Tips For Traveling As A Vegetarian—No Matter The Destination Or Culture

While it’s true that certain destinations and cultures make being plant-based easier than others, traveling as a vegetarian or vegan is possible in every culture around the world if you know how to approach it.

Being a vegetarian or vegan and being an adventurous eater while traveling are not mutually exclusive, in fact, it’s the opposite. You can be a vegetarian and still be both a foodie and a traveler. “Being vegetarian is often a doorway to a more adventurous and more satisfying travel experience—because you might get to try some things that don’t even appear on the menu,” explains Shel Horowitz, founder of Going Beyond Sustainability and vegetarian of over fifty years. “I’ve been to about fifty countries since I became a vegetarian and many of my best travel memories are about food.”

Whether you’re a seasoned plant-based eater or you’re planning your first trip abroad as a vegetarian or vegan, here are a handful of tried-and-true tips to make your travel easier from a veteran vegetarian traveler:

Plan for language barriers

“Travel with a note in the local language that explains your dietary restrictions,” suggests Horowitz. “All you have to do is show it to your server. Ideally, get a native speaker to [translate] it, but if you can’t, just run it through a translator program.”

Be open for off-the-menu offers

“I have had wonderful experiences in meat-centred but flexible cultures like Türkiye, Italy, and western China,” adds Horowitz. “We explain that we’re vegetarian and they come up with something interesting.”

Prepare in advance for different flavors

If traveling to a place where the food is spicier than you’re used to, Horowitz suggests making your meals at home progressively spicier for a few weeks before you leave.

BYO-Supplements

If you’re used to a balanced diet with a lot of raw fruits and veggies but aren’t sure how accessible that’ll be abroad, Horowitz suggests bringing a little container (he uses a pill or vitamin bottle that’s gone through the dishwasher) of flax meal. “If you’re used to a diet high in raw produce but it’s not safe to eat, and you’re also eating a lot of white rice, sprinkling a little on your food will help you avoid constipation,” he explains.

Be smart with raw produce

“If you’re in a place where bottled water is advised, avoid raw vegetables and any fruits that are eaten without peeling,” adds Horowitz.

See it as a learning experience

Traveling abroad will always mean new and exciting food experiences—and you should see it as a learning experience just as you would a day tour or trip to the museum. “Take joy in the discovery of new foods and new ways of preparing familiar foods,” says Horowitz.

Bring home your favorite discoveries

The best part of trying all those new flavors and dishes? Finding your new favorite food! If you love what you’re eating, Horowitz suggests you buy pre-packaged goods rather than bulk powders or spices, which will make coming through customs when you get back home a whole lot easier.