Vegan travel is not always easy. Sometimes it can be quite challenging in fact!
That is why I will write some “Maria’s Advice” posts on my blog from time to time. These posts will offer advice and tips on various issues and challenges I found during my travels. I will also post advice on various other “nice to know” information I have found during my vacations across the world.
While websites like HappyCow do a fantastic job helping travelers find vegan restaurants, the typical vegan traveler will probably encounter issues at the airport and during their vacation. Lets be honest…Most airports do not have vegan options at their cafes. I actually run around and around each segment of the airport looking for SOMETHING vegan-friendly to eat. Even the salads contain cheese at airport cafes. I typically am forced to buy a bag of trail mix or nuts or fruit or chips at the kiosks. That’s it! I want a hot meal or a sandwich! So in response to these problems, I realized it was time to be pro-active…time to BRING the food I crave to eat. In addition, a vegan traveler will often find that they do not always having dining options during their vacation tours. If they are on a group-organized, professional tour, the tour company will bring the group to a particular restaurant. Sure. You can ask the tour guide or waiter to find out if the chef would be willing to make a vegan meal for you. They usually will, but sometimes may not be able to do so based on pre-made entrees.
The following are the options that a vegan should take in order to survive their hunger pains at the airport or on vacation.
Bring the following with you from home:
1. trailmix
2. date-nut bars, energy bars, etc
3. dried fruit
4. chips, pretzels, crackers, vegan “Tings”
5. vegan “faux beef” jerky
6. sandwiches with non-perishable ingredients for the short-term, airport meals (avocado, tomato, vegan cheese)
7. dry cereal or oatmeal cups (add hot water at airport or hotel for a filling breakfast).
8. dried,frozen packaged “camping meals” (add hot water). Outdoor goods companies such as Eastern Mountain Sports carry these dried meals packages. Perfect for your trip during times when there are no vegan cafes close by to your hotel or tour group.
9. vegan cookies
10. Sliced tofurky in pita bread rollup
11. Packaged dried Asian noodle bowls. Vegan-friendly brands such as Amy’s or Annie Chung’s make Chinese noodle entrees, pad thai, and other noodle selections. Just add hot water at hotel or airport for a delicious, filling meal when no vegan dining options are to be found!
12. There are brands of packaged vegan Indian specialties such as curries, chickpeas, rice, and eggplant dishes(liquid form). They would be best to eat at hotels or during bus tours. No cooking required, ready to serve!
13. dried soups
14. bagels
The options above will ensure that you do not starve at any time during your vegan travel and that you won’t be running around the airport at a frantic pace to find meals like I have done in the past!
Happy eating !