Leonie McDonald Says the Vegan-Friendly Menu at Sandals Ochio Rios Keeps Her Coming Back
Whenever Leonie McDonald gets homesick for Jamaica, she thinks of her childhood in Westmoreland, a rural parish known for its lush farmlands and expansive sugarcane fields. But her favorite spot is somewhere less rustic --- Sandals Ocho Rios in St. Ann parish.
Leonie and Lloyd McDonaldFor the past eight years, the Los Angeles-based nutritionist and her husband Lloyd, have visited the popular all-inclusive resort. An unapologetic vegan, her trips to Sandals Ocho Rios are prompted by how its staff caters to her healthy lifestyle.
“The main thing that keeps me going back is the food, the choices of vegan food and the fact that they prepare locally-grown food. I enjoy that, because that’s what I usually enjoy when I go to Jamaica to visit family and friends,” said McDonald.
Since December, 2016, she and Lloyd have made the trek to Sandals Ocho Rios. He is best known as Bread, lead singer of The Wailing Souls, the Grammy-nominated group from Trench Town.
Their only break from visiting came in 2020 when COVID-19 caused a global shutdown.
While the vegan dishes are a winner for Leonie, she gives the staff high marks for courtesy and making sure persons not into meat, are comfortable. She has strong relationships with senior staff there including executive chef Rodroy Thomas, managers Gary Holgate, Delores Williams and Maylene Pringle.
“It can be difficult getting proper vegan food because most people are into the meat, jerk chicken and whatever. So, wherever I go, I like to know what they have as vegan, because I have been to places where the food is not good,” said McDonald.
She highly recommends the hotel’s roasted breadfruit, fresh coconuts, papaya, calaloo and cabbage dishes.
Leonie McDonald has lived in the United States for 60 years. She became a full-fledged vegan in the mid-1990s and a certified nutritionist 14 years ago.
She operates Strictly Vegan Jamaican Cuisine which has served artists and fans at high-profile shows such as the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival and Reggae In The Desert.
