It’s trendy to be vegan these days, but I pre-ordered a vegan meal in United Airlines business class merely for the novelty of trying a new dish.
United Airlines Business Class Vegan Meal
A vegan diet is based on plants (including vegetables, grains, nuts and fruits) and foods made from plants. Strict vegans do not eat foods that come from animals, including dairy products like milk and cheese or eggs.
In my review of my flight from San Francisco to Newark, I remarked that I ordered a vegan special meal because United has not rotated its standard meal selections on this route in years. I now rotate myself by ordering a different special meal each time I fly. This time, I pre-ordered a vegan meal on the United app (this must be done at least 24 hours before your flight).
My special meal was loaded and the main course included a bread roll with margarine, a green salad with tomatoes wedges and sliced cucumbers, a bean and mushroom salad served in vinegar, a main course of coconut-flavored sticky rice with shredded vegetables and whole lima beans, and a mandarin for dessert. Honestly, not bad…especially for a midnight snack.
I recommend a special meal on this route. The Kosher and Indian vegetarian meals are not either, though gluten-free is my favorite.
As for vegans who order this out of necessity, this dinner was a decent attempt to create a flavorful meal while abiding by dietary restrictions.
My Meal of the Week feature examines an airline meal from my travels over the years. This may be a meal from earlier in the week or it may be a meal served over a decade ago.
How do you find a vegan at your dinner party?
Don’t worry, they’ll find you.
How do you know if someone does Crossfit? Don’t worry, they will tell you.
A Crossfit Vegan would really scare me then.
Vegan meals are for losers, like pronouns and safe spaces.
These “losers” are still 1000 times better than dog meat eaters, including certain Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese nationals.
Vegan rage.
What an weird response to what other people eat. Do you need a stress ball?
United vegan meals are pathetic. I flew Qantas business to Australia recently and the vegan food was a restaurant quality feast.
In order for a Vegan meal to be complete, you need HIGH PROTEIN. Protein from non-animal foods includes Lentils and beans (hopefully you won’t need the Lavatory /bathroom anytime soon, Lol), tofu and tempeh (which is essentially Soy Protein, and Avocado, which is very filling. I think this meal, although delicious, will leave you hungry again because it is high in carbohydrates from the rice and not so high in protein. I tried Vegan and its good for a few days a week but I need my regular animal protein most days.
You hit the nail on the head but avocados aren’t high in protein, but healthy fats.. they’re literally 75% fat so great for that for everyone!
If only the FA’s serving this knew about your love of a good rare steak and all the posts associated to it on flights. Would be really funny.
“Mr. Klimt, You have abandoned your love of huge pieces of meat?”
“Oh yes, I’m a Vegan. Tonight.
Sounds like a line from Walking In Memphis:
Tell me are you a Vegan, child.
I said ma’am I am tonight.
And I was flying United.
Flying 35 thousand feet over Beale.
Ok, you won the Internet today….
I wonder how much a business class ticket would cost if there was NO MEAL, NO FOOD? $1000 less?But they would never do that.
@Matthew, have any of your UA catering contacts made any indication that Trancon catering might be changing anytime soon?
Those totally look like canned green beans. United can do better.
But they won’t do better. They thrive on mediocrity.
From a culinary and nutritional standpoint that meal is uninspiring. Vegan does not mean “eats only vegetables.” The meal lacks protein. For a longer flight in a premium cabin this seems just average.
I’m thankful there wasn’t tofu on it.
This is the healthiest and best way to eat.Why should another,usually mammal, soul die for your meal.In my 60s,normal weight,look around ,my age,everyone is obese,(or died off)on meds,etc…I take no meds,I respect nature,nature goes easy on me.
Although it may be affecting your ability to type properly in comments.