It is easy to go vegan. All you need is a good meal plan everyday, a steady supply of vegetables, fruits and other vegan foods in your fridge and pantry and a real determination to eat healthy. But maintaining a vegan diet can be challenging if you need to be on the road. You are not sure what to expect in your destination - whether your meal requirements will be met or not. There should be some adjustments, and you know these adjustments have to come from you. Here are ways on how to stay vegan when traveling:
1. Make plans in advance. Do not wait for the day of your trip before you think of ways by which to manage your vegan diet as you travel. Check the foods that you are allowed to eat as part of your vegan diet, get out your recipe books and make a shopping list. Many times foods can be prepared ahead of time and brought along when needed, such as oat burgers, sandwich spreads, etc.
2. If flying, get in touch with your travel agency and find out the meals and snacks usually served during the flight if the flight will be for an extended period of time. If it isn’t you should be able bring along items like fruits and nuts to hold you over.
3. Bring your own packed food. Make several packs of ready to eat meals and snacks consisting of your favorite fruits and vegetables, such as hummus, wraps, pestos and bread, homemade crackers, etc. It is often much better to bring foods that you have brought or made so that you can monitor ingredients. Often times, vegan “prepared” foods do not contain as high a nutritional value as that you can make and bring along.
4. If you are unable to bring along sufficient foods for your trip, call the hotel where you are going to stay for your vacation. Tell them your situation and ask if you can get a copy of their menus, and request vegan dishes if they are not already available. If you cannot possibly avail of vegan meals in your hotel, search for restaurants in the area that cater to vegetarian customers. Of course you have to consider your non-vegan companions during the trip.
Make sure the restaurant of your choice also serves good meals for non-vegan diners for everyone's satisfaction.
5. Opt for common vegan meal options when dining in restaurants. Taco bells and salads are the most frequently prepared and served vegan dishes anywhere. When left with no other choice, you might as well settle for these options. Again, what you can prepare and bring is a much better choice. These foods tend to contain many preservatives and what they call excitoxins, such as MSG, hydrolyzed yeast, caramel coloring etc., which can wreak havoc on your nervous system.
6. Do not be discouraged when you do not find vegan dishes while on travel. This is a big test on your part - on how you can stay with your vegan lifestyle despite the limitations and challenges. Your companions might convince you to try non-vegan diet for the time being, but never relent. Once you give carnivore diet a try, you might slide back to that habit and your vegan diet will be jeopardized.
Oftentimes, people who are on vegan diet receive "put down" remarks from friends. But do not be discouraged. It is your own lifestyle and you feel comfortable and healthy with it. To avoid unnecessary discussions about your vegan diet, do not try to insist it on your companions. Neither should you criticize their diet. Leave them alone with their lifestyle, as you would also want them to leave you alone with your own. This will be a testimony to what following God’s way of doing things.
1. Make plans in advance. Do not wait for the day of your trip before you think of ways by which to manage your vegan diet as you travel. Check the foods that you are allowed to eat as part of your vegan diet, get out your recipe books and make a shopping list. Many times foods can be prepared ahead of time and brought along when needed, such as oat burgers, sandwich spreads, etc.
2. If flying, get in touch with your travel agency and find out the meals and snacks usually served during the flight if the flight will be for an extended period of time. If it isn’t you should be able bring along items like fruits and nuts to hold you over.
3. Bring your own packed food. Make several packs of ready to eat meals and snacks consisting of your favorite fruits and vegetables, such as hummus, wraps, pestos and bread, homemade crackers, etc. It is often much better to bring foods that you have brought or made so that you can monitor ingredients. Often times, vegan “prepared” foods do not contain as high a nutritional value as that you can make and bring along.
4. If you are unable to bring along sufficient foods for your trip, call the hotel where you are going to stay for your vacation. Tell them your situation and ask if you can get a copy of their menus, and request vegan dishes if they are not already available. If you cannot possibly avail of vegan meals in your hotel, search for restaurants in the area that cater to vegetarian customers. Of course you have to consider your non-vegan companions during the trip.
Make sure the restaurant of your choice also serves good meals for non-vegan diners for everyone's satisfaction.
5. Opt for common vegan meal options when dining in restaurants. Taco bells and salads are the most frequently prepared and served vegan dishes anywhere. When left with no other choice, you might as well settle for these options. Again, what you can prepare and bring is a much better choice. These foods tend to contain many preservatives and what they call excitoxins, such as MSG, hydrolyzed yeast, caramel coloring etc., which can wreak havoc on your nervous system.
6. Do not be discouraged when you do not find vegan dishes while on travel. This is a big test on your part - on how you can stay with your vegan lifestyle despite the limitations and challenges. Your companions might convince you to try non-vegan diet for the time being, but never relent. Once you give carnivore diet a try, you might slide back to that habit and your vegan diet will be jeopardized.
Oftentimes, people who are on vegan diet receive "put down" remarks from friends. But do not be discouraged. It is your own lifestyle and you feel comfortable and healthy with it. To avoid unnecessary discussions about your vegan diet, do not try to insist it on your companions. Neither should you criticize their diet. Leave them alone with their lifestyle, as you would also want them to leave you alone with your own. This will be a testimony to what following God’s way of doing things.
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