Top Tips for Traveling While Vegan

Photo by Dose Juice

Plant-based eating is a trend that’s gone global. Traveling as a vegan can be a bit difficult, but it’s getting easier with each passing year. Vegan restaurants that offer plant-based meat and traditional vegetarian meals are popping up throughout the US and countries around the world.

If you plan on traveling anytime soon, though, it’s still a good idea to plan ahead to ensure that you have access to the best plant-based food possible. 

In today’s post, I’ll give you some great tips for keeping up with your vegan diet while traveling. 

As I mentioned, vegan-specialty restaurants have been popping up in major cities everywhere. Additionally, a number of fast-food restaurants, such as McDonald's and Taco Bell have also added vegan options to their menu. These are a great choice if you’re on the go. 

Here are some other great tips for traveling while vegan.  

1. Plan Ahead With Snacks

Snacks are very important for travelers. Whenever you’re bouncing through airports, train stations, or you’re just on a long road trip, a solid plant-based snack can keep you going and prevent you from falling into temptation. 

If you're at the airport, for example, I suggest buying a big pack of nuts or trail mix in one of the airport shops before you hop onto your flight. Nuts are a great source of protein and healthy fats that will keep you full for longer. 

The same goes for a long road trip or train ride. You never know when you’ll run into a vegan-friendly restaurant, so it’s always a good idea to keep some reliable, tasty, and filling snacks with you. 

2. Research Local Vegan Cuisine

One of the best parts of traveling is trying new food and experiencing another region’s cuisine. A lot of the food you’ll find while you’re out traveling won’t be vegan-friendly, though, so I always suggest doing your research prior to visiting a certain city. 

Check out Google or Apple Maps and try to find some of the top-rated vegan eateries in the city you’ll be visiting. A lot of restaurants may offer vegan-friendly proteins and versions of local specialties, which allows you to experience the full flavor of the region without having to eat meat or animal-derived foods. 

3. Get Used To Cooking Your Own Food

When traveling, I always recommend finding accommodations that include a kitchen. Extended stay hotels and AirBnB destinations are usually the best choices for those who want to cook while traveling.

Once you arrive in town, visit the grocery store and pick up some of your favorite plant-based foods. Not only will this allow you to cook guilt-free foods, but you’ll save a lot of money that you would otherwise spend on restaurants while traveling!

4. Don’t Be Afraid To Ask Questions 

Ordering food at a foreign restaurant can be a bit tricky, even if you’re acquainted with the local language. Certain cultural meals don’t translate literally and may contain traditional ingredients that aren’t vegan, despite how the name of the food sounds. 

If you’re ever unsure about a particular menu item, don’t be afraid to ask questions. 

Explain to your server or order-taker that you’re on a plant-based diet and can’t consume any animal-derived foods, including eggs and dairy products. Most restaurants are happy to modify meals to suit your needs or may offer you a vegan-friendly substitution. 

5. Take Vegan Supplements

Staying on top of your nutrition can be difficult when you’re traveling to new countries where the local cuisine is a lot different than where you’re used to. 

Whenever you leave home to travel, I always recommend bringing vegan supplements with you. Vitamin and trace mineral supplements will help you remain in-shape and keep your energy levels high, even if you’re not eating your usual foods. 

Conclusion 

The key to traveling while vegan is to create a simple dietary plan that you can stick to. Make a list of simple vegan-friendly snacks that are available in every country, such as nuts, fruit, and trail mix. Then, do some research and look up some of the best vegan restaurants in the region you plan on visiting. 

As long as you do a bit of research and planning, your vegan diet shouldn’t interfere with your travels! 

Did you know that food and beverage consumption is responsible for a large portion of tourism operators’ environmental footprints?

Sea Going Green is a sustainable tourism consultancy working with tourism operators to provide sustainable tourism offerings and experiences to guests, which includes integrating vegan food offerings into menus.

Want to see how you can offer a more sustainable experience to guests? Get in touch.