Vegan surviving in Southern Illinois
Posted by midwesternvegan on Oct 13, 2010 · Member since Oct 2010 · 7 posts
Hello, everyone! My name is Lisa Marie. I've been vegan for a little over 2 1/2 years now. About 11 months ago my family and I packed up and moved to Southern Illinois. We're originally from the East Coast so it's definitely a bit of a change. It's taking me a while to get used to things, but I'm sure that things will get easier. I have a vegan food blog that I don't update nearly as much as I should. I turned here for motivation and possibly meet some new people. :)
Good luck to you. My daughter and I live in Central Illinios. I don't know any vegans in real life other than some I've run into at the local HFS. Things are a lot easier now than they used to be. We just don't have many options for eating out around here.
I'm originally from Belleville, but now live in Switzerland. My family still loves back in Southern IL. Where are you living? Are you far from St.Louis?
Dierbergs in Edwardsville and Shiloh has a nice selection of vegan things, Whole Foods in St.Louis has a really big selection. There's also a vegan restaurant in Chesterfield, Missouri (right outside STL).
Southern IL kind of sucks for vegans, but you'll be fine. I survive in rural Switzerland where there's like literally nothing. Whenever I go home I'm so excited to have so many choices!
lbarte, Yeah, the eating out thing really stinks. I wish I had at least one option for those lazy days. But I suppose it could be worse.
ktkimmle, I LOVE Dierbergs! It's the only market I can actually shop at other than my monthly trip to Whole Foods in St. Louis. I'm actually about a half hour-45 minutes from STL. It's not so bad. I actually found quite a few restaurants in MO that are vegan friendly. I really look forward to my STL visits. I'm even planning on going to Chicago soon. I hear they have WAY more options. Too bad it's a whole 4-5 hours away.
There's ton of options in Chicago!
The salad bar at Ruby Tuesday's in Fairview Heights is good and I love Sweet Tomatoes in St.Louis. Too bad the Midwest is full of chain restaurants :(
Nice to meet you!!! Welcome to VegWeb!
welcome! I grew up in marion!
I live in the Carbondale/Murphysboro area. It's tough here in So. Ill, but there are options!
I live in the Carbondale/Murphysboro area. It's tough here in So. Ill, but there are options!
cool, I went to SIU!
Hi Lisa Marie! Welcome to VegWeb! Do you get to make it to Chicago often for eating tours? That might be my favorite city to eat out in!