Vegan While Traveling

Since I started eating a whole-food, plant-based diet several years ago, I’ve discovered the challenges of trying to eat vegan while traveling. It takes some extra planning, so I often pack snacks when traveling to places that might not have vegan options. There have been too many times when I’ve been stuck with nothing to eat on long trips. It’s particularly difficult to find healthy plant-based meals.

Earlier this year, on an international flight, there were no vegan meals after attempts to reserve one before the flight. Over twenty hours on a plane without a decent meal was tough. One flight attendant rounded up a couple pieces of fruit, but I was very grateful for the granola I made to take to eat as a snack. It became a meal.

More recently, I went on a road trip across the US. A few quick searches before leaving the house showed there might be some challenges finding vegan, particularly healthy, food in some areas along the route. So, again, I made snacks to take on the trip for those long stretches.

Another issue that comes up frequently when I travel, particularly in smaller towns, is a misunderstanding of veganism. We’ve run into this many times over the years, and this trip was no different. Staff often pivot to offering gluten-free options in lieu of vegan options not understanding they aren’t the same thing. I’ve had places serve things made in chicken or beef stock and call it vegan. Restaurants and servers generally aren’t malicious, just misunderstand what constitutes vegan.

On this trip, I searched for vegan restaurants daily attempting to eat at least one full mean each day. It wasn’t always easy. I missed dinner one day because of an unexpected delay in my travel time causing arrival to the area later than I wanted to eat. The snacks I packed and a stop for coffee saved the day. Otherwise, I managed to have at least one full meal each day.

Larger cities are far more likely to have at least one restaurant with vegan options and many even have vegan restaurants. Often finding a vegan restaurant, or even one with designated vegan options, requires driving a bit out of the way. For a road trip, this can add extra time to the overall trip.

Most coffee places, even in small towns, at least have plant-based milk alternatives now even if they don’t offer any vegan food items, so that’s always an option even if there’s nothing else available.

It’s important to pay close attention when ordering at a restaurant with vegan options. Politely and patiently confirming the restaurant’s definition/understanding of veganism with a server will go a long way toward making sure your vegan meal is actually vegan. My preference is always to find a vegan restaurant, so there are no misunderstandings, but that just isn’t always an option. My second choice is a restaurant with clearly marked vegan options the denote a clear understanding of veganism. My least favorite option is a restaurant without clear options where I have to customize the meal so much it’s like creating a new menu item. Eating at a restaurant while vegan requires some planning, some thought, and often good communication skills.

Often, when I travel, especially since adopting a vegan diet, I prefer to book a place to stay with a kitchen or kitchenette so I can cook for myself, at least part of the time. On a cross-country trip with unknown stopping points, that’s more difficult to do. Thus, it wasn’t an option on this particular trip until I arrived at my destination.

Making snacks to take on a road trip also requires some thought and planning. Snacks should hold up well to changes in weather and temperature. I made too much for this trip. Some of my snacks spoiled before I reached my destination.

Most of the vegan restaurants I found were casual and offered comfort food. Finding a fine-dining vegan experience is still a bit elusive, at least in my experience. Perhaps that will change someday, but for now be prepared for quick meals with a comfort food vibe when seeking vegan dining. Even places that have healthier options are casual. (I've opted not to include any restaurants here because I don't want this to turn into recommendations/reviews.)

There are an increasing number of people who eat a plant-based diet in the United States, and really across the world, for a variety of reasons. It seems like it shouldn’t be so difficult to find vegan options, and I am incredibly grateful that it is getting easier. I’m also grateful I have people in my life who are willing to eat at a vegan restaurant with me or work with me to at least make sure there are vegan options on the menu. Accommodating everyone and make sure everyone feels welcomed in a space, but the world would be a better place if we at least tried.

Food is a necessity of life, not a luxury, no matter what we choose to eat.

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