Although things have gotten a lot better in recent years, it can still be hard to find something vegan-friendly to eat when you are on the road, in the air, or traveling to new places. That’s why I’ve put together a few tips for eating vegan when you’re traveling, whether in this country or overseas.
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🍫 Pack some snacks
You can usually find something vegan to eat everywhere, but it's still a good idea to pack some vegan snacks. Pack things like fruit, nuts, granola, or candy bars. Maybe even some vegan-friendly meal replacement shakes. So that, should you struggle to find a place, you will have something to tide you over for a while.
✈️ Choose your airline wisely
Unfortunately, many airlines are not quite up to date when it comes to special diets. It is hard to find an edible vegan meal on those flights. The good news is, that there are some airlines that do. Airlines such as United Airlines, Delta, and Singapore Air, will allow you to request vegan food on all of their flights.
Make sure you book your vegan meal in advance. If your airline does not offer any vegan meals eat plenty before your flight, or pack flight-friendly food such as granola bars!
🏨 Look for vegan-friendly hotels
Booking at a vegan or vegan-friendly hotel can be life-saving! Depending on the destination you are traveling finding a vegan-friendly hotel may be harder or easier. Websites like Vegan Hotels and Veggie Hotels come in handy when looking for the right place to stay!
Some of the most vegan-friendly destinations include the US, UK, Canada, Thailand, Romania, Italy, Greece, Poland, and Germany.
📱 Download an app
Apps like Happy Cow will tell you exactly which cafes, restaurants, and bars serve vegan food in your vicinity. They are mostly updated regularly, but it may still be worth giving the places a call or checking their social media to ensure they still serve vegan food before you rock up.
🌱 Talk to other vegans
Joining vegan organizations and meetup groups in the areas you are traveling to is a really good way to get the gossip about which restaurants will accommodate vegan diets and which are best avoided, with the added bonus that you will be able to meet lots of new people who share something in common with you, too. A great and easy way to find these groups is through facebook.
📞 Call the restaurant
If you are someplace where you cannot easily find any vegan restaurants, it may be worth calling ahead to the local eateries and explaining your predicament. Most will be willing to make a special dish for you if they know you are coming. Obviously, this could be difficult if there is a language barrier. Always double and triple-check that there is understanding, and that the food you are eating does not contain any animal products. Read our article about eating out as a vegan for more helpful tips!
Learning the local language when traveling will give you not only better insights into the country's culture you are visiting, but far more control over the food you eat.
🛒 Hit the grocery store
If you really cannot find anyone who will accommodate you, hit the local grocery store. Pick up healthy pre-packaged salads, fruits, beans, and snack foods. This will ensure that you always have something you can eat.
Conclusion
Eating vegan on the road might be a bit harder, but there are lots of things you can do to mitigate against that and get access to the good, healthy, ethical food you require. It is definitely not impossible!
By following these tips you are set for success. But mistakes or misunderstandings can still happen, so remember to not be too hard on yourself or others. Have fun, and enjoy your trip!
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