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34+ Vegetarian (and Vegan) Snack Ideas for Travel and Road Trips

Written by Becca

Updated on April 26th, 2024

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Table of contents

• Whole fruits
• Cut-up fruits
• Whole veggies
• Cut-up veggies
• Dried Fruits
• Nuts (Vegan)
• Vegetarian & vegan alternative protein snacks
• Beyond Meat Plant-Based Jerky (Vegan)
• Wahoo Ono Fish Jerky (Vegetarian)

EPIC Smoked Salmon Strips, Wild Caught (Paleo-Friendly, Vegetarian)

• Primal Spirit Vegan Jerky (made from wheat gluten, Vegan)
• Kool Ranch Kale Chips (Vegan)
• The Only Bean Crunchy Dry Roasted Edamame Snacks, Sea Salt (Vegan)
• Dang Toasted Coconut Chips, Original (Vegan)
• The Daily Crave Veggie Chips (Vegan, Kosher)
• Crispy Cauli Sea Salted Bites (Keto Cauliflower Chips, Vegan)
• HIPPEAS Organic Chickpea Puffs + “Cheeze” Variety Pack (Vegan)
• Organic Hummus (Vegan)
• Tostitos Medium Chunky Salsa To Go, 3.8 Ounce (Travel Size, Vegan)
• Every Body Eat Snack Thins, Cheese-less Flavor (Vegan)
• Just the Cheese, Low Carb Snack (Vegetarian)

Plant Snacks VEGAN Cheddar Mix Cassava Root Chips (Allergen-free)

• HA! - The Healthier Alternative Snacks - Cheddar Cheese Crunchers (Vegan, Gluten-free)
• ParmCrisps Plant-Based Sea Salt Crisps (Vegan)
• Outstanding Foods Outstanding Cheese Balls “Chedda” (Vegan)
• Magic Spoon Cereal (Grain-free, Vegetarian, Kosher)
• Vegan Espresso Bites by Big Island Coffee Roasters
• Partake Foods Crunchy Chocolate Chip Mini Cookie Snack Packs
• Love + Chew, Banana Bread Minis
• Vegan Organic Gummy Bears
• Organic Chocolate by Hu
• OWYN Vegan Bottled Protein Shakes
• Pirq Vegan Protein Shakes
• EVOLVE Plant-Powered Protein Shakes
• No Cow Plant-Based Protein Bars

With our extensive experience traveling, and taking many different types of trips, we’ve picked up a few tricks for snacking.

Dan and I love snacks and between the two of us, with my allergy to gluten and intolerance to dairy, and Dan keeping a vegetarian diet, we find that the best travel snacks and road trip foods are vegan and/or plant-based.

We like keeping vegetarian and vegan because it simplifies things. With a health mindset, we seek out snacks and foods that are friendly for the environment, natural, organic and free of harmful chemicals.

We’ve organized this guide into categories that have made sense for us throughout our travels as we’ve perfected the art of vegan and vegetarian snacks for on the go. In the list that follows, you can expect to find ideas for healthy vegan snacks to take on your trip, along with vegan and vegetarian foods that travel well.

Fruits and Veggies for on the go

The downright healthiest way to get healthy vegetarian and vegan snacks on the go is to look no further than the produce section at your grocery store, corner market or farmer’s market.

Whether you are looking for vegetarian road trip food or vegan travel snacks, fruits and veggies can be filling, full of fiber, nutrient-rich and more. If you eat enough of them, they can even constitute a full meal if you need to pack in a quick and healthy lunch during a car trip.

Here are our best ideas for vegetarian and vegan road trip and travel snacks that you’ll be glad you packed!

Whole fruits

Whole fruits are an easy go-to and easy to pack snack. Plus, they don’t require any additional packaging. An apple or a banana go a long way in a variety of different vessels.

We’ve found the most luck with apples, bananas, oranges (or clementines and tangerines). And, don’t forget that some fruits come in handy snack-size dimensions already, like blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and blackberries! These make a great berry medley in a travel-sized sustainable container like EcoLunchBox travel containers .

Please keep in mind, though, if you are hiking or in nature somewhere, throw away your peels and various fruit droppings.

While peels biodegrade, they might not be good for the environment in which you leave them (for example, if the seeds are not native to the surroundings).

Cut-up fruits

We like the convenience of cut-up fruits. They are a nice treat on a hot day or staying balanced with a diet. Cut-up fruit like cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon and strawberries make great snacks for on the go.

Put your cut-up fruits into sustainable plastic-free travel containers like ECOlunchbox Seal Cups , and you’ll have leak-free storage for food while you’re on a trip.

Whole veggies

Some vegetables can be eaten whole, which makes the convenient to take right from a grocery store or market, to your plane, train, trip or hike! Among these are grape tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, mini sweet peppers and small (or large!) Persian cucumbers.

During road trips in Portugal and Spain, we munched on grape and cherry tomatoes right from the carton, and it was a great way to add in healthy vegetables during the day.

Cut-up veggies

Cut-up veggies require a little big of prep, but the rewards are, of course, nice and yummy. Among the snack-able veggies you can buy either same-day or a few days in advance are celery stalks, zucchini (sliced), large carrots and bell peppers.

We tend to slice these to the size of the container we put them in, like the ECOlunchbox stainless steel travel cups .

Pickling your vegetables for snacks

If you haven’t left home yet, one thing you can do before you leave for a trip is to pickle your veggies. With a few days of pickling or kraut-ing, you can have travel-ready snacks that either do, or do not, require silverware to eat.

Among our favorite vegetables to pickle for snacks are Kirby cucumbers, string beans, red onion slices and baby carrots. These snacks pack quite a zesty punch (and just remember to maybe consume them outside instead of in a cramped environment like an airplane).

Dried Fruits

Dried fruits are great for vitamins, nutrients and fiber, and one of our favorite vegetarian and vegan hacks is having some figs, dates, prunes or Craisins on hand when we leave for a day trip or a longer-haul vacation.

Some tips for these handy and healthy travel snacks are to a) buy in bulk and pack them, and b) buy a whole package of these, rather than a single serving, which won’t be priced as competitively.

As for buying in bulk, the good news is that it takes months for them to go bad! Try getting these types of snack items at your Costco.

The last time we had flights to Mexico, we made homemade trail mix with dates, prunes and walnuts with sunflower seeds, getting in all those fiber elements before not being sure what our diet would look like in the next few days.

Vegan and Vegetarian Protein-Heavy Travel Snacks

As people who tend to avoid meat while traveling, sometimes, our protein sources can be a bit low!

We typically seek out protein sources like nuts (vegan), eggs (vegetarian), fish (vegetarian) and vegan “meat,” depending on where we are. If you sense you may have trouble at your destination, pack along some of these road trip and on-the-go plant-based protein snacks.

Nuts (Vegan)

• Brazil nuts
• Peanuts (not actually a nut because they’re legumes)
• Sunflower seeds (technically a seed)

What’s your favorite? I tend to love cashews and walnuts, mixing them with dried fruit for snacking on a trip.

Vegetarian & vegan alternative protein snacks

Getting enough protein is a challenge when you are vegetarian or vegan, but when you put your mind to diversifying your protein sources through a little additional snacking, you can be surprised!

Beyond Meat Plant-Based Jerky (Vegan)

Beyond Meat is one of our favorite plant-based meat alternative brands, and their new jerky is made of pea protein!

You can use their store locator or pick up some jerky on Amazon .

Wahoo Ono Fish Jerky (Vegetarian)

Forget that jerky was originally for meat: vegetarians can enjoy fish jerky with all the flavors.

I got introduced to EPIC products before leaning into a vegetarian/vegan lifestyle. Their new paleo-friendly fish-based snacks are convenient and healthy.

You can find EPIC products on Amazon and also use their store locator to find their products near you.

Primal Spirit Vegan Jerky (made from wheat gluten, Vegan)

This vegan jerky is for plant-based snackers and travels very well.

Chips & Crackers for Road Trips

If you know us, you know we can’t stop ourselves when it comes to chips and travel snacks that have a crunch to them. In fact, we try to avoid buying large bags of chips because we’ll eat the whole thing in one sitting. Yikes!

Chips don’t have to be potato chips, nor corn chips, and this is something I’ve found out in my gluten-free diet. Chips these days come in an array of amazing varieties, from black bean chips to sweet potato chips to cassava and coconut chips. Let’s look at some great on-the-go vegan and plant-based snack ideas that fall into the ‘chips and crackers’ category.

Kool Ranch Kale Chips (Vegan)

Remember cool ranch Doritos from elementary school? If you’re now a vegan, you can still enjoy the flavor with this plant-based chip snack.

Learn more about Rhythm Superfoods on their website (you can shop there too). Their products are typically shipped and sold by Amazon , which is nice!

The Only Bean Crunchy Dry Roasted Edamame Snacks , Sea Salt (Vegan)

Crunchy and salty, these edamame snacks really do the trick on a long car trip. How cute are they! When we took them out of the package, they looked delectably munch-able and satisfying.

With only 100 calories per travel-size mini bag of roasted edamame beans, they’re gluten-free, keto-friendly, vegan and high in protein. They check all our boxes for ideal snacks to bring on road trips.

Dang Toasted Coconut Chips, Original (Vegan)

I can’t get enough of Dang products. They’re delicious, crunch, and pretty guilt-free for vegan snacking.

Dang products aren’t sold on their website anymore. You can usually find them at Whole Foods and Amazon ).

The Daily Crave Veggie Chips (Vegan, Kosher)

Veggie chips are a simple snack that you can take on a hike, train or plane, and these are vegan and kosher.

Crispy Cauli Sea Salted Bites (Keto Cauliflower Chips, Vegan)

Cauliflower products are all the rage now! These keto chips are vegan and perfectly salted.

HIPPEAS Organic Chickpea Puffs + “Cheeze” Variety Pack (Vegan)

Hippeas have found a way to make yummy snacks from chickpeas. This vegan snack is cheese-flavored, and great for travelers who gave up dairy ages ago. Dan really enjoys these!

HIPPEAS are found at most grocery stores. We always see them at our local Whole Foods. Use their store locator to find them near you.

You can also find them on Amazon through a variety of different sellers.

Vegan and Vegetarian Dips

In this day and age of convenience, it’s easy to come by packable and travel-size vegan and vegetarian plant-based dips for chips and snacks. So many of these foods are the best things to take on road trips for everyone in the car!

Take for example, Sabra hummus cups: they’re so cute, and the perfect size for having in the car, or on a plane!

Organic Hummus (Vegan)

So convenient, and great for dipping veggies or chips. Hummus is one of Dan’s favorite snacks because it levels up fresh cut veggies.

You can find hummus at almost every grocery store. It’s sometimes harder to find snack-sized cups. Depending on your travel situation, you can pick up a few, portion some out into a container and go on your way! You should try to keep them chilled but look on the packaging to see if that is necessary.

Tostitos Medium Chunky Salsa To Go , 3.8 Ounce (Travel Size, Vegan)

Personally, I like salsa with mostly anything, from carrots (try it!) to tortilla chips. What will you dip in your travel-sized salsa?

Similar to hummus, it’s harder to find individual cups of salsa. You can find jars at pretty much every grocery store, small market and gas station. You almost never need to refrigerate (even after opening) so it’s great to have it around — even if you don’t find the smaller cups.

Dairy & Vegan Dairy Alternative Snacks

I personally don’t eat dairy products or cheese, so I’m open to cheesy alternative snacks that don’t contain lactose or animal products and are therefore vegan. Keep in mind that a lot of vegan cheeses may contain nutritional yeast, so if you have an intolerance to histamine, be sure to read the ingredients.

Check out these cheese-flavored plant-based snacks below for a surprise, the next time you’re on the go.

Every Body Eat Snack Thins, Cheese-less Flavor (Vegan)

Holy smokes, these are delicious and absolutely addictive. These brown rice crisps pack in the flavor, without the dairy products, and they are free of common allergens.

They’re crispy, crunchy and make great little dippers if you have some dip on hand. We can’t wait to take them on a trip.

Note that the cheese flavored varieties have nutritional yeast in the ingredients, in case you have an intolerance to histamines (good to mention, for those who do). Otherwise, the EBE facility is free of wheat/gluten, milk/dairy, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, corn, sesame, eggs, mustard, celery, lupins, sulfites, fish, shellfish, and mollusks (according to their website).

Check out this store locator to find out where to get them.

And, they turned out to be a pretty snazzy flight snack.

Just the Cheese, Low Carb Snack (Vegetarian)

These vegetarian cheesy snacks are mini and cute!

I like the taste of cassava, and these vegan cheese-themed snacks are free of common allergens.

HA! - The Healthier Alternative Snacks - Cheddar Cheese Crunchers (Vegan, Gluten-free)

Are you on a gluten-free diet and going vegan? Even if you’re not, try these cheddar-flavored crunchy snacks for a trip.

ParmCrisps Plant-Based Sea Salt Crisps (Vegan)

Could you believe that these cheese-ish oven-baked crispy snacks are gluten-free, dairy-free, keto and vegan? Incredible.

Outstanding Foods Outstanding Cheese Balls “Chedda” (Vegan)

Plant-based cheese balls? Count us in! These are nutritious and low-calorie, with no dairy.

“Guiltless” Snacking

Sticking to a vegetarian or vegan diet may make your friends think you’re a health nut, but we all know that everyone deserves a treat every now and then! Check out these delectable vegan and vegetarian snacks that are super close to the “real thing.”

Magic Spoon Cereal (Grain-free, Vegetarian, Kosher)

Magic Spoon was created to be a guilt-free cereal that fits a keto diet. It is gluten-free, with 13-14g of protein per serving, great for a veggie diet. Dan has had their cereal as a snack and thinks it’s a great way to keep your diet on track.

Because the cereal has a decent amount of protein, it truly is a guilt free snack that fits into most diets.

With flavors like Cinnamon Roll, Cocoa, Peanut Butter and Maple Waffle, we’re excited to try them all, and bring them on vacation for breakfast (or really, any time of day).

Try the Magic Spoon Variety Pack or their new bars combo pack , which make an even better vegetarian snack on the go.

You can also browser some of their products on Amazon .

Vegan Espresso Bites by Big Island Coffee Roasters

We love the flavor in these smooth and creamy espresso bites . They are totally vegan (as per these selections below), and made with 100% Hawaiian island coffee. As a bonus, you can also melt them in hot water for a coffee drink on the go when you’re traveling.

If you live in a hot climate or if the weather has been hot recently, keep in mind that these could melt a little while being shipped. We put ours directly into the freezer when we unpacked the package.

We also recommend the “edible espresso” sea salt espresso bites , which are also completely vegan and pack a flavorful punch, with a kick of caffeine. If we could, we would eat these all the time, especially with our morning coffee.

And, if you love coffee…

Big Island Coffee Roasters makes travel-friendly Hawaiian Coffee Singles, which are compostable steeped coffee sachets for making coffee on the go, like on a road trip. All you need is hot water, so there’s no need for a grinder, coffee maker, filter or anything like that.

We tried this at home, to practice for making coffee while traveling on our next trip. We thought this coffee tasted great, in only minutes of this quick brewing technique.

We put a bit too much water in the mug and the coffee was a bit light. Next time, we will use less water or let the coffee steep for longer.

Partake Foods Crunchy Chocolate Chip Mini Cookie Snack Packs

I discovered Partake Cookies at my local store a few years ago and I’ve made them my birthday treat year after year.

They’re vegan, gluten-free and free of common allergens, which makes them very easy to bring to gatherings and parties where someone might have a random allergy to eggs or soy, not to mention road trips, when you may be sharing snacks!

Love + Chew, Banana Bread Minis

These soft-baked paleo and vegan mini treats come individually wrapped and are great for taking on the go.

Vegan Organic Gummy Bears

Gummy bears are my true guilty pleasure, but the original kind is full of junk, sugar and gelatin. Good thing there are vegan and organic ones on the market now! Check out the Project 7 Low Sugar Variety Pack (8 pack) !

Organic Chocolate by Hu

I’m a HU ge fan of the Hu products, since my days trying the paleo diet. Hu Chocolate is a winner because it’s vegan, free of soy (and soy lecithin) and gluten and it tastes amazing .

Vegan & Plant-Based Smoothies & Shakes

There are plant-based smoothies that come pre-bottled, so you can take them on the go! Just keep in mind that for going through airport security, these will not be able to come with you.

However, they’re totally fine for going on road trips, train rides, bus trips or day trips from your home. You can also pick up these types of bottled protein drinks when you arrive in your destination and you head to a grocery store.

OWYN Vegan Bottled Protein Shakes

These bottled protein drinks have vegan protein sources from pea protein, pumpkin seed protein and flax, with added Omega-3s and a green blend. They’re gluten, dairy and soy-free, so they check all my boxes for vegan protein on the go.

Pirq Vegan Protein Shakes

Pirq makes vegan protein shakes that are gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, non-GMO, kosher and keto-friendly, featuring (in this flavor) strawberry golden milk with turmeric tumeric, maca, plus plant protein. They’re perfect for taking in your bag when you’re heading out for some travel.

EVOLVE Plant-Powered Protein Shakes

These vegan shakes are a source of calcium, iron, vitamin B12 and zinc, which are essential nutrients for anyone whose diet does not contain meat! The EVOLVE protein (20g per bottle) is sourced from pea protein, so it’s 100% vegan.

Vegan & Vegetarian Protein Bars

No cow plant-based protein bars.

We became recently introduced to the No Cow products and personally, we’re glad that they’re all of the following, for both our dietary preferences: vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free low sugar, high protein AND Kosher.

There are a variety of flavors to choose from, like Birthday Cake, Key Lime Pie, Chocolate Mint Cookie and S’mores. Somehow, they’ve packed 20-21 grams of protein into these vegan snack bars.

Regarding the flavor, we felt there was slightly something to be desired, as these bars are a little dry. With the sweetness coming from a sweetener blend of stevia and monk fruit, you may find the flavor reminiscent of other nonperishable snack foods that use the same idea.

Nevertheless, these will satisfy a dessert craving if you’re on the road, a hike or in flight.

Check them out !

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21 Plant-Based Foods That Are Great For Traveling

Whenever I travel I always pack several snacks and a sandwich in my carryon bag.  It’s not just because I always need a supply of food with me wherever I go but to also ensure that I have access to nutritious food.  Not only is it cheaper to travel with my own food but I won’t be as tempted to eat junk food I find along the way if I already have my favorite foods with me.

Prior to switching to a plant-based diet, I would scout an airport’s website to see what fast food restaurants were there and plan where I was going to eat at when I got there.

Nowadays I still scout an airport’s restaurant directory before traveling but now I’m checking to see if there are any healthy plant-based options offered.  If there isn’t then I make a shopping list of plant-based foods I want to bring for the trip. Then the night before I travel, I'll go to the supermarket to buy any ingredients I may need and prep any meals if necessary. When I get to the airport all I need to get is some water after passing through security and I’m all set.

Below are 21 plant-based foods that are great for traveling:

Nut butter sandwich

Instant oatmeal packets

Granola bars

Vegan protein powders

Stevia or agave sweeteners

Hummus wrap

Seeds (flax, hemp, chia, sunflower, etc.)

Fresh fruit (if flying internationally buy them at the airport after passing through security and eat them before landing at your destination)

Cut up raw vegetables

Tea packets

Homemade trail mix

Whole grain crackers

Vegan protein bars

Unsweetened dried fruit

Veggie burger

Salads (dressing must be in a container no bigger than 3 ounces if flying)

Veggie sushi

Fruit and nut bars

Nut butter in to go packets

Pick and choose from this list and you won't go hungry on your next trip.

Have any comments or questions about these vegan travel foods?  Let us know in the comment section below!

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• In the Kitchen

Easy-to-make Vegan Meals That You Can Pack With You During A Road Trip

• January 12, 2022

Various kinds of Mexican food wrapped in a tortilla is every seasoned vegan dream. If you’ve ever wondered how to make an incredible vegan burrito you don’t have to anymore as there are some simple and easy burrito recipes you can try at home. Ingredients for this burrito will be similar to most other burritos, but if you want some variety you could add in your favorite vegan ingredients.

The burrito is an excellent meal to take on the go and perfect for a quick lunch or dinner. All you need is a tortilla, some refried beans, rice, salsa, avocado, and guacamole (optional).

The best thing about sandwiches is that you can basically put anything between two slices of bread and call it a sandwich. Sandwiches are also extremely easy to make, making them perfect for road trips or other places where cooking facilities are scarce.

Here are some vegan sandwich ideas:

• peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
• vegan club sandwiches
• sandwiches made with vegan deli meat
• avocado and hummus sandwiches
• vegetable sandwiches
• vegan grilled cheese sandwiches

Sandwiches are a great choice for anyone looking to pack easy lunches that they can eat on the go! If you have never tried making your own sandwiches before it is time to give them a try. You might be surprised by how much better homemade sandwiches taste compared with store-bought ones. All of these would work well as vegan road trip meals so feel free to add any or all of them into your travel plans in the future!

Black Bean Quesadillas 

Black bean quesadillas are a quick and easy vegan meal that can be made ahead of time and packed for a road trip. They are portable, filling, and tasty! The black beans are packed with protein so you will stay full for longer.

The black bean quesadillas can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator or freezer until ready to eat. Let thaw overnight in the fridge if using frozen black bean mixture. Otherwise, let it sit at room temperature while you prepare your other ingredients.

Just add all ingredients into a food processor until smooth! Add more water as needed if it is too thick.

Add mixture onto one tortilla then top with another tortilla before placing on the heated skillet, this helps seal them when flipping over! Cook about two minutes per side, pressing down occasionally to flatten out any air bubbles that might form between tortillas. You could also cook these in an oven preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Hummus And Veggie Wraps

This amazing recipe is perfect for anyone on the go. These hummus and veggie wraps are easy to make and can be packed in your bag for a quick, healthy meal.

Ingredients are, as the title says, hummus, vegetables of choice (we recommend cucumbers, tomatoes, and lettuce), and wraps or tortillas.

Spread hummus onto wraps or tortillas. Top with vegetables of choice. Roll up and enjoy! Note that if you’re taking these hummus and veggie wraps on the go, we recommend packing them separately from any wet ingredients like tomatoes so they don’t get soggy. You can also pack a small container of hummus to dip your wrap into. Enjoy!

Veggie-packed Pasta Salad

Everyone loves pasta salad during the summertime, and it’s a great vegan meal to take on the go! This recipe is easy to make and can be tailored to your liking.

You will need a pound of pasta (any shape will do), half a cup of olive oil, one diced red onion, two cups of chopped vegetables (e.g. tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, etc.), one teaspoon of salt, and half a teaspoon of black pepper

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain the cooked pasta and rinse with cold water to stop it from cooking further. 

Roasted Portobello Caps With Veggies

This recipe is a simple roasted portobello cap with veggies, and it is also vegan. Portobello caps are large mushrooms that have been used for all kinds of things from burgers to salads because they retain the flavor well even when cooked. The roasted mushroom can be served as is or on top of some mixed greens for added texture and nutrients.

As far as packing these roasted portobello caps for a road trip goes, you will need an oven-safe dish or pan to cook them in before putting everything into containers so you can store it at room temperature until being eaten later on your trip.

Vegans can enjoy meals just as tasty and simple as others. There are burritos and sandwiches, for starters and your options with them are huge. Make sure to make some black bean quesadillas and get some hummus on vegetables wrapped in a tortilla. There are lots of vegan pasta options and portobello caps are another option for you. These are just some of them, enjoy!

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Carolyn Scott-Hamilton

The Healthy Voyager, aka Carolyn Scott-Hamilton, is the creator and host of The Healthy Voyager web series, site, and overall brand. An award winning healthy, special diet and green living and travel expert, holistic nutritionist, plant based vegan chef, best-selling cookbook author, media spokesperson, sought after speaker, consultant and television personality, Carolyn Scott-Hamilton is a respected figure in the world of healthy lifestyle and travel as well as special diet cooking and nutrition. The Healthy Voyager aims to help people live well, one veggie at a time!

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Vegan Travel Food Ideas

So, you’ve just touched down at your destination and walked into your Airbnb.

As any savvy traveler in search of vegan food would, you’ll obviously want to check HappyCow to find the best vegan restaurant fare in the area.

There’s nothing like tasting the local cuisine after you’ve arrived at a new place.

But if you’re going to be staying for a long period of time, you might want to consider doing some actual grocery shopping and taking advantage of the kitchen and fridge space at the home you’re staying in.

Here are a few reasons why…

• Cost : Going out to eat for every meal can be the most expensive part of any trip, especially if you’re traveling in a developed country. It might not be reasonable for you to spend $20 or more on every meal if you can avoid it.
• Time : If you’re traveling for business or an event, you might not want to burden yourself with having to stop for breakfast before your day gets started. It might just be easier to prep some vegan travel food quickly in your apartment and head out.
• Well-Being : Not all vegan food is healthy. This is especially true when eating out in restaurants, where most dishes are full of excess oil, sugar and salt. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with splurging while traveling, but I’ve found that it gets to be a bit much when doing it at every single meal.

Now that you’ve seen the reasons, here’s a plant based diet grocery list of things that I like to pick up at the store when I’m staying in an Airbnb…

They’re quite simple, but I’ve found that if you're traveling while vegan it pays to have them on hand to avoid getting hangry and spending tons of money eating out.

Plant Based Diet Grocery List for Travelers

Uma publicação partilhada por LÄRABAR (@larabar) a 9 de Jun, 2018 às 8:34 PDT

If I had to pick one essential vegan food for travel, it’s going to have to be Larabars . And no, I’m not sponsored by them or anything.

The reason I like them so much is because they’re all vegan and around 95% whole foods. They’re also widely available and very affordable. Each bar has around 200 calories, so it’s right in between a snack and a small-sized meal.

When traveling to the Midwest United States for business, Larabars have gotten me through some tough times! With Walmart being the only store in the area, I used these bars as my main source of calories over some extended business trips.

So, when I go to the grocery store, I’ll usually buy around 12 of these vegan travel snacks to keep for the trip. If I don’t finish them, they’re easy to take onto a plane, so they never go to waste.

Small Oatmeal Packets or Cups

Oatmeal is a quick and easy vegan meal that you can take anywhere.

Oatmeal is extremely satisfying and can be made in the microwave. This makes it the perfect vegan travel food for an Airbnb.

Since many hosts will keep spices on hand, you’ll often find cinnamon and a pinch of sugar you can sprinkle on.

I’d stay away from buying a big cannister, because it’s going to be difficult to take back with you, and you probably won’t finish it.

Instead, I prefer to get the plain packets or travel cups which I can quickly add hot water to and be on my way.

There’s also plenty of vegan oatmeal cup brands like Modern Oats if you’re inclined to get something fancy!

Fresh or Frozen Fruit

Save money by making your own smoothies with fruit from the local market.

I’m a fruit lover and avid smoothie drinker.

Especially if I’ve had a late night, I really like having a morning blast of the vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals that come from fruits and veggies.

If there’s one thing that bugs me when I travel, it's having to pay $8 for a juice-bar smoothie.

On my recent trip to Amsterdam, I paid even more for a smoothie from Juice Brothers (a chain smoothie joint there) when you take the conversion rate into account.

Granted, it tasted pretty good, but a frugal guy like me just cannot justify that on a daily basis – even when I’m traveling!

Luckily, almost all Airbnbs I’ve stayed in have had a blender that can make smoothies , so I didn’t have to go to an overpriced juice bar.

And because I always pick up the packets of oatmeal, I can use that to make a smoothie bowl (like this one ) for a fraction of what I’d pay at a café or juice bar.

If you don’t want to make a smoothie, the fruit is also great for a refreshing snack . I love knowing that I have it in the fridge or freezer after coming home from a salty meal or indulging in a few alcoholic beverages.

Embrace the vegan stereotype. Be the one who brought hummus .

While I normally prefer to make my own hummus, that’s out of the question when I’m traveling.

I just need something that I can keep in the fridge for a snack or to hold me over if I’m skipping lunch one day.

Most countries that I’ve been to (I’ve mainly traveled in the US, Canada and Europe) have had at least one brand of hummus in the grocery store.

In the Netherlands, I’ve actually been pleasantly surprised at the different flavors I’ve found, since Sabra doesn’t dominate the shelves.

As you can see here , Albert Heijn (a popular Dutch supermarket) has a wide selection, including red beet and sweet pumpkin hummus!

Carrots, Celery Sticks or Bread

Freshly baked bread is one of the great joys of traveling in Europe.

Not much to explain here, but I need something that I can dip into the hummus or something to spread it onto!

Also, bakeries seem to be far more prevalent outside the US, so you can get fresh-baked bread on the daily.

Picking up a loaf of bread can sometimes be a great way to experience what it would be like to be a local in certain cities.

Sometimes I prefer the local bread to a full-course restaurant meal!

Final Thoughts

If you’re a new vegan traveler, please don’t take this article out of context.

There are an endless number of restaurants and local vegan foods that you can and should explore. For inspiration, check out the many vegan city and country guides on this site, such as this vegan guide to Chicago , or this list of vegan Indian dishes .

Having been vegan for over 4 years, these explorations of the local vegan food scene are half the fun of visiting a new destination for me.

But if you’re on a budget or just want some simpler and healthier food options for your trip, I hope these vegan travel food ideas come in handy!

Have any other vegan travel tips to share? Leave them in the comments below!

Save this post for later on Pinterest!

About the Author

Joey Bruno is a vegan food enthusiast. He's the head blogger on ThriveCuisine.com  and also has a small and humble YouTube channel -  Kitchen Tips by Joe . When he's not doing something that involves plant-based cuisine or nerdy kitchen stuff, he enjoys practicing Jiu Jitsu and running with his dog.

About Wendy Werneth

Joey, thanks very much for your thoughtful blog on vegan travel ideas, I appreciate it. I am sad to see that many of the vegan ideas contain oil – our diet is plant-based whole foods, and oil is out, it is not a whole food. I will need to make my own hummus since those yummy flavored ones all contain oil. Luckily I will be in a home-stay while in The Hague, so will have kitchen priveleges. This will be our first time traveling over 30 days out of country since converting to the new diet so I’m researching ways to make it successful. Cheers!

Yes, sticking to a no-oil, whole foods plant-based diet while traveling will almost certainly require a lot of self-catering. My husband and I also eat that way when we’re at home, but when we’re traveling we just make sure that everything we eat is vegan and try to keep it as healthy as we can. Booking accommodations with kitchen facilities (AirBnBs, hostels, etc.) is definitely a good idea if you’re going to stick to no oil.

I like to rent apartments in India while there but don’t want to buy all kinds of kitchen gadgets like a blender or percolator. That would be a bit much luggage while going to the next state or country. Any suggestions besides AirBnB or Hostels?

I agree that buying or carrying blenders and other kitchen gadgets is not very practical when travelling. There are plenty of easy vegan meals that can be made without these gadgets, but if it’s important for you to have them then I suggest asking the person you’re renting from which gadgets are provided. As mentioned in the article, AirBnB apartments do often come with blenders. You can also try VegVisits , which is an AirBnB alternative specifically for vegan and vegetarian travelers, and one of their selling points is that the listings specify amenities such as juicers, blenders and dehydrators.

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Who is the Nomadic Vegan?

Hi, I'm Wendy. I'm an intrepid traveler, vegan foodie and animal lover. I travel all over the world (117 countries and counting!) uncovering vegan treasures to show you how you can be vegan anywhere. Read more on my About page .

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Travel Vixta

Best vegan road trip food ideas (with no fridge)

On our European road trip , we travelled 1700 miles across Europe in our Mazda Bongo. The longest drive was 10 hours! As a family of vegans (2 adults and 2 young kids), we had to come up with lots of vegan road trip snacks, main meal vegan food ideas and packed lunchboxes that didn’t need refrigeration. Our Bongo is not converted and we only had a cool box, which wouldn’t keep food cold for long when we set off from home in the UK. If you’re looking for vegan road trip food ideas that don’t need a fridge, read on as I share a huge list of road trip food ideas based on what we took with us!

Why we needed vegan road trip food ideas with no fridge

We did take a camping stove with us, but we were out on day trips most days when we weren’t on the road for hours travelling to destinations. So we needed plant-based road trip food ideas that needed no fridge, and no stove, for eating on long journeys and also to take on days out as a vegan packed lunch.

We didn’t have a fridge or any way of cooling food, so we needed vegan travel food that would last for a few days or several days for our eight-day trip. Some of the driving was up to 10 hours non-stop and we needed food for us and our two children, as well as vegan travel snacks and drinks that wouldn’t spoil.

I thought it was going to be really tricky to come up with enough snack ideas and vegan travel meals that don’t need refrigeration or cooking, especially healthy ideas. However, we actually surprised ourselves and came up with a pretty massive list of healthy, non-perishable foods to take with us which I’ll share with you in this blog post.

From the below list, we were able to have easy vegan meals while travelling on the road, snacks for when we were peckish, or create healthy packed lunches to take out with us for the day when exploring new cities.

We explored Amsterdam for a day , visited my husband Ben’s Gran in Germany, took an epic 10-hour drive to see many of the Delta Works in the Netherlands and we stopped in Bruges before heading back home.

For two nights we camped in the Bongo in Amsterdam, we stayed at Ben’s uncles for a couple of nights in Germany and then an AirBnB whilst in Belgium.

We don’t have a fridge in the camper as we haven’t converted it (instead, keeping the 8 seats and having a massive bed), so we had to come up with a whole list of vegan meals and snacks that we could eat on the go and not need to store in a fridge.

Of course, we had a fridge at the Airbnb and at Ben’s uncle’s, but we decided to take as much food from home as possible to keep eating costs low, so we had to take things that didn’t need a fridge as the first part of our trip was a lot of travelling and camping!

All of our plant-based meal ideas had to be made from as much dry food as possible.  None of it could be refrigerated. 

We’re also all vegan so they’re all suitable for anyone following a plant-based diet. These snacks are all easy to prepare, non-perishable, and perfect for your next road trip!

Between Ben’s uncle’s house and our Airbnb, we had a whopping 10-hour drive, so we needed meals and snacks for this.  We also had two nights camping in Amsterdam, so had to be inventive with vegan road trip food ideas here too.

If you’re wondering what on earth you can eat on a road trip as a vegan or what food to take camping without a fridge, then here’s a stack of ideas!

We came up with as many ideas as we could to create a shopping list before our trip and took loads of food from home.  That was a great benefit to driving across Europe in our own car, as we could really save money on food by visiting a UK supermarket before we left.

Huge list of the best vegan road trip food ideas without a fridge!

• Celery and peanut butter – take some cutlery with you and spread some cupboard-friendly peanut butter onto the celery for a great energy-boosting snack. Celery should last a couple of days at least in the car, so long as your car isn’t too hot!
• Rice crackers with peanut butter or marmite, or plain.  Rice crackers are perfect to munch on as a snack or to make peanut butter or marmite cracker sandwiches!  These are perfect for kids’ lunch boxes on the go.  Marmite doesn’t need to go in the fridge so it’s the perfect road trip food to create tasty no refrigeration lunches and snacks. Kallo rice cakes are our fave and we always have a pack or two at home!
• Crackerbread – great eaten on its own, dipped into hoummous or spread with marmite or peanut butter.
• Wraps with peanut butter or marmite.  Take an airtight container and you can store bread or wraps for a few days to make vegan sandwiches on the move.

• Wholemeal pittas stuffed or with hoummous – Like the wraps, you can also stuff pittas with some of the salad you take that will last a few days, and even take houmous in a cool box which will be good for a day or two and can be eaten with the pitta or salad. You can tear the pittas and dip them in houmous, guacamole, salsa or any other dip for the first day or two (if you buy chilled dips). You can even buy jars of dips from the tortilla crisp/nacho section of supermarkets which don’t need to be refrigerated until open! So buy the smallest jars or share the larger-sized jars with everyone so you use them up in one go.
• Nachos – A bit like crisps and dip, but you can have nachos and dip, or you can even make cold-topped nachos as unique vegan meals on-the-go idea. Vegan grated cheese will last a couple of days out of the fridge, or you can skip the cheese. Add cold sweetcorn, pickled shredded red cabbage, ready-to-eat refried beans out of a pack or tin, add some guacamole and you’ve got a delicious nacho meal box right there!

• Cereal to snack on dry, or with water or long-life plant-based milk.  Cereal is perfect if you take bowls and cutlery with you. It’s so easy to make a bowl of cereal with some long-life milk.  Try and get smaller cartons of the milk, or make sure you all eat cereal at the same time so you don’t waste any milk.  If you’ve milk leftover then the kids may want it as a drink as you venture on. Pack some reusable straws to make drinking on the go easier for kids.
• Fresh fruit – some fruit will last a few days and doesn’t need refrigerating so take grapes, oranges, pears, bananas and apples to snack on. We’ve always got organic fresh fruit and vegetable deliveries to our home from Riverford or Abel and Cole. Just remember to pause your delivery while you go on your road trip if you’ll be away when the next delivery comes!

• Salad – the same applies to some salads.  Tomatoes, lettuce, carrots and cucumber can often last a few days out of the fridge, so you can snack on this, or make your wraps and sandwiches more exciting for a couple of days at least.  You can always plan to visit supermarkets whilst travelling to keep fresh salad and fruit topped up.  Take a cool box to store it in, though the coldness will only last the first day unless you buy ice each time too. For no ice road trip food then your salad is really only going to be best for a day or two. If you’re travelling somewhere in heat, then you’ll want to use it on the first day ideally. A cool box with ice packs when you leave your home is best to start, then you could choose to buy ice packs as you travel to cool your food on the go. Most garages and food stores will sell these in their freezer sections.

• Dried fruit makes one of the best vegan road trip snacks as there are so many varieties and textures nowadays, and they won’t spoil.  We love apricots, prunes, chewy dried bananas, mango, strawberry and raisins. You can buy so many different varieties of fruit as a dried version and it can be crunchy or chewy. We love to take little pots of dried fruit out with us as part of our lunches too. We use stainless steel containers with silicone lids like these to store them in our backpacks.  Health stores sell big packs of dried fruit for good prices if you buy in bulk, or you can always stock up on some dried snacks from Graze before you head off.
• Bliss balls also known as energy balls are mostly made from dried fruit, nuts and seeds so they last ages too and don’t need refrigerating.  You can buy these from the shops, but it’s so easy to make your own too before you leave.

Here are some vegan no-bake energy ball recipes:

• Cacao nibs energy balls
• Coconut + green matcha energy balls recipe
• Peanut butter balls
• White mulberry, cocoa and chia energy balls recipe

• Bars, bars, bars !  We love dried fruit, nut and seed bars of all different kinds.  There are Trek bars, Pulsin bars and Nakd bars to name a few.  These are perfect to pack in bags when exploring to stop hunger in between meals and on long car journeys. For long-lasting energy and to feel satisfying full after a bar, give these superfood bars by Aduna a try! They’re delicious and full of goodness!
• Crisps – my favourite crisps are the Eat Real crisps and we also get the kids Organix crisps as they are organic and contain no sugar.
• Tortilla chips and dips – many dips like jars of salsa dips for tortilla chips don’t need to be refrigerated and can be kept in the cupboard, only needing refrigerating once opened. Take small jars, or larger jars to share that you know you’ll polish off in one sitting.

• Fruit pouches are great for kids and adults too!  ‘Baby’ fruit pouches aren’t just for babies, but kids and adults too.  The best thing is they don’t need refrigeration at all.  These were great for adding some more fruit snacks into our packed lunches each day.  The kids get really excited about a fruit pouch in their lunchbox. Me and Ben had one every day in ours too!
• Jelly in pouches exists too! This stuff isn’t solid like jelly, but the kids get excited when they hear the word jelly!
• Breadsticks – nice and easy snack to hand out in the car when the kids are complaining they’re hungry!
• Fruit crisps – it’s amazing how many things are made from fruit nowadays!  Dried fruit crisps satisfy that crisp crunch you might be craving, but they also provide a portion of fruit, so are much healthier than regular crisps.

• Popcorn is another great dried food snack that doesn’t need a fridge and the kids always love it!
• Nuts and seeds will keep you going when you get peckish. Make some trail mixes with mixed seeds, nuts and dried fruits like raisins or diced papaya for delicious snacks day and night.
• Sweetcorn is one of my favourite things to eat out of a tin!  It’s so refreshing and satisfies any sweet cravings.  Most tins have a ring pull so it’s really easy to eat on the go. You just need a spoon.  You can drink the remaining water too.
• Pineapple – another tinned item that is great vegan road trip food! I love pineapple in tins. So refreshing too, it’s like having a drink as well as a snack.  It’s another portion of fruit and you also get to have the juice!  We love the chunks in juice and the kids use reusable straws to get all the juice out of the tin.

• Tinned fruit – think peaches, mandarin and fruit cocktails. Opt for those in juice or water rather than syrup to keep it healthier. Sometimes these come in plastic pots too, but the lids can be tricky to pull off on the move and make a mess everywhere! That’s a good point actually – make sure you choose tinned things with ring pulls so you can easily open them on the road.
• Jelly – yep, you can now buy readymade vegan-friendly jelly in the store that doesn’t even need refrigeration!
• Noodles and rice pots are a great idea if you have a way of heating up some water.  We did take a camping stove with us so we could heat up some water for noodle/rice pots and hot drinks.  But of course, this was only good when we were parked up somewhere and could be next to the van itself and not on the move, such as stopping in car parks, to see sights or when we were camping.  We didn’t take the stove into the cities with us, so that had to be cold meals! We enjoyed eating some of these when visiting the Kinderdijk Windmills in the Netherlands before we arrived in Amsterdam.

• Vegan jerky – another great non-refrigerated vegan snack! You can buy readymade or learn to make your own before you go. Seasoned and dried, but still chewy, soy strips packed full of protein and tasty non-perishable food that can be kept in packets or Tupperware.
• Pickled onions – if you like pickled onions then these are a great savoury, tangy and sometimes sweet snack that doesn’t need a fridge. You can get large onions or mini ones already pickled in a jar from most supermarkets and convenience stores. The large ones certainly fill a hunger hole when you’re peckish in between meals!
• Green tea is packed full of antioxidants and great to sip on each day, in the car and when out if you take a thermal flask with you and can get some hot water.  Otherwise, it’s also a refreshing cold drink. You can get thermal flasks for hot or cold drinks with diffuser attachments so you can brew green tea or other herbal and fruit teas on the go.
• No-bake cookie bites are also something you can make easily, in advance, for a delicious sweet treat to enjoy after your plant-based road trip meals as a dessert. These are quick and easy to make and don’t require cooking. Simply take them in an air-tight tinned container to keep them fresh for a few days.

So many vegan road trip food ideas!

It’s actually really easy to come up with fridgeless vegan road trip food ideas once you start thinking about it…!

Hopefully, this list has got you started on thinking outside of the box when it comes to vegan food that doesn’t need refrigeration or no ice road trip meals!

When planning our road trip, we thought we’d really struggle to come up with non-perishable vegan food ideas on the road.  We actually managed to think up so many ideas that we had plenty of plant-based food options in the car for our exceptionally long drives, camping and whilst exploring Europe.

Also, depending on what your budget is and where you are travelling, there are so many more options for vegan food nowadays. Pretty much every major supermarket, service station and fuel station will have prepackaged vegan meals in their chillers so you can grab sandwiches, salads or other chilled meals on the journey.

You can also check out my healthy living blog for loads of vegan meal and snack ideas!

Love healthy living and saving money?

Check out these healthy living discount codes to make some great savings on vegan snacks and more!

Please pin me to your Pinterest boards and share with your friends:

Our 8-day Europe road trip travel diary

If you want to see what we got up to for the whole eight days and all the photos then check out all my Europe 2019 road trip travel diary blog posts here:

• Europe family road trip day 1 – England to Netherlands / UNESCO World Heritage Kinderdijk / Camping Vliegenbos
• Europe family road trip day 2 – exploring Amsterdam
• Europe family road trip day 3 – driving from Amsterdam, Netherlands to Munster, Germany
• Europe family road trip day 4 – Soltau, Germany
• Europe family road trip day 5 – Munster, Germany
• Europe family road trip day 6 – coastal scenic drive from Germany to Belgium
• Europe family road trip day 7 – a few hours in Bruges
• Europe family road trip day 8 – back to the UK

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2 thoughts on “ Best vegan road trip food ideas (with no fridge) ”

What a great list! I find that generally, plant-based options keep really well, which helps a lot.

Lots of great ideas!

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How to Eat Around the World on a Vegan Diet

As an omnivore, traveling is pretty easy on my stomach. There’s nothing I won’t eat (or at least try once. Like those fried maggots in Thailand ) and I don’t have any food allergies to worry about.

Outside of an inability to handle spicy food, I’m pretty lucky. I know scores of travelers whose food allergies and dietary restrictions make traveling to many regions of the world very, very difficult. Luckily, thanks to the web and apps, it’s become a lot easier to convey your dietary needs to shop owners around the world!

In today’s article, I sit down with our Community Manager Chris, who has been a vegan for 15 years. He shares with us how he does it, his favorite resources, and his advice for the non-omnivores out there!

Nomadic Matt: Tell us about yourself! Chris: I live abroad in “sunny” Sweden. I’m vegan, straight-edge, Buddhist, and balding. I’m also a huge nerd (I have a Star Wars tattoo and am a big fan of Dungeons and Dragons).

I grew up in small-town Canada , and after university, I intended to go to law school and get a respectable job, make mad cash, and live the Canadian Dream. I worked two jobs to put myself through school and was able to graduate without any debt.

However, somewhere along the way I realized I wasn’t really loving the path I was walking.

Growing up, it was always assumed that if you did well in school, you were sort of obligated to go to university, get a good job, marry, have 2.5 children, etc, etc.

It wasn’t until after my first year of university that I finally had the space and time to really think if I wanted to go that direction. While everything was going well – I was getting good marks, eating well (ish), and going to the gym every day – I didn’t feel challenged by my current situation. I felt there had to be more to life than just jumping through hoops and building a routine.

It was then that I gave up my plans of following the career-house-family model and started to look for alternatives ways of living.

How did you get into traveling? Honestly, I think it all started when I was 10. My dad and I went down to Florida to Disney for my birthday, and — not surprisingly — it was an amazing time. I have lots of fond memories from that trip, though what stands out the most isn’t what you’d think. What started me down my road of travel? A seatbelt.

Some of you will remember the car company Saturn. They used to have a car with an automatic seatbelt. It was a cumbersome contraption, but as a 10-year-old, having just arrived in the United States for the first time, I thought it was amazing. An automatic seatbelt?! It blew my mind. I was captivated by it. I think that’s where it all started.

From then on, I realized that there were so many mysterious and exciting things out there. And I wanted to uncover them all.

Ten years later, I was slashing my way through the jungles of Costa Rica . While there, I almost got attacked by a jaguar while hiking in the rain forest. It had stalked my group to the top of a mountain, and when I was more or less alone it started to weave toward me.

By the time it got close, my guide showed up and we scared it away (though it did stalk us for another few hundred meters). A week later I was chased by a crocodile while kayaking up a river (talk about bad luck, right!?).

That trip rekindled my desire to travel and inspired me to change my priorities. I left university early and moved to Japan to live at a Zen monastery where I could have some time to figure out what I wanted to do in life.

I’ve more or less been traveling since.

You’re vegan. Is it easy to travel as a vegan? For the most, it’s very easy. But it all depends on your destination and your preparation. In North America and Western Europe, most people understand what you mean when you say you’re vegan or vegetarian. Moreover, if they don’t understand, they likely speak enough English that you can clarify. Many cities in Europe are actually amazing vegan hubs ( Berlin and London to name two).

The trouble arises when you visit somewhere with a high language barrier that also has very different cultural food norms. There are many countries in the world where being vegan/vegetarian is something uncommon and perhaps not entirely understood. In countries like this, the difficulty isn’t finding food — basic staples like rice and vegetables and fruits can always be found at markets and stores — but interacting with locals and having to explain your diet, which can come off as some sort of implicit judgment of their own diet.

If you don’t do your research, you can get into some awkward situations.

As a vegan, we sometimes miss out on cultural exchanges. Having a local invite you into their home is something many travelers dream of but, as a vegan, this can be tricky as you now have to politely explain that you cannot eat the food they’re offering. It’s a fine, challenging line to walk.

What are some good resources and tools for vegans planning to travel? Happy Cow is the go-to resource for finding vegan restaurants abroad; it’s like vegan Yelp. You can read reviews and find information about menus, hours, and locations. This is my main resource when I’m searching for good vegan grub abroad.

Another tool I use is Couchsurfing . While there are vegan groups there that you can browse, I just like to message local vegans directly and say that I’m coming to their city and would love to hear their suggestions. People are always happy to share their thoughts, and I’ve come away with some great tips from this.

Not only can you ask about restaurants but you can inquire about good grocery stores for vegan options, as eating out every meal will get pricey. Sometimes, they will even want to join you, so it’s a cool way to meet people and make connections.

Don’t hesitate to ask the staff of your hostel/hotel or the host of your Airbnb either. They are equally valuable resources, too!

Lastly, there are lots of great vegan travel blogs, too. Some of my favorites are:

• Justin Plus Lauren
• Vegan Food Quest
• The Nomadic Vegan
• The Vegan Word
• Veggie Visa

Have you had any dietary mishaps while traveling? Many! Just like every other aspect of traveling, travel planning will only take you so far. Sometimes things go off the rails and you need to adapt.

When I was in Mongolia, my partner and I were invited to lunch by a local. We were a bit hesitant, considering our diets (my partner is vegetarian), but didn’t want to be rude. So we accepted.

It turned out the family had already eaten — they just wanted to make us a meal. They served up some meat dumplings, kimchi, and fermented milk green tea. Not exactly my standard vegan meal.

But we adapted.

I pretended to drink the tea while my partner downed her glass. We then covertly swapped cups so they wouldn’t notice, thereby leading them to think we both drank the tea.

I ate all the kimchi and then tried to gesture that I was full — they didn’t speak English, after all, so gestures were all I had. They insisted I eat some dumplings, and not taking no for an answer, I had to bite the bullet. I picked up a few and popped them into my mouth. As soon as they looked away I spat them out and put them into my pocket. They were so hot and greasy, they kind of burned my leg as they dripped through my pocket but I played it cool.

After the meal, we all went outside and their dogs started hounding me. I tossed them the scraps, and no one was the wiser.

Obviously, this isn’t an ideal situation but since there was a language barrier (and no Wi-Fi to communicate) we had to improvise on the fly. When you’ve been vegan for so long, eating non-vegan food can get you sick so you need to keep your wits about you!

How do you get over the language barrier and let someone know your dietary needs? There are three basic ways to do this:

• 1. Write it down . I write down phrases in my notebook for each country I visit. I’ll write down things like “I do not eat meat” so that I can show it to servers at restaurants. I’ll write it in the local language, and then phonetically in English so I can read it aloud without too much embarrassment. This is my standard method — which probably hints at just how old I am — though I am slowly coming around to this next method.
• 2. Use Google Translate. If you have Internet access, then Google Translate is a great method. To be safe, I suggest downloading the necessary languages so you have access offline. You can also use the app to take photos of menus and translate them, which has been super helpful on many occasions!
• 3. The Vegan Passport. This little book has helpful vegan phrases you can use as you travel. There are versions in around 80 different languages, making it a pretty handy resource for an RTW trip. It costs around $10 but could likely save you some trouble on the road.

Where are the best places in the world to travel to as a vegan? Nowadays you can find vegan restaurants pretty much everywhere. That being said, there are a few places in the world that showcase some impressive offerings. NYC , Berlin , Toronto , and Austin are all great vegan hubs. I’ve had some of the best food of my life in those cities.

Additionally, countries with a higher percentage of vegetarians and vegans (like Germany or Sweden ) also make it easy to find vegan food products in grocery stores, covering you for all those days you don’t want to eat out (or can’t afford to!).

Are there any places that are really difficult? Not surprisingly, I found Russia, Norway , and Mongolia to be challenging as a vegan. Malta wasn’t great either.

Essentially, if a country doesn’t grow many fruits or vegetables then you are sort of out of luck for a lot of options. Don’t get me wrong, I loved all three place but my diet there was mostly bread and unflavored instant noodles. There just weren’t a lot of options.

How do you manage in countries with few vegan options? Plan ahead! Always travel with some extra granola bars or trail mix from home. This will keep you covered during those few instances when it is hard to find a proper meal. I took 30 power bars with me to Russia and ate almost 100 granola bars during my 800km walk along the Camino.

Traveling as a vegan means your meals will not always be glamorous. Making your diet a priority, you sometimes will end up having some pretty bland and unexciting meals. That’s just the price of eating on a budget as a vegan. It won’t always be awesome vegan food, so be prepared for those rough patches by bringing some backup snacks. You’ll thank me later.

You’re an avid Couchsurfer! Many people are put off by Couchsurfing, since you are essentially staying with a stranger. Why do you like it? Honestly, CS is my favorite way of finding accommodation precisely because you are staying with a stranger. I like it better than hostels because you generally have more privacy and it is quieter than hostels (no snoring backpackers!).

You also get to connect with a local who can answer all of your travel questions. This is a priceless resource, making CS worth its weight in gold! On top of that, there are lots of events and meetups available on Couchsurfing, which are great ways to meet other locals and travelers. The fact that it is free is just the icing on the cake.

If you’re not comfortable staying with a stranger, use the app just to meet locals for coffee, a meal, or a trip to a museum. You’ll get the same connection without having to stay in someone’s house.

What tips do you have for those considering Couchsurfing as a means of find accommodation? If you are planning on using Couchsurfing as your primary accommodation resource, you’ll want to do at least these three things:

• 1. Get verified. This means you pay a small fee and have your address and phone number verified. You can also send in a copy of a passport, too. What this does is show everyone you’re a legit human being and not someone trying to scam the system.
• 2. Add tons of photos and information to your profile. Be detailed, so everyone can get a sense of your personality. Share your favorite movies and books, your past trips and adventures, and anything else you think is interesting! Hosts generally prefer to have guests that they share interests with, so this is the best way to find like-minded CSers.
• 3. Get references. References are the backbone of Couchsurfing. Without them, you’ll almost never find a host. Find friends or coworkers who can vouch for you so that you have some references before you travel. That will increase the odds of you finding a host tenfold.

You’ve been traveling for a while. What’s your #1 tip for new travelers? If I had to boil down everything I’ve learned into one tip it would be this: slow the heck down. I’ve seen too many people rush around, trying to check countries off their bucket list, only to spend most of their trip on buses and planes and trains.

Rushing around really takes away from the experience; you are too hurried to really stop and smell the roses. Sure, you may get some great photos for your Instagram, but there is much more to traveling than that!

By slowing down, you really start to soak up each destination. You allow yourself more time to get off the beaten path and to embrace new opportunities as they arise. If you are rushing around, you won’t be able to change your schedule if you find a place you really like.

Or what if you meet some cool people who invite you to tag along on their journey? This wouldn’t be possible if you were committed to a hasty itinerary. It’s also cheaper since you won’t be spending so much time and money on transportation!

So, when it comes to traveling, remember: less is more.

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner . It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld . If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• SafetyWing (best for everyone)
• Insure My Trip (for those 70 and over)
• Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Want to Travel for Free? Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.

Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip? Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.

Ready to Book Your Trip? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.  

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

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travel abroad, vegan cooking, vegan meals, vegan travel

Vegan Travel Food: Pro Tips and Easy Meals You Can Make Anywhere

Traveling as a vegan doesn't have to be hard. Finding vegan food while traveling doesn't have to be intimidating. Your travel experience doesn't have to be limited due to your veganism.

We've traveled as a vegan family for years with success. Have we learned a few tips and tricks along the way? Absolutely. Here they are...

Vegan Travel Food: Pro Tips

• Traveling Vegan? Book Accommodation with a Kitchen
• Shop Local to Eat Local
• Take a Vegan Cooking Class
• Join a Facebook Group

Easy Vegan Meals You Can Make While Traveling Anywhere

Savory oats, buddha bowl, additional vegan travel food tips.

• What About Leftovers?

Some Tips on Grains

Grocery shopping when you don’t speak the language.

• No Salt? No Oil? No problem!
• Cooking Whole Potatoes in the Microwave

Bring Your Own Knife

The benefits of having a kitchen while traveling.

My first tip for vegan travel food is to book accommodation with a kitchen.

Traveling as a vegan family, especially one with a baby (and then toddler... and now preschooler), has led us to seek out accommodations that have kitchens. 

Accommodations with a kitchen not only save you money in the long run, but they allow you to choose when you’d like to eat out and when you’d like to stay “home”. This also allows for some flexibility if you’re staying in an area that doesn’t have a lot of variety in vegan-friendly restaurants. 

Having your own kitchen becomes especially important when the little ones are, well… little. That evening witching hour is no joke! Plus, it allows for easier mornings, prevents any “hangry-ness”, and in general allows more flexibility with eating and your schedule… which we all know just makes everyone happier.

That being said, we have survived for 2 weeks comfortably in a hotel with just a microwave and a hot water kettle. Creativity is key when it comes to vegan cooking around the world!

Traveling Vegan: How to Experience Local Food Culture

I often hear that some people are hesitant to become vegan because they still want to travel. They don’t want to limit the cultural experiences of their destinations… and that includes food.

Okay, straight talk. You make your own rules in life. Don’t let the ultra vegan purists stop you from at least making more vegan-directed choices. You can tell yourself that you want to eat vegan, but will allow yourself to eat whatever you want while traveling. Figure that part out when you get there. Don’t let the fear of the future stop you from making the choices that you want to make today. Okay, rant over.

Experience Local Food Culture: Shop Local to Eat Local

Traveling as a vegan doesn’t mean you can’t experience local food culture. When traveling, I buy most of my groceries from local markets, amongst locals, from people that don’t speak one word of English. Now that is culture.

I love finding the most obscure looking fruits and veggies, buying them, and then figuring out what in the world to do with them! 

Sometimes that has created a few laughs. Like the cassava tortillas that I bought in Laos. They were so tough. I couldn’t figure out what to do with them! Finally, after taking a cooking class, I realized you needed to fry them, and then they were like tortilla chips! I had honestly never deep fried anything like that before. There’s a first time for everything! And, they were pretty delicious if I do say so myself.

Experience Local Food Culture: Take a Vegan Cooking Class

Another favorite tip of mine is to find a local vegan cooking class. I find them either through some Google searching or in Airbnb experiences. 

I’ve taken vegan cooking classes in Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. They show you how the local culture uses various ingredients and how to cook vegan versions of local dishes. 

You’ll learn about local dishes that are accidentally vegan, and meals that could be hiding things like fish or oyster sauce. That way, if you are at a restaurant, you know what substitutions to ask for, or to omit these ingredients completely. 

In some experiences, it’s also been a perfect opportunity to talk one-on-one with a local and learn a more in-depth take on the culture that I’m visiting. This was so special to me in Vietnam, where I had a one-on-one class with a woman from a nearby village.

Since there was no one else in the class, she sat down and ate our creations with me. First of all, that was helpful because she showed me how to eat these dishes, but also because it was a time to relax and share a bit about ourselves. I learned so much about her history, female expectations from her family, the differences in culture from the rural areas to the city, etc. 

This particular class was in Hanoi and run by Rose Kitchen . Highly recommended!

You always go home with an entire cookbook of local recipes as a souvenir. I try to take these classes earlier in my trip. I can then buy the necessary ingredients at the local market and cook these recipes back at our accommodation. You also then have the insights needed for knowing what to order when you eat out.

Experience Local Food Culture: Join a Local Vegan Facebook Group

First of all, if you don’t already know about Happy Cow , be sure to check out what restaurants their website has listed for your destination. Not all the restaurants will be “local” food, but it’s a good starting place for planning your vegan food while traveling.

But there are other resources available online other than just Happy Cow. I’ve joined a number of Facebook Groups (like Vegan - Vegetarian - Organic Hanoi ) to get insider tips on where to eat, where to shop, and vegan-friendly events in the area.

Aside from learning to make local dishes, though, there have been a few key meals for us that can usually be created in anywhere in the world. I always emphasize, though, that the goal is to make a tasty meal, not the exact meal you would make at home. You will have to make substitutions. You may have to include ingredients that don’t traditionally belong in that dish. But as long as it tastes good, I consider it a win. 

I’ve cooked these vegan meals in a hotel room in Hanoi, in a campervan in New Zealand, at an outdoor kitchen in Bali, and tent camping in Australia. 

They’re pretty versatile, as long as you’re willing to adapt and be flexible. These recipes can help you to cook vegan meals while traveling anywhere.

Curry is one of those vegan meals that is set up for versatility. You only need a few key ingredients, and the rest can be a “what’s left in the fridge” kind of meal.

Ingredients you need:

• Paste works as well, but you then run the risk of it containing fish or oyster sauce.
• Coconut milk
• Rice (or any grain)
• Veggies can include anything you can find! Some of my favorites include onion, potatoes, squashes or pumpkins, sweet potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, zucchini, and eggplant.

Bonus Ingredients:

Equipment you need:

• A knife and cutting board
• At least one pot or pan

Bonus Equipment:

• An additional pot or pan
• If you don’t have a can opener for the coconut milk, just take note of this before heading to the store. You can usually find one for cheap, and it’s worth the purchase over the headache of finding a creative way to open the can.

Directions:

If you only have one pot, cook your grain first and set aside in a bowl or straight into your eating dishes. If you have more than one pot, get your grain cooking when you start to cook your curry.

• Cut your veggies into bite-sized pieces
• Sautee your veggies - Add the veggies that will take longer to cook first. Like potatoes, squashes, or carrots. Ingredients like zucchini or eggplant can wait till later.
• Mix in the curry powder - The amount depends on how many veggies you’re cooking up. I’ll usually start with approximately a tablespoon, and then I’ll add and adjust from there.
• Add enough water to cover the veggies
• Simmer until all veggies are cooked through
• Add the beans if you’re using them
• Stir in the coconut milk (Start sparingly, taste, and add slowly until you like the consistency). Too much coconut milk can take over the flavor of the dish and make your curry incredibly rich!
• Add salt and pepper to taste
• Serve atop your grain and with any greens you'd like

Stir-fry can be another “what’s left in the fridge” kind of meal… or while traveling, it’s more like “what I found at the market”. Don’t get caught up on all the veggies being typical stir fry veggies. If you like it and it’s available, throw it in!

• Veggies - Anything you can find! Favorites for stir fry include onion, mushrooms, broccoli, green beans, corn, carrots, bell peppers, eggplant, snap peas, and bok choy.
• If there aren’t rice noodles, use spaghetti noodles! Be prepared to be flexible, though you’ll likely find some form of rice or noodles anywhere in the world.
• In a pinch, I’ve also served stir fry over some baked or boiled potatoes. Not traditional, I know, but still delicious, which is the end goal after all.
• Rice Vinegar
• A sweetener
• A thickener (like flour or starch)
• A skillet (or a large pot will do)
• An additional pot
• Get your grain or noodles cooking first, as the veggies tend to cook quickly
• Cut the veggies into bite-sized pieces
• Sauté your veggies in water until they’re about half-cooked - Add the veggies that will take longer to cook first. Like mushrooms, sweet potatoes, or carrots. Ingredients like zucchini or eggplant can wait till later.
• Mix your sauce ingredients in a bowl (whisking with a fork will do just fine) - To find the right ratio of salty, acidic, and sweet, you’ll need to play around with it a bit. Start slow and taste as you go! You can always adjust once you’ve added the sauce to your meal as well.
• Add the sauce to your veggies. Simmer for a few minutes until it cooks down a bit.
• Serve atop your grain and enjoy!

Could you get any easier than sauce and noodles? Throw in some veggies to make it a complete meal, and voila! Dinner is served. 

• Jar of pasta sauce or can of diced tomatoes
• Anything you can find! But some favorites include onion, sweet potato, squash or pumpkin, zucchini, mushrooms, eggplant, bell peppers, and olives.
• Herbs - E specially helpful if you’re using diced tomatoes instead of sauce
• Nutritional Yeast
• A stove-top
• If you only have one pot, you’ll need to cook the noodles first, set them aside, then cook the sauce. You can either add the noodles to the pot at the end, or just let the sauce reheat the noodles on your plate.
• If you don’t have one, just carefully pour the water out of the pot with the lid slightly ajar. This is easier for noodles like penne or rotini, but more difficult with spaghetti, as those are thin, slippery little suckers. Still doable, but a bit more of a headache.
• Can opener (if you’re using a can of diced tomatoes instead of a jarred pasta sauce)
• Additional pot for cooking your noodles at the same time as the sauce.
• If you only have one pot, cook your noodles according to the package directions and set them aside.
• Chop your veggies into bite-sized pieces.
• Sauté your veggies that have longer cooking times first. Things like sweet potatoes, squashes, and pumpkin.
• Once the slower-cooking veggies are nearly there, add in the quick-cooking veggies. Things like zucchini and eggplant.
• If you’re using diced tomatoes, you’ll want to make sure the tomatoes simmer for a bit with the sauce. So when you mix in the quicker-cooking veggies like zucchini and eggplant, add the diced tomatoes at the same time. You may need to add some water to get the desired consistency. 
• If you’re using a premade pasta sauce,  sauté the quicker-cooking veggies for a bit, then mix in the sauce and bring to a simmer, just to heat it through. The sauce doesn’t need to simmer at all. You may need to add some water to get the desired consistency.
• If you’re using olives, feel free to add the olive liquid to your sauce. It helps to add more depth and flavor to the sauce.
• When you have a sauce that you’re happy with, serve on top of the noodles. Sprinkle with your (optional) nooch, and enjoy!

Okay, I know this one is less likely to be possible in some places abroad. I don’t think we ever made burgers in the Asian countries we visited. But still, they are a great go-to meal in countries like the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. I’m sure European countries would have options as well, but we’ve yet to take a family trip there. 

• Vegan burger patties 
• Buns or Bread
• Tomatoes, pickles, onions, etc.
• Mustard, vegan cheese, hummus, guacamole, etc.
• I make fries if I have an oven. If I only have a stovetop, I just make mashed potatoes! Remember, the main goal is having a delicious meal, not having it be exactly as you'd make it at home.

Bonus Ingredients (for mashed potatoes) :

• Garlic powder
• Plant-based milk or sour cream
• Knife and cutting board 
• A pot (if making mashed potatoes)
• A skillet (if you can’t bake the burgers)
• Baking trays
• Parchment paper 
• Wash and quarter the potatoes (no need to peel if you wash them thoroughly)
• Place in a pot and cover with water
• Bring to a boil and simmer until the potatoes are tender
• Drain the potatoes
• Mash the potatoes with a fork or the bottom of a drinking cup (probably best to avoid glass with this)
• Mix in your desired flavors - Things like Sautéed onions, garlic, salt, plant-based milk or sour cream, etc.
• Cover the potatoes and set aside
• If the burgers aren’t too crumbly, you could also try heating them in a toaster. Though that’s certainly taking a risk if you don’t have any spares!
• Assemble your burgers with buns or bread, and your desired toppings
• Wash and chop the potatoes into wedges or fry-shapes  (no need to peel if you wash them thoroughly)
• In a bowl, toss the potatoes with any spices and flavors you have on hand. I love adding a bit of vinegar or soy sauce so the spices will stick more easily. Then I’ll add things like garlic, salt, cumin, chili powder, etc. But just salt will do!
• Arrange them on the baking sheet… or just dump them on and spread them out as evenly as possible, ha!
• Bake until starting to bubble and brown.
• Bake the burgers according to the package instructions
• Chop up your veggies and greens
• Add a dressing - You can either buy a store-bought one, or get creative. One of my favorites is combining hummus with salsa!
• You likely won’t have a steamer basket. No problem!
• Add your veggies to the pot, and add about half an inch of water to the bottom.
• Steam as usual, keeping an eye on the water to make sure it doesn’t all evaporate. If it does, you’ll burn the bottom of your pan!
• You don’t want too much water, though, because you’ll end of with boiled vegetables. Which is fine, but not as tasty in my opinion.
• Toast your buns or bread in the oven or toaster if desired
• Add your toppings (sliced tomatoes, pickles, mustard, etc.)
• Serve with your potatoes and your salad or steamed vegetable.

Oats? For dinner? Yep! Oats are a go-to, easy-to-prepare, in-a-pinch meal for us. 

• Flavorings (see below)
• Veggies - Anything goes!

You can flavor the oats anyway you’d like. They’re really just another grain, like rice, quinoa, or couscous. Here are a few options:

Italian inspired savory oats: 

• Mix the oats with a can of diced tomatoes and some Italian herbs, garlic, and salt.

Mac N’ Cheese inspired savory oats:

• Mix the oats with garlic powder, onion powder, nutritional yeast, and salt
• Plant based milk goes well with this one if you have it, but water will do just fine!

Asian-Inspired savory oats:

• Mix the oats with some peanut butter, soy sauce, some kind of vinegar, and sriracha.

Equipment you’ll need:

• A microwave, hot water kettle, or stovetop
• We’ve had this meal with raw veggies a few times in hotel rooms, though. Some things like kale will cook a bit when you add the hot oats.
• Add the oats and flavors to a bowl.
• Mix in some water. I don’t have measurements here, because it depends on what flavors you’re doing, the consistency of your oats, and if you prefer your oats thicker or more watery.
• Chop your veggies, and either mix them in for some of the microwaving, or add them raw at the end
• Microwave until the desired amount of water has been absorbed. Add more water as necessary.
• Be prepared to keep an eye on them and adjust as you go!
• Quick Oats (rather than rolled oats) work best with a hot water kettle
• Add the oats and the flavors to a bowl.
• Boil some water in the kettle, and pour the desired amount of water to your oats. Start with less than you think you’ll like, and add as you go.
• Cover the bowl with a plate and allow the oats to sit until the desired amount of water has been absorbed.
• You could also play around with adding your veggies before you add the boiling water, and this will help your veggies to steam a bit.
• Veggies that would work best with this include quick-cooking veggies like zucchini, some cherry tomatoes, kale, or finely chopped broccoli.
• Chop your veggies and sauté in a skillet
• Add the oats, flavors, and water to a saucepan
• Bring to a boil, and simmer until the desired amount of water has been absorbed.
• Adjust the water content as you go, making sure you don’t burn the oats to the bottom of the pan… or you’ll be running to the store for a serious scrubby brush!

And finally, the trusty ole Buddha Bowl. The ultimate meal in the “whatever’s in the fridge” category of meals.

Below is what you’ll need for a Buddha Bowl. Obviously, you don’t need all these ingredients. To me, a Buddha Bowl is just a variety of flavored food that makes up a complete meal. 

You’ll need to adjust what you add based on what kitchen equipment you have. A Buddha Bowl is essentially a glorified salad. But it can be incredibly satisfying and delicious. Don’t be afraid to get creative. And flavor the heck out of whatever you have available to you! Garlic, spices, salt, vinegars, etc. 

Ingredients you’ll need:

• Stove top: Rice, quinoa, potatoes, sweet potatoes
• Microwave or hot water kettle: Cous cous, oats
• Oven: Potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash (kind of an in-between starch and veggie to me)
• Tofu, beans, lentils
• Kale, spinach, lettuce, arugula
• Sauteed, roasted, steamed, raw, or a combination of all the methods!
• Hummus and salsa, tahini and lemon juice, the peanut butter sauce from the oat recipe, a store-bought salad dressing, etc.
• A lot of times, we’ve even bought cans of premade soup (something creamy like pumpkin works well) and used that as our sauce!

I’m not going to give directions for this one. Just creative and have fun with it!

Vegan Travel Food: Additional Tips

Don’t forget to think about leftovers. If you’re going to end up with leftovers, how will you store them?

You can usually store leftovers right in the pot if your fridge is big enough. Or in a bowl with a plate on top (instead of plastic wrap).

We've recently gotten some Stasher Bags , which are basically re-usable plastic-baggies. They're a step-up from your typical plastic bag, though, because these things are incredibly leak-proof. You can easily store sauces and even soups in them!

If you don’t have room for leftovers in the fridge, keep this in mind when you’re cooking your meal! Only cook and chop what you'll eat for that one meal.

If you only have one pot , consider finding couscous. For couscous, you simply add boiling water, cover, and let it sit. You don’t need to simmer it at all. Therefore, you don’t need a pot dedicated to the couscous. You can use a bowl and cover it with a plate.

Rice noodles are another great grain if you only have one pot. Check the instructions, but many of them only require you to add boiling water and let it sit for a couple of minutes. 

Grains are all about ratios. You don’t need measuring cups. You just need to have the right ratio. So if I’m cooking rice, I just fill up a drinking glass with rice. Then I add two glassfuls of water to my pot.

Utilize Google Translate.  Google Translate isn’t just for spoken word. Did you know you can aim your phone at an ingredients list, and it will translate the ingredients before your very eyes? 

It’s a pretty amazing tool. If you’re ever questioning the ingredients, like in a curry paste, simply scan the ingredients list and see what comes up. See the word fish? You can quickly move on.

This is one of the most useful tools that makes cooking vegan while traveling so easy. That’s also why I encourage you to keep meals simple while traveling. Once you find your go-to vegan ingredients at the store or market, you don’t need to spend additional time in the aisles checking labels. Simply grab what you know is vegan and move on with your exploring!

No Salt? No Oil? No Problem!

Don’t have oil? No problem! Sauté vegetables in water. I do this at home anyway to make my meals healthier. You’ll just need to add a bit more water every so often since, unlike oil, water evaporates.

If you don’t have salt, try soy sauce. In a pinch, something acidic can also have a similar effect on the flavor of food. Something like vinegar or lemon juice.

Cook Whole Potatoes in a Microwave

Did you know you can cook a potato in the microwave? Wrap it in a dishtowel or washcloth, and cook for approximately 5 minutes. No need to poke holes. 

Another quick meal idea could be to microwave some potatoes, and top them with some store-bought sauces like salsa, guacamole, or even hummus. Serve with a side of raw veggies and hummus, and you have yourself a complete hotel-made meal!

We pretty much always travel with our own knife (and sometimes cutting board). The knives at rentals tend to be pretty dull and useless. If you’re going to be chopping up a lot of veggies for dinners, you’ll be thankful to have brought your own. 

We created a sheath out of cardboard for the safe travel of our knife in suitcases. You don’t need anything fancy, but remember not to bring it in your carry-on! 

That’s it! I’d love to know what your go-to vegan travel tips meals are! Any failed recipes? Something you keep coming back to? Once you get the hang of it, coming up with meals on the fly can be done with your eyes closed… or half-closed like when you’re jet-lagged 😉

If you're looking for more vegan travel tips, check out my Vegan Travel page. Happy traveling my friends!

vegan cooking classes, vegan meal ideas, vegan travel, vegan travel abroad, vegan travel food, Vegan Travel Tips

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I have this knife guard. It works well. https://www.amazon.com/W%C3%BCsthof-2783-Blade-Guard-6-Inch/dp/B06XWWPML3/ref=sr_1_47?crid=25SNWBWPKI7R2&keywords=paring+knife+guard&qid=1702515033&sprefix=paring+knife+shield%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-47

Amazon has many different options for kinfe guards

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With the reopening of borders, many countries such as Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong have lifted many restrictions on tourists, thereby creating a big buzz for traveling in recent months. You may be thinking of traveling too and giving yourself a well-deserved break. As vegetarians, we usually fret over our meals more than often during travels, so here I am giving you my 10 travel friendly vegetarian & vegan food recommendations. They are quick-fix meals that could make your traveling much easier when vegetarian options are not readily available, or when you just crave your comfort food after being away from home for many weeks surviving just on pizza, fries, salads such as potatoes, cucumbers, and tomatoes.

10 Travel Friendly Vegetarian & Vegan Food You May Bring Along When You Travel

You will know what I mean when you travel around the world for more than a month and start missing vegetarian food from home. But here I am recommending food that is much tastier than the usual comfort food fix! The list starts now, the order of the products is not related to the ranking:

Keith Yuen introducing 10 travel friendly vegetarian food you can bring along for your next travel

#1 Vegetarian Mushroom Soup (VEGAN) Mushroom Based

Ingredient List: Water, Mushroom (Shitake, Button, Portobello), Vegetable Spread, Vegetable Oil, Flour, Coconut Milk, Vegetarian Concentrate Stock, Sugar, Modified Starch, Fresh Herb, Salt, Sodium Salt, Nutritional Yeast, Black Pepper, Dried Herb

Travel Friendly Vegetarian Mushroom Soup

I have always loved mushroom soup in Singapore, especially those thick, creamy ones. And you must be thinking instant ones may not be up on par with those cooked by the restaurant chefs, but this product totally caught me off guard when I first tried it. The aromatic mushroom aftertaste on the thick creamy broth is really savory and yummy. It comes with little bits of mushroom within the soup. And what is amazing is that you only need a kettle to heat it up and it’s ready to eat in the container that comes with the product. If it’s not filling enough, go with bread that you could find in the supermarket, it should be a quick fix to a meal.

Thick & creamy texture travel friendly vegetarian mushroom soup

#2 Vegetarian Rice Porridge (VEGAN)

Ingredient: Water, Rice, Pumpkin, Mushroom, Peanut, Vegetarian Oyster Sauce, Sugar, Vegetarian Concentrate Stock, Salt, White Pepper, Sesame Oil

Travel Friendly Vegetarian Rice Porridge

There may be days when you crave watery and simple food and this could be the deal for you. The aromatic mushroom and sweet pumpkin taste add flavor to the porridge that warms your palate. I am not a huge fan of porridge, but this reminds me of the days when I was living in Hong Kong, those thick creamy Hong Kong congee. Delicious!

The thick porridge with delicious chunks of mushrooms and pumpkins

#3 Vegetarian Nasi Lemak (VEGAN) with Anchovies Sambal

Ingredient: Rice, Lemongrass, Tomato, Coconut Milk, Chili, Sugar, Peanut, Vegetarian Anchovies, Ginger, Vegetable Oil, Chili Sauce, Tomato Sauce, Plum Sauce, Salt, Vegetarian Oyster Sauce, Sodium Salt, Nutritional Yeast

Travel Friendly Vegetarian Nasi Lemak With Anchovies Sambal

When you crave rice and chili, especially during travel. The portion of the rice isn’t as generous as the chili I would say, however, it’s still a delicacy when you are overseas deprived of Asian home-cooked food. Just like the mushroom soup, a kettle with hot water is all you need. Imagine the beautiful cold weather in Europe, all you need is just this delicious mouth-watering sambal chili that can fuel you further into the cold dark winter! haha

A luxurious travel friendly vegetarian Nasi Lemak you can bring along. The sambal is just pure heavenly especially when you are in overseas.

#4 Vegetarian Anchovies aka Ikan Bilis or Fried Mushroom Stipe (VEGAN) Mushroom Based

Ingredient: Mushroom, Vegetarian Seasoning

Travel Friendly Vegetarian Anchovies Ikan Bilis Fried Mushroom Stipe! Sorry, I ate too much for the month and only left 5 % for the shoot! haha

You could tell how much I love this product from the amount left in the bag! I would add it to our noodles, and our rice, and even snack on it on the go. It’s so addictive and irresistible that we could not save it for photo-taking. It’s made from mushroom stipe or what people call mushroom stalk. It’s crunchy and salty. Good to add to anything even pasta or pizza.

You can add the vegetarian anchovies aka Ikan Bilis to the Nasi Lemak rice or even porridge. Alternatively, I just eat it like a snack! 🙂

#5 Korean Style Spicy Noodle (VEGAN)

Ingredient: Noodles: Wheat Flour, Vegetable Oil, Water

Sauce: Water, Chilli Sauce (malt syrup, wheat flour, water, Chilli Powder, Salt, Rice), Vegetable Oil Sugar, Salt, Chili, Corn Starch, Xanthan Gum

Vegetables: White Sesame, Seaweed, Kandungan

Travel Friendly Vegetarian Korean Style Spicy Noodles

I would think spicy is an understatement because it is super spicy if you have tried this with all the spice and condiments provided. It’s really a hot product to ease my craving for spicy food. But mark my warnings again, the spicy level should not be underestimated. LOL. Do exercise discretion when adding the chili seasoning pack. I was literally putting my tongue out to the cold Baltic weather immediately after the shoot. I also tried cooking it with one pack of condiments with 4 packs of noodles, and it’s still spicy! My goodness! haha That being said, it’s still one of my favorites and I will still eat it, especially during cold weather.

Warning: This travel friendly vegetarian Korean Style Spicy Noodles is very very spicy! Go mild or put only half a packet of condiments.

#6 Vegetarian Fish Ball (VEGAN) – Konjac Base

Ingredient: Water, Konjac flour

Travel Friendly Vegetarian Fish Ball

This makes all my instant noodles more delectable and adds texture to my food. It’s chewy and tasty. Simply open it and it’s ready to eat. Of course, it tastes better when you heat it up together with the noodles. Many various types of vegetarian fish balls require refrigeration, but this requires only ambient storage (but needs to be put in the chiller once opened). It’s rare to find vegetarian fishballs like this! Best with that Korean spicy noodles.

Juicy, bouncy, delicious vegetarian fishball that doesnt need to be chilled in the fridge!

#7 Vegetarian Rendang Monkey Head Mushroom (VEGAN) Mushroom Based

Ingredient: Bearhead mushroom, Chilli, Coconut, Cabbage, Tapioca Starch, Cinnamon, Tamarind, Curry Powder, Coriander, Pepper, Cumin, Vegetarian Soy Sauce, Vegetable Oil, Salt, Sugar

Travel Friendly Vegetarian Rendang Monkeyhead Mushroom or aka Bear Head Mushroom, no bear or monkey was involved in this dish!

Curry is one of my favorite comfort food! Simply use the kettle and hot water and it’s ready to eat. Could buy bread to go with the dish. It’s a little dry, to be honest, so I recommend putting in some water and ingredients like vegetarian, mushrooms, vegetarian mutton (mushroom stalks), potatoes, or carrots to make it a more full fledge rendang curry. With minimum cooking, you get to enjoy this at another level.

When you open the Vegetarian Rendang Curry Monkey Head Mushroom, it looks a bit dry like this.

Add a bit of water, you can turn the dry vegetarian rendang curry monkey head mushroom mixed with tofu and other vegetables, into a delicious meal.

#8 Vegetarian Beef Jerky (Ba Gua) (VEGAN) Mushroom Snack

Ingredient: Filtered Water, Soya Bean Protein (Non-GMO), Sugar, Soya Bean Oil, D-Sorbitol Solution, Dextrose Dehydrate, Mushroom Stalk, Corn starch (Non GMO), Potato Starch, Wheat Gluten, Monosodium L-Glutamate , Sodium 5’-Inosinate 5’-Guanylate, Salt, Xanthan Gum, White Pepper Powder, Vegetarian Meat Flavour (Medium-Chain triglyceride, Ethyl Maltrol, Palm Oil Flavour), Yeast Extract, Anka Red, and Sucralose, Chilli Oil (Oleoresin Capsicum, Mono-and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids, Refined Sunflower Oil)

Travel Friendly Vegetarian Beef Jerky Mushroom Snack

One of the most common items for travel snacks. It’s great to have during long travel car rides or add it to sandwiches for a quick fix. It’s light and easy to carry around. Anytime when you are hungry, just grab one and eat. Can be cut into pieces and is a good travel snack. My only complaint is, it’s not spicy enough! Need it to be double spicy! haha

A good snack to bring along when you travel. The vegetarian beef jerky aka bagua or mushroom snack!

#9 Vegetarian Smoked Liver (Soy Product) (VEGAN) Soy Based

Ingredient: Isolated soy protein, Concentrated Soy Protein, Fermented Soy Sauce, Water, Salt, Spices

Travel Friendly Vegetarian Smoked Liver

This is another item that I would add to the noodles, it has a smoky taste that adds flavor to the noodles. Slice it and it could be taken as a side dish as well. It may not be suitable to just eat it like a snack even tho it’s possible. It’s better to match it with hot food like pasta, pizza, or noodles.

Between the Vegetarian beef jerky or the vegetarian spicy Sausage, vs this vegetarian smoked liver, think the latter is not very suitable for snack type of food. It’s better to match with the vegetarian porrdige or nasi lemak.

#10 Vegetarian Spicy Sausage with Szechuan Sauce (VEGAN) Soy Based with Konjac

Ingredient: Isolated Soy Protein, Water, Vegetable oil, Konjac Powder, Salt, Sugar, Fermented Soy Sauce (Containing Caramel), White Pepper, Chinese Cassia, Chilli

Travel Friendly Vegetarian Spicy Sausage With Szechuan Sauce

This is one of the “game changer” food when I travel. When I travel and request restaurants to cook pasta or fried rice, it would usually be a simple fare with vegetables and salt. However, when I just bring this out and add it to the meal, it completely brightens up the meal with the savory vegan sausage as a side dish. Could add it to the cup noodles as well. It’s not too spicy, but the spices are enough to awaken my senses and make me feel at home! 

Delicious vegetarian spicy sausage with szechuan spicy sauce! It’s something I will bring, can be snack or put into paste or even pizza. The spicy sauce that can cure my craves for home spicy food!

#Bonus Recommendations: Vegetarian Korean Tteokbokki Spicy Rice Cake & Herbal Spicy Noodles

If you are renting and staying in an apartment instead of a hotel, you have the luxury of a kitchen and access to kitchenware. With minimum cooking, you will get to enjoy delicious mouth-watering food like the Vegetarian Korean Tteokbokki Spicy Rice Cake & Herbal Spicy Noodles! Even Laksa and Tomyum are possible too!

Travel Friendly Vegetarian Tteokbokki Spicy Rice Cake & Herbal Spicy Noodles With minimum cooking!

#Conclusion Travel Friendly Vegetarian Food

So what do you think about the top 10 list that I recommended? I hope they make your travel more enjoyable when vegetarian options are limited. Traveling can be an easy feat for vegetarians once you have gotten all this food on the go. 

Hope you enjoy the 10 Travel Friendly Vegetarian Food!

If you are wondering if they could survive the long flight without refrigeration, they are all ambient products that do not require a chiller/freezer, so you could easily bring them overseas. 

Click on the YouTube link below to watch the reviews of the above Travel Friendly Vegetarian & Vegan Food. 

If you wish to check out the products, you can visit www.vegetarianworldfoods.com under the page for Vegetarian World Food Travel Friendly Page to find out more other travel friendly vegetarian selections. Also, don’t forget to follow Keith Yuen’s social media account to read more about his travel adventures and vegetarian recommendations.

• Travel Inspiration 360 website
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• Keith Yuen’s Facebook Account
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• Subscribe to Travel Inspiration 360’s YouTube channel

Last but not least, if you are heading to Japan soon, remember to check out the article 10 Vegetarian Food in Tokyo Japan You Shouldn’t Miss!

Vegetarian food leaves a deep impression on our nature. If the whole world adopts vegetarianism, it can change the destiny of humankind. – Albert Einstein

Disclaimer: Keith Yuen is a 100% vegetarian who does not eat the 5 pungent plants (strictly no meat including fish and seafood, also onion, garlic, leek, chives, and shallot). I am NOT a vegan yet, and hence I still eat dairy products such as eggs, milk, cheese, etc… You can read more about the  10 Misconceptions about Vegetarians to understand my choice of diet. So, please exercise due diligence and check the ingredients according to your own dietary preference.

Keith Yuen is an avid solo traveller, a Singaporean who travelled more than 100 countries, a Singapore Travel Blogger, Travel Content Producer and YouTuber Vlogger & Travel Influencer for Travel Inspiration 360. Inspired by his father, Keith has worked with major airlines, tourism boards, luxurious hotel groups and big government organisations such as the European Union and other NGOs. He made media appearances on Singapore and International platforms, on TV and Radio stations for travel programmes and interviews. 袁志权，著名新加坡旅游达人兼旅游博主

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I am very glad to see your traveling videos about the 10 favourite vegan foods that you recommended to we fans! Happy travelling with your friends! Thanks for sharing with us! I am very appreciate on your hardwork! Jia Yu 💪🙏👍

The unique taste will definitely make this meat your favourite!

Looks tasty and decoration is really good..

As an avid traveler and a passionate vegetarian, stumbling upon your blog post titled “Travel-Friendly Vegetarian Food” was like finding a hidden gem. It’s heartening to see a resource that acknowledges the growing number of individuals who are seeking plant-based options while exploring the world.

Bringing along travel-friendly vegetarian and vegan food is such a smart idea! It makes eating on the go a breeze and ensures you always have something tasty and nutritious on hand. Thanks for sharing these ideas!

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Take this nourishing vegan travel food on your next trip

Do you find it hard to eat healthy while on the go? On top of that, are you trying to stick to your vegan lifestyle ?

It can be difficult to know the right things to eat at the best of times, even harder while you are away from the comfort of your own home and kitchen. But this doesn’t mean it is impossible, it just takes some preparation. Just think of it as an addition to your packing list.

My Vegan Travel Food

I am going to take you through what I eat while on the go, either when I travel by plane or car. 

Thanks to being prepared I never have to cave in and buy greasy food at fast-food restaurants. which normally means eating only french fries, lettuce, and sugar-laden ketchup. Things are changing though and many places are adding healthy plant-based items to their menus. However, it’s better to be prepared just in case you don’t have any of these options available to you whilst traveling. 

Non-Perishable Vegan Travel Food

These foods are perfect for traveling by both plane or car as no refrigeration is required!

Dried fruit 

Dried mango is my favorite dried fruit. It is tasty and nutritious! You can pick your favorite dried fruit here.

Quick cook oatmeal 

Snag hot water at a gas station, or if on a plane, ask the flight attendant for a cup of hot water. Mix with the oats, add in some dried raisins and a scoop of protein powder. boom!

I make my own to have the right balance for my taste. Almonds, cashews, sunflower seeds, and raisins are my favorite.

Protein bars

My favorites are lemon meringue No Cow bars, and Cranberry chia seed bars from Trader Joe’s.

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches

Easy to prepare in advance. Put in a reusable ziploc bag and keep it in the top of your bag so they don’t get squished.

Fruit and Vegetables

Celery, carrots, or other crunchy veggies with guac or hummus work perfectly. Or bring some fruit with protective skin, like bananas, grapes, or mandarin oranges (don’t forget your vitamins!).

Perishable Vegan Travel Food

These foods need to be packed in a cooler (for a road trip) or lunch box (for the plane).

Coconut or other plant-based yogurt either in its original packaging or put into a small lunch pack.

Fresh fruit

Fresh berries and other fruit that need to stay cool, keep these in a cooler. If you are taking them on the plane, make sure they are eaten near the start to keep them tasting fresh.

Great to keep you hydrated and to stop you from reaching for an unhealthy soda. This is suitable for road trips only.

Coconut water

Hydration is important when traveling and coconut water is perfect for this. Also suitable for road trips only.

Black bean and kale salad

This is my favorite vegan salad for road trips because it keeps well and it’s so nutritious while traveling! You also don’t need a runny dressing which is perfect for traveling. For the plane just make a small personal size for one of your meals.

Black bean and kale salad recipe

Kale or cabbage or both Black beans Corn Tomatoes Onions Garlic, salt, cumin, chili powder Lime juice (1 whole lime) – Mix all together 

Bonus: guacamole is great for digestion

Happy Vegan Travels

With a little effort and preparation, you can find a way to take most of your favorite vegan foods on the go with you. Sometimes it is finding the right travel tools like a cooler or lunch pack. Or finding the right dried foods for you to take in a small backpack. Where there’s a will there’s a way. 

Preparation is key to success here. So tie those two together and have a healthy, satisfying, vegan food-filled trip !

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The Best Foods to Pack When Traveling as a Vegan

With veganism on the rise globally, food vendors everywhere are starting to find that they have to adapt their businesses to support the different demands that veganism brings. However, the pace of veganism's growth varies considerably from country to country, and it is still far from a mainstream lifestyle. As a result, there are many destinations where it can still be challenging to find places that will easily cater to a vegan diet.

Often, traveling as a vegan can take more planning than you may have initially anticipated. Depending on where you are traveling to, and with which airline, you may be lucky enough to receive a good in-flight meal, but what are some key items that you could pack in your case to ensure that you enjoy healthy, balanced and tasty vegan food experiences throughout your trip?

Before you start packing, you'll need to make sure that you have checked the customs regulations for the country you will be visiting, as some places, such as Australia, have very strict rules about what food items can be brought into the country. Typically, these rules most commonly apply to animal products such as eggs, dairy and meat, so they may not impact your packing as a vegan. But, the regulations can extend to seeds, nuts and fresh fruit and vegetables. No one wants to have taken the time and effort to plan and buy food for your trip, only to arrive at customs and have to throw most of it away.

Also, it is worth researching the local cuisine where you will be visiting. Some places, such as Bali or Los Angeles, are great for vegans whereas others can be a little more complicated, particularly when it comes to 'hidden' ingredients in food such as tofu in East Asia often being cooked in fish broth, or ghee being used in most vegetable dishes in India. Knowing what to expect where you are visiting will help you know how much (and what) food to bring with you in your case.

Wherever you go, you are pretty much guaranteed to be able to find carbohydrate sources. Frequently, the only options available to vegans are chips or salad. So, when it comes to deciding what to pack in your luggage, focusing on protein sources is very important. The easiest way to cover this is by packing protein powder (as well as a shaker cup, too). Some good options that taste great with only water added are the Bulk Powders vegan powder, which has the added bonus of being in a compostable package, or, alternatively, a more high-end protein like Form Nutrition . These shakes make great snacks throughout the day.

Some more great options to help you cover your protein requirements whilst you are away are precooked lentils, tofu, tempeh or protein bars. It is always worth checking if your room will have a fridge.

Nutritional yeast can also be a great option. Not only is it very light weight, but it's also packed with vitamin B12, which is important for vegans. The nutritional yeast adds a cheesy, nutty taste to any meal — from soups to salads. If you want to go all out with flavorings, you can even pack your own spices or favorite sauces to bring with you to accompany any meals you may be eating during your trip.

Even if it might not sound like it, baby food is a good choice for vegan travelers. You can buy pouches of baby food, which make a great healthy snack. If you are not keen to try it but still want to ensure that you get in your daily dose of greens, there are plenty of drinkable veggie powders that can be mixed with water in a shaker. Other great snacks that keep well in a suitcase are dried fruits, nuts, granola, trail mix, rice cakes and your favorite vegan chocolate.

The best way to approach traveling as a vegan is to go with an open mind, realizing that things may not be as easy as they are at home. But, preparing for your travels in advance can make it a better experience.

Vegan and Vegetarian-Friendly Foods For Travel

If you follow a meat-free lifestyle, you know how annoying it can be when you’re traveling and can’t find any vegetarian-friendly foods. While surviving on potatoes and side salads is fine for a few days, it could end up making you feel sluggish and tired if that’s your only source of nutrition.

For those of us lucky enough to live in a place where vegetarian-friendly food is available in spades, it could be a rude awakening to drive along the highway only to find burger joints and sub shops that offer little in the way of vegetarian-friendly food, or at least of anything that might be healthy and nourishing.

The good news is it only takes a little preparation to make your vegetarian or vegan travel a success. Take a look at our tips below and prepare for a fun and healthy trip, no matter the destination! 

Vegetarian-friendly food: On the go! 

Gone are the days when vegetarians and vegans had to sit back and watch as their fellow passengers dug into their airplane food without them. If you’re on a long-haul flight that serves meals, then make sure to contact the airline and request a vegan meal. The thing is, you have to order the meal well in advance, usually at least a week before a flight. 

Some airlines allow you to specify that you’d like a vegan meal on their website, while others may require you to call. Either way, it’s a good idea to get everything sorted out well in advance. Now, being that it’s airplane food, your dish may not be the healthiest or the most delicious, but at least you won’t miss out on getting food brought to you like everyone else on the flight! 

Perhaps you’re not on a long-haul flight, or you’d rather not eat the sodium-heavy airplane food at all. This is where it seriously pays to meal prep in advance. There are endless possibilities, so keep reading to find out our vegetarian and vegan food list for travel. Remember, it’s ok to get creative and change things up – the sky’s the limit.  

Vegetarian and vegan food list for travel 

Vegetable sticks with dip .

We like sliced-up cucumbers, broccoli, carrot sticks, and cherry tomatoes, but you can use any vegetables you like. As for dips, we love bringing along homemade hummus, but you may want to go easy on the garlic if you’re in a tight space like an airplane.  There are also plenty of delicious dips you could make using Greek (or vegan unsweetened) yogurt as a base, like a healthy ranch sauce made with fresh herbs. You can also use tahini as a base for the dip together with a dash of lemon juice and a pinch of salt. It doesn’t get much better than that!  

Sliced fruit with nuts or dip

If you can’t tell yet, we like a good dip, whether sweet or savory. One of our favorite dips is our Chocolate Yogurt Dip in the 8fit recipe book enjoyed alongside strawberries, sliced apples, bananas, and pears. Or, you could bring along a cup of plain – vegan if you wish –  yogurt and pair it alongside a fruit of your choice and a few almonds for protein. 

One great thing about bananas is that they already come individually wrapped in their own natural carrying case, meaning you they’re perfect for on the go and don’t require much prep. Pack a few bananas for your trip and dip them in some nut butters you’ve portioned out for yourself and look forward to a tasty snack while on the open road or high up in a plane. Not only will it be a delicious snack, but it’s also good for digestion and provides your body with much-needed nutrients including potassium, fiber, and vitamin B6. 

Stuff whole-grain bread slices with avocado, tomato slices, lettuce and mustard for a snack we know you’re going to be thankful you have on the plane. We recommend making a few because you never know how hungry you’ll get, and there’s nothing worse than being ravenous on a plane and not being able to eat!

Cold salads

Pre-mixed salads like pasta salad travel well because their flavors only get better over time. However, if you don’t have something to keep your food cool, try to eat your salad on the same day you take it out of your fridge to keep it from spoiling. 

You can get creative with the salads, but if you’re going to use salad greens, be sure to keep your dressing in another container to keep it from wilting. We like making chickpea salads with fresh vegetables, olive oil and balsamic, but the sky’s the limit – try substituting chickpeas with rice, couscous, quinoa or lentils. 

Homemade energy balls or bars 

Energy balls and snack bars are a calorically dense option for when you need nourishment, fast. It’s best to go for homemade, but if you’re in a rush, opt for a bar made from whole foods like oats, dried fruits, and nuts with no added sugar. 

Out of ideas? Check out our vegan Coconut Energy Balls to enjoy a quick bite that’s healthy and nourishing while also tasting like a dessert! They positively beat airline snacks both in terms of flavor and nutrition, plus they’re a piece of cake to make. Just double or triple the recipe if you want to have snacks to last you the entire trip. 

This appetizing snack isn’t just for hikes! We recommend packing home-made trail mix (your choice of dried fruits combined with nuts and seeds) already separated into snack-size portions so you don’t have to rely on the airline packs of peanuts, which often come teeming with sodium that can leave you feeling even more dehydrated on your flight. 

 One of our favorite vegan travel snacks -- trail mix -- can feel like a lifesaver if you’ve been feeling hungry and need a quick boost. Plus, it’s nutrient dense and can keep you going strong even on a long trip. 

Vegetarian and vegan travel made easy 

Whether you’re traveling by plane, train or automobile, planning ahead with vegan or vegetarian-friendly food can make all the difference. Just a few minutes of forward planning is all you need to take your trip from regular to extraordinary. 

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Best carry along travel food for vegetarians.

In the good old childhood days, when we made long journeys by train, we carried our food for the whole journey. Yes, the food, fruits, and chai vendors popped up at every station. If there was Agra petha at Agra station, there was Sweet Milk at Bhopal Station, and Mathura Peda at Mathura Junction. Travel food for vegetarians was never a problem.

We used to love observing the size of Bananas going shorter as you move south. Picking up oranges at Nagpur, Jhalmuri at Bengal stations, or eating Dosas at Manmad station are some of my fondest travel memories.

While we did eat outside food, we carried our staple food along with us. In my family, dry potato sabzi and poori were my favorite travel foods. Neatly packed in old cardboard sweet boxes that could be disposed of once used, Poori and aloo sabzi survived easily for 2-3 days depending upon the weather.

Water was always from the public taps in railway stations. Bottled water was yet to become mainstream and food delivery apps were in the realm of science fiction.

Switch to the third decade of the 21 st century, we are flooded with food options while traveling. There are more outlets than we can explore at airports and railway stations. Add to it the food delivery apps that deliver you anything you wish to eat. But, the quality of food is deteriorating so fast that I have again started carrying my own food. I discovered that I am not alone, many people have started doing it again – going back to their childhood ways.

Best Travel Food For Vegetarians

As usual, I asked my Twitter family, what is their favorite food to carry along. Here is a list that came up:

Theplas and Khakharas

Bless the vegetarian Gujjus for inventing these absolutely travel-friendly dishes. I knew Theplas but discovered them as travel food when I was based in Goa. Gujarati ladies in our neighborhood used to sell a pack of 5-6 Theplas with a bite of pickle inside them. It was perfect to pack one such pack per person. Theplas easily last for 4-5 days. Just pull out one, roll it, and eat it. A complete food that requires no paraphernalia.

Khakharas are even easier to find now. Every supermarket has them. Earlier, they used to be larger in size, breaking easily. Now, you can find them in small shapes that are easy to consume on the move. They are dry in comparison to Theplas, but if you are a vegetarian traveling to primarily non-vegetarian countries, they are a must-pack in your luggage.

Chundo is a classic pickle to go with both Thepla and Khakhara.

Aalu Puri with Pickle – Travel food for Vegetarians

As I already mentioned, this is an easy-to-make and long-lasting food. Like Theplas, you can just eat them out of the box you carry them in. Fried puris taste as good when they are cold as they do when they come out piping hot from the frying pan.

As a North Indian, my favorite go-to pickle with this combo is Mango.

You can have your own variations of this combo like you can have Gobhi or Peas or Matar added to the sabzi. Ajwain Puri tastes very good. You can have Palak or Pumpkin puri if you have enough time to prepare them before travel.

Paranthas are my current favorites to carry for my travels. Now, these paranthas are slightly different as I want them to be soft enough and last a little longer. So, I make the dough using milk instead of water, and that makes them soft.

I do not want any complicated packing, so I stuff all the masalas, even the pickle masala inside the Parantha. I avoid usual stuffings like potato or cabbage as they tend to become soggy.

Stuff your favorite stuffing and keep eating paranthas on the go. A complete and fulfilling meal – perfect travel food for vegetarians.

I discovered this wonderful travel food for vegetarians during my Hong Kong visit. As you know, it is a primarily meat-eating region and it is not easy to get vegetarian food. So, I had to carry ample stuff, especially for my dinner as I tend not to step out for that.

So, during most days, I could manage vegetarian pizzas and dumplings, but at night I used to just open a packet of single-serving pack of Upma powder. Add hot water to it and let it simmer for 4-5 minutes. Upma is ready to eat.

Yes, it is the same Upma that we pay a huge amount for on domestic flights these days.

Some companies like MTR have a single-serve pack that is easy to carry and use. Otherwise, you can simply roast rava at home along with Kadi Patta, Cashews, and spices as you like with a bit of ghee. Pack them in small packets in one box. All you need to have is some hot water and maybe a spoon.

Another healthy and hot meal to eat during travels.

I discovered Sattu on a road trip in Bihar . Sattu is nothing but finely ground-roasted chana. Just add water, salt, sugar, or jaggery as per your choice and you have a fulfilling healthy drink in your hands.

If you have access, you can add lemon juice, finely chopped onions, and fresh green chilies.

Feel free to try your own version of Sattu. It is easy to carry, and a healthy and comfortable drink, especially in summer. Epic Mahabharat also mentions Sattu and Malpua as the two foods that travelers used to carry with them. So, this is an age-old living tradition.

Nuts – Travel food for Vegetarians

For snacking, just carry a box of nuts – almonds, cashews, walnuts, peanuts. You can add your seeds if you like. Easy to eat and they keep you charged for a long time.

Remember, many combat professionals carry only nuts with them.

On a road trip, I love to keep my car stuffed with fruits. In India, you can pick them up on the road. The more interior you go, the more local and fresh fruits you get, generally. You don’t need to wash them or cut them to eat, making them travel-friendly.

Bananas are the wonder food that can substitute a meal easily. I remember once we were completely lost during a road trip . All of us were vegetarian and we could not find a single shop selling vegetarian food. Bananas came to our rescue. We simply picked up all the bananas we can and gorged on them.

Tomato, Butter Sandwich

If you do not find any good vegetarian food, just walk into a superstore. Pick up tomatoes, butter, and bread – make your own sandwich. If you find additional items to put in, try them and enjoy.

My criteria for including travel foods for vegetarians in this post include:

• Healthy vegetarian meal
• Easy to pack and eat, no dripping, flowing kind of items
• Last for a reasonable amount of time
• Tasty – you feel happy eating it

Do you have any more ideas for vegetarian food well suited for travelers?

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15 comments.

South Indians carry lemon rice or tamarind rice which are good for two days. We roll idlis in gun powder which are superb during travel. Thick Curd rice made with milk with just a small dollop of dahi is heavenly. Dry Mango pickle and fried pappads go with everything.

theplas cruble though, right?

From wiki: “When made for travel, the flour for theplas is bound into a stiff dough using milk instead of water, and with extra ghee/oil. This is done in order to increase their shelf life.”

Amazing Article! thanks for the information.

How long does a aalu puri last without being non-edible? And would you recommend aalu paratha? I think Satoo would be the best as it contains tons of nutrients.

2-3 days easily if packed properly.

Great article.. Keep posting more

Fantastic recommendations! As a vegetarian traveler, these carry-along food ideas are a game-changer for maintaining a delicious and satisfying journey!

Useful Post

Very nice blog.

Your suggestions for carry-along vegetarian foods are not only practical but also seem delicious and easy to prepare.

I enjoy that there is a focus on healthy options, such as Sattu and Dry Upma, which provide satisfying and nutritional options for extended travel. Not to be overlooked is the value of nibbling, with fruits and nuts like bananas making excellent travelling companions.

All things considered, this post has motivated me to be inventive with the foods I bring on my travels and rediscover the pleasure of cooking for myself. We appreciate Anuradha Goyal sharing these insightful thoughts with us and bringing back the joys of simple travel meals.

Something new to read , good article , thanks for valuable information.

helpful blog inditales i also prefer parantha and aloo puri while travelling

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How to Travel as a Vegan and Find Delicious Food Anywhere in the World.

From seafood-obsessed Japan to kebab-loving Iran, I’ve learnt that thriving as a vegan traveller is an acquired art. Behold, all my vegan travel tips.

I’ve travelled to over thirty countries since I turned vegan 3.5 years ago, including seafood-obsessed Japan, kebab-loving Iran and tribal regions of Myanmar, where every kind of animal is relished.

Sticking with my commitment to not consume any animal products , I’ve learnt along the way that surviving – nay thriving – as a vegan on the road is an acquired art. The more well-researched, adventurous and creative I am, the more likely I am to find incredible vegan food, sample the local cuisine and build lasting friendships through the common love of good food.

Also read: 11 Tips to Ease Your Transition Into a Vegan Lifestyle

All my tried and tested vegan travel tips

Behold, all my vegan travel tips for vegans who want to travel the world, keep their taste buds (and nutrition levels) satiated and immerse deeply in the local culture.

Keep an open mind but a rigid determination

Research the local cuisine (beginning with a search for the country’s vegan travel guide), get happycow – the most essential vegan travel app, get past language barriers by learning how to ask for vegan food in the local language, connect with vegans in the country, stock up on vegan snacks and energy bars incase of unforeseen circumstances, stay with local hosts and inform them of your food choices, get a travel blender (a vegan travel secret), get creative with menus, and scout vegan travel blogs for ideas in your destination, stay in an independent airbnb and get access to a kitchen, talk about your dietary requirements in a respectful way, is it hard to travel as a vegan, how can vegans eat healthy while travelling, what should a vegan pack for travelling, have you considered vegan travel what are your biggest challenges and how do you overcome them.

While planning my trip to Japan, I was certain I wanted to spend the majority of my time in small villages, explore remote islands and experience countryside living.

While bigger cities like Tokyo and Kyoto have become vegan-friendly over the years, a Facebook group of local foodies in Japan warned me that travelling as a vegan on the Japanese countryside was going to be “mission frickin impossible!” I took their concern seriously, but I was neither willing to compromise my style of offbeat travelling, nor my commitment to veganism.

I think half the battle of travelling as a vegan is in the mind. If we set our minds to finding vegan food no matter what, we’ll find ways to make it happen. On the other hand, if we tell ourselves that it’s okay to compromise on our vegan beliefs once in a while on the road, we’ll be less prepared, less creative and less adventurous.

Once I set my mind to vegan travel on the Japanese countryside for a month, I got down to work. I thoroughly researched the cuisine. Got a Japanese friend to write a long note explaining my food preferences. Learnt which dishes could be customized. Raided supermarkets for avocados and fresh veggies, and carried back-up food. Surrendered myself to the kindness of local chefs. And indulged in many bento boxes.

Believe it or not, I ended up having incredible vegan food through most of my Japan trip !

Also read: Why Travelling in Japan is Like Nowhere Else in the World

We’re lucky to be living in a world where we can learn everything about local cuisines from around the world with a simple google search.

That means before I set out for Georgia in the Caucasus region, I already knew that local dishes like lobia (kidney beans stew), lobiani (bread stuffed with mashed kidney beans) and badrajani nigswitz (eggplant with walnut paste) are accidentally vegan, thanks to the orthodox Christianity beliefs of locals.

Before I set out for Ethiopia, I knew that vegan travel would be easy. I could be anywhere in the country and still feast on beyayenetu – a delightful vegan platter with injera, chickpeas, lentils and veggies.

When I’ve zeroed in on a new destination, I read about the local cuisine on wikitravel or other general websites, and try to analyse which dishes are free from animal products and which can be customized to be vegan. I pour over vegan blogs (of which Mostly Amelie , Vegan Food Quest and The Nomadic Vegan are some of my favorites) and forums to draw on the experiences of past vegan travellers.

Having an idea of what I can and can’t eat when I arrive in a country makes it easier to scan menus, order food, speak to local chefs and start treating my tastebuds right away.

Also read: Awesome Places in Mumbai to Chill, Work from Home and Enjoy Vegan Food

HappyCow is the most essential vegan travel app. It maps out all the vegan / vegan-friendly restaurants, cafes, accommodations and stores near you, along with reviews from past travellers.

It was thanks to HappyCow that I landed up at GustaV , the first and only entirely vegan restaurant in Salzburg (Austria) and feasted on vegan Tyrolian dumplings that I otherwise could’ve never tried.

In Switzerland, the accommodation listing on HappyCow led me to stay with a vegan Swiss family in a dreamy little village, where I feasted on carob brownies and vegan rosti.

Looking for vegan offerings recommended on HappyCow, I’ve found myself in neighbourhoods I wouldn’t otherwise have explored and met passionate vegan owners I wouldn’t otherwise have met. Who knew the search for great vegan food can begin right in your palm!

Also read: Sometimes We Choose Life, Sometimes Life Chooses Us

This is almost a no-brainer, yet it took me a while to master it. The trick is often not to directly ask for plant-based food, nor to explain what you can’t eat. Because many people who haven’t entertained vegans / vegetarians before tend to think that all we can eat is grass salad!

After cringing upon being offered a boring salad too many times, I’ve learnt that I have to lay out all possible options of what I can eat.

So when I travel to a country where English is not the primary language, I try to learn the names of several ingredients in the local language, based on what’s available locally, including what I can’t eat but also what I CAN eat. When I arrive, I also find a kind local to help me write it accurately in the local script on my phone.

In Japan for instance, a newfound local friend helped me write in polite Kanji, that while I can’t meat, seafood (including fish dashi – very common in Japanese food), eggs and dairy products, I can have rice, tofu, yam, soya sauce, soya milk, cold soba noodles, miso, vegetables and legumes – all of them staples in Japanese cuisine. In most restaurants, the staff initially got very worried when I asked for vegan food, but upon seeing my note, whipped up some delicious vegan feasts!

In Iran, I was able to get a friend to write that while I can’t eat animal products, I can eat lentils, beans, potato, eggplant, rice and vegetables – all part of Persian cuisine.

In Myanmar, a local friend taught me to say t-t-lo (pronounced त त लो like in Hindi), which indicates Buddhist vegan food in Burmese!

Also read: The Epic Land Journey from Thailand to India via Myanmar

Harnessing the power of social media has led me to some truly unforgettable vegan travel experiences around the world.

Most recently, in Iran, I stumbled upon the Instagram profile of a guesthouse set up by a team of passionate Iranian vegans – and ended up being their first vegan guest!

After three weeks of sustaining mostly on local dishes like do pyaz alo (stir-fried potatoes and onions) and dal adasi (yellow lentils), I was treated to elements of  Persian cuisine that no one else had been willing to veganise. Think vegan dizi (mashed beans with broth), vegan kebabs (made with sprouted wheat and unbelievably delicious) and vegan chocolate desserts inspired by Instagram!

On their recommendation, I went on to live with a beautiful vegan Iranian family in Tabriz, where even HappyCow doesn’t have a single listing.

In Japan, using Airbnb Experiences , I landed up in the home of a vegan Japanese family to learn macrobiotic cooking that balances yin and yang – and left with a tummy satiated by incredible food and a heart filled with the warmth of a new friendship.

And in Chiang Mai, I ended up joining my first “Cube of truth” after connecting with the local chapter of Anonymous for the Voiceless – a powerful outreach experience.

As the vegan movement grows around the world, it opens up a world of experiences for vegan travellers. Experiences that are rooted in the common love for animals, conscious living and good food.

Also read: What Solo Travel Has Taught Me About the World – and Myself

I used to judge others for carrying their own food on a train or flight. Now, I am that person, and I don’t give two hoots about anyone who judges me 😉

Since I turned vegan – and a bigger foodie than I’ve ever been before – I never leave it up to chance to be fed well.

In the tribal Chin state of Myanmar, where locals eat everything from monkeys to mithuns (cross between a buffalo and yak), I sustained myself over 3 days with bread and avocados. There was an avocado tree in the backyard of my guesthouse!

In both Japan and Iran, where I spent a month each, I stocked up on protein-packed energy bars made on order by my friends from Health Nut and Down 2 Hearth .

On long bus journeys and flights, I always pack a vegan meal to keep me satiated. I always order a special vegan meal online beforehand for long distance flying – but also remember that airport vegan food options, and vegan food on flights, is often bland and boring. In my bags, there’s always some vegan chocolate, chia / basil seeds to whip up a quick treat, and snacks to munch on.

Also read: Don’t Leave Without Trying These Vegan Restaurants in Chiang Mai

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know that I try to seek out local accommodations wherever I go. If it’s a place that offers meals, I make it a point to inform my hosts well in advance that I’m vegan, including what I can and can’t eat. Some lead time always helps!

In the Lake District in the UK, I was the first vegan to stay at a newly established B&B. At the time of booking, the hosts seemed unsure of what vegan breakfast they could offer – but between the time I booked and showed up, they had come up with an entire vegan breakfast menu that they planned to offer other guests too!

In Tokyo, when I checked in to a guesthouse, my Japanese host told me, quite amused, that he couldn’t think of anything vegan he could offer me for breakfast. The next morning, as I was getting ready to head out, he stopped me and said he had done some research online, and whipped up a vegan breakfast of miso soup and tofu steak! And he was so satisfied with his creation that he planned to add “vegan-friendly” to all his online listings.

As more vegans travel, more hosts and accommodations will become familiar with veganism, and the world in turn will become more friendly for vegan travel!

Also read: How to Find the Perfect Airbnb and Make the Most of Your Travel Experience

Be conscious of your nutrition

If you’ve been vegan for a while, you probably already know that there are plenty of nature sources to get protein, calcium and other essential nutrients in a plant based lifestyle. (If you’re unsure, read this ).

But while on the road, I’m often dependent on other people to feed me. When I’m travelling to countries that don’t seem familiar with veganism, I try to figure out what kind of nutrition I’ll able to get from the vegan version of the local cuisine. Will I be able to get lentils, kidney beans, leafy greens, nuts and seeds, and plenty of vegetables and fruits along the way?

While preparing to travel to Iran for instance, many vegan and vegetarian travellers wrote that they survived entirely on deep-fried falafels! I had no desire to eat that, so I carried plenty of protein bars and planned to get the rest of my nutrition at supermarkets. Much to my surprise though, I was able to find lentils in many places, and the old Persian bazaars were teeming with all kinds of affordable dates, nuts, seeds, herbs and spices.

I also always carry supplements of Vitamin B12 and D3 – something most people, vegan or not, are deficient in – as well as lysine supplements for when my diet has too much soy and too little lentils / kidney beans, which can cause an imbalance of essential amino acids ( read here ).

Also read: How I’m Financially Sustaining My Digital Nomad Lifestyle

The best gadget I’ve acquired in recent times is a Vitamer travel blender (available only on Amazon US), which is light, easy to carry, battery-operated, charges with USB and allows me to have smoothies / smoothie bowls wherever in the world I am.

When invited to a conference in Belfast last year, I couldn’t bear to have the drab hotel breakfast with only jam and bread as vegan options. So I went to the nearby supermarket, picked up a bunch of fruits, got some raw cacao, pumpkin and sunflower seeds from my bag and made myself some hearty smoothies!

Also read: How I Fit All My Possessions in Two Bags as I Travel the World

As vegan travellers, we can’t rely only on restaurant menus with vegan options marked – for the vegan movement hasn’t yet reached many cities around the world, and certainly not the rural countryside of most countries. Over the years, I’ve learnt to study menus, mix and match ingredients, get creative and explain to chefs what I’d love to eat. It works 80% of the time!

While staying at a guesthouse run by an Italian guy in Zanzibar, I really wanted to eat a pesto pasta. After great restraint, I convinced him to try making pesto without parmesan cheese – almost blasphemous for an Italian! At the end of the endeavour, he was rather surprised that it tasted almost the same – delicious.

Similarly while eating cafe-style food in a non vegan friendly place, I scan the menu to swap dairy products like cheese and mayo with vegan dressings like hummus, tahini, pesto (if made fresh without cheese), balsamic vinegar and chilli oil.

Also read: Shh… the Most Beautiful Beach I’ve Set Foot on is Zanzibar’s Best Kept Secret

I’m writing this post from a sweet Stalin-era abode in Yerevan, Armenia, which will be home for the next month. I can’t quite explain the delight of having access to a kitchen after many weeks on the road in Iran.

No matter where in the world I am, I love to begin my day with smoothies, chia seed puddings, sauteed mushrooms with broccoli, chickpea pancake (besan chila), hummus and avocados on toast, open-face sandwiches and whatever else that is quick and easy to make!

Having an independent space with a kitchen – even if for a few days – is a refreshing change from eating all meals out, and a chance to treat myself to some comfort food and get better nutrition. Besides, as I figure out farmers markets, vegan-friendly stores, local bakeries and organic groceries, I really end up experiencing a place like a local.

Also read: Why You Should Stay on a “Local Island” to Truly Experience the Maldives

We’ve all seen the jokes about vegans who try to shove their lifestyle choices down the throats of others. I don’t know who they are, for on my part, the vegans that I’ve met are rather aware that everyone’s on their own journey.

Anyway, no matter where I travel, I’ve seldom shared a meal with someone – friend or stranger – without being asked why I don’t consume animal products.

I try to talk about my personal journey, as well as the cruelty, health and environmental aspects of veganism. I recommend powerful films like Cowspiracy , Earthlings , What the Health and Okja . I talk about all the amazing food I’ve eaten while being vegan, but also some of the challenges of vegan travel. I try to plant the seed of veganism by encouraging people to decide for themselves, rather than forcing my choices on them.

A few months ago, I heard from a host I had stayed with a couple of years ago, who had initially been wary of offering me vegan meals. Much to my surprise, she told me that she had recently transitioned from eating meat to a plant-based diet!

I’ve begun to believe that wherever in the world we travel, we need to keep planting these seeds. For we never know who’ll be lucky enough to taste the fruit.

Questions I’m always asked:

The answer depends on how prepared you are. Vegan options are more readily available around the world now than ever before. New vegan cafes and vegan-friendly spots are constantly popping up in cities like London, New York, Mumbai and Chiang Mai.

But in remote parts of the world – depending on what is grown locally and constitutes the traditional diet – travelling vegan can be challenging without enough preparation and research.

Before you go, always research your destination, reach out to local vegans who live there, check with your accommodations about food options, try to get access to a kitchen, and carry any essentials from the nearest city!

I go out of my way to look for vegan-friendly cafes and restaurants with whole food plant based food (still a rarity), or atleast local, seasonal, organic food. If I have access to a kitchen, I try to whip up a salad and pre-eat before heading out. If not, I stock up on nutrition-packed energy bars, a vegan protein powder, fruits (to whip up a smoothie), and other wholesome foods.

Luckily, many vegan / vegan-friendly establishments tend to serve healthy-ish food, and HappyCow is a great place to seek genuine reviews. Besides the local food, I also seek cuisines with relatively healthy vegan options, like Ethiopian, Sri Lankan, Thai, Japanese and South Indian.

Here’s my quick checklist for travelling vegan:

• Homemade energy bars packed with nutrition (think oats, seeds, nuts, dates, cacao etc)
• Portable travel blender for morning smoothies
• Organic cacao, moringa, wheat grass, flax seeds and other powders that can easily be sprinkled into smoothies or salads.
• Healthy vegan snacks, like air-fried puffs, trail mix, dates and other munchies.
• Vegan chocolate, so I never have to watch others eat dessert when there’s no vegan option available 😉

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Welcome to my blog, The Shooting Star. I’ve been called a storyteller, writer, photographer, digital nomad, “sustainability influencer,” social entrepreneur, solo traveller, vegan, sustainable tourism consultant and environmentalist. But in my heart, I’m just a girl who believes that travel – if done right – has the power to change us and the world we live in.

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34 comments.

You have an answer for all travel queries. Lovely post

Glad you think so 😉 Hope this post will help many fellow vegan / vegetarian travellers.

I’m not vegan but this was a great read and all of the food looks really yummy!x

Thanks Chloe! I hope that reading this post will convince potential vegans (or anyone who wants to reduce animal products in their diet) that it’s not that hard to do while travelling – and certainly not in everyday life.

Thank you for this, Shivya! I’ve been vegan for just about 10 years and have had no real trouble traveling in that time, though I haven’t visited as many off-the-beaten-path spots as you. I’ve LOVED your coverage of your time in Iran — it’s one of the countries I’d most like to visit, and the guesthouse you discovered just sounds wonderful. 🙂

10 years, wow! I’m sure things have gotten easier over the years though? I hope you make it to Iran someday, and especially to Khalvat House. Such a special experience.

Definitely — it’s so much easier to find vegan eats, both in terms of restaurants with plant-based meals *and* ready-made items at grocery stores. It’s almost obscenely easy across much of Europe and some spots in the U.S. too. 🙂

This post has opened up so much information to me. Thank you for this very informative blog post Shivya. As a 16 year old, it’s difficult to convince my parents that I want to turn vegetarian at least for now. My parents think I’m being pretentious but like you said, I can force my opinion down on everyone’s throat.

I hear you. I was in 8th grade when I decided to turn vegetarian, and initially pretended to have a terrible tummy ache when meat was cooked at home. Then I had a chance to discuss it with my dad, and we both ended up turning vegetarian – to the surprise and resistance of everyone else. I hope you’ll find your way around it sooner than later.

Great post here, Shivya, I am just vegetarian, yet I know that Iranian cuisine, has plenty of vegan meals too, since I was married to an Iranian for 21 years. Happy vegan travels to you.

You never stop surprising me Cornelia. I hope our paths cross real soon! What are your plans looking like for 2019?

Awe, thank you Shivya, that’s an honor to hear from you. I wish the same as crossing our path at some point. My travel plans are as small as my budget at the moment, yet my desires are way bigger, Myanmar is still number 1 on my list.

I love making friends through food, especially vegan food! The cube of truth in Chiang Mai must have been a really cool experience. I found the Happy Cow app so handy there (there were so many amazing vegan restaurants!) and everywhere I have travelled! It is a life saver, literally haha. I think when I lived in Salzburg GustaV wasn’t there because I don’t know how I would have missed it!! But next time I will have to go. Thankyou for this post, it is really helpful

Jenny | localleo.co.uk

Ooh I forgot to say I have just posted a Vegan Food Guide to London on my blog so maybe you’ll find some places for your next visit! There is lot’s of street food stalls on the list so great for budget travel too 🙂

Even though I’m an introvert, it’s so easy to connect with vegans around the world because despite our vastly different lives, we’re connected in such a fundamental way! Yeah, I think GustaV was a recent addition to the Salzburg food scene when I visited – one that came into existence after a crowdfunding campaign. Reason enough to go back 🙂

I read your article and it is interesting.

Thanks Danica!

Thanks for this extensive and practical list. This can be really helpful for vegans and vegetarians both. 🙂

Glad you found it useful!

Happy cow? Now that is interesting. will check it out, Shivya!

Do that. It’s a life-changer!

I’ll 🙂

Salute to you Shivya! I am a practicing Vegan since last three plus years and have always carried my food wherever I went. I am a person who doesn’t have food in flights or in the restaurants where they serve non vegetarian food. But I always have the inclination to learn more about self cooking and will try some quick and healthy dishes. I reside in Middle Eastern country so I am aware how it’s always a challenging task to get vegan food. But we Vegans the very Tough Nut to Crack😃 All the very best for your future endeavors. Stay Blessed!

That’s amazing Kamal! Definitely get the HappyCow app – it’s so amazing to find vegan and vegan-friendly spots in the most unexpected corners of the world. Also residing in the Middle East probably means you have access to amazing hummus, baba ganoush etc. Some of my fav comfort food 😉

THAT WAS SUCH A GREAT INFORMATION

Awe, thank you Shivya, that’s an honor to hear from you. I wish the same as crossing our path at some point. My travel plans are as small as my budget at the moment, yet my desires are way bigger, Myanmar is still number 1 on my list.

Lovely post…I am not a vegan but your post is definitely very inspiring..

Great post shivya…waiting to hear more from u…..

thank you for sharing !…

Great article, its very informative. i also want to visit but facing budget problem. hope soon i will enjoy this.

that is an awesome blog.

Glad to have come across tour blog. So much useful info

Great Post! Very Informative Article. You have clearly shown us a way of survival even among the meat-loving part of the world. Thanks for some interesting tips!!!

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Veggies Abroad | Vegan Travel & Tours

Veggies Abroad

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Posted on Published: May 2, 2022

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Before I set out on a round the world journey in 2014, I didn’t know the first thing about traveling as a vegan.

I was vegetarian and still in the process of transitioning to veganism . I was trying to eliminate a few animal products from my diet, but knew I wanted to go vegan.

As my travel date approached I wondered what vegan travel challenges I would face on the road. Worst case scenario, I could survive on bread and crackers, right?

Luckily I never had to do that. In fact, I became vegan during my travels, and I’ve been pleasantly surprised at just how easy it has been to keep an animal-friendly diet. Traveling as a vegan has even been possible in countries whose local populations don’t have a clear definition of what it means to be vegan.

That said, there was a bit of a learning curve along the way. I made some mistakes, and it took some time to get the hang of things. So, I want to pass on everything I’ve learned about traveling as a vegan to you!

Traveling as a Vegan – Tips on Vegan Food

Since 2014 I have been traveling as a vegan, and have been to over thirty countries. I’ve traveled longterm, short term, on a budget, and not so much on a budget. I’ve taken trains, planes, buses, cars, boats, and bikes, and I’ve hiked and hitchhiked to get around.

I’ve stayed at hostels, hotels, Air BnBs, apartments, and friends homes, and have done Workaway (work in exchange for room and board).

All that said, I have been in a variety of settings and environments. While I don’t always have access to five star vegan meals, I have always managed to find something to eat, and it has usually been something fantastic.

Eating Out as a Vegan

Eating out as a vegan can be challenging sometimes. Finding the best options, and communicating your diet to staff can be tricky. Here are a few tips on mastering eating out when traveling as a vegan.

Finding Vegan Food When Traveling

There are a few fantastic ways to find vegan dining options when traveling as a vegan.

First, Happy Cow has totally changed the game for vegans when it comes to finding dining options. The site and app gives you a list of any and all vegan, and vegan-friendly restaurants in any given location. It also includes user reviews of each location, and typically photos. It’s a fantastic resource.

Where Happy Cow lacks, vegan blogs pick up the slack. If you want to have personal recommendations or a shorter rundown of the best vegan food options in a give location, bloggers are the answer.

Like my vegan travel guides , you can really get a feel for a city, even before arriving, and plan which vegan restaurants you’re going to hit up while there.

Social Media and Youtube are also superb options when it comes to traveling as a vegan. There are so many content creators making fantastic videos and images to show what you can expect as a vegan in locations around the world. Check out my friend Eunice at Rated V for Vegan for some incredible vegan travel videos. If you’re interested in Prague, take a look at my Prague Vegan Travel video series.

Bonus Tip : for Instagram , I typically use hashtags to find the best vegan options in a city. I search things like #veganprague or #veganbarcelona to find hot tips by creators on must visit vegan restaurants.

Asking for Changes

Sometimes, in some locations, there isn’t a vegan restaurant in site. So, you are going to have to opt for eating at a non-vegan restaurant.

Of course, that doesn’t mean you have to eat non-vegan food. You’re going to have to become a crafty orderer .

First, explain to your waiter that you are vegan and what that means. Because often times, people can make all kinds of incorrect assumptions about the definition of veganism.

Second, discuss changes that can be made to dishes to make them vegan. Watch out for hidden ingredients like butter, cheese, or cream that may not be mentioned on a menu.

If nothing looks suitable, opt to create your own meal with side dishes. It’s not only a good way to try a bunch of different items, but it is a good excuse to order french fries.

Communication is Key – Prepare for Language Barriers

Before embarking on your journey, it is a good idea to learn some basics phrases in the local language related to being vegan. This way you can explain your dietary restrictions to waiters, food vendors, and other locals you meet on the road.

You can also download an awesome App called V-Cards . It displays a description of veganism in over 100 languages on your phone’s screen so you can show it to waitstaff.

This app saved me in Vietnam while on a long overnight bus trip. We stopped in the middle of nowhere and I managed to order an entirely vegan meal despite the fact that my waiter didn’t speak english, and hadn’t a clue about veganism.

Learn About Local Vegan Food

Another thing you may consider researching before you hit the road is local vegan fare for the countries you are planning to visit.

Trust me, you don’t want to miss out on delicious local treats like salata de vinete in Romania, gallo pinto in Nicaragua, bean tamales in Mexico, or arepas in Colombia.

Open Your Mouth – For Something Other Than Vegan Food

​I’ve met a lot of backpacking vegetarians and vegans on the road. Some of my favorite restaurants are ones that I would have never found out about without their suggestions. So, be bold and strike up a conversation with people around you. You never know who else might be a vegan or vegetarian.

If you’re on the shy side you can try sites like Couchsurfing, Facebook goups, or Meetup to find vegans and vegetarians. If you’re single try Tinder. It’s a great tool for meeting people, including vegans.

Eating in As a Vegan

Let’s face it. Eating out is heaven. But, it can also be nice to have home cooked meals if you’re on the road for a while or have a specific diet…like a vegan diet .

Here are some tips on eating in when traveling as a vegan.

Get a Kitchen

Having access to kitchens on the road makes traveling as a vegan so easy. It’s the best way to ensure that you are not only able to stick to your diet, but that you can also cook your favorite recipes while traveling.

Eating out is fun, and a big treat, especially when you’re traveling. However, there is also something great about being able to cook cheap, comforting vegan meals while you travel . It’s also nice to stock up on snacks, breakfast items, and ice cream so you don’t have to eat out for every single meal.

Since hotels don’t usually have guest kitchens, opt instead for hostels, Air BnBs, or short term apartment rentals.

Bonus Tip: It might just be me and my culinary school background, but if I’m traveling longterm I always pack a good kitchen knife in my checked luggage. Hostels and Air BnBs almost always have terrible, dull knives. So, having your own goes a long way if you’re cooking for yourself.

Save Space for Vegan Cooking Essentials

This tip goes hand-in-hand with the previous one.

If you’re traveling longterm, to multiple locations, and opt to stay in accommodations with kitchens, make sure you save space in your luggage for vegan essentials like spices, oil, grains, nutritional yeast, and other dried food.

It can be really expensive to constantly buy these basics at each new location.

Shop at Farmers Markets and Vegan Grocery Stores

​Produce at local grocery stores in many destinations around the world can often be disappointing. Farmers markets are a great place for vegans to get the freshest and most diverse local ingredients for meals.

They are usually much cheaper than a supermarket, and you’ll be supporting the local community by shopping at them. Additionally, you can often times find deliciously prepared items that are both local and vegan at farmers markets.

Additionally, make sure you take some time to visit local vegan grocery stores . More are popping up all over the world, and it’s always so much fun to visit and see what kind of local vegan products they carry.

Bonus Tip: Happy Cow isn’t just a resource for eating out as a vegan, but it’s also a resource for vegan grocery shopping. You can choose to filter options by Farmers Markets, Health Shops, and Veg Stores on the website or app.

Traveling as a Vegan – Packing

As a vegan it’s important to pack smart when you travel. You don’t want to get to your destination just to realize you’ve forgotten your B12 or your vegan sneakers. Here are a few tips on what to pack when traveling as a vegan.

Vitamins and supplements , especially B12, are usually part of a healthy lifestyle. Don’t forget to pack these items before setting out.  Hunting for vegan supplements isn’t a great way to spend your precious travel time.

Personal care items are a huge comfort when on the road. If you are a vegan who is concerned about the environment opt for zero waste items like a water bottle, metal or bamboo lunchbox, reusable cutlery sets, and Last Object personal care products (LastSwab, LastRound, LastTissue, etc.).

Don’t forget to pack your favorite  cruelty free beauty and personal care vegan products too. It can be quite tricky to know how to spot these in other countries, especially if there is a language barrier.

If you do end up looking for something along these lines while abroad, check out Leaping Bunny . There is a section of the site that lets you search for cruelty free, vegan products in countries all around the world.

Comfortable vegan shoes are essential when traveling. So, don’t forget to pack a few pairs. My go-to travel shoes are from Ethletic, Good Guys Don’t Wear Leather and Ahinsa Barefoot Shoes .

Snacks, snacks, snacks . Don’t forget to pack some extra snacks in your bag when you are traveling. They’re lifesavers on long flights, buses, and train rides, or when hanger hits.

Traveling as a Vegan – Staying Fit & Centered

Just because you’re traveling doesn’t mean you have to skip your workout routine. I mean…you can if you want, but sometimes you just need to run, lift, or stretch. here are some tips.

Workout or Yoga Classes

Taking a workout or yoga class on the road is not only a great way to work out, but it’s a fantastic way to meet locals.

Also, it’s always so much fun to take classes from different teaches all over the world. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to stay centered.

You can look for classes in Facebook groups, or sometimes they are posted at vegan restaurants. If that fails, as your hotel, hostel, or AirBnB host for recommendations.

Take a Fitness Focused Vacation

If you want to center your entire travels around fitness, then I’d suggest taking a vegan fitness vacation .

Yes, they do exist. BookYogaRetreats is a fantastic website that lets you filter different types of yoga retreats around the world. You can even filter by diet type, including vegan to find the option best for you.

Traveling as a Vegan – Vegan Focused Travel Options

Like the afore mentioned vegan yoga retreats available around the world, there are all sorts of vegan focused vacation options out there. Here are a few.

Vegan Hotels & Hostels

I’ve stayed in a few vegan hotels and hostels around the world, and it is such a treat. What is better than rolling out of bed and falling straight into a plate of vegan pancakes, french toast, or croissant? Nothing.

If you are convinced, check out Veggie Hotels for vegan accommodation options around the world.

Vegan Culinary Trips

BookCulinaryVacations is a really cool website that you can use if you are interested in learning about vegan cooking when you travel . You can take classes about vegan cooking, raw food, and even things like olive oil production in countries around our planet.

Vegan Retreats

If you want to book a totally vegan tour , then I’d suggest World Vegan Travel . They plan trips all over the world, including Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Traveling as a Vegan – Wrap-up

Traveling as a vegan is not difficult, but it can take a bit of planning and knowledge to do it right.

I learned the above tips during my many years of traveling. I hope they will help you make your future travels bump free!

And if you do have a slip up along the way, remember to be kind to yourself. Veganism is about doing our best, not being perfect.

Saturday 4th of January 2020

If you're a vegan you are most likely concern on the foods being serve to you, more so if you are traveling. Although there are many cities and countries that serve vegan food, there are also those countries which doesn't have any availability of vegan food. It can really be a struggle for you if you are leave with only few options to eat.

Thursday 7th of January 2016

Awesome tips! Happy Cow is amazing and helped us find vegan restaurants in the weirdest places, including some small towns in rural China.

One thing we always take with us is a photo album on our iPad. It's very simple. Just pictures of animals with red crosses through them and then pictures of all our favourite veggies with no red crosses. When the language barrier is insurmountable, we just show the people running the restaurant our slideshow. We always get a big smile and laugh when the finally get what we're trying to say.

The other big tip is to walk into the kitchen and just point at items you want to eat. This works in small rural hole-in-the-wall restaurants - we've never needed to try it in a modern restaurant in a city though!

Tuesday 12th of September 2017

Jane, what awesome tips! I love the slide show idea. How hilariously fantastic. :D

Christy Morgan

Tuesday 22nd of December 2015

These are great! It's been both fun and nerve wrecking always being on the hunt for vegan foods wherever we go! Our yoga retreat in Bali was successful with accommodating us- it was so successful we're going back again in April!

Tuesday 5th of January 2016

Christy, thank you! I know exactly what you mean. It's a fun challenge to find good vegan food all around the world. :)

Tuesday 11th of August 2015

Hi, What a great website for all us vegetarians and vegans who love to travel!

Friday 14th of August 2015

Thank you very much Susan! Where are you traveling to next? Randi

Thursday 6th of August 2015

Awesome travel tips!! YAY for cruelty-free products and NO to ANIMAL TESTING! :) You forgot a very cool app, EatAway, it's a customized diet translator for iPhone!

Eataway sounds like an interesting app.. Seems great if you have other restrictions aside from just having a vegan diet and needing more than the app I mentioned.. Thanks for sharing! :)

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Indian Travel Food recipes

Indian Travel Food Recipes | 300 Indian Travel Food for International Trip | Homemade Vegetarian Travel Food Ideas | 

Indian Travel Food Recipes | 300 Indian Travel Food for International Trip | Homemade Vegetarian Travel Food Ideas |  We asked our cooking fans which is the Indian foods they travel with and we got response for travel foods like idli, thepla, paratha, sandwiches etc. Here are a a few recipes which are easy to pack while travelling. Some of these foods like ildi, paratha etc stay fresh for 5 to 6 hours, while food items like thepla and pickle stay fresh for a day. On the other hand, the dry food items can stary fresh for more than a day.

Indian travel food | idli and dosa recipes |

Idlis and tomato chutney prepared without adding any water is one of the best dish to carry along during travel.  Idli  is a very  popular South Indian breakfast  which is also a favourite  Mumbai Street Food . Fluffy as cotton balls, white as the moon’ - every  South Indian  remembers those fond descriptions of Idli that mom used to convince them to eat breakfast when they were kids. You can enjoy them at any time of the day during your journey. 

idli recipe | idli batter recipe | South Indian style idli | soft idli |

Tava idli recipe is what the name means, leftover idlis cooked on a tava in butter with Indian spices and vegetables. Hence they are also called South Indian tava vegetable idlis due to the presence of onions and tomatoes. Watch your leftover idlis transform into a scrumptious spicy tava idli as you toss them with crunchy onions, tangy tomatoes and peppy spice powders. The master stroke in this spicy tava idli recipe is the use of pav bhaji masala, a very popular flavour that is loved by young and old alike and it stays fresh for 6 to 8 hours while travelling.

Dosa  is also a good travel food. The dosas cooked with ghee, oil or butter, get a special flavour and texture as they cool, which is quite different from how they taste when hot and fresh.

When preparing dosas for travel, it is important to make them slightly thicker than usual and also a little moist.  If you ask elderly women in South India, they will share with you the secret of making  ‘travel dosas’ . You need to spread the dosa on the tava. After it cooks on one side, take very little water and sprinkle it on the dosa before turning around to cook the other side.

Try the Tuppa Dosa . Tuppa in Kannada means ghee, and that makes the highlight of this recipe obvious! This dosa is a special one, which is often made when there are guests. You can actually smell the ghee from outside the house, and it will make you drool! Since the batter for this dosa uses more urad than usual dosas, the Tuppa Dosa also turns out soft and fluffy, which makes it doubly delightful.

You can also carry milagai podi , coconut chutney and tomato chutney as accomapniments to idlis and dosas.

See our aticle on idli dosa travel foods .  

Indian travel food | paratha recipes |

Methi paratha recipe  is a sumptuous and satiating fare often served with a bowl of curd and pickle. Learn how to make methi paratha for travel. Who can resist the lure of hot, tava-cooked Punjabi methi ka paratha. The wheat flour dough combines methi leaves and carom seeds, both of which are excellent aroma and flavour boosters.While the Gujarati thepla usually have sesame seeds, these North Indian style parathas are perked up with ajwain. These tiny seeds aid in digestion.

Gobi paratha  is a dish wish a universal appeal! What makes these whole wheat Punjabi gobi paratha so appealing is the soft and tasty filling of cauliflower flavoured with spicy green chillies and crunchy onions. Green chillies spike up the flavor of the Gobi paratha stuffing, while coriander adds up the freshness. You can add amchur or chaat masala which would give it an enjoyable tinge of tanginess.

gobi paratha recipe | Punjabi gobi paratha | gobi ka paratha | cauliflower paratha |

Broccoli paratha  is an Indian style paratha with the addition of mixed herbs for a flavourful touch. This unique broccoli paratha has the brilliant flavour of mixed herbs, chilli flakes and pepper. So, on some days, you can serve this hot and fresh for  breakfast  or  after school , while on some days you can pack it as a  tiffin treat  or a travel food! Also pack refreshing  Minty Nimbu Paani  in a thermos flask, so it will be nice and cool to sip on while munching the paratha.

Instant mango pickle  | aam ka achar | instant raw mango pickle | instant kacchi kairi ka achar is a delectable mango pickle that is ready within minutes and thus perfect for travel as an accompaniment to parathas.

The interplay of wisely chosen spices like cumin seeds and fennels seeds is what makes this instant raw mango pickle different. Serve it as an accompaniment to chapati, sabzi, dal and rice and watch your family savour it with satisfaction. It is sure to tempt them to come back for another serving!

Indian travel foods | sandwich recipes |

Chutney Sandwich  a peppy sandwich that is sure to remind you of your favourite street foods! In this easy-to-make recipe, bread slices are buttered and sandwiched with a vibrant green chutney that strikes a spicy conversation with your taste buds!

You can also prepare this quick plain chutney sandwich as a snack any time you are hungry or relish it in the evening with a cup of tea. You can store this in a dry, airtight container and carry it along for travel– it will stay fresh for at least 3 to 4 hours.

Easy and very quick sandwiches to make, when you are in a hurry and you really quick.  Cucumber Cheese Sandwich  tangy taste of green chutney balances the blandness of paneer very well in this sandwich. This refreshing and filling Indian style cucumber cheese sandwich stays fresh for at least 4 hours, and is a very quick fix-up that you can easily prepare before travel.

Pinwheel   Sandwiches  a delightful sweet and spicy snack with a tantalizing flavour and attractive appearance, which makes it ideal to serve kids during journey. In pinwheel sandwich recipe flattened slices of bread are layered with jam, cheese and green chutney, and rolled up into pinwheels. Slices of capsicum and olives add crunch and tangy quotient, making this sandwich a real tongue-tickler.

Indian travel dry snack recipes

While flying or travelling anywhere for a vacation or a one day picnic, or going on a road trip we have grew up watching our mother’s always carrying something to binge on. There is a list of food that you can carry with you while travelling and one of category of food is Dry snacks. Dry snacks are for small hunger pangs!!

Bajra chakli recipe  | bajra murukku | Indian Diwali snack | kambu murukku is a tasty crunchy jar snack. Crisp and crumbly bajra and wheat flour savouries flavoured with kalonji, the bajra murukku is sure to be an exciting experience for you. The butter lends the crispiness, while the curd makes the chakli slightly crumbly.

Crispy banana wafers  made out of yellow bananas are an all-time favourite all over the country, especially in regions of Kerala and Tamil Nadu where yellow bananas are available all year round. You can master making them at home. The outcome will be so fabulous that your Raw Banana Wafers will earn you many compliments!

This simple  instant khakhra chivdo  can be made in a jiffy with readymade khakhra, and is a smart way to outwit sudden hunger pangs without reaching out for junk food! You can carry this chivda in an airtight container to munch on whenever you are hungry. Tossed together with peanuts, daria and other crunchy stuff, this healthy khakhra chivda jar snack has a very exciting mouth-feel.

Indian travel food | rice recipes |

Tendli bhaat recipe is a real spicy preparation of rice and tendi, which totally masks the sober nature of tendli transforming it into an exciting ingredient that will be loved by all. Maharashtrian tendli bhaat is a treat to the taste buds, which is derived from Maharashtra and falls under the category of their comfort foods as well as travel foods.

Just like khichdi is to Gujarati, rajma chawal is to Punjabi, the curd rice is to South-Indians. Curd rice is also known as thayir saddam, dahi chawal and daddojanam. A very simple dish made using the most basic ingredients, curd and rice with an authentic South-Indian tempering does not take more than 15 minutes to cook.

curd rice recipe | South Indian curd rice | dahi chawal | thayir sadam |

This delicious mumbai roadside tawa pulao  is prepared in advance by the vendor, and shares a place on the pav bhaji tawa. It is swiftly portioned out onto serving plates when the orders flow in, to appease the severest of hunger shots. Tawa pulao is called so because it is cooked on the same tawa as  Pav Bhaji , soaking up all the spicy flavours of the pav bhaji masala. You can carry it for all those spice lovers!

tawa pulao recipe | mumbai roadside tawa pulao | mumbai street style famous tawa pulao |

More travel recipes

• Gujarati methi thepla
• Aloo ki sukhi sabzi 
• Nylon dhokla

Enjoy our  Indian Travel Food Recipes | 300 Indian Travel Food for International Trip | Homemade Vegetarian Travel Food Ideas |  and other  Indian Travel Food recipe articles below.

18 Indian Travel Food Dhokla Recipes 29 Indian Travel Food Dry Snacks Recipes 18 Indian Travel Food Idli / Dosa / Upma Recipes 21 Indian Travel Food Paratha Recipes 19 Indian Travel Food Rice Recipes 18 Indian Travel Food Sabzi Recipes Indian Travel Food Sandwiches Recipes

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Passing Thru Travel

10 Dream Destinations for Vegan and Vegetarian Travelers

Posted: March 21, 2024 | Last updated: March 21, 2024

Traveling as a vegan or vegetarian doesn’t mean you must compromise on the culinary experiences that form an integral part of exploring new cultures. With some planning and insight, plant-based eaters can enjoy delicious and authentic meals anywhere in the world. This guide offers essential tips and destinations that cater to vegan and vegetarian travelers, ensuring that your dietary preferences enhance rather than limit your travel adventures.

1. Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chiang Mai is a haven for plant-based eaters, with its abundance of fresh fruits, vegetables, and a thriving vegan and vegetarian scene. The city’s Buddhist culture means that many locals also observe a plant-based diet, particularly during religious periods, making widely available and varied vegan-friendly dishes. From street food stalls offering mango sticky rice and papaya salad to upscale restaurants serving innovative plant-based cuisine, Chiang Mai is where vegans and vegetarians are spoilt for choice.

Insider’s Tip: Visit during the Thai Vegetarian Festival (usually in October), when even more vegan and vegetarian options are available as the city celebrates with special menus and street food stalls.

2. Berlin, Germany

Berlin has emerged as a leading city for vegan and vegetarian living, boasting an impressive array of plant-based eateries, from casual cafés to fine dining restaurants. The city’s progressive and eco-conscious ethos is reflected in its food scene, focusing on sustainability and organic ingredients. Berlin’s diverse culinary landscape means you can enjoy a range of cuisines, all adapted to meet vegan and vegetarian needs.

Insider’s Tip: Explore the vegan-friendly neighborhoods of Kreuzberg and Neukölln, where you’ll find everything from vegan doner kebabs to plant-based ice cream parlors.

3. Portland, Oregon, USA

Portland is renowned for its inclusive and diverse culinary scene, making it a paradise for plant-based eaters. The city takes pride in its innovative vegan and vegetarian cuisine approach, with numerous eateries dedicated entirely to plant-based menus. Portland’s food carts, a staple of the city’s food culture, offer an eclectic mix of vegan options, showcasing the creativity and variety of plant-based cooking.

Insider’s Tip: Don’t miss the chance to visit one of Portland’s all-vegan grocery stores, where you can stock up on unique vegan products and locally made vegan treats.

4. Tel Aviv, Israel

Tel Aviv’s vibrant food scene is a reflection of its diverse population and Mediterranean location. The city is a hotspot for vegan and vegetarian cuisine, focusing on fresh, local ingredients like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes. Traditional dishes such as hummus, falafel, and baba ganoush are naturally plant-based and available throughout the city, often with a modern twist.

Insider’s Tip: Join a vegan food tour to discover hidden gems and learn how traditional Israeli dishes are adapted to vegan diets.

5. Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

Ubud is the cultural heart of Bali and a sanctuary for those seeking health and wellness, including plant-based eaters. The town is dotted with vegan and vegetarian restaurants that use fresh, organic ingredients to create dishes inspired by local flavors and international cuisines. Ubud’s relaxed atmosphere is complemented by its scenic beauty, making it the perfect place to enjoy nourishing plant-based meals.

Insider’s Tip: Look for cafes and restaurants that offer cooking classes, where you can learn how to prepare Balinese vegan dishes using local ingredients.

6. London, United Kingdom

London’s dynamic and multicultural food scene includes a vast selection of vegan and vegetarian restaurants, cafes, and markets. The city caters to plant-based eaters with various options, from traditional British fare to global cuisines, all made vegan-friendly. London is also home to several annual vegan festivals celebrating plant-based living with food stalls, workshops, and talks.

Insider’s Tip: Visit one of London’s many food markets, such as Borough Market or Camden Market, where you’ll find a variety of vegan street food options.

7. Toronto, Canada

Toronto’s diverse cultural makeup is mirrored in its food offerings, making it an exciting destination for vegan and vegetarian travelers. The city boasts an extensive selection of plant-based restaurants covering a wide range of cuisines and dining experiences. Toronto is also known for its vegan bakeries and dairy-free ice cream shops, ensuring that plant-based eaters don’t miss out on sweet treats.

Insider’s Tip: Explore the Kensington Market area for eclectic vegan-friendly cafes and grocery stores specializing in plant-based products.

8. Los Angeles, California, USA

Los Angeles is at the forefront of the plant-based food movement, with an abundance of vegan restaurants, food trucks, and cafes. The city’s health-conscious lifestyle and culinary innovation mean that vegans and vegetarians have endless dining options. From gourmet plant-based restaurants to casual vegan taco stands, LA’s food scene is a testament to the versatility and appeal of plant-based eating.

Insider’s Tip: Attend the annual Vegan Street Fair in North Hollywood to sample a wide range of vegan dishes from local vendors.

9. Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne is celebrated for its coffee culture and foodie scene, which includes a thriving community of vegan and vegetarian restaurants. The city’s emphasis on fresh, local produce and culinary creativity is evident in its plant-based offerings, which range from vegan brunch spots to vegetarian fine dining. Melbourne’s laneways and markets are also great places to discover vegan snacks and artisanal products.

Insider’s Tip: Check out the vegan options at Melbourne’s famous Queen Victoria Market, where you can enjoy a variety of plant-based foods while soaking up the local atmosphere.

10. Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town is a destination where natural beauty meets culinary delight, including for those following a plant-based diet. The city’s vegan and vegetarian scene is growing, with restaurants focusing on sustainable and ethical food practices. Cape Town’s rich cultural heritage influences its plant-based cuisine, offering a unique blend of flavors and dishes.

Insider’s Tip: Visit the Oranjezicht City Farm Market on a Saturday to sample vegan delicacies from local producers and enjoy the stunning views of Table Mountain.

The Bottom Line

Traveling as a vegan or vegetarian no longer means having to settle for side dishes or salads. Cities around the world are embracing plant-based cuisine, offering dishes that are not only kind to the planet but also delicious and satisfying.

Whether you’re exploring the vegan eateries of Berlin, enjoying plant-based Thai dishes in Chiang Mai, or sampling vegan street food in Portland, the world is full of culinary adventures waiting to be discovered. As you embark on your travels, remember that every meal is an opportunity to explore new flavors, learn about local cultures, and celebrate the diversity of plant-based cuisine.

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The post 10 Dream Destinations for Vegan and Vegetarian Travelers republished on Passing Thru with permission from The Green Voyage .

Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Foxys Forest Manufacture.

For transparency, this content was partly developed with AI assistance and carefully curated by an experienced editor to be informative and ensure accuracy.

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Vegetarian and vegan diets linked to lower risk of heart disease, cancer and death, large review finds

A plant-based diet is associated with a reduced risk of heart disease, cancer and death, according to a large-scale review published Wednesday. 

The research , which appears in the journal PLOS ONE, analyzed the results of nearly 50 studies published from 2000 to 2023.

The studies examined the health effects of either vegetarian diets or vegan regimens, which restrict any food derived from animals, including dairy.

A clear consensus emerged: Both eating patterns were associated with a lower risk of cancer and ischemic heart disease (heart problems caused by narrowed arteries). In particular, the diets seemed to reduce the risk of prostate cancer and gastrointestinal cancers like colon cancer. Vegetarian diets were also linked to a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.

In addition, plant-based diets were associated with a reduction in risk factors for heart disease and cancer, including high body weight, inflammation and LDL or “bad” cholesterol. 

“This research shows, in general, that a plant-based diet can be beneficial, and taking small steps in that direction can make a difference,” said Matthew Landry, one of the review’s authors and an assistant professor of population health and disease prevention at the University of California, Irvine.

“You don’t have to go completely vegan to see some of these benefits,” he added. “Even reducing a day or two per week of animal-based consumption can have benefits over time.”

However, Dr. Walter Willett, a professor of epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, pointed out that not everyone who follows a plant-based diet eats the same foods, so levels of healthiness still vary.

“A vegetarian diet could be based primarily on refined starches and sugar, which we see to be the worst dietary pattern,” Willett, who was not involved in the new research, said in an email. 

A healthy plant-based diet, he said, should consist mostly of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, soy, beans and non-hydrogenated plant oils. 

Why are plant-based diets so healthy?

Researchers are still investigating the mechanisms through which plant-based diets lower the risk of disease. 

Some of it may have to do with preventing obesity, which is linked to heart disease and certain cancers . But the benefits likely extend beyond that, Landry said. 

“Some of it is independent of weight. Even when weight is maintained or doesn’t change, we still see reductions in some of these other clinical health outcomes, especially when it relates to cardiovascular disease,” he said.

One possible reason is that many fruits and vegetables are high in anti-inflammatory nutrients and antioxidants, which can reduce plaque buildup in the arteries.

Plant-based diets also tend to be high in fiber, which helps lower bad cholesterol, said Brie Turner-McGrievy, a professor of health promotion, education and behavior at the University of South Carolina. She published a study in 2014 which found that plant-based diets can reduce risk factors for heart disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes. The research was included in the new review.

“Soluble fiber that’s found in things like beans and oats is really a powerful tool to help lower LDL cholesterol levels,” she said.

Turner-McGrievy noted, though, that much of that benefit can only be achieved through eating whole foods: “It’s not like you can take a fiber supplement and hope to have these same outcomes.”

Another benefit of a plant-based diet may come simply from the absence of meat, she said. People who are vegan tend to consume less saturated fat than meat eaters. 

“It’s just really hard to lower your saturated fat intake if you’re consuming animal-based foods,” Turner-McGrievy said. “Cheese, for example, is the No. 1 source of saturated fat in the diet.”

Processed meat products such as bacon or salami are also known to raise the risk of cancer , according to the World Health Organization. The agency considers red meat in general to be a “probable human carcinogen.”

Is a vegan or vegetarian diet right for everyone?

According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, vegetarian and vegan diets are adequate and healthy at all stages of life , including pregnancy, childhood and older adulthood. 

But the new review stopped short of recommending plant-based diets for everyone. 

“During pregnancy, it’s not recommended based on the data that we have to use a strict vegetarian diet,” said Dr. Federica Guaraldi, one of the review’s authors and an endocrinologist at the IRCCS Institute of Neurological Sciences of Bologna in Italy. 

Guaraldi and her co-authors found that the plant-based regimens studied didn’t lower the risk of gestational diabetes or hypertension in pregnant women. One study included in the review suggested that pregnant women who followed a vegetarian diet had lower levels of zinc — which is important for children's growth, development and immune function — than those who ate meat. Another study in the review found that vegetarian mothers had an increased risk of delivering babies with low birthweights. 

The review's authors also cautioned that plant-based diets might lead to vitamin B12 deficiencies in the general population. Landry said that can be addressed by taking a B12 supplement.  

“From my perspective as a dietitian, a healthy plant-based diet — either vegetarian or vegan — can really meet just about all your vitamin and mineral needs,” he said. 

Aria Bendix is the breaking health reporter for NBC News Digital.

Cauliflower gets the Marbella treatment in this satisfying sheet-pan dish

Cauliflower Marbella is a modern, plant-based, sheet-pan take on the famous braised-chicken dish from “The Silver Palate.”

Cara Mangini has heard the question before: If I eat this vegetarian meal, will I end up still hungry?

The question would sometimes come up when she’d serve an entirely plant-based menu for catered corporate events. Some attendees would invariably be worried; unlike at a restaurant, they wouldn’t have a choice. But Mangini’s answer, told definitively through her Little Eater catering company and her cookbooks, is a resounding no.

Those worried attendees, she told me in a Zoom interview from her office in Columbus, Ohio, would approach her after the meal to confess their anxieties — and their surprise. “I’ve never felt more full and satisfied and energized,” they would tell her.

Get the recipe: Sheet Pan Cauliflower Marbella

Mangini seems to possess an unerring knack for putting together the kind of plant-based dishes people love, and for teaching readers to do so, too. In her new book, “The Vegetable Eater” (Workman, 2024), she offers what she calls a “playbook” to help people “learn foundational techniques to reimagine and reinvigorate your repertoire,” she writes in the introduction. She organizes the book around “essential dishes, mostly familiar-sounding ones” such as pizza, burgers, pasta, chili, tacos, grain bowls and more, providing three recipes for each dish that vary with the seasons.

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Whenever I hear the idea of a cooking “repertoire,” I perk up, because I’ve long believed that one of the mistakes many of us make when trying to get regular dinners on the table is going for so many new things all the time. That might sound strange coming from someone whose job involves writing recipes for new things all the time (and supervising others who are doing likewise), but the best, most efficient home cooks I know make many of the same meals regularly, perhaps with variations on the themes. If one of my or my colleagues’ recipes becomes one of those meals, I’m thrilled, of course.

Mangini comes to her writing from a teacher’s perspective, honed not only by her restaurant cooking experience, but also by her work as one of the original “vegetable butchers” at the Italian market chain Eataly. Her first book, “The Vegetable Butcher,” focused on, as you might imagine, cutting and prepping techniques that can help make cooking vegetables more second-nature.

In “The Vegetable Eater,” Mangini again offers a slew of prep tips, but her mission has expanded. “Once I get people to the place where it doesn’t feel like such a task to break down broccoli,” she told me, “I can help them find back-pocket recipes to cook on the fly.”

These days, with food “hacks” proliferating on social media — some of them more useful than others — I appreciate Mangini’s sensibility. There’s nothing particularly showy about the ways she suggests you prep vegetables; they’re just common-sense approaches that might not have occurred to you.

Take the way she breaks down a head of cauliflower, one of my go-to vegetables. Rather than trying to cut the core out in one piece, she first quarters the cauliflower from stem to crown, rendering the core easy to dispatch with four angled slices. It’s all florets from there.

Now what do you do with it? Well, Mangini likes to riff on familiar dishes, and this one is a take on the famous chicken Marbella from “The Silver Palate Cookbook.” She turns the meaty braise into a sheet-pan dinner, keeping the crucial marriage of chile heat and a sweet-and-sour, wine-based bath. This is not one of those sheet-pan recipes that require you to work in stages, pulling things off and on the pan so they’re done simultaneously. No, it’s a one-sheet deal, with just one interruption for stirring and to scatter on some pine nuts.

Mangini also offers instructions for simultaneously roasting polenta rounds to serve as the base for the cauliflower, but I kept things even simpler. I want to leave the choice of grain flexible, making it all that much easier for you to decide how — and when — to fit it into your own repertoire.

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16 20-Minute Vegetarian Dinners That Can Help With Weight Loss

Make one of these satisfying dinners to help you meet your weight loss goals. These vegetarian dishes have no more than 575 calories and at least 6 grams of fiber per serving to help you stay full for longer, increase beneficial bacteria in your gut and maintain healthy digestion. Not to mention, you’ll have a delicious meal on the table in just 20 minutes or less with these quick recipes. Our Chhole (Chickpea Curry) has received nearly 70 four- and five-star reviews for being as filling as it is flavorful. And one reader says they “wouldn't change a thing to” our White Bean & Sun-Dried Tomato Gnocchi.

Chhole (Chickpea Curry)

Andrew Scrivani

This healthy Indian recipe is a flavorful chickpea curry that you can make in just 20 minutes. Also called chana masala, this dish is a comforting and delicious dinner.

White Bean & Sun-Dried Tomato Gnocchi

Sun-dried tomatoes are the star of this recipe—providing texture and umami. Combined with the spinach, they make this dish a great source of vitamins C and K.

Spinach & Artichoke Dip Pasta

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Vegan Coconut Chickpea Curry

To make this 20-minute vegan curry even faster, buy precut veggies from the salad bar at the grocery store. To make it a full, satisfying dinner, serve over cooked brown rice. When shopping for simmer sauce, look for one with 400 mg of sodium or less and check the ingredient list for cream or fish sauce if you want to keep this vegan. If you like a spicy kick, add a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce at the end.

Easy Pea & Spinach Carbonara

Fresh pasta cooks up faster than dried, making it a must-have for fast weeknight dinners like this luscious yet healthy meal. Eggs are the base of the creamy sauce. They don't get fully cooked, so use pasteurized-in-the-shell eggs if you prefer.

Stuffed Sweet Potato with Hummus Dressing

Hearty yet simple to prepare, this stuffed sweet potato with black beans, kale and hummus dressing is a fantastic 5-ingredient lunch for one!

Roasted Vegetable & Black Bean Tacos

These hearty vegan tacos are quick and easy to make, perfect for busy weeknights. They are so tasty no one will miss the meat or dairy.

Vegetarian Italian Hoagies

Traditional Italian subs feature meat but this delightfully easy sandwich packs a punch with artichoke hearts, red onion and zesty pepperoncini instead. We love it for dinner as well as lunch. If you're packing the hoagies to take along, keep the ingredients separate and assemble right before eating to avoid soggy bread. Serve with tomato and cucumber salad.

Green Goddess Salad with Chickpeas

In this cucumber, tomato, Swiss cheese and chickpea salad recipe, a healthy green goddess dressing is made from avocado, buttermilk and herbs. The extra dressing is delicious served with grilled vegetables.

Spinach Ravioli with Artichokes & Olives

Store-bought spinach ravioli and a handful of basic pantry items are all you need to get a healthy dinner on the table in 15 minutes. Ingredients like oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, briny Kalamata olives and toasty pine nuts help to build big flavor fast. If you can't find frozen artichokes, swap in a 15-ounce can (just be sure to drain and rinse them well).

White Bean-Sage Cauliflower Gnocchi

Turn lower-carb cauliflower gnocchi into a complete and satisfying meal with this riff on classic brown butter and sage gnocchi. We added beans to amp up the fiber and protein for a fast and healthy dinner.

Bean & Veggie Taco Bowl

Simple brown rice and black beans serve as the backdrop for sautéed veggies and taco toppings!

Roasted Veggie & Quinoa Salad

Quick, simple and packed with satisfying protein and fiber, this salad makes a perfect lunch or easy one-dish dinner.

Mixed Greens with Lentils & Sliced Apple

This salad with lentils, feta and apple is a satisfying vegetarian entree to whip together for lunch. To save time, swap in drained canned lentils--just make sure to look for low-sodium and give them a rinse before adding them to the salad.

Vegetarian Sushi Grain Bowl

Skip the hassle of making sushi rolls at home and just go for this grain bowl. Start with a base of brown rice and add veggies, dressing and creamy avocado for a delicious and easy meal.

Polenta Cakes with Poached Eggs & Avocado

Precooked polenta makes this savory healthy breakfast a breeze. Serving the easy poached eggs on a bed of arugula is a wonderful way to get a head start on your daily vegetable intake.

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A vegan mother has called on her son’s football club to ditch meat sausages and replace them with vegan options at the post-game barbecues.

Animal rights activist Sheena Chhabra’s emailed South Melbourne Districts Auskick to make the request.

“I’ve requested that if sausages must be served, which I believe is not essential at a morning event, we swap out the regular sausages for vegan ones,” she said in a statement, 9 News reported.

She said the club advised her she could bring her own vegan sausages along to be placed on the barbecues, however her son declined, saying he didn’t want them to be cooked on the same grill as the meat sausages.

There is no separate barbecue available to cook the food separately.

Sheena, who has her own vegan YouTube channel, gave up meat five years ago after becoming aware of how animals were reared and slaughtered for meat, dairy and eggs.

It has been a decade since she became a vegetarian.

“I believe that if children knew these realities, they would be asking for vegan sausages,” she wrote.

“Beef sausages and bacon are classified as Group 1 carcinogens.”

Her son, aged 7, had been a vegan for five years.

She told The Age her son felt excluded while his friends ate their sausages as he was “making the more ethical, health-conscious, environmentally friendly choice”.

She argued that the club had fallen “seriously short” in the food it offers, “which raises significant concerns about the health, ethical and environmental impact of food in a place that is meant to encourage health and wellbeing”.

However, she said while she prefers for only vegan sausages to be served, if the club continues to offer meat sausages it would be acceptable if parents were informed of its negative impact in terms of health, ethical and environment reasons.

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“If that was to happen and parents still chose it, then that’s their choice,” Ms Chhabra said.

“Everyone has a personal choice, however children are largely unaware of these issues and what happens to animals, so they rely on their parents to make informed choices, and I think most children would choose to eat differently if they knew about these issues.”

Club president Bryan Zolad declined to comment when contacted by news.com.au.

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