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Booking plane tickets for a new trip always feels exciting. But after transitioning to plant based eating, I wondered: as a traveling plant based foodie, would I be living on potato side dishes and dessert, with some trail mix thrown in?
If you are wondering the same thing, I have a few ideas and tips for how to continue eating plant based while traveling. You don’t have to give up eating plant based during your trip (remember your WHY for making that choice). And no, you DEFINITELY do not have to live on fries and cake.
My “eating while traveling” philosophy
My philosophy is simple. I enjoy an indulgence here and there, but also don’t make it a free-for-all, everything-is-allowed kind of eating. I learned the hard way that when I go wild on the eclairs (personal weakness) or brioche, I start feeling sluggish and my energy levels take a nose-dive.
So I make a point of still eating tons of veggies and beans like I do at home. But I also have that eclair for dessert. As a family, instead of eating one pizza each, we order one pizza for the three of us, which we share. To go with, we order assorted veggie dishes that push upwards our daily veg servings. As long as most of the surface of my plate is covered with, say, salad, leafy greens, veg (choose more exciting options, like grilled instead of boiled etc) and beans/ lentils/ chickpeas, I know it will work for me.
Eating plant based while traveling
The key is to do some research, cook some of your meals yourself, and be a little flexible. Here below are a few ideas on how succeed at eating plant based even while you are on the road.
1. Do your research ahead of the trip
If you are staying in a hotel, do they have plant based/ vegetarian/ vegan options for meals? Are there vegetarian or vegan restaurants, fresh produce markets, or grocery stores in the area you’ll be staying in? Check out the Happy Cow website or do a Google search to see what options you’ll have. Looking around on Google Maps will also give you an idea of possible options.
2. Stay at an airbnb and cook your own meals
This is honestly the go-to strategy with my family. We’ve traveled all over Europe, in the U.S. and in the Caribbean this way, and it was incredibly rewarding. We were always well nourished, and if we felt like dining out, then just found a suitable restaurant. There are two key points here. One – make sure there is a market, and/or grocery store nearby so you can buy provisions. And two – focus on simple, easy meals that require few ingredients and are low-effort.
An example is this delicious tomato and cannellini bean bake, or the easiest energy balls you could ever make. More examples: pasta with a knob of butter and some sauteed greens, a hearty salad of beans, greens, avocado and whatever veg is in season, sandwiches, wraps with ready-made hummus or falafel. There are so many options. I write down ideas in my phone before leaving, so I have these with me when I shop for us. Simplicity is the key.
3. Choose a vegan/veg meal option on your flight, or pack your own food for the flight
If you have an in-flight meal, check out your options. Some common ones I’ve seen are: vegetarian, vegan, vegetarian Asian/Hindu vegetarian, or fruit platter. We just ordered the fruit platter, if none of the other options were to our taste (especially for my son).
You can also pack your own food, which is something I do almost always. Nut butter and hummus, and other foods with a “paste” consistency count as “liquids, gels, aerosols.” However, you can put single-serving hummus boxes (easily found at the grocery store) or nut butter pouches (also easily found at the gro) in your cosmetics bag. As long as the container capacity is below 100mL, and they fit in your 1 litre cosmetics bag, it’s okay for you to have them.
Leave these foods in the original packaging so customs staff can easily identify them. Be patient with the customs and security staff, when they ask about these. I was asked about them, but they were never taken away especially when traveling with my young son.
4. Learn to say “vegetarian” in the language of your destination country
Besides “good morning” and “thank you,” learning how to ask for a vegetarian/ plant based meal will come in handy. The larger the city, the more likely that the waiting staff is familiar with this kind of request, and will be able to offer suggestions. Keep in mind also that some places have fasting traditions. For example, across the Balkans and the Middle East, people will understand the idea of fasting and it can be helpful to convey this in more traditional eateries – they will know what you mean, and how to accommodate you. Again, learning how to say this in another language is helpful.
5. Always carry high-calorie snacks with you
Having trail mix, energy bites, a nut bar, or simply loose nuts in a snack bag can be a live saver. I have a reusable baggie with cashews and dates in my purse at all times, and it came in handy even in non-travel situations. They last forever without spoiling. And the bonus is that sometimes they can also keep small hands occupied on long drives, flights, train rides.
I hope you find these tips helpful, and I wish you a happy AND healthy vacation!
Until next time!