I have been extremely impressed with the vegan and WFPB (Whole Food, Plant-Based) movement as both a lifestyle and as a diet. The documentaries on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and YouTube have been tremendous in educating and enlightening the general public. I feel a great sense of momentum with our movement.
The global pandemic has us sheltering in place. We are spending more time eating at home and preparing our own meals. We are able to control what we eat and so many of you…of us…are choosing to live a life that is better for humanity. Free of animal cruelty. Less of a burden on our planet and resources. More beneficial for our bodies and mind.
But the world is going to reopen eventually. We will start to travel once again. And we will start eating out in unfamiliar places and experiencing challenges to the lifestyle we have adopted. As we travel and we start interacting more socially, you may face some of the obstacles I addressed in my earlier blog post that can be found at https://easysmartvegan.com/the-six-obstacles-you-will-face-as-you-transition-to-vegan/.
Having just returned from a six-day trip to Las Vegas, I want to share with you my Six Easy Travel Tips for Vegans.
Tip #1 – Pack snacks
Whether you are traveling on a plane, train, bus, or automobile, pack your bag with compliant snacks.
Our flight out to Las Vegas, Delta Airlines provided a little snack bag with water, crackers, and an energy bar. As an avid ingredient reader, I found neither the crackers or energy bar were vegan. So, for almost 5 hours, all I had was 8 ounces of water. The airlines have not caught up with the movement yet.
But honestly, my hunger was my fault.
Pack your bag with walnuts (or other nuts), raisins, popcorn, roasted chickpeas, or fruit. Seriously, the 5 minutes of preparation will save you from reaching for something that is not vegan.
If you are traveling by car, packing your snacks will save you considerably in the pocketbook! Though you can find vegan-friendly items in gas stations and rest areas, prices are outrageous! Plan ahead and save money.
Tip #2 – Develop your plan of attack!
Do a little research about the area you will be visiting to know the restaurants with vegan options.
There are apps and websites that can help. Simply go to your phone’s app store and search for Vegan Restaurants. There are several options with more added frequently. So far, my favorite website and app can be found at https://www.happycow.net/. I will continue to test the other websites and apps and will update this page as I discover more to recommend.
Using Happy Cow, I found Nacho Daddy that offered a wide variety of vegan options (click on the hyperlink for their vegan menu). The meal was absolutely delicious and was so big, it really could be shared. My research really paid off finding this gem of a restaurant!
Tip #3 – Read menus before being seated
There is nothing worse than being seated at a restaurant, handed a menu, and then realizing there are no vegan options. Been there, done that.
If the apps and websites do not list any vegan (or vegan-friendly) restaurants, the burden is on you to read menus, preferably before you are seated.
I make it a habit now of never going into a restaurant without looking at the menu online or in person. Flights, a restaurant close to Planet Hollywood, is a perfect example. We walked around looking for a restaurant, reading every menu, and moving on. Until we stumbled upon Flights. The restaurant had a vegan option under each of their categories. I had the most delicious Black Bean Steak (this is the featured picture). Had we sat at any of the other restaurants before reading the menu, I would have had French fries and a side salad.
Tip #4 – Have a Plan B
As hard as you try, there are times when your vegan option is unhealthy or severely limited (i.e. French fries). Non-vegan family and friends, though trying to be understanding, can lose their patience and they just want to eat!
Show some flexibility, but have a Plan B.
First, ask the waiter what the chef can make that is vegan. You will not be the first, or last, to ask. Chefs love to cook off menu. It gives them an opportunity to be creative.
If that doesn’t work, hit up Taco Bell for a Spicy Potato Taco or Black Beans and Rice (or similar). The key is knowing in advance that you have an option, albeit you may have to wait a couple hours.
Tip #5 – Expect a Vegan Tax
Is this a real tax? No. But vegan dishes tend to appear overpriced. And they usually are. Consider that your vegan tax.
Tip #6 – Enjoy the culinary adventure!
Travel for me has always been in part about the food. As much as I enjoy taking in the sights of a place I have never visited, it is often the food I find memorable. Almost any type of cuisine offers a vegan option, even BBQ. Make your vegan or WFPB lifestyle part of your adventure as you travel!
