Going vegan on the go, visiting friends or travelling is becoming increasingly easy as veganism has become mainstream. However, being healthy and vegan requires some preparation, so here are a few tips.
A vegan diet is easy at home. You shop for yourself and prepare your food the way you like it. The challenge begins when you go to a restaurant, meet up with friends, visit family or go on holiday.
Vegan with friends - you can't eat all that food
You are invited to a party. The buffet includes pasta salad, sausages in a dressing gown, perhaps a pot of chilli con carne, baguette bread, muffins, herb quark, yoghurt dip and a few carrot and pepper sticks. Do you resign yourself to your fate and nibble on vegetables all evening in frustration? Hopefully not!
Don't expect your host to take all of their guests' eating habits into account when planning. Instead, ask in advance what you can contribute to the buffet. For example, bring vegan brownies, an oriental lentil salad and homemade flatbread. You'll impress the other guests too.
Vegan on holiday - foraging for food in a foreign country
Different countries, different cuisine: good preparation is essential to avoid unpleasant surprises on holiday. Order a vegan meal from your airline (code: "VGML"). Call the hotel and enquire about the vegan breakfast options. Is there almond milk? Perhaps thanks to your call, a vegan milk alternative will be offered.
An indispensable companion on holiday is the Personal Blender. With this handy appliance in your luggage, you can whip up healthy, tasty and raw food smoothies, soups, dips, salsa etc. at any holiday destination. Fresh fruit, vegetables, sprouted seeds and herbs can be found in health food shops, markets, organic supermarkets and local farmers.
Raw food and travelling complement each other perfectly! Enjoy a relaxed raw food holiday.
High-quality dried fruit, nuts and raw food crackers are valuable travel companions on holiday anywhere and at any time.
Dry vegetables, sprouts etc. in advance in a dehydrator (e.g. the Excalibur dehydrator). Dried fruit and vegetable slices can be used in a variety of ways when travelling: Make your own dried fruit and vegetable mix to nibble on or conjure up your own snack with a little water and a blender (e.g. Personal Blender) a nutritious and delicious raw food soup.
These holiday recipes are also quick to make between the hotel and the beach:
Berry smoothie:
Blend:
1/2 handful (50 ml) of dried, soaked berries of your choice
125 ml fresh orange juice
125 ml soaked linseed
1/2 handful (50 ml) raw cashew nuts
1 teaspoon (5 ml) fresh lemon juice
1 pinch of untreated lemon zest (as a flavouring)
Banana shake:
Blend:
1 cup liquid of choice
1 fresh banana (or frozen in small pieces)
1 cup fruit of choice (fresh or frozen)
Summer Soup:
Blend the soup base:
250 ml fresh orange or mandarin juice
1 handful (125 ml) of raw macadamia nuts
125 ml soaked linseed (or other thickener)
Add (do not mix!):
4 handfuls (500 ml) of diced avocados, oranges and strawberries
Mango salsa:
Blend
2 handfuls (250 ml) mango
1 handful (125 ml) papaya
1 handful (125 ml) coriander
1/2 handful (50 ml) red onion
2-4 tablespoons (approx. 25-50 ml) fresh orange juice
1 drop of essential cinnamon oil (or cinnamon powder) To taste
Vegan in a restaurant - I'll have the salad again
If you're planning to go to a restaurant with friends, don't just rely on your luck. If you're unlucky, the majority decision will take you to a steakhouse and the only thing you can eat without hesitation will once again be a salad.
Research a few restaurants that suit you beforehand. Indian, Asian or Italian cuisine is particularly suitable for a delightful restaurant experience. Vegan dishes are often already on the menu here. And if not, many vegetarian dishes can easily be veganised.
Perhaps you are lucky enough to live in a city where vegan or vegan-friendly restaurants delight their guests with tasty, purely plant-based creations. Go there with your friends and show them how varied and tasty vegan cuisine is.
Read our tips here on which vegan or veganisable dishes you can find in various restaurants, from Italian to Korean.
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