How to Travel Internationally as a Vegan

April 04, 2019

Traveling around the world can be an incredible, eye-opening experience. Whether it is backpacking through Asia, visiting the capitals of different European cities, or exploring the United States as a vegan athlete, traveling is very rewarding.

But many vegans are hesitant to travel to parts of the world that are unfamiliar, as they are unsure if they will be able to find food and beverages that accommodate their diet. Here are some tips that can help vegans when they are traveling internationally.

Pack Snacks

When traveling on a plane, train or bus, it is a good idea to pack snacks. Since many airlines have restrictions on liquids, packing solid snacks is the best approach. Vegan snack bars, nut mixes, and dry fruits are great options for travel snacks.

Not only does packing snacks allow vegans to enjoy the foods they are used to eating, but it can be a huge money saver as well. Most airports and train stations have a significant markup on the most basic food and drink items. Packing snacks can save a lot of money while traveling around the world!

Learn Some Key Words

Visiting a country where one does not speak the language is always a bit of a challenge. But there are ways around the language barrier. Try to learn a few basic words related to the vegan lifestyle. For instance, words and phrases such as vegan, vegetables, no meat, and organic can be helpful to know in the native language.

Find the Vegan Trademark

The Vegan Society is one of the oldest vegan organizations in the world. If one notices the Vegan Trademark on a product, it is clear that it is a safe product for vegans to consume.

Study the Local Cuisine

Do some homework before visiting a different country. Learn about the local cuisine and try to see if any vegan elements are present. And do not be afraid to ask restaurants about the ingredients used in a dish.

Countries such as Germany and India have significant options for vegans within the local cuisine. And it is always great to try new plant-based dishes from different cultures, as it can open up a vegan to recipes they had not considered before.

Research Vegan Restaurants

Part of the pre-traveling research should focus on vegan restaurants in a city. Most major cities around the world will have 100 percent vegan options. It is a great feeling to go into a restaurant in a foreign country and know that everything on the menu is vegan!

Keep It Simple

It is not always possible to find out every ingredient in a dish at a restaurant. Or understand what items on the menu are vegan. If there is any doubt, try to keep it simple.

Opt for dishes that are easily understandable and contain few ingredients. Salads are a great choice in a pinch. And if there is access to a grocery store, simple meals such as peanut butter sandwiches are also a good option.

Find Outdoor Markets

When traveling within a big city, try to scope out some of the popular outdoor markets. These spots are great for finding fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, and other vegan-friendly foods.

Another perk of outdoor markets is how the food is a lot cheaper. It is fresh, high-quality food that can be eaten right there and then. What could be better than sampling nature’s best foods at an outdoor marketing in a new city?

By following these steps, any vegan traveler can experience new cuisines, find comfort food and ensure they are remaining faithful to the vegan lifestyle while experiencing different cities and countries!

MEET SOME OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS

In 2022 we had 100 Team Members. BE APART OF THE FAMILY AND SHARE YOUR STORY

Meet Team VPA member Renee @runtrails_eatplants . It is her second year on the team and she has been helping out behind the scenes on our IG @team_vpa and our FB pages"Life is too short to stay inside your comfort zone, reach for the sky. I’m Renee and I am an ultrarunner living outside Atlanta, Georgia. 14 years ago, I went plant based for my health and I never looked back. After a bad foot injury, I discovered I loved lifting as much as I love running the trails. So, at the age of 50 I added lifting heavy to my training plan. I am passionate about spreading the message that age is no limit and you can not only thrive on a plant-based diet, you can help end animal cruelty and have a positive impact on the environment too. So, get out there and go for it!"

Welcome to the team@monica.strattonSport: Triathlon, Cycling, Running

"I have struggled for my entire life with food. It seems everything I ate made me feel sluggish or sick. My husband and I decided to try the vegan lifestyle and we have never felt better. My digestive system is running so much better and I feel I have more sustainable energy through my workouts and life. Being vegan has helped me fuel better for all my races and training.
I am very proud to be a vegan athlete. I have seen what it has done for me and my performance in all my sports. I want to share my story of how being vegan has changed my life in terms of how I feel on a daily basis and in sport. Being a professional athlete my students look to me and how I live my life and I am very proud to tell them how much better my body feels being vegan "

Welcome back@rjsacksVeganism saved my dad's life many years ago. He had horrible blockages in his heart and faced stents and a very dangerous operation, or seeing what would happen if he went whole food no oil plant based. He reversed his heart disease and is healthy as ever and still vegan. He never needed heart surgery. He is now 61 years old and still doing distance cycling rides. I started changing what I was eating during high school when my dad switched his diet. I made the complete switch after I met my boyfriend, a collegiate vegan runner at the time. I was mostly looking at veganism through a health lens until I met him and he helped me face the ethical dilemmas of eating animal products as well. Since I went vegan, my sister went vegan, my mom went vegetarian almost plant based, and my brother (who I thought would never change) has cut a significant amount of meat and dairy from his diet. My dad, boyfriend and I are all vegan cyclists currently. My whole immediate family is very open to veganism and eats vegan at family gatherings. Being vegan has been easy with supports like mine.
I feel strongly about spreading a positive message and hopefully helping make a change. Veganism saves so many animals, it can save people like my dad, and can save our planet. I can show other athletes that vegans aren't frail and sickly, we can compete and do well without eating animal products.

Welcome to the team@prost_1969I had high cholesterol high blood pressure and was 40 lbs over weight. The doctor said statins for the rest of my life because high cholesterol was in my family so I took things into my own hands. Since then I lost the 40 lbs and reversed all the other issues . I now also realize the impact going vegan has on the animals and the environment. I love cycling and running and by joining the team I can reach more people and show them that you can’t just survive without the use of animal products but thrive!!

Meet Team VPA athlete Shari. We are glad she joined us Meet“Hi team, this is my first year with Team VPA. I'm overjoyed to have found this team. I adore the mission statement because it reflects my beliefs too. I'm 48 years young, a small business owner, yogi, group fitness instructor, and outdoor enthusiast. My primary sport is Triathlon, but running will always be my first love with more than 6 marathons under my belt. Vegan for over 15 yrs. Before that vegetarian for 3 years. My biggest vegan athlete accomplishment was completing my first Ironman last year after many years doing Triathlons. This year I'm looking forward to enjoying long cycling tours in Europe! Follow my adventures on IG @sparks_vegan”

Welcome to the team@mattd_team_vegan_athletics"My name is Matt Dellaro. This is my first year as a Team VPA member as well as my first new year as an endurance athlete. I decided last February to buy a road bike and start cycling again after not having done it since my teens...I'm 51 now. I heard about short course triathlons and decided to see what I could do. I have 3 sprints behind me now as well as a 5k and 8k trail running races, a 5k road, two 10k races and a half marathon. I'm looking forward to longer triathlons as I get more comfortable with open water swimming, and working up to a 70.3 or even a 140.6. I've been vegan for over 8 years, and am so loving this new chapter in my life. Thanks to everyone at Team VPA who has been so helpful, supportive and just plain cool."

We are so glad you joined us@barefootjei"My name is Jérémie alias@barefootjei, I'm 28 years old and I'm from Normandy in France.

I have been vegan for 3 years now. I'm vegan for the animals! I'm so happy to have joined the team and to wear our colors in my country.

In 2022 I will be running every day to raise funds that will be donated to two Vegan associations.

My goal for 2022 is a 55km in May and another probably longer race by the end of the year."

"My name is Gloria Perez and I live in sunny Southern California. This is the first year I'm on Team VPA. I have been vegan for 4.5 years. I made the switch after my son inspired me. Becoming vegan has been one of the best decisions I've made for my health and of course for the animals and for the planet we all share. I have 3 sons and 2 grandsons. I've been running for 8 years. I've ran many distances, but my favorite distance is the half marathon. I enjoy both road and trail running. I also enjoy backpacking, cycling, lifting weights, OCR and traveling. One of my goals for this year is to start racing duathalons. I'd also love to do R2R2R (Grand Canyon). I'm also currently learning to speak French. "