Comments on: The Ultimate Vegan’s Guide To Finding Food On The Road http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/12/17/the-ultimate-vegans-guide-to-finding-food-on-the-road/ Online travel magazine dedicated to exploring travel in the 21st century. Offering travel news, compelling interviews, online travel tools, and more. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 11:07:09 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Christine http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/12/17/the-ultimate-vegans-guide-to-finding-food-on-the-road/comment-page-1/#comment-57578 Christine Sun, 16 Mar 2008 04:45:15 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/12/17/the-vegans-guide-to-finding-food-on-the-road/#comment-57578 I actually ended up here because I've been vegan for a year, but I'm going on a cruise in a week, and I'm planning on planning on just eating vegetarian for it. The temptations are going to be huge and the vegan options limited, but they have an excellent selection of vegetarian options. I guess I just want to avoid the logistical hassle and anxiety associated with enforcing my self-imposed rules in this special circumstance. This is supposed to be a relaxing, recharging, indulgent experience, so why cause myself all the additional stress? (I hate asking hundreds of questions and for substitutions in restaurants, and do my research for local places before I go, so I know exactly what to ask for, and always get the same things with the same adjustments.) I morally, ethically, systemically believe in veganism, but philosophically I believe in savoring experiences and allowing luxury. But, I'm really feeling odd about the whole thing. I feel that the way dairy products are produced is unethical and unsustainable, but I'm really looking forward to cheese pizza, cream sauces and FroYo... what if I can't go back, when I get home? Even now, I'm a bit conflicted about whether I should allow myself organic free-range eggs and quality cheeses. My husband is a Flight Attendant so we travel often, and would like to travel to more exotic locales, and I've really been feeling a lot of stress about how my vegan decision impacts on experiencing local cultures and cuisines. How do you really understand the people and lifestyle if you don't eat what they eat? I'm thinking about not just going veggie (rather than vegan) for certain locations, but eating whatever is eaten, there. Life is loaded with contradictions. I am ALSO worried about how my body would react to meat or even eggs and cheese though. I'm hoping cheese pizza doesn't give me an unbearable stomachache on this cruise. Even a year without meat, eggs, dairy, etc., could mean huge digestive issues if I eat these things again... It's very hard to decide where to draw the line I actually ended up here because I’ve been vegan for a year, but I’m going on a cruise in a week, and I’m planning on planning on just eating vegetarian for it. The temptations are going to be huge and the vegan options limited, but they have an excellent selection of vegetarian options.

I guess I just want to avoid the logistical hassle and anxiety associated with enforcing my self-imposed rules in this special circumstance. This is supposed to be a relaxing, recharging, indulgent experience, so why cause myself all the additional stress? (I hate asking hundreds of questions and for substitutions in restaurants, and do my research for local places before I go, so I know exactly what to ask for, and always get the same things with the same adjustments.)

I morally, ethically, systemically believe in veganism, but philosophically I believe in savoring experiences and allowing luxury. But, I’m really feeling odd about the whole thing. I feel that the way dairy products are produced is unethical and unsustainable, but I’m really looking forward to cheese pizza, cream sauces and FroYo… what if I can’t go back, when I get home? Even now, I’m a bit conflicted about whether I should allow myself organic free-range eggs and quality cheeses.

My husband is a Flight Attendant so we travel often, and would like to travel to more exotic locales, and I’ve really been feeling a lot of stress about how my vegan decision impacts on experiencing local cultures and cuisines. How do you really understand the people and lifestyle if you don’t eat what they eat? I’m thinking about not just going veggie (rather than vegan) for certain locations, but eating whatever is eaten, there. Life is loaded with contradictions.

I am ALSO worried about how my body would react to meat or even eggs and cheese though. I’m hoping cheese pizza doesn’t give me an unbearable stomachache on this cruise. Even a year without meat, eggs, dairy, etc., could mean huge digestive issues if I eat these things again…

It’s very hard to decide where to draw the line

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]]> By: Jayden Penn http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/12/17/the-ultimate-vegans-guide-to-finding-food-on-the-road/comment-page-1/#comment-47980 Jayden Penn Fri, 25 Jan 2008 06:05:25 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/12/17/the-vegans-guide-to-finding-food-on-the-road/#comment-47980 Nice post. Yes, I travel a lot and sometimes find it difficult to find vegan friendly restaurants. Happy Cow is a great resource. I use it a lot. Nice post. Yes, I travel a lot and sometimes find it difficult to find vegan friendly restaurants. Happy Cow is a great resource. I use it a lot.

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]]> By: Ronald http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/12/17/the-ultimate-vegans-guide-to-finding-food-on-the-road/comment-page-1/#comment-39699 Ronald Wed, 19 Dec 2007 22:01:53 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/12/17/the-vegans-guide-to-finding-food-on-the-road/#comment-39699 It is funny in Africa if you are white and don't want to eat meat! They think: He is white, and all whites have (lots of) money. And the ones with money can buy good meat. The more money you have the better the meat is to buy. All whites are having lots of money, so why he does not want to eat meat? "Come on, this meat is very good!"/"Cette viande est superbe!" Then start explaining... It is funny in Africa if you are white and don’t want to eat meat!

They think: He is white, and all whites have (lots of) money. And the ones with money can buy good meat. The more money you have the better the meat is to buy. All whites are having lots of money, so why he does not want to eat meat?

“Come on, this meat is very good!”/”Cette viande est superbe!”

Then start explaining…

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]]> By: Lucia http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/12/17/the-ultimate-vegans-guide-to-finding-food-on-the-road/comment-page-1/#comment-39637 Lucia Wed, 19 Dec 2007 16:52:01 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/12/17/the-vegans-guide-to-finding-food-on-the-road/#comment-39637 I seriously don't like categories. Ovo-lacto, ovo-laco-icto, vegan, etc. I just eat what I like without putting my health in danger and trying to harm the least ammount of living creatures. Some people call me a vegan because I don't eat eggs or dairy products but I occasionally do have fish because its yummy and its good for you. When I travel if there's a typically traditional meal that includes meat or eggs or milk, and it looks good, I say 'why the hell not?!'. I think the key to being able to enjoy your travels and stick to your vegetarian guns is to relax and give yourself occasional license to have whatever the local menu offers. As long it's always the exception and doesn't become the rule, you'll be fine. And the key is not to feel guilty afterwards either, as I sometimes have :) I seriously don’t like categories. Ovo-lacto, ovo-laco-icto, vegan, etc. I just eat what I like without putting my health in danger and trying to harm the least ammount of living creatures. Some people call me a vegan because I don’t eat eggs or dairy products but I occasionally do have fish because its yummy and its good for you. When I travel if there’s a typically traditional meal that includes meat or eggs or milk, and it looks good, I say ‘why the hell not?!’. I think the key to being able to enjoy your travels and stick to your vegetarian guns is to relax and give yourself occasional license to have whatever the local menu offers. As long it’s always the exception and doesn’t become the rule, you’ll be fine. And the key is not to feel guilty afterwards either, as I sometimes have :)

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]]> By: Eva http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/12/17/the-ultimate-vegans-guide-to-finding-food-on-the-road/comment-page-1/#comment-39354 Eva Tue, 18 Dec 2007 00:30:19 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/12/17/the-vegans-guide-to-finding-food-on-the-road/#comment-39354 Mmmm... falafel! Always a good back-up plan - I even found falafel in a small town in middle-of-nowhere Hungary! This is a great post. I have a couple of comments/questions/concerns though. "If you are staying with a host family, warn them of your dietary restrictions in advance, and be specific." I dunno about this one... I feel bad enough imposing on friends and family, and I only steer clear of beef, pork and lamb. (And am really fussy about chicken and fish, but I'm working on it.) As a host I don't think I'd be thrilled to be asked to alter practically my entire diet for a vegan guest - I've always figured outside of vegetarian-friendly areas like India, homestays were something I'd have to sacrifice. Veganism/vegetarianism is a choice, after all - it's up to us to sort out the consequences of that choice. Also, as a semi-vegetarian I've been accused of being too narrow-minded as a traveler, for not trying local specialties that don't match my self-imposed rules. And sometimes I agree - I do feel like I am missing out on part of the travel experience by skipping out on Nathan's Famous hotdogs at Coney Island, or on practically everything local in Eastern Europe. Any thoughts on a possible downside to vegan/veggie travel? Do you ever think about relaxing your rules for a particular local specialty? (I've been tempted, but at 25 years beef/pork/lamb-free and counting, I'm not sure I want to deal with the possible gastrointestinal consequences...) Mmmm… falafel! Always a good back-up plan – I even found falafel in a small town in middle-of-nowhere Hungary!

This is a great post. I have a couple of comments/questions/concerns though.

“If you are staying with a host family, warn them of your dietary restrictions in advance, and be specific.”

I dunno about this one… I feel bad enough imposing on friends and family, and I only steer clear of beef, pork and lamb. (And am really fussy about chicken and fish, but I’m working on it.) As a host I don’t think I’d be thrilled to be asked to alter practically my entire diet for a vegan guest – I’ve always figured outside of vegetarian-friendly areas like India, homestays were something I’d have to sacrifice. Veganism/vegetarianism is a choice, after all – it’s up to us to sort out the consequences of that choice.

Also, as a semi-vegetarian I’ve been accused of being too narrow-minded as a traveler, for not trying local specialties that don’t match my self-imposed rules. And sometimes I agree – I do feel like I am missing out on part of the travel experience by skipping out on Nathan’s Famous hotdogs at Coney Island, or on practically everything local in Eastern Europe. Any thoughts on a possible downside to vegan/veggie travel? Do you ever think about relaxing your rules for a particular local specialty?

(I’ve been tempted, but at 25 years beef/pork/lamb-free and counting, I’m not sure I want to deal with the possible gastrointestinal consequences…)

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