Author: Amber French
I have had the good fortune to travel a lot of the last few years. I am adamant about sharing the world with my kids. Being plant based, vegan or vegetarian does not hinder my travelling itinerary. In fact I find that most exotic parts of the world are further ahead in this type of eating in contrast to North Americans.
I have lots of ideas regarding food and travel, because that is a killer combination and my true passion. Next time you find yourself planning a trip or on a last minute beach somewhere, consider these tips when you are making your food choices.
On A Budget:
Street Food
In Canada we have very strict rules regarding what can be sold from food carts and trucks (unfortunately). In other countries you can easily find road-side fruit stands (picture fresh coconut with the top chopped off and straw inserted as you watch). We have had ice shavings with fresh fruit syrup, enpanada’s, roti and a million other tasty plant based dishes. this is the best way to experience the true cuisine of your destination. Some resorts “Americanize” their food choices so much that you don’t experience any new foods on your trip!
Grocery stores
Because I usually travel with little ones, i always hit up the grocery store, load up easy finger foods like fruit, crackers, and some tasty home baked pastries! This frees up more beach time, the kids can pick what they want and eat when they want. Grocery stores are also a great option to see what the locals eat and how much they pay (We couldn’t believe the produce in Costa Rica was more expensive than home!!!)
All inclusive:
It may seem like all inclusive is a veggie girls dream. after all everything is a buffet of Choose-Your-Own-Adventure meals. However you can end up eating a lot of sub par fruit and french fries if you don’t know where to look.
Breakfast foods are an easy go to and a great time to hit the main dinning hall. Beach huts and pool side bars are the time to speak to your serve and ask for substitutions or extras. I love forgoing the meat on a burger and getting them staff to grill up some peppers and onions. we even had grilled pineapple and mayo added to our “burgers” when we were looking for no-meat options. The hardest part of the all inclusive is the “ala carte” restaurants. they have limited options but every time I have asked for vegetarian options either at a resort or on a cruise I have been more than accommodated. I have to say the Cruises beat the resorts hands down (especially if you let them know ahead of time).
We are heading to Thailand for our next family adventure. I will make sure I do a little research and brush up on my Thai for “no Meat”. Thailand is a very plant based country and we are looking forward to enjoying coconut rice and veggie pad thai along with crazy amounts of dragon, jack fruit, mango and bananas.
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