Vegetarians on the road
Traveling can be a special sort of challenge when you’re vegetarian, since you don’t know what will be available to you ahead of time. It helps to be prepared for the worst and anticipate how you’ll eat if there’s little or nothing available for vegetarians – and you’ll need to be adaptable no matter what happens.
Car trips can be difficult if you rely on restaurants and fast food as you primary dining options. A much better idea is to pack a cooler with your own food, so that you can control what you eat and when. Besides saving you the time you would spend looking for a vegetarian-friendly restaurant, you’re assured that you can eat foods that fit with your vegetarian lifestyle. And you’ll save money, too – packing your own food is always less expensive than eating out.
Take a look at the foods you have on hand and consider how well they would travel on a road trip. Bring a cooler for the perishable items and pack up a small box with the rest. Just be careful if you’re eating while driving, so you don’t cause an accident! Here’s some foods that are as good on the road as they are at home:
Whole grain muffins, rolls and cookies
Carrot sticks and celery
Snack-size containers of yogurt, applesauce and breakfast cereal
Juice boxes
Peanut butter (or almond butter) sandwiches
Pasta salads
Egg salad sandwiches
Bagels
Hummus and pita chips
Trail mix
Fresh fruit
Vegan snack bars
Bottles of mineral water
When you’re packing for a car trip, don’t forget the little extras that will make your roadside meals hassle-free. Get a bag or box and stock plastic utensils, paper plates, napkins or paper towels, a bottle opener, a knife for slicing fruits and vegetables, ziploc baggies for leftovers, a gallon jug of water for rinsing off food and your hands, and some disposable wipes for easy clean-up. Consider keeping your toothbrush and toothpaste easily accessible so you can brush after your meal!
Remember that the key to a healthy vegetarian diet is variety. Every meal doesn’t have to be an entrée and side dishes – some granola, a single-serving container of soy milk, fresh fruit and a whole-grain muffin makes a great meal! Munch on foods that you like during the day and then spend your vacation money on a nice meal at dinner time.
Flying high and meat-free
Depending on what airline you fly and how long your trip is, your in-flight meal is likely to be a cellophane-wrapped package of crackers or a bag of pretzels. But some flights still serve meals and offer the option of requesting a vegetarian option. If you travel frequently and use a travel agent, you can let them know that you’re vegetarian and they’ll make the request for you every time they book your flights. If you book your own flights, you simply need to make the request when you make your reservations, or call the airline’s customer service number (you can also visit their website) and make the request at least 24 hours before you’re scheduled to fly.
If you’re unsure if your flight will serve a meal, call and ask an airline representative – if you’re vegan, make sure to specify no eggs or dairy. Once you’ve made the request, call the day before your flight just to be certain that they have you down as vegetarian. When you board the plane, let the flight attendant know as soon as you can that you’re getting a vegetarian meal – as with any bureaucracy, information is sometimes inefficiently communicated.
Occasionally, planes are changed at the last minute due to mechanical issues, and that can mean that your meal isn’t loaded on the right plane! Then same holds true if you upgrade to first class just before you board – they may have your meal ear-marked for your original seat assignment. Requesting a vegetarian meal is no guarantee that you’ll get one – but by politely reminding the flight crew that you’ve made the request, you increase the odds that you’ll get it.
