First things first, being a vegetarian is cool! Next, Travelling as a Vegetarian is difficult. Or is it? Travelling as a vegetarian can get difficult if you do not plan well, especially in countries where English is not common. Most of the time you would be worried about what to eat and be in constant doubt if the stuff that you are looking at is vegetarian. Here are 10 things that you must take care of if you are travelling abroad and are a vegetarian (no egg, no meat of any kind, dairy products are allowed).
1. Prepare for those emergencies
Throw in some chocolates, instant noodles packet, ready-to-cook dishes, and whichever snack you like in your backpack. Do not overpack, this is just for those emergency situations when there is nothing available and you are hungry AF.
2. Cook yourself
Though you will not always get a place to cook and hotels do not have a kitchen, if you are staying at an Airbnb or a hostel, most often than not, you will have a kitchen at your stay. Utilise that! Get some ingredients from the local market and cook yourself a vegetarian dish. It is not that difficult and you can absolutely trust your dish to be vegetarian, can't you?
There are several simple recipes that you can research before the trip. Plus, it's a good skill to have.
3. Pack some spice
Get some small sachets of chilly flakes, ketchup, and oregano in your kit. This goes a long way when you find something veg to eat but it's too bland to eat. You can pack a few before the trip and grab it from Domino's or MacD while you are travelling. We bought a small packet of Chinese 5 Spice and put it in almost anything to make it tastier.
4. Pizza & Chips are Your Friends
Almost every pizza joint that you find will have the Classic Margherita Pizza in their menu. This contains tomato, basil, oil, and cheese. This is your best bet, amazing filler, and tastes good too. We ate pizzas a lot during our trip and were also able to get it customised. Also, you can also find potato chips everywhere. Buy those unhealthy bags of potato chips and stock a couple for the time when you are on a train.
5. Use Your Phone
There are several apps that you can download. These apps will give you a map of the vegetarian options nearby. One such app is Happy Cow. You may also google to find options nearby. Another must-have app is Google Translate, why so? - that is explained in the next point.
6. Know the Vocabulary - Use Google Translate
This is perhaps the most important point of all. Not every country speak English and it becomes very difficult to know what is in your food. You can not communicate with the person and can not read the ingredients on the box. We don't expect you to learn the entire language, but just learn a few important words. Sometimes you can't just say that you are a vegetarian. In some countries, it's not even a thing. Learn how to say "No meat", "No Cow", "No Chicken", you get the point. This will help you communicate with the waiter/chef that you do not need those items in your dish. You can get your dishes customised as per your choice and enjoy the local cuisine too. Don't forget to get the pronunciation right and add-on with some hand gestures. Here, Google Translate can help you a lot. Install the app and download the local language pack. The App has a feature to scan images from the box and translate in real-time, and you can use it to communicate well with the Conversation Feature. This is very handy and we used this all the time to scan boxes while buying things in Japan. If you see any word such as cow, pork, egg, etc appear on the screen, dump and move ahead.
7. Explore Local and Supermarkets
Markets are full of items to eat. You can find fruits, groceries to cook, ready-to-cook items, chocolates, bread, and a lot of stuff. Just make sure that you know what you are picking up. Don't be afraid to ask someone and use the Google Translate app to read the ingredients list on the back of the boxes.
8. Look for Indian Restaurants
If there is an Indian restaurant nearby, then thank your Gods. Splurge and eat your heart out at these places. It can get expensive, but there is nothing more satisfying than that. A meal in Japan cost us Rs1500 per person, but it was worth it. Avoid Chinese, Japanese, and South-Eastern Restaurants. You will never find vegetarian options here. Dishes that they say are veg will too contain fish oil or some sort of meat in eat. It is best to stay away from such joints and restaurants.
9. Have A Sweet Tooth
Sugar will instantly provide you with that energy and make you happy too. Desserts will almost always be meat-free but eggs are common in that. Avoid bakery products and instead, go for drinks, chocolates, or ice cream. Make sure it is egg-free. If you are a Caketarian, which means that you eat egg in desserts, then the dessert world is open to embrace you.
10. Eat Irregularly
Forget your eating schedule. Eat less as you go and when you find. Don't be fussy and stop thinking about what to eat next. Enjoy your trip and do not annoy your fellow travellers. You might not get a full course meal three times a day, but no traveller gets. Remember, that you have stuff in your bag for those emergency situations.
Learn From the Foodies
One of Club Tripixo's Caravans is The Foodies. After the Tripixo Trip is finalized, the foodies prepare a Food Book. This Food Book is a part of Tripixo's Travel Kit and made available to all the members before the trip. The Food Book contains a well designed and a categorised list of food joints, restaurants, and tips based on the destinations. The Food Book is prepared around the trip itinerary, so that information about the best food options of all cuisine, budget, and types is available. The Food Book is the ultimate food guide for the Tripixo Travellers and they will never have to worry about what to eat or where to eat while on the trip, even if one is a vegetarian! To know more about the Foodies and how to be a Tripixo member visit Club Tripixo or write to us club@tripixo.in
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