Every vegan knows that traveling is hard work.

Maintaining your diet at home, in the office, or when out with family or friends is already challenging enough. But add in endless hours on the road, bleary-eyed flights, and 14-hour layovers, and being a vegan traveler quickly becomes awfully similar to being in a scene from Dawn of the Dead : shuffling through airports, bus stops, and train stations, casting crazy eyes at bewildered passersby, and having incoherent conversations with your stomach growling…

It's not good.

That's why we'll be discussing how to travel easily as a vegan with the following topics:

• Vegan food for road trips
• Vegan food to take on the plane
• Vegan food for camping and backpacking

After all, this is the easy guide to traveling as a vegan .

Is traveling as a vegan really that difficult?

“Come on guys, traveling as a vegan isn’t that hard. French fries are available at every gas station, and instead of clothes, you just pack your own food. Plus, you can call local restaurants to ask about their menu. Or you just drink coffee to suppress your hunger. Really, I don’t see the problem.”

- Uncle Ted, who means well.

Sure, as a traveling vegan, you can binge on overpriced Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos at gas stations, spend a few days prepping and packing your favorite vegan travel foods, and/or thoroughly research plant-based options at local restaurants.

In fact, that's what most vegan travel blogs will tell you to do.

But here are two reasons why you shouldn't:

1. It's a lot of work
2. You won't get the nutrients you need

So is there a way to make traveling as a vegan easy?

I'm glad you asked. Did someone say….?

Nutritionally complete ready-to-eat meals that fit easily in your backpack, fanny pack, or even your pocket?

Sounds good, right? Just wait, it gets better...

Vegan Food for Road Trips

Ever since COVID reared its ugly head, air travel has been a big no-no.

Road trips, however, are more popular than ever [1].

But when you're on a road trip and you're vegan, things can get complicated.

While most of your fellow travelers can (and will) scarf down taquitos, beef jerky, hot dogs, chicharrones, and grilled cheese sandwiches, you'll have to take a different route (yes, pun intended).

And trust us, you don't want to go down the Doritos-Oreos-and-salted-nuts route. No sir Bob.

No, the best way to get healthy vegan food for traveling is to get nutritionally complete and easy-to-prepare meals .

You better believe that after the tenth gas stop, roadside diner or drive-thru, your friends will be on their knees begging you to share your nutritious meals. If only to stop their endless junk food farts from stinking up the car every two minutes...

It's like Emma said when she left a review last year:

“Tasty and useful for road trips. I mainly use the shakes, but the bars are really good too. They taste good and have an interesting crunch without being too hard. I have found them useful for road trips, better and healthier than a fast food meal.”

Speaking of bars , they're a quick and easy way to get a good breakfast in your stomach before (or even while) you hit the road.

And they come in a ton of amazing flavors .

Throw a couple of boxes in your trunk and you're good to go.

It's easy!

Soft and chewy vegan bars with a crunchy bite, perfect for on the go.

Vegan Food to Take on a Plane

Flying is hard on everyone: your taste buds go numb, you get sleepy, you fart a lot, time changes mess with your brain, and your skin gets dehydrated [2].

Ugh...

But as difficult as air travel is, it's even harder for vegan travelers.

Food options on board and at the airport are limited at best. More often than not, an airline will not offer vegan options at all.

And if you're changing planes, countries and time zones, it's important to stay focused.

The risk of lost luggage, cancelled or missed flights, losing your passport and being mugged requires your brain and body to be on red alert.

So the best thing you can do is bring your own food.

But are you going to pack coconut yogurt, granola and fresh berries? Bagels and packets of jam; a chickpea salad and homemade veggie wraps?

Of course not! You're going to keep things easy, with a squeeze of lemon.

Here are your options, in order of ease of use:

Vegan food bar during your flight

Remember those delicious food bars Emma recommended? They fit in your pocket, any pocket.

Just bend over and boom!* – a handful of delicious nutrients: 400 kilocalories waiting to be devoured.

Half a Plenny Bar is a perfect, nutritionally complete mid-flight snack!

Vegan and savoury instant hot meal

A little cold? A little hungry?

With a little help from your flight attendant friends, you can prepare a hot, delicious meal right at your seat.

Simply add hot water to the cup and within minutes, a 400-kilocalorie hot meal will breathe new life into that stiff, sluggish body of yours.

A hot, savory vegan meal during your flight.

Vegan meal shake powder

Smoothies are the most cost-effective way to stay hydrated and nourished during a flight.

Simply put two scoops of nutritionally complete plant-based powder into your shaker cup and ask the hostess for some cold water.

Just shake to prepare a meal!

With just these three meals, you are packing in 1200 kcal of complete nutrition for a total weight of just 500 grams.

Seriously, flying as a vegan doesn't get any easier than this.

Pro tip : If you're thinking of bringing a trail mix as a vegan travel snack, don't. Due to allergy risks, some airlines have banned nuts on their flights altogether [3]. So, you're better off bringing some nutritionally complete, protein-rich meals . It'll save you the disappointment.

Vegan Food for Camping & Backpacking

Cities are a vegan traveler's best friend. There are plenty of blogs, websites, and apps that can guide you in the right direction.

But what if you prefer forest bathing or mountain climbing?

Unfortunately, Mother Nature isn't too fond of supermarkets, and backpacking is hard work: even hiking on flat terrain will easily burn a couple hundred calories per hour [4].

And if you're in the mountains and carrying a backpack, that number doubles or even triples very quickly.

So what you need are light, high-calorie vegan food options.

Like Jan, who brought them on his latest hiking adventure in the mountains:

“I just finished a three-week hiking and camping trip in the Alps, and this is a great product. Light to carry and no cooking required, which saves on gas. Nice alternative to typical freeze-dried foods (which are very expensive).” - Jan P.

Breakfast and snack options

While coffee and a bowl of oatmeal with cinnamon and a swirl of honey are a delicious way to start your day, they lackthe nutrition you need when you're on the go.

Plus, packing and preparing those things is hard work.

So instead, you'll want a caffeinated breakfast shake. Zero hassle, better nutrition, and a caffeine boost to get those boots on the move.

By simply adding water, 100 grams of nutritionally complete powder becomes a 400 kcal drinkable meal.

Seriously, a nutritionally complete meal shake powder is probably the most calorie-dense vegan meal option out there.

One bag contains 10 nutritionally complete meals of 400 kcal.

But nuts are also a great source of fat, fiber, and protein. Most of the fat in nuts is monounsaturated fat (the good kind). They'll keep you going, but you shouldn't expect too many calories from these little guys. The same goes for fruit.

For a more substantial snack, try an almond and fig food bar. That's 400 kilocalories of complete nutrition, and you can save the rest for later in your pocket. Or, better yet, share it with your hiking companions.

Pro tip : In the morning, make an extra-large vegan smoothie. Instead of using two scoops of about 100 grams, use 3 scoops with about 450 milliliters of water. Drink half of it (300 kilocalories) at breakfast so you can have a few sips as a snack throughout the rest of the day.

Filling Vegan Lunch Options

If you want to combine high calorie density with maximum convenience, be sure to also pack some of the vegan food bars on your next trip.

Simply store them in your jacket pocket or the front pocket of your backpack, and you're ready to go.

Time to eat? Simply peel off the wrapper to unleash a 400kcal powerhouse, bursting with delicious vegan nutrition.

How does Caramel Sea Salt, Almond & Fig, or Chocolate sound?

Pro tip: Use a rubber band to bundle your vegan food bars together for optimal use of space. For example, make nutritionally complete packing squares by stacking rows of six bars and grouping them together.

Tough and Savory Vegan Dinner Options

After an active day outdoors, you'll want a warm, hearty meal to recharge your tired, aching body.

But are you going to fill your pack with rice, pasta, beans, lentils, tofu, vegetables and a net of avocados?

Better leave that sleeping bag, raincoat and extra underwear behind!

And then, when after a long day of exploring and lugging your backpack around you're tired and hungry, it's time to think of a way to turn those ingredients into a balanced, tasty meal.

By the way, did you think about packing oil, salt, pepper and herbs?

Oops...

But this wouldn't be The Easy Guide to Traveling as a Vegan if there wasn't a much, much easier option.

Delicious and nutritionally complete instant hot meals that weigh only 100 grams and contain 400 kcal of energy!

All you have to do is add hot water, take out your spoon and enjoy your surroundings for a few minutes.

Next thing you know, you can be enjoying a plate full of Creamy Cajun Pasta, Vegetable Korma, Tikka Masala with Rice, Risotto or Satay Knots.

Eat directly from the bowl and skip the plates.

Other instant hot meals contain mostly carbohydrates and a lot of salt. But these pot meals contain a perfect balance of micro and macronutrients. And that's what makes them so special.

• 400 kcal per meal
• 172 proven health benefits
• 100% nutritionally complete
• 26 essential vitamins
• 20 g of protein
• High in omega 3, 6, 9
• Source of fiber
• Low in sugar, low in saturated fat
• Shelf life of 12 months
• No artificial flavors, colors or preservatives

And from €3.59 per meal, this budget vegan dinner option is a no-brainer.

Pro Tip : Need some extra calories? Boil plenty of water for your hot meal AND to make brown rice or penne integrale. Add the rice or pasta to your instant meal for an extra-large serving!

TDLR: The Summary

Thinking about what to make, buying the ingredients, measuring out the right amounts, and putting them together so they taste good – let’s be honest: preparing healthy, travel-sized vegan meals is a pain. A big pain.

Not only are they heavy, but they take up a lot of valuable packing space. And trust us, you don't want to have to decide between enough food or enough underwear...

Of course, you can choose to rely on options at airports or gas stations and local restaurants. But not only will you have very limited options (if any), you'll also have very limited nutrition .

Not to mention the obscene prices.

So wouldn't it be a lot easier to pack a couple of light, nutritionally complete meals that you can eat anywhere, anytime?

Yes you would. Because the benefits are endless and the value for money is insane:

• Each meal has 400 kcal and is 100% vegan;
• Each meal contains 26 essential vitamins and minerals, 20 g of protein, slow carbohydrates, healthy fats and fiber (insoluble);
• Each individual meal is GMO-free, palm oil-free, and developed by dietitians and nutritionists;
• Each food has 172 scientifically proven health benefits for physical and mental health

From €1.91 per meal with a 30-day risk-free money-back guarantee.

It would have saved Holly a lot of effort, as she spent her summer in northern Spain.

“The Basque Country is known for its pintxos, but I wasn’t prepared for how difficult it would be to find vegetarian food in this region. Let alone vegan!

Often, the only plant-based options available were ‘patatas bravas’ (fried potatoes), pimientos de Pádron (fried green peppers) or tortilla española (if you eat eggs). That’s it!

Luckily, there were plenty of vegetarian and vegan options to choose from in Bilbao.” - Holly W.

Complete smoothies are the ideal breakfast, prepared in less than a minute.

Food bars are so convenient they fit in your back pocket.

Instant hot meals allow you to have a hot lunch or dinner ready in a matter of minutes.

So check them out. Because vegan food on the go has never been easier .

Sources

1. Caravaning. (2019). European Market . [online].

2. Strutner, S. (2014). 7 Ways Flying Messes With Your Body . [online] HuffPost.

3. News, B. (2019). Easyjet bans nuts on all flights to protect passengers . [online] BBC News.

4. Kandola, A. (2019). How many calories do you burn by walking? [online] Medicalnewstoday.com.