What is a vegan diet? Vegan diets exclude meat, poultry, fish, eggs and dairy. Seems like a lot to cut out of your diet but it just leaves you with what I call, "the good stuff" such as: fruit, vegetables, soy products, legumes, lentils, nuts, seeds and whole grains. When you cut meat out of a menu you really have to start getting creative with your meals, but that’s the best part of having a vegan diet, using your imagination with your taste buds as your assistant. Sometimes dining out can be a little tricky but luckily for us Colorado State Rams, Fort Collins, CO has an abundance of completely vegan or vegan friendly restaurants.

Tasty Harmony

130 S Mason St

If I were to judge, Tasty Harmony would be number one on my list of vegan restaurants in Fort Collins. Their menu gets more and more creative as you go down the list. A starter of Nachos de Ynez that includes; their homemade cashew cheese, black beans, guacamole, vegan sour cream, and salsa layered on top of a bed of corn chips and then you can add (I truly recommend) the BBQ style jackfruit. Tasty Harmony is a bit pricey which is why I would suggest you split an appetizer or maybe two since their Seitan Hot Wings compliment the Nachos extremely well.

http://www.tastyharmony.com/site/static.php?page=MENU

Rainbow

212 W Laurel St

For breakfast hop on over and endour a slice of vegan coffee cake and/or a Rainbow favorite, Scramled tofu, seasoned tofu and vegetables scrambled together, served with grilled potatoes and toast. If you don’t have time for breakfast, Rainbow offers a variety of vegan lunch choices from soups and salads to sandwiches and pastas.

http://www.rainbowfortcollins.com/assets/rb-break-2014.pdf

http://www.rainbowfortcollins.com/assets/rb-lunch-2014.pdf

Dam Good Tacos

120 ½ W Laurel St

$3 dollars for a delicious vegan taco such as their Earth, Wind & Fire; consisting of tofu, sweet potato puree, organic kale, slide almonds, and tomato ginger sauce or their Tofu Thai Taco with marinated tofu, coconut peanut sauce, pickled carrot cabbage slaw, and diced cucumbers. If you’re in a spicy mood, enjoy their Spicy Chocolate Horchata made with organic coconut milk, ginger, raw cacoa powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, cayenne, chili, jalapeno, and brown sugar.

http://damgoodtacos.com/menu.html

Beau Jo’s

205 N College Ave

Sometimes you need a little comfort food and what’s better than some mountain style pizza? Beau Jo’s offers vegan cheese for your dietary needs.

http://www.beaujos.com/files/4214/3866/6788/BeauJosMenu.pdf

Empire Palace

2721 S College Ave

Personally I love Asian cuisine and as long as you request for no fish sauce in any of your dishes, your meal can easily become vegan. At Empire a great start to your meal can be with some Vegetable Egg Rolls or Vegetarian Dumplings (pot stickers). For your main dish I’d suggest the Orange Flavor Bean Curd or Pad Thai without egg.

http://www.beyondmenu.com/23786/fort-collins/empire-palace-fort-collins-80526.aspx

The Elizabeth Triangle of Falafel

Fatafeat

1401 W Elizabeth St

Petra Grill

1335 W Elizabeth St

Yum Yum’s

1300 W Elizabeth St

All three of these restaurants offer the basic falafel, pita, hummus, and fries, but it’s up to you to decide your favorite.

Grocery Stores

Whole Foods

2201 S College Ave

The Fort Collins Food Co-Op

250 E Mountain Ave

Sites to visit for more vegan and vegan friendly restaurants in Fort Collins, CO

http://www.happycow.net/north_america/usa/colorado/fort_collins/

https://www.facebook.com/vegansoffortcollins?fref=ts