Travelling as a vegetarian can be tough when it comes to finding things to eat. But with a bit of research, prep work and the right tools up your sleeve you can easily navigate the local food scene and find great meals. Here are some tips for eating well on the road- minus the meat.
Research in advance
Before you hop on the plane and arrive at your destination do some research about the type of cuisine you’ll encounter and what type of vegetarian options are available. Most countries, even those with the most meat-heavy menus, will have some local dishes you can eat. Side dishes and appetizers might be your best bet, so find out which ones are vegetarian-friendly before you go so you’ll be ready to order with ease.
Utilize grocery stores
Supplement your diet by taking the DIY route and seeing what’s on offer at grocery stores. This works especially well if you’re staying in a hostel with a communal kitchen or you have a fridge in your room. Bread, cheese and vegetables can be turned into a quick sandwich, dips and crackers make a quick snack and fruit and yogurt are great for on-the-go energy boosters.
Learn to say “vegetarian” in the local language
Wherever you’re going, learn how to tell people you don’t eat meat in the local language so you can explain your needs. Even something as simple as “no meat, please” can be helpful. If you know someone who speaks the language, it’s also helpful to have them write a note, explaining what you do and do not eat. That way you can simply hand the note to wait staff in restaurants or street food vendors and they’ll know what they can serve you.
Pack snacks
You likely don’t want to weigh down your bags too much, but having a few simple snacks on hand from home can go a long way towards keeping your energy up between meals or when you’re having a tough time finding something to eat. Nuts, granola bars, dried fruit and trail mix are all good, easy-to-pack options.
Use online resources
There are a few online resources that can help you navigate the vegetarian options in your destination. Two especially helpful sites include Happycow.net and Vegdining.com. Each site allows you to search by city, which will give you a list of vegetarian or vegetarian-friendly restaurants wherever you are.
Reach out to local food bloggers
Food bloggers, even those who are not vegetarian, will likely have a good sense of every type of restaurant in their city. Reach out via email or Twitter to ask if they have any recommendations for vegetarians travelling to the area and ideally, you’ll end up with a few good options. You can also ask for recommendations at your hotel or guesthouse.
Lead photo: arvind grover used under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license)
