5 Veg-Friendly Tips for Traveling!
Sometimes, depending on where you live, vegetarianism or veganism can be the norm-or at the very least, common. When traveling to a new place, you may not feel as confident about an abundance of veg-friendly food being available. You may not speak the language, know much about the culture, or you may have also been warned that the place you are traveling to is very meat-centric.
However, there are always a few ways to prepare in advance and to make sure your experience abroad of sight-seeing, having adventures and meeting new people is combined with enjoying veg-friendly local cuisine! Here are some tips to keep in mind when planning your next trip:
1- Do your research!
This may sound like an obvious one, but with the rise of so many food and travel bloggers, it just makes even more sense to do a search online and find out more about the local cuisine of the places you want to visit. Others have traveled there-and many of them may have also been on the look-out for veg-friendly options or may just know more about the local food in general. Why not benefit from their experience and arrive to your location with a few ideas (and names) of dishes in mind?
2- Learn a few key phrases in the local language
While you may plan to learn common words and phrases in order to have basic conversations with people, why not extend your vocabulary to include being able to ask the question of whether or not a dish or food item is veg-friendly? The word ‘vegan’ may not be as well known in some areas, so it could be wise to learn the specifics of what you want to ask. Even “strict vegetarian” may prove to be more useful! You may find some delicious gems of local cuisine you wouldn’t have ever discovered otherwise!
3- Keep an eye out for side dishes!
If you find yourself in a restaurant or a home for dinner, while it could be the case that the focus or “centerpiece” meal is 100% without-a-doubt meat-based, shift your gaze over to the side dishes on the table or in the menu! There is a good chance that many of these options will be vegetarian or even vegan. Even in more meat-centric countries, there are bound to be a few salads or grilled vegetable plates as options.
4- Always visit the local farmers’ markets
They will have different names for the farmers’ markets depending on where you go, but these tend to be the best places to find an abundance of veg options-in terms of fresh local produce, as well as other specialties! You could do some bulk shopping on beans, nuts, seeds, dried fruits, grains and much more to keep a good balance in your diet!
5- Be prepared and always pack a few snacks!
If you plan to hike or be out and about for a day or so, skip any potential disappointment and make sure to pack some veg-friendly and filling snacks. It can be some of the items you bought at the local farmers’ market, or some home-made treats. Even if you find an incredible stand on the side of the road that sells barbecued corn cobs and potatoes, having a few nutritious back up snack options is always a good idea!
So whether you have booked your next ticket abroad, or are planning to, keep these tips in mind so you arrive home with some new experiences-as well as some new favorite foods!
