It is usually great to be a vegetarian/vegan. Not only is it good for the environment but also for your health! However, I have often found myself cursing my diet while travelling because it can be incredibly hard and frustrating sometimes. Ok, not sometimes. Most of the time. I fall into this very awkward definition of vegetarian. I eat dairy but I don’t eat eggs when it is obviously eggs. I will devour a cake or brownie or a sauce even if it has eggs without hesitating because the egg is hidden and you can’t taste it. You might think I am crazy but almost every vegetarian in India falls in this category.

So, from years of experience of travelling as a vegetarian, I have compiled the ultimate guide to travelling as a vegetarian/vegan!

PRE-TRAVEL TIPS

• Pre-Book your meals

Most airlines offer vegetarian/vegan/nut-free/lactose-free/gluten-free meal options. It is quite commendable how up to date they stay with the new trends considering that they change quite often! In fact, they have a special meal specifically designed for vegetarians like me who come from India and are used to harassing their taste buds with extreme spices and: it’s called “Hindu meal.” You can book your meal while buying your ticket, the portal usually always gives the option and that too, free of cost! The cherry on top is the fact that people with special meals are served first on the flight. If your flight isn’t very long and won’t serve meals, be smart and pack a snack which makes you happy.

• Pack snacks and pre-made meals

Be sure to pack pre-made meals and snacks of your choice before travelling. It may sound unnecessary but, in some places, especially remote, it can be really difficult to find an option for you. During a long bus ride, you may stop at a roadside restaurant with only one dish in the menu: meat probably served with a side of white rice. Unless you want to enjoy the extreme flavours of white rice, pack a snack just in case.

• Learn the definition of vegetarian/vegan all over the world

The definition varies greatly all over the world. In India for instance, vegetarian means no meat, eggs or fish. But in Vietnam, vegetarian/vegan is anything without meat even if the sauce or broth is meat-based. In Italy, vegetarian means that you can eat fish! It is also good to learn basic food names like for instance, Poulet is chicken in French. If I am at a restaurant or supermarket, I can just scan the menu or ingredients for something without Poulet. It is also good to learn the word ‘without’ in the language.

• Research about the country’s cuisine beforehand

There are many cuisines which have a lot of vegan options by default. Like the heavenly samosa. It is vegan! Just knowing that it makes it easier for you to order something. It is also great to know what some dishes are made of. For instance, I know that a galette in France is eaten with eggs and meat. I can simply ask for it sans oeufs et viande to create my own vegetarian meal. Yes, if you are in France, people do treat it as blasphemy but a girl has got to eat.

TIPS

• Keep an open mind

This is something you need to, unfortunately, be prepared of. Not all cuisines are vegetarian/vegan friendly or adaptable. I take pride in the fact that I am somebody who will eat anything as long as it doesn’t have meat. Be prepared to visit the same restaurant and eat the same dish again and again.

• Discover local cuisines

I know that our palettes tend to get used to the same flavours and ingredients. I come from India, a country regarded for its curries and spicy food. When I went to Europe for the first time I complained about the bland food and lack of flavour. Then I complained about missing the burning sensation in my mouth which only spices can bring. But after a few days, it grew on me and I discovered many delightful things like the bread all over!

• Be nice and patient

Usually, for servers in restaurants, a vegetarian/vegan person is essentially their worst nightmare. Especially when you don’t speak the same language. Be nice and patient and understand that it is not logical for some people. There is no need to get mad because they can add chicken to your pasta without your knowledge. HAHA kidding. But it is not their fault because it is a different culture where it may not be logical to not consume meat. If possible, find somebody who speaks your language and communicate exactly what you want to them.

• Reach out to vegetarian/vegan communities

There are numerous Facebook groups, vegan events etc in each city. Not just that, check out Instagram and Facebook pages of active vegetarian/vegan in each city and see what they recommend in terms of restaurant and just general tips. You can even reach out to locals and the place wherever you are staying – Airbnb, hotel or couch surfing.

• Stay where you can cook

If you are planning to spend a good amount of time in someplace, it is better to get an accommodation with a kitchen. This will give you the freedom and the flexibility to eat whatever you please. Most Airbnbs come equipped with one and with essentials. Even some hostels have kitchens and it is a great place to socialise and meet other people.

• Find a Farmers Market

These are quite abundant all across Europe, even in big cities. It is a great place to not only find fresh fruits and vegetables but also local produce which isn’t available everywhere. The first time I tried raspberries was actually in England. It may sound ridiculous to some that somebody somewhere in the world had never tried something as basic as a raspberry but they are not widely available.

• Read the ingredients

It is quite simple to just read the ingredients. Especially when it comes to junk food. Marshmallows are usually vegan in middle eastern countries but in Europe and America, they contain gelatine. Same with Pringles. They are vegan in Europe but not in Asia.

APPS WHICH WE RECOMMEND:

A great way to make your life easier is by using apps! Here are the apps we recommend:

• Google translate – If you don’t speak the language, it is advisable to have the offline google translate just in case. It will help you decipher ingredient lists and menus.

• Yelp – There are veggie-friendly restaurants on Yelp as well!

• Zomato – wherever it is available, this is my favourite app for finding food. It is location-based and has filters to exactly find what you are looking for. It also has reviews from other users.

• Happy cow – The app (not free) and the website is the best way to find vegan food. It is also available in all 183 countries.

MOST VEGGIE FRIENDLY CUISINES

• Indian

No surprise here but I promise I am not biased. About 40% of India’s population is vegetarian so they have essentially perfected the veggie-friendly cuisine. In a menu, there are as many vegetarian options as non-vegetarian options. Many things also happen to be vegan by default like dal (lentil curry), chana masala (chickpea curry), and almost all the street food. My personal favourite dish of all time is dosa and it is vegan!

• Ethiopian

I was sleeping on Ethiopian food for far too long. I discovered it in New York City and I haven’t stopped raving about it since. A lot of their dishes are vegan because many people in Ethiopia fast and when they fast, they only eat vegan food. It is also flavourful and comes with wonderful bread. My favourite dish is Yetsom beyaynetu which is a vegan fasting platter. But beware, it is extremely filling.

• Middle Eastern

Which vegan doesn’t love hummus? It is smooth and perfect and honestly, sometimes superior to butter itself. There are also plenty of other things like tabbouleh salad and baba ganoush. And falafel! They are served all over as street food and is often found all over the world in wraps of pita bread with hummus.

• Mexican

The base of Mexican food – beans, corn, tortilla, salsa, and guacamole are all vegan! Even if you end up at a chain like Chipotle or Taco Bell, or a proper restaurant, it is quite easy to substitute things to make it veggie-friendly.

• Thai

Thai food offers many vegetarian options. Historically, it is made with very light use of dairy, relying more on coconut milk to use as a base of delicious soups and curries. They also eat a lot of tofu and vegetables. They also have a lot of choices for folks who are gluten-free since noodles in Thai cuisine tend to be made of rice. The most well-known Thai dish of all time, Pad Thai, can actually be made vegan very easily.