PLANT-BASED IN PARIS

For those who know me pretty well, or even for those who may be mere acquaintances, you probably are familiar with the fact that I am.........a vegan *cue the eye rolls.*

Yeah, I've heard it all. I honestly find a lot of the stereotypes hilarious after nearly two years on the plant-based life, but what I didn't find funny AT ALL during my time in France, was the lack of non-dairy milk and many other vegan-friendly options at cafés and restaurants across the city. The concept of "soy milk" sometimes seemed to be of foreign origin so much so that it became a running joke among my friend group.

Not to be completely discouraging, but it was pretty hard to avoid animal products completely in France. At the end of the day, it's a cultural thing; the French are very proud of their gastronomy and their way of life. So, instead of complaining or fighting it, I had to learn to adapt.

There were many times when mistakes were made, and stomach aches ensued thereafter as a result. That being said, Paris is home to many amazing, completely vegan restaurants. For the most part, I would say I did a pretty good job of finding delicious vegan-friendly foods in a city renowned for working culinary magic. So, if any of my fellow vegans decide they want to make a lovely trip to Paris, here are some of the tips I would pass along to make the transition a little bit easier.

Before I begin, the first thing I would like to say is that, as a vegan, the reality is that you will not be able to consume many traditional French dishes. The decision you made was one that (I hope) was based upon your understanding and acceptance that your body feels healthier, more energized, and amazinggg by feeding it foods that are wholesome, colorful, and nutrient-dense. You need to remember all the positive ethical implications that go along with your decision, and how you are making an amazing impact on this planet and all of its inhabitants. If your decision isn't making you happier than not, maybe it isn't the right choice for you. Just make sure that whatever you decide, you are choosing the right path for you and your goals and beliefs. Now, with that out of the way, here we go:

- You will be consuming a lot of bread, and it will be amazing. French bread is unlike any other--fresh, sturdy, crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside *sigh*. Once you taste a warm French baguette, you are never going to be able to eat any other kind of bread with as much satisfaction (at least I haven't). Just try and make sure not to completely neglect the fruits and veggies ;).

- Hank Burger and Hank Pizza were a god-send. I can't tell you how many times I visited these two amazing fast-casual restaurants in the beautiful Le Marais neighborhood. I recommend getting "l'Allumé" for the burger, and don't skip out on getting one of their sparkling drinks. They are all organic, not too sweet, and very refreshing.

- If you are a coffee-lover like me, you will need to learn to adapt and appreciate a good espresso. In France, "un café" is our version of an espresso shot. It isn't sweet, and it has no milk. But, if you acquire a taste for it, it can become one of the most comforting aromas to start your mornings with. Most cafés and brasseries will not offer non-dairy milk options, unless you get lucky. So, to my dismay, in order to get satiate my craving for cappuccino or latte, I had to do a decent amount of yelping and researching beforehand.

- I would reckon, I did a lot more cooking at home in my apartment than the average exchange student in Paris. Why? Honestly, because it was easier and less time-consuming (*cough* and cheaper *cough*) than searching for a place I could easily eat at that wasn't a twenty-minute metro ride away. It wasn't bad at all, especially since I really enjoy cooking. So, as far a grocery shopping is concerned, first thing I would say is: be wary of store hours. Everything will be closed on Sundays, and almost all grocery stores will be closed by 21h (9 p.m.) if you are lucky. There are exceptions, but for the most part, this is the case. In addition, i found that places like 'Monoprix' and 'Carrefour' were a bit overpriced; nevertheless, convenient. I mainly stuck to 'Franprix', and 'SimplyMart' which had more reasonable prices and amazing vegan options. There is a store called 'Naturalia' which is a vegan's paradise, but prices were crayyy, so I only went in for things I couldn't really find elsewhere, for example medjool dates and nutritional yeast.

- While we are on the topic of groceries, I found that the produce in France always somehow ended up spoiling within three days if I didn't cook almost immediately after purchasing them. I am still not exactly sure why this is, but I am almost certain it's due to the lack of extreme preservatives, genetic modification, and chemicals used during the production of fruits and vegetables in France that we unfortunately use in abundance in the States. Whatever the reason may be, I still ended up with too many heads of broccoli going bad than I wanted. So, my advice would be to buy only what you are planning on cooking with for the next day or two and nothing more. Trust me, you will end up throwing out much less spoiled food than I did.

- One thing I didn't learn early enough was the term "bio" which is short for "biologique." We know this word to be "organic" in English. The French love their "bio" items, and you will see it on labels and store signs everywhere throughout Paris.

I hope these few tips may help if any of my fellow plant-based friends ever decide to make a trip out to Paris. It isn't as tricky as you might initially think, I promise. And either way, Paris is more than more the trouble. Bonne Courage!