Travelling ideas

When you travel how do you stick to a vegan or vegetarian diet? 

This isn't very constructive to your predicament, but I just wanted to add my curiosity for this issue, in terms of world traveling! (Is that is what kind of traveling you meant? Vacation type?)

I am 19 and after/during my time at univeristy, I plan to travel a LOT, but I don't know how I'll deal with being vegan on the road! I definitely don't crave meat/dairy, but I think I might feel some pangs of 'missing out' when passing through an exotic area and not trying the local dish. Dunno how I'll handle those situations...

Are you going to be traveling somewhere specific? If you gave an example, people might be able to suggest easily accessible vegan/veg dishes for that certain area.

Wish I could add more... but I'm just as curious as you! 

I guess the travelling I mean is the travelling through airports, restaurant stops...the type where you just don't have time to shop at a grocery store or farmer's market. 

Whenever I travel, I bring along protein bars, protein drinks and portable things like that. Then I just eat salads and add my own protein. Not the tastiest alternative, but it keeps me fed, at least.

Most airports have shops or restaurants (depending on the size) that offer fresh fruit and salads.  The shops often have a variety of nuts and granola mixes, too.  Also, larger airports list their shops and restaurants on-line so you can see what you're headed into before you get there for that dreaded 5 hour layover in DFW.  If there's not a menu available, you could email to ask IF they offer any veggie meals and what they are.

I recently packed carrots, bananas, and granola bars for a trip to the US.  Remember that liquids aren't allowed through airport security, so I had to rely on the shops for my water and beer .

Original Post by edspillane:

When you travel how do you stick to a vegan or vegetarian diet? 

I am not a vegetarian however, I do travel a lot and pack snacks to travel with to by-pass the fast food stands.  I generally will pack apples, carrots, grapes, bananas, on occasion a hard boiled egg.  I am sure there are places to get salads I just dont generally have a lot of time between connections.

Dave

I was able to eat a turkey sandwich..that was pretty good I think.  I never thought of packing things (besides gum) but I think that makes sense. 

I'm not a vegetarian either, but I generally pack snacks.. how long are you going to be 'traveling'?  If you can suffice without meals.. I usually have some granola bars, nuts, fruit or dried fruit, and if I'm going to be out long, I'll grab a salad at one of the airport stands (just be careful what dressing you choose!).  Good luck!

Thanks for the ideas.  I managed not to eat too badly and had some nuts as a snack.  I'm trying to reach full vegetarian and one fear I had was travelling.  Thanks. 

Back travelling and not only was I able to avoid meat, I also was able to watch my portions.  I was lucky though this time..no airports and spending time in Austin, a town very friendly to vegetarians!

Some times you cannot, when I was in Laos the only protein I could get was from fish, so that is what I ate for protein. Friends of mine who are vegan said that is it impossible to keep to a vegan diet in Japan and very hard to be a veggie.  As fish sauce is used every where in South East Asia. It really just depends where you travel if you are sticking to the western industrial world (USA, Europe and Australia) the you always can find something to eat that is vegetarian, vegan can be a lot harder.  Even if you eat noodles and cheese for a week in Austria (a country that did not have a lot if choices)

great points...I think one of the reasons I've avoided being vegan is that I cannot see myself giving up fish.  I definitely do want to be as close as possible as long as I am eating healthy, especially when travelling. 

Original Post by asmitherma:

Some times you cannot, when I was in Laos the only protein I could get was from fish, so that is what I ate for protein. Friends of mine who are vegan said that is it impossible to keep to a vegan diet in Japan and very hard to be a veggie.  As fish sauce is used every where in South East Asia. It really just depends where you travel if you are sticking to the western industrial world (USA, Europe and Australia) the you always can find something to eat that is vegetarian, vegan can be a lot harder.  Even if you eat noodles and cheese for a week in Austria (a country that did not have a lot if choices)

 

japan is incredibly difficult for vegetarians, and veganism is impossible unless you cook every meal yourself. i accidentally consumed fish countless times! elsewhere in asia is hit or miss. south america is also very difficult. depends on the customs behind your destination really... for some it is rude to deny meat in a meal unfortunately.

i like to pack protein bars (clifs, etc.) and always make sure i buy fresh local produce, nuts, legumes!

I am vegan and I've travelled in Japan as well as many other places in South East Asia (China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore) and while it was tricky in Japan at first, it was very possible. I used HappyCow.net as a resource and found many vegetarian restaurants (in Japan as well as all of the other places mentioned). Otherwise, I went to grocery stores and ate veggie sushi, inari, plain steamed rice and tofu, etc. True, you do need to watch out for fish sauce in dishes, but if you do your research before hand there is no reason not to eat v*gan.

I live in Korea and it's easy to be vegetarian but more difficult to be vegan. However, if you can speak the local language you can ask for things to be cooked with the animal ingredients. They will think you're a bit strange but they'll do it for you.

And Japan is not in Southeast Asia...

I was responding to the earlier post where Japan and "elsewhere in Asia" was mentioned, when I refered to Southeast Asia, but thank you for correcting me.

i do stick to being vegetarian wherever i go. unfortunately that doesn't always mean i eat healthy. for example, i just went to the bar-b-que festival here in memphis. aside from the grilled corn all of my other options were fried! (you can see how i survived at my blog http://www.cooking4carnivores.com) but when we have gone abroad i can usually find things, like when we are in mexico or italy it is pretty easy. i truthfully have the hardest times in the south here in america - where i am from! but i always make do and just figure i will exercise to burn off any extra calories from more fattening vegetarian options that are available.

I spent a couple months backpacking around, and the best advice i could give you is to do your research before you leave, researching local vegetarian restaurants (you'd be surprised how it can some time pay off, I managed to find the best vegan restaurant in an old office building in downtown Sofia, Bulgaria of all places!).

Another way to do it is to just frequent the local grocery stores. You'll pay hundreds of dollars less (great shoe string budget approach) and you'll be able to make your own veggie food without any hassle.

The further from Western culture you get though, be prepared to start loving bread and cheese as much as you can - i ended up living off it for several weeks while in Eastern Europe.