn, btw, is definitely not). If you generally construct meals yourself I'd say it's better than a lot of places - try vegetable markets as well as supermarkets. If you're invited to a BBQ you may have to bring your own stuff, it depends, but I imagine most of us are used to that anyway.
As everywhere, Indian restaurants are good for vegetarians, as are Hell's Pizza (also offer a vegan option) - if you want more specific places in Wellington just ask. Obviously smaller towns are not going to be as good eating out wise. Beware of asking for changes to a menu item with staff who don't speak good English - often they'll give you the impression they've understood when they haven't.
In summary; you'll definitely survive, but you may have to make a few small adjustments.
As everywhere, Indian restaurants are good for vegetarians, as are Hell's Pizza (also offer a vegan option) - if you want more specific places in Wellington just ask. Obviously smaller towns are not going to be as good eating out wise. Beware of asking for changes to a menu item with staff who don't speak good English - often they'll give you the impression they've understood when they haven't.
In summary; you'll definitely survive, but you may have to make a few small adjustments.
pineapplehead
27th May 2006, 10:03 AM
Yes, sorry to my veggie friends, I am now eating meat. :uhoh All kinds, although I still cook mostly veggie. It was difficult to live without soy alternatives, being spoilt by cheap and good veggie products. There is some fake meat, but not the variety and quality of California and very $$$. They just aren't very good. I found it especially difficult in the smaller towns and rural areas.
I guess it was one less thing to deal with in my adjustment: trying to come up with good meals - with protein - without having to hunt down ingredients - and cook them - so they taste as good as Morningstar farms or Boca (not available here). BBQ is really easy - I don't have to cook!
Agree with what was said above about reading ingredients. Many potato chips have beef in them.
Good points: the vegetables, fruits and fish are excellent. Cafes (in Welly) usually will have some sort of veggie fritata/egg pie (if you eat eggs). I think Mainland brand makes a tasty veggie cheddar that is good. Raw ingredients of high quality (dairy, grains, fantastic eggs, split peas and beans...). Vegetable soup stock available.
My veggie Kiwi neighbor makes (actually his wife cooks it for him) a tofu nut loaf that is excellent!
I guess it was one less thing to deal with in my adjustment: trying to come up with good meals - with protein - without having to hunt down ingredients - and cook them - so they taste as good as Morningstar farms or Boca (not available here). BBQ is really easy - I don't have to cook!
Agree with what was said above about reading ingredients. Many potato chips have beef in them.
Good points: the vegetables, fruits and fish are excellent. Cafes (in Welly) usually will have some sort of veggie fritata/egg pie (if you eat eggs). I think Mainland brand makes a tasty veggie cheddar that is good. Raw ingredients of high quality (dairy, grains, fantastic eggs, split peas and beans...). Vegetable soup stock available.
My veggie Kiwi neighbor makes (actually his wife cooks it for him) a tofu nut loaf that is excellent!
Lupin
27th May 2006, 10:51 AM
Sounds like we'll be alright then as we're more the cook it from the ingredients types and I can manage without sausages and burgers (having done a trawl of woolworths online and seen the cost!!).
Just hope I can still find that tofu/tempeh combined stuff. In a little box, marinated and sliced...delicious raw :)
Actually, scrap that...terrible thought...what about feta? I love feta... :uhoh
Just hope I can still find that tofu/tempeh combined stuff. In a little box, marinated and sliced...delicious raw :)
Actually, scrap that...terrible thought...what about feta? I love feta... :uhoh
anna_c
27th May 2006, 11:00 AM
Actually, scrap that...terrible thought...what about feta? I love feta... :uhoh
There may well be cheaper brands available, but you definitely can get feta (http://www.salagram.net/vege-cheese.html#CHEESE) .
There may well be cheaper brands available, but you definitely can get feta (http://www.salagram.net/vege-cheese.html#CHEESE) .
k-k
27th May 2006, 04:40 PM
As a big fan of Quorn I thought I'd never survive over here when I found out you couldn't get it. I think it was just the fact that Quorn products were so convenient, but like others have said you learn to adapt.
I'm now making more use of my veggie cookery books as the choice of veg over here is great. Our local farmers market has stuff really cheap so I stock up on a Saturday and if I can't be bothered cooking anything too complicated (which is very often) I just roast a load of veggies and have that. I've tried stuff here that I would never have bothered with in the UK.
There's definately a shortage of ready meal type veggie food. You can't even get a plain frozen cheese and tomato pizza. Again it's make your own or get take out from Pizza Hut.
I have tried a few of the veggie products, Bean Supreme do a range of veggie sausages which are ok but not quite the texture of Linda Mccartney ones. They're handy to chop up ontop of the roasted veg. I've also got quite attached to the same companies Tofu luncheon meat (sounds awful I know but it's not bad in sandwiches with a load of mayo and salad). I also tried some frozen burgers which were more like burger shaped falafels, but ok.
TVP is available here aswell, I hadn't used it for years (Quorn mince being so much better) but it makes an ok spag bol or chilli.
I think as others have said, you will survive, but you have to 'look outside the box' as the Kiwis are fond of saying. Many of the cafe's and restaurants do have veggie stuff but you often have to ask. I was disappointed at our local Indian when my vegetable curry arrived, it was just Watties frozen veg in a curry sauce, yet my OH who's not a veggie had the most amazing lamb curry (his words).
Just bear a thought for me, I work alongside some folk who have lifestyle plots and I have to listen to their stories of which of their animals are being fattened up for 'home kill' and how many pig carcasses they can fit in their freezer!
K-K :)
I'm now making more use of my veggie cookery books as the choice of veg over here is great. Our local farmers market has stuff really cheap so I stock up on a Saturday and if I can't be bothered cooking anything too complicated (which is very often) I just roast a load of veggies and have that. I've tried stuff here that I would never have bothered with in the UK.
There's definately a shortage of ready meal type veggie food. You can't even get a plain frozen cheese and tomato pizza. Again it's make your own or get take out from Pizza Hut.
I have tried a few of the veggie products, Bean Supreme do a range of veggie sausages which are ok but not quite the texture of Linda Mccartney ones. They're handy to chop up ontop of the roasted veg. I've also got quite attached to the same companies Tofu luncheon meat (sounds awful I know but it's not bad in sandwiches with a load of mayo and salad). I also tried some frozen burgers which were more like burger shaped falafels, but ok.
TVP is available here aswell, I hadn't used it for years (Quorn mince being so much better) but it makes an ok spag bol or chilli.
I think as others have said, you will survive, but you have to 'look outside the box' as the Kiwis are fond of saying. Many of the cafe's and restaurants do have veggie stuff but you often have to ask. I was disappointed at our local Indian when my vegetable curry arrived, it was just Watties frozen veg in a curry sauce, yet my OH who's not a veggie had the most amazing lamb curry (his words).
Just bear a thought for me, I work alongside some folk who have lifestyle plots and I have to listen to their stories of which of their animals are being fattened up for 'home kill' and how many pig carcasses they can fit in their freezer!
K-K :)
Richard_from_Long Beach
27th May 2006, 05:39 PM
No problem eating vegetarian in NZ, especially in the bigger cities. Even travelling around to the smaller towns in the South Island, I had no problem.
In Christchurch, I shopped at Piko Wholefoods on Kilmore St. in the CBD and Huckleberry Farms in Riccarton. There was also a great little shop in Opawa. New World (or the other large chains) had a lot of essentials, and of course The Funky Pumpkin for fruits and veggies.
Commonsense Organics when in Wellington CBD.
In Christchurch, I shopped at Piko Wholefoods on Kilmore St. in the CBD and Huckleberry Farms in Riccarton. There was also a great little shop in Opawa. New World (or the other large chains) had a lot of essentials, and of course The Funky Pumpkin for fruits and veggies.
Commonsense Organics when in Wellington CBD.
Oregonkiwi
27th May 2006, 05:40 PM
Just bear a thought for me, I work alongside some folk who have lifestyle plots and I have to listen to their stories of which of their animals are being fattened up for 'home kill' and how many pig carcasses they can fit in their freezer!
)
You have my sympathy...My last job was like that, they all seemed to spend their weekends slaughtering pigs, or hunting... That's life in rural Oregon I guess.
)
You have my sympathy...My last job was like that, they all seemed to spend their weekends slaughtering pigs, or hunting... That's life in rural Oregon I guess.
Lupin
27th May 2006, 10:18 PM
There may well be cheaper brands available, but you definitely can get feta (http://www.salagram.net/vege-cheese.html#CHEESE) .
Phew! Looks like I'll be able to get sheep and goat feta :) :)
I have a love/hate relationship with Quorn...I'm seduced by the sausages but they taste like an eraser and I'll always forget this when shopping. I can live without Quorn.
Just bear a thought for me, I work alongside some folk who have lifestyle plots and I have to listen to their stories of which of their animals are being fattened up for 'home kill' and how many pig carcasses they can fit in their freezer!
Doesn't offend me. In-laws are that way inclined and it doesn't really bother me. Factory farming and slaughtering offends me, but not self sufficient/lifestylers because, IMO, it's as much about the way the animals have lived and died, than the fact they've been farmed and slaughtered. I'm not likely to ever eat meat (life vegetarian) and my children and husband are vegetarians too, but I must confess to having some respect for people who are prepared to rear and slaughter their own...preferable to mass produced and in reality most people are never going to go vegetarian. Just my humble opinion, don't really want to do the vegetarian debate here, just thought I'd state my case so I don't miss any potential invites to BBQ's or tours of lifestylers plots :D
K-K, I'm planning on shopping at the farmers market as I've heard there's a good one in Hastings :nice1
Phew! Looks like I'll be able to get sheep and goat feta :) :)
I have a love/hate relationship with Quorn...I'm seduced by the sausages but they taste like an eraser and I'll always forget this when shopping. I can live without Quorn.
Just bear a thought for me, I work alongside some folk who have lifestyle plots and I have to listen to their stories of which of their animals are being fattened up for 'home kill' and how many pig carcasses they can fit in their freezer!
Doesn't offend me. In-laws are that way inclined and it doesn't really bother me. Factory farming and slaughtering offends me, but not self sufficient/lifestylers because, IMO, it's as much about the way the animals have lived and died, than the fact they've been farmed and slaughtered. I'm not likely to ever eat meat (life vegetarian) and my children and husband are vegetarians too, but I must confess to having some respect for people who are prepared to rear and slaughter their own...preferable to mass produced and in reality most people are never going to go vegetarian. Just my humble opinion, don't really want to do the vegetarian debate here, just thought I'd state my case so I don't miss any potential invites to BBQ's or tours of lifestylers plots :D
K-K, I'm planning on shopping at the farmers market as I've heard there's a good one in Hastings :nice1
jess
30th May 2006, 09:40 AM
Just found this thread. We REALLY miss Morningstar Farms. I was spoiled by being able to use their burger crumbles in all kinds of recipes. Ah well. There is a really odd assortment in the grocery stores here. As K-K mentioned, no frozen pizzas with just cheese!! (Don't they at least have picky kids here? I thought a plain cheese pizza was pretty standard.) And yet the same rural Wooloworths that doesn't have meatless pizza has vegetarian, rennet-free cheese on hand.
The cafes will have veg fritata or spinach and feta pie, or pumpkin and veg lasagna. Almost every cafe has something I can eat. But for home consumption, I keep fresh veg I can steam and potatoes or kumara on hand. It's just not as quick as toasting a bun and microwaving a veggie burger. We did buy the expensive ($8) veggie hotdogs finally, but they were not very good -- until we loaded them up with veg chilli, cheese, onion, mustard.
If you like to cook at all it should be no problem even well outside the big cities to get good fesh ingredients. I'm just glad my cookbooks are due to arrive soon... I think I will be using them a lot more here.
J
The cafes will have veg fritata or spinach and feta pie, or pumpkin and veg lasagna. Almost every cafe has something I can eat. But for home consumption, I keep fresh veg I can steam and potatoes or kumara on hand. It's just not as quick as toasting a bun and microwaving a veggie burger. We did buy the expensive ($8) veggie hotdogs finally, but they were not very good -- until we loaded them up with veg chilli, cheese, onion, mustard.
If you like to cook at all it should be no problem even well outside the big cities to get good fesh ingredients. I'm just glad my cookbooks are due to arrive soon... I think I will be using them a lot more here.
J
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