The Hoboken Girl whose website is www.hobokengirl.wordpress.com chimes in on the health benefits of being “quasi-vegetarian” in her latest post below. She also writes about fashion and other Hoboken topics on a a near daily basis. Here is her take on vegetarian options in Hoboken. Additional photos were provided by TheBoken.com…

I recently decided to become a “Weekday Vegetarian.” I say that very casually, as in sometimes I don’t eat meat from Monday thru Friday, but other weeks I eat meat randomly on a Wednesday just because I’m in the mood to eat meat. Really, there are no rules, but it’s fun to label it.

Eating less meat, especially red meat, has a lot of health benefits if you fill up on fruits and veggies and lean proteins such as nuts and legumes. When eating vegetarian, the main concern is to make sure you’re still getting enough protein since you’re not eating meat!

But what if you’re eating out? You might ask. It’s tough to eat vegetarian when you’re dining out. Lucky for you, I have started a compilation of healthy restaurant and menu options when dining out in Hoboken:

Mamoun’s Hummus

1. Mamoun’s Falafel 

Now stuffed grape leaves may not be exactly a “meal,” but if in a pinch- it’s a great option for a quick vegetarian snack on the go. I happen to love stuffed grape leaves and find them very filling, but you’ll definitely need some protein to go along with them. Try some beans or lentil soup to combine with the grains (rice) and you’ll have a full protein.

Mamoun’s Falafel

I ordered mine with a stuffed spinach roll and shared with a friend. It was very yummy.

Other options besides hummus from Mamoun’s include:

•  Falafel (a chick pea mixture of onions, parsley, garlic, and spices deep fried),
•  Tabouleh (a bulgur wheat salad with finely chopped mint, parsley, and onions),
• Baba Ganouj (Roasted eggplant with parsley, garlic, and tahini).

Dolmati (Stuffed Grape Leaves) from Mamoun’s Falafel

All of these dishes can come as a sandwich, salad plate, or combo. I definitely recommend trying each dish at some point, vegetarian or not – you can’t go wrong!

2. Maoz Vegetarian

While I have never eaten at the Hoboken location, I have heard very good things. After all, any place that serves sweet potato fries is okay in my book. This is a small chain, and it prides itself in serving the vegetarian population.

Some menu highlights include:

• Egg & Eggplant Sandwich,
  
• Maoz Salad Box,
  
• Falafel,
  
• Maoz Sweet Potato Fries.

Even better – Maoz lists all of the nutritional values on its website (including calories) so you can know the facts before you eat. Check out the stats here.

You can add these vegetarian toppings at Maoz to any sandwich you purchase for some healthy add-ons

3.  The Pita Grill

This Hoboken gem is also a chain, but delicious at that. Their cilantro hummus is exquisite (rivals Trader Joe’s!), and I also love their Greek Salad (with or without chicken). There are tons of vegetarian options, which can be made into non-vegetarian options by just adding chicken or steak.

If going veggie, I’d recommend:

• Grilled Vegetables and Goat Cheese Panini
  
• Grilled Vegetable Athena: (grilled herb marinated zucchini, red and green peppers, sweet onions and eggplant with mesclun greens, feta cheese and dried cranberries – topped with a lite roasted red pepper vinaigrette).

My Regular Sushi Order from Robongi (Yes, it's not totally vegetarian, but it's delicious).

4. Robongi

Craving sushi but want to go animal-free? Robongi is one of my favorite sushi joints in Hoboken for delicious rolls. I usually opt for my regular order of salmon avocado and a sweet potato roll (plus a house salad with ginger dressing), but the salmon can easily be substituted with cucumber or another vegetable (or fruit!) that you want to include. I always opt for brown rice. Also, peanuts or cream cheese can also be added for protein if you’re skipping out on the fish part.

Regardless of where you eat, there are usually at least a few vegetarian options. Some places are more veggie-friendly than others, however. As I delve more into vegetarian eating, I’ll be sure to update you on great spots to get your veggie fill!

Now my question for you - are YOU a Hoboken Vegetarian?

Tweet me your favorite spots/dishes for meat-free dining.