Travel
How to Travel as a Vegetarian
Traveling is fun, but it becomes a bit challenging when you are on a diet. Being a vegetarian is very tasking, and traveling as one makes it even more difficult.
Getting access to vegetarian options while traveling is most times challenging. As someone who travels and needs to keep up with your diet, you might be lucky to get your meal or run into starvation. Sometimes, you might find yourself eating junk food.
I can feel your pain, and I know how stressful it must have been for you because I have heard and seen folks complain about how difficult it is for them any time they travel. For this reason, I decided to give you a heads-up on these so you can scale through this challenge while traveling and remain healthy even after your trip.
Traveling tips for vegetarians
1. Learn the local language
Many languages have a different word that refers to “vegetarian.” For instance, the Japanese initially call it vegetarian, meaning “Vegetarian”. But if you use that word now, you won’t get a response because it is obsolete. However, if you request “yasai” dishes, you will be offered a vegetarian meal. Knowing their language for veggies is necessary. It will save you the trouble of looking for a vegetable-based meal.
2. Carry backup supplies
Extra oil will do you no harm. If you feel getting vegetable-based meals will be difficult or you won’t have enough in the country you are traveling to, then you should go with backup supplies. This will help when you can’t get sufficient quantity or access to any.
It’s a bit easier to get vegetarian food in bigger cities. Vegetables such as trail mix, granola bars, and packets of dried fruit and nuts can be found in supermarkets and some other stores. In smaller towns, where you rarely see packaged foods, you might go around town looking for veggies. To ease the stress, it’s better to go with an extra pack of veggies.
3. Research in advance
Before you travel, do proper research on some veggies you can try in your destination. Look very carefully for vegetable-based meals that are readily available.
You can click on Vegman.org or Happy vow to look out for what vegan and vegetarian restaurants is present in the location where you will be staying.
There is a current iPhone app for Vegetarians called “Vegman.” You can download it from their site, Vegman.org. It functions like the website version; the only challenge is that you must be online to access it. Although you can search for vegetarian restaurants in your location, it displays a map, hours, photos of foods, and essential stats such as website, phone number, and Facebook page.
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4. Choose countries with vegetarian options
As you plan to travel, select countries with Vegetarian options, or you become frustrated when you arrive.
Don’t be quick to choose a country so you won’t live there in hunger. Do proper research on their foods and even their traditional/religious observances.
Some countries to look out for include Thailand, Switzerland, Israel, France, Italy, India, Vietnam, Taiwan, Ethiopia, the UK, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, etc.
5. Learn food phrases and pack a survival phrasebook
Some Countries have phrases for food. It’s not just learning the word for Vegetarians but also knowing its coded phrase. Some countries might interpret vegetarian meals as food other than consuming fatty foods. You have to understand and learn what they communicate with.
Here are examples of food phrases to hold handy “no dairy”, “No eggs”, “Without chicken, fish or shellfish” to enable them know what you want.
6. Ask the locals
You can ask anyone within your vicinity or at a place where you can get veggies. You can ask the receptionist or the hotelier if you are lodging in a hotel.
7. Be willing to move on
You might become frustrated if you can’t get a veggie option in that locality. The restaurant might not have wanted you to order. Instead of bugging yourself, kindly step out and move on. Just look for another restaurant. There is no need to be confused or bothered, your health is paramount don’t compromise it. Look elsewhere, and you will find something nice and healthy to eat.
8. Snacking
You can decide to go for snacks. But be careful while snacking because you might be cut up with low energy. You will be tempted to take some snacks and Candies on your trip, but pack some veggies to keep you strong and energetic.
9. Plan Ahead
It’s good you plan before you embark on your trip. Check out stores that have veggies in the country you are traveling to. Be sure there’s a nearby market where you can access your food type, in case you have limited stock or you are running out of stock.
10. Nutritious Recipes
Plan a nutritious recipe as an alternative option in case veggies are unavailable. Have a pack of nutritious meals to keep you fit when you are out of stock. These nutritious meals will cover up for the veggies you can’t access.
11. Take one Meal a Day
Try having a meal for a day. Prepare a budget for making meals on your own at least once daily. Get some nutritious foods from the market; this will save you the stress of thinking and worrying that you will starve if you can’t find veggies to feed on.
12. Raw Vegetables
According to research, raw vegetables increase the amount of nutrients you receive. So consume more raw vegetables. This will supply you with enough nutrients and aid proper digestion. Have enough raw vegetables in your diet.
13. Explaining Your Diet
When placing an order for your meal, always explain what you need. Some places might mistake your request for something else based on their language interpretation. So if you say you don’t consume meat, go further and say you don’t eat chicken or any other meat because some might interpret the “No meat” as maybe you can take chicken as an alternative.
14. Side Dishes
You can also option for meals with side dishes. For example, you can eat meat with veggies or raw vegetables. This is also nice as it also has enough nutrients in it.
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Originally posted 2022-05-19 14:41:15.
