Traveling Vegan

Eating vegan while traveling, either domestically or abroad, can prove to be an entirely new challenge for both veteran or newbie vegans. While one of the best parts of travel can be exploring a brand-new destination, it can also be stressful not knowing where you can find the right foods or restaurants, especially if you don’t know the local language. Luckily, there are a few steps you can take to make your traveling experience more enjoyable without compromising your lifestyle.

Before you even set foot out the door, it’s important to conduct plenty of research. You can find lots of information online that can point you to the best vegan restaurants and offerings in your destination. Both travel and vegan blogs and forums can help connect you with people who may have stayed in the area prior and therefore have valuable advice. Your hotel concierge should also be able to give you some tips, but if you’re traveling off the beaten path, you may be able to ask your tour guide or host for recommendations.

If you know before your trip there are certain food items that more than likely won’t be available at many restaurants, such as dairy substitutes, arrange to buy your own once you arrive. It’s also a great idea to pick up some vegan-friendly snacks to keep handy as many food vendors at festivals or other attractions may not carry satisfactory options, and you don’t want to be left stranded and hungry.

Lastly, although it’s most likely your traveling companions are already aware of your lifestyle choices, ask them for their support when choosing as a group where to eat and what to order. They’ll probably be more than understanding, helping to alleviate some of the unneeded stress.