Whether you’re vegan or just experimenting with a plant-based diet, you may find it hard to find good food while traveling. That said, it’s entirely possible to eat like royalty and stick to your diet—you just have to know where to look. Here are five great tips for how to eat vegan while traveling.
1) Look at Online Review Sites Like Yelp for Vegan Options
If you’re going to be traveling soon, do some research on popular review sites like Yelp and figure out where other travelers like to go to find an awesome vegan meal. If you know where people are eating vegan food in your city of choice, you’ll be one step ahead of everyone else in terms of finding good places before you even arrive in your destination.
2) Pack Vegan Food With You
When you’re vegan and traveling, having non-perishable vegan food in your car can be a lifesaver. No matter where you are, being able to pull over to grab a quick snack or meal will help keep you full, healthy and happy while on a road trip.
Here are a couple of ideas to get you started: vegan jerky, dried fruit, nuts and seeds (or nut butter), granola bars, crackers with hummus or other dips. Having snacks available to munch on also helps reduce cravings for less-healthy options like fast food or vending machine snacks that most likely won’t be offered at your stopover points along your route.
3) Find the Local Grocery Store in Your Vacation Spot
If you’re visiting a destination that has touristy things to do, you may want to start off your trip by finding a grocery store. If you do this, you’ll easily be able to find plant-based meals no matter where your travels take you. As a bonus, if you’re traveling in a part of the world where you have trouble with the language, you’ll still be able to identify the proper foods by sight, even if you don’t know the right words for them.
4) Rent a House So You Can Cook Your Food
There’s nothing quite like home-cooked meals to ensure you’re eating a nutritious diet. Plus, if you cook at your rental property, you’ll save money on restaurants. To be sure you have access to a kitchen, look for properties like the cabins at Oak Haven Resort that include kitchens in their amenities list and ask about pot-and-pan availability when booking your vacation rental. Some rental owners will even supply basic staples such as salt and pepper, cooking oil and spices. Just be sure to ask ahead of time.
5) Use an App to Find Plant-Based Food Options
Apps are a fantastic way to find veg-friendly restaurants, grocery stores and so much more. These apps will help you find restaurants that cater to a plant-based diet (as well as vegetarian options at non-veg eateries).
Final Words About Eating Vegan on the Road
As a plant-based eater, it’s good to think about your meal options before you hit the road. This allows you to plan out possible restaurant and grocery store stops along the way. Additionally, it’s always a good idea to pack food to take with you. This not only saves time and money, it ensures that you always have a vegan option no matter where you are.
Finally, if you can stay at a rental with a kitchen, then you can cook vegan meals for yourself throughout your vacation. This allows you to stay healthy and on track and feel like you’re at home to boot, even when you’re on the road.
