Heading out on a summer venture and anxious about "what's to eat" while on the road? As one who travels a lot - we took 5 trips out of the country last year alone, so I'm getting pretty good at this - I've got a full arsenal of quick answers to the question. You'll find that with just a little planning ahead, you'll be able to keep travel meals healthy, vegan, and satisfying.
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Heading out on a summer venture and anxious about “what’s to eat” while on the road?
As one who travels a lot – we took 5 trips out of the country last year alone, so I’m getting pretty good at this – I’ve got a full arsenal of quick answers to the question. You’ll find that with just a little planning ahead, you’ll be able to keep travel meals healthy, vegan, and satisfying.
1) Phone first: If you are going to be staying at a hotel, do some pre-trip reconnaissance to find out what you can count on in your hotel room. Call and ask if there is a microwave, refrigerator, and a way to heat water in your room. These are getting more and more common in hotels. If there is a coffee maker in your room, then you’re all set with an easy way to make hot water that can be used to soak oats or muesli for breakfast. If you are traveling out of the country, connect with your host hotel via email if at all possible to find out about your options.
2) Take your tools with you: If you are traveling by car, here are several items you might want to consider taking with you. I say ‘by car’ because it makes it easier to transport. However, I’ve packed both hot water kettle and kitchen utensils in my airplane luggage.
- hot water kettle - I have a Rival brand that you can pick up for a dozen dollars at most variety stores. You can then heat water for instant soups and oatmeal.
- a good slicing knife and a cutting board, handy when it comes time to chop apples to go on your morning oatmeal or slice tomatoes for your tomato/avocado/hummus/ sandwiches.
- a spreading knife too so that you can easily spread that hummus, or nut butter.
- include a dish towel to help with cleanup and to help create a work space on the dresser or counter in your hotel room if that is the space you have to work with.
- pack some durable mugs and bowls or even some plastic or sturdy paper plates and bowls so that you’ll have more dining tool options.
- spoons and forks
3) Pack durable food: Whether going by plane, train or automobile, I always leave the house with several apples in my bag. Dried fruit is an obvious durable, but don’t stop there – carrots and sugar snap peas have lasting power and I’ll frequently take them on the plane in my carry-on as well. Cold baked potatoes and sweet potatoes will last for hours in the car or plane. And if you are traveling with a cooler, you’ve got it made.
4) Research your restaurant options: Check online to see what restaurants you might encounter at your destination or en route. You can search the area you will be traveling to on happycow.com which will identify vegan restaurants or restaurants that serve vegan food. But don’t stop there – find out what other restaurants might be in the neighborhood and seek out their menu options online. If unclear on the options, give them a call. I’ve often called in advance to find out if a restaurant has vegetarian options on the menu. If they do, it’s an easy segue from there to how to veganize the choices. If not, ask if they have garden salads, a vegetable of the day, baked potatoes, or a salad bar. Mexican restaurants can usually tell you if their beans are cooked in oil, lard, or fat free. Even if the beans aren’t doable for you, in a Mexican restaurant you can usually get greens, chopped tomatoes and salad, salsa, and corn tortillas for making a big tray of tacos. I’ve had some great success with Mexican restaurants. For more insights, go to restaurant menus: How to survive and thrive when you want to stay plant-based. Management is usually very eager to help if you go in with a gracious attitude.
5) Research your supermarket options: browse Google to find out what supermarkets you might find at your destination or along the way. Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods Markets, Safeway are all starting points. But don’t be afraid to branch out. It’s possible that there will be a Farmer’s Market in your destination community. Remember you can get a bowl of oatmeal and fruit at Starbucks in a pinch!
To help you out, here’s a quick shopping list of items I’ve tossed in the car – or my bag – on multiple occasions to make the food easier when traveling. Some items will depend on whether you have refrigeration.
- McDougall brand instant soup cups
- oatmeal/muesli
- apples, oranges, dried fruit
- carrots, sugar snap peas
- nut butter
- sliced whole grain bread; if it is going to be in your luggage for a day in transition, freeze it first!
- Lara bars
- hummus
- seasoned baked tofu – the kind that comes in sealed packages. These freeze well to give them lasting power, too.
- instant pea or black bean flakes
Once you get going with these ideas, you’ll find yourself getting creative about how to best include your own favorite food standbys.
And finally, don’t be afraid to ask for what you want. Restaurants and markets want to make you happy, and can be very accommodating. Enjoy your travels – and enjoy what you eat!
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