Veganism has never been more popular. Young people are driving the revolution, with millennials the most likely generation either to already be vegans or to consider not eating meat, dairy or other animal products. Millennials are also the generation most likely to travel, with almost 40% of millennial and Generation Z workers saying they wouldn’t accept a job that doesn’t let them travel. But how do you combine the two things? And how easy is it to maintain a vegan diet when you are traveling?
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Here are five vegan travel tips to help you on your way.
1. Plan ahead
If you get your planning right, you should always be able to find somewhere to eat vegan food. If you are heading to a particular destination, city or town, do your research ahead of time. Get online and on social media and research vegan restaurants, food markets and supermarkets and see what the vegan community is talking about in that particular place. If you have done your homework, you will arrive knowing exactly where to go and will be able to get on with your diet without distraction.
Some of my favorite ways to plan ahead are by using the HappyCow app, searching vegan blogs (like this one!), and joining local Facebook groups in the area you are heading and asking questions.
2. Think about snacks
Having a bunch of vegan snacks to keep you going during the day and to sate those hunger pangs will be crucial when you are on the road.
Buy lots of fresh fruit, energy bars, nuts, seeds, and kale chips. All of these should travel well and be able to survive at the bottom of a bag until the moment you really need them. Again, preparation is key here, so when you are in a town with good supermarkets and markets, stock up for the leaner times.
On my recent trip to Nepal, I researched ahead of time to know that finding packaged food items and snacks that were vegan was near impossible so I made room in my bag for plenty of snacks. The food ended up being so good with so many good traditional Nepali vegan options that I didn’t have to eat as many as I thought but it still felt good to have something in an emergency.
If you’re road tripping as opposed to flying, your options are endless. I love cutting up watermelon and eating on the go.
3. Hit the local markets
Wherever you are in the world, you will usually not be too far away from a local market. These are great places for fantastic fresh produce and much of it will be vegan. Produce is a great option for cooking or just a quick snack that doesn’t require any cooking or a kitchen. If you’re staying somewhere you can cook, perhaps gather some other staples at the market such as rice, beans, spices, and more to cook a meal. This is a great way to save money and also connect with the locals while spending your money in a socially sustainable way.
4. Stay somewhere with a kitchen
As mentioned above, if you can cook your own food as you travel around, you will be in a much better position than if you are always under pressure to find vegan restaurants. Try and book accommodation with a kitchen and then buy in the ingredients that you would use at home in order to maintain your diet. On apps and websites such as Airbnb, you can specify filters such as kitchens or microwaves, and this will go a long way to helping you stay on track.
5. Buy food that can be rehydrated
There are a wide variety of vegan foods that are perfect for traveling with and that simply require water. Soup cups can be easy to carry and make a great quick snack, while couscous, porridge, and vegetable-based drinks can all be brought to life with water. Make sure you are hydrating yourself constantly and then when you need something to eat, just add water.
↓↓↓ What other vegan travel tips do you have? ↓↓↓
I'm also a freelance writer and creator. You can see my published work here. I've been featured by Impact Travel Alliance as a creative who is transforming travel, and by Matador Network as a vegan travel blogger you should be following on Instagram.
When I'm not writing, I'm traveling, reading a book, trying not to kill my houseplants, worshiping my dog, or having an existential crisis.
You can also reach out to me on Instagram and TikTok.
Want to know more? Here's my full bio.
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