Eating Healthy While Traveling
Part of the fun of traveling is getting to try new restaurants, new cuisines, new takes on old favorites. But for our family, eating out is often a tricky proposition: one child is a carnivore, one is a vegan. And then there’s me, mostly vegetarian but still sneaking some fish or turkey bacon every so often. We’re committed to eating healthy when we’re at home, but when we’re traveling, it’s definitely a challenge.
Luckily, vegan food is going more mainstream. With the proliferation of juice and smoothie bars, and major chains like Panera and Chipotle offering healthy choices for everyone, it’s getting much easier to eat well on the road.
London is a very vegan friendly city (thank you, Linda McCartney). Many restaurants offered vegan options on their menu, like Chino Latino. Minutes away from the Vauxhall tube station and the London Eye, the Pan-Asian fusion bar offers live music on the Southbank. The bar and restaurant have floor to ceiling windows that allowed us to watch people walking along the Thames as we feasted on edamame, sandwiches on ciabatta, and cassava chips.
But you don’t have to be in a cosmpotlitan center to get your healthy food fix. Even driving through Butte, Montana we managed to find the amazing Hummingbird Café. Their menu includes vegan pancakes, tofu scramble, and BLTs made with local vegan bacon. And who can resist a place that serves breakfast all day?
Speaking of breakfast all day, Georgie’s Diner in Westhaven, Connecticut was another incredible restaurant. They had all the regular egg and bacon dishes. But they also made the most amazing vegan berries and cream French toast that would convert even the most hard core doubter. It was that good. And the vegan breakfast burritos were delicious, too. Mmmm…now I’m hungry…!
So how do we find restaurants with food to please all our picky palates? Google is a great place to start. Websites like Happy Cow, Veg Guide and Urban Tastebud are also great resources. Word of mouth and recommendations from foodie bloggers help as well. And when all else fails, we stop at a grocery store to load up on fresh fruit, veggies, hummus, bread – any food that is nourishing and easy to tote along.
What’s your biggest challenge when eating out? How do you find great food while traveling?
Suzanne
I’m not very fussy when it comes to eating when traveling. All I care about is that the food is prepared under sanitary conditions and uses very fresh ingredients. I also like to follow my nose and a crowd.
Kristina
Happy Cow is my FAVORITE app in the world. As a veggie traveler, it really is unparalleled. It’s so easy to eat terribly when abroad, but I’ve been trying to be more conscious about my habits. Great tips here!
Sherrie
Happy Cow has helped us find some fantastic places. I love that you can add recommendations to it as well, help keep it up to date.
Kate Storm
Ha, eating well on the road–easier said than done! Glad that you guys managed to find some healthy options. There are definitely times when traveling when I’ve been indulging in carbs too much and my body is just begging for fruits and veggies. 🙂
Sherrie
Oh, I know that feeling! Usually hits me on January 1 after I’ve spent all of December eating cookies and candies and pies, oh my 🙂
sabrina
Like Suzanne above, I am not very fussy when it comes to food especially while travelling. I am not vegetarian or vegan, but I understand people who are. I’m glad you found great places to eat and you are right, London offers endless options for all sorts of preferences! 🙂
Yukti
I am vegetarian and so love to go for Happy Cow. Eating healthy while travelling is very important. I also stock with lots of water, fruits, nuts and veggies from nearby grocery store while travelling. Eating fresh and no junk food is very important while travelling.
Abigail Sinsona
I am so guilty of this! I do tend to indulge when I am traveling – just eating whatever I could get my hands on. But you reminded me to be more mindful about what I eat. However, it can be a challenge when you’re overwhelmed as you can get a bit impulsive!
Ami Bhat
I am a vegetarian but have figured my way across places. I survive a lot on fruits in particular and tend to carry a trail mix everywhere. London like you said was a breeze thanks to all the Vegan options that are available. In fact, I did not have to scratch my head a lot here. 😀
Mimi & Mitch
Totally agree with you that while travelling, one of the most fun things is to eat! We must love street food the most, from new york to asian countries! We still eat enough, the only thing we do more is workout!
Kim
Eating is honestly one of my main reasons to travel, I love experiencing other cultures through their food. Unfortunately I always go for what’s popular or well known and it’s usually not the most healthy option. I usually Google or Yelp, but will check out the Apps you mentioned in the future!