any other vegans/vegetarians?

[pikushi]

yeah that right, i'm a green machine :greenguy: vegan for almost a year, vegetarian for 8 years before that. Anyone else on here with me? Anyone know anything about traveling vegan? I;ve founds ome pretty good sites, i'm flexible so i'm not worries.

[ladaz]

Hey there fellow veggie! I am not vegan, but have been in the past. I've been a vegetarian for almost 14 years and have found traveling kind of a pain, but do-able. The most problems I have encountered center around rural anywhere - the further out of cities that you get, the harder it is to find something other than salads, grilled cheese, or pasta.

I have also found it difficult when being invited to meals by people I meet when traveling. (or anytime really) You don't want to be rude and say no when you want to go visit with them, but you don't want to not eat the food they have prepared so generously for you. Or worse, make them feel like they need to prepare something special for you.

I'd love to know the sites that you've found. I could always use some ideas for traveling.

[pikushi]

let's see, ladaz, there's

www.vrg.org/travel
www.allveggielinks.com/Travel.htm
www.vegdining.com
www.ivu.org/vsr/travel_websites.htm
www.geocities.com/dingotush

It gets kind of specific, like there is a really good, vegan-travel-in-the-greek-isles site. I was really suprised by what was out there when i first started looking.

[zylah]

hey there another vego here ( i wold like to go vegan but i cant give up chocolate and cheese. I know there are soy versions out there but they need alot of work) (so at the moment its vegan + milk)
I am freaking out about the vego thing (i'm fairly strict and i dont eat eggs, which cuts out alot of food (pasta, pastries etc)
and i had a bad experience in sweden a few years ago so I'm worrying over the language thing. (chicken tastes like fish?)
also i keep hearing horror stories from people. at least it should be a good way to loose some weight.

At least some places are getting pretty good, england has alot of vego stuff since Mad cow and foot and mouth, and most Indian restaurants are pretty good.
And there are Govindas (hari krishna) restaurants all over the place (dont worry they dont preach and the fod is dirt cheap)

[Robb_2004]

Hi
I'm a veggie traveller too. Its usually OK if you are buying your own stuff from markets and stuff but in some places its almost impossibe. Portugal and the Algarve was bad every place sells fish and no veggie options except salad. Before I went to Portugal I had stopped eating eggs, but in Portugal it was a diet of scrambelled eggs for breakfast, fried for lunch and omelette and chips for dinner, most resurants could do omelette!

Ukraine is also difficult but the food of all kinds is pretty awful. But yes you can get chips and eggs! and sometimes a mush of vegetables and of course borsch and lots of salads. BUt hey in the winter -30 I want something hotter than salad!

I found Germany and especially Berlin bad too but I was only there for a weekend so thank god for pizza hut!

Most resturants/cafe's etc in here in the UK do cater for veggies

and yes I would recommend Govinda's anywhere. The one in London is in Soho St just of Oxford St. Visit it for great veggie food.

[zylah]

Robb,
Where is the govindas on Soho st? i remember looking for it and i couldn't find it. Is it hidden somewhere?

[Robb_2004]

Govindas on Soho St is easy to find. If you turn into Soho st off Oxford street Govindas is on the right about 100 metres. It has big windows on the street and isn't hidden at all.

Another tip if you want FREE food the Krisnas will supply a free meal about 1pm BUT you have to sit through a Krishna lecture of about half an hour in the temple upstairs. Actually the temple is really nice and a nice place to chill after the hustle and bustle of Oxford street. You can go up any time, just take your shoes off and go in. Sit, chill, meditate etc listen to a half hour of interesting philosophy (is than an oxymoron?) and get free food.

Don't be shy try it

Hare Krishna!

[voyd]

I'm basically vegetarian, but not religious about it. I'll also eat some meat when travelling just to sample the local food. But, there is usually ethnic food or groceries for the bulk of my less meaty meals.

I'll tell you Prague is the worst for veggies - their burgers don't even have lettuce or tomatoes! All they sell there is like meat and bread!

[Carisia]

Hey all, I'm vegetarian too.

In general I didn't really have problems eating while traveling, as you all know, when you're vegetarian almost all your life, you become pretty resourceful (i.e. when I was in the Amazon, I was eating garnish!)

It's all about planning ahead and prep... Having a stash of something to tie you over till you find a decent meal... The problem is balance, sometimes it's hard to get the balance of veggie, fruit, carb and especially protein.

I did eat egg and cheese when I was traveling in W. Europe. Not that much egg, but a hardboiled egg is a good protein source. I ate cheese, just b/c I like it! But my primary source of protein was soy based products (I became an expert at finding the soy section - yogurt in the fridge, milk and baked goods in the aisles). I also carried nuts and nut based products for protein and energy. I brought a nut and non-sugared dried fruit trail mix that I mixed myself and luna bars from the US. Also, don't forget your bean based dishes, such as bean soup (Portugal) and chick pea based hummus and falafel in Moroccan influenced areas. Protein is what will hold you over for the longest. I always bought soy bread too from the supermarket. for both carb and protein. (like anywhere, carbs are never a problem, so try not to make them empty!)

Don't forget your fresh fruits and salads so you can get your vitamins and antioxidants to keep your immune system up for all of those hours of backpacking!

[bluepea]

Hi... well, I'm a vegetarian also (though not vegan). I never had a problem finding food, though sometimes not quite as appetizing as what others were eating. Ah, well, 8 years you get used to it. Anyhow, I really think there were more options there then here in Wisconsin ("So you don't eat steak???") But, I also could just live off of bread and Babybell. I also am a weirdo and love salads... Silly me.

Good luck

[starpiste]

I'm a veggie and have been for about 10 years. I do eat dairy and eggs. I haven't had a problem while in England at all yet I do my own cooking mostly though. Also, if people are cooking and want tofu, I've been finding in England that often asian food stores will have a better selection than health food stores.

I also wanted to add a website for finding restaurants and that's Happy Cow.

[bellelass]

I was part of a small study abroad group in Morocco this past summer. One of the chicks was strictly vegetarian. This was a nightmare. She could be downright nasty about it, and sometimes ate nothing but bread and the occasional egg or omelette for days and days. When we were travelling, it was pretty bad. Morocco is famous for its pastilla and tagines, and since they have meat and she refused to even try it, thus missing out on one of my favorite aspects of Moroccan culture. Plus she starved mostly. I admire that kind of adherence to one's convictions, but honestly. On campus was even worse, she raised such a stink that they made one thing especially for her every meal... I'm talking one plate of food, completely vegetarian, made just for her, always varied and tasty. They were too kind.

I guess the point is, it was a pain and quite a stress to travel with her...Embarassing, too. She made the rest of us feel like pigs for eating as she watched us in righteous starving agony. It was painful to watch her try to explain, over and over again in restuarants, in private houses, at school that she wouldn't eat their food and needed something separate.

The time we had seafood in Assilah she bitched about getting rice without the shrimp that it was supposed to come with, and then halfway through the huge bowl fished out a shrimp head. I could not help but feel secretly, evilly pleased.

Anyway, I'm sure the people here are too cool to act like that, but I thought I'd put it out there ....

[Wyzfen]

Wow bellelas, that was ....

Hmm. i was going to make a comment, but i cant say anything nice, so ...

Your bigotry astounds me. People have different beliefs and dietary needs - you need to accept that. People dont drop their 'convictions' just because its not convenient. What if her reasons for the diet weren't just to be a pain ? What if, by eating some of that food, she would be putting her life at risk ? There are people who can die from just that piece of shellfish in the rice.
When i was a child, i had a severely limited diet due to allergies, so i can empathise with vegetarians (plus Zylah is veggie). Its never occured to me NOT to make a fuss if something isn't provided for her or it contains unsuitable ingredients.

I'm sorry if this message is more negative than usual for TP, but this thread was originally about vegetarians helping each other out, and your post was just bagging someone for their beliefs.

Wyzfen.


Oh, and in Australia at least, restuarants are required to provide a vegetarian option. Not that a strict vegetarian would necessarily try that (shared cooking surfaces etc). And even here people dont understand about veganism.

[starpiste]

Bellelass,
I think the person you met was an exception.

I would never eat meat because it was inconvenient not to. I do not like meat. It's actually pretty much the only thing I do not like. I find I am less picky than many of my meat-eating firends. The thought of eating it is unappetizing to the point where I would rather not eat at all, for fear of just throwing it up. It doesn't matter to me if a meat dish is something central to a country's food culture and I don't feel I am missing out on that culture at all. I can understand it's influence without eating it.

Also, I care immensly about my heath and will go out of my way to eat suitable meat-free meals. I realize this might mean more work for me, but that is the choice I have made and I never feel "agonized" by it nor do I make others with me feel like it is a burden. I have also never had a restaraunt have a problem when I ask if an item on the menu can be made without meat, if there is not another no-meat option. I am polite, and they are usually in return. I have had a restaurant say it wasn't possible because a sauce was premixed so I simply ordered something else.

But if something is brought to me with meat in it when I was told it wouldn't have any, I will draw attention to it. If they could not provide what I requested, they should have told me. I will not be rude, but I will most certainly be turned off from eating anything else. I mean if you ordered a chicken caesar, and got prawns instead would you not say something?

It's unfortunate you met a veggie who is like the one you did.
That was a lot of writing.

[bellelass]

Ah crap, I should have figured I would come off as a bitch..

In my defense, I wasn't trying to attack vegetarians or what they believe or the reasons behind it. I highly respect people who have such strong convictions and stick by them. I, myself, don't eat a lot of meat anyway because I don't like it that much. I was a vegetarian for a few months last year... But I like a good cheeseburger with bacon every now and then, so I suppose I am a hopeless case...

She had no dietary restrictions due to allergies or health. My beef (no pun intended) was that she regularly insulted hosts, made us feel like barbarians for chowing down on whatever was around, and when we ate out it was almost always at a western restaurant instead of a local place so that she could eat what she needed to. Fine fine fine, but she also whined and griped constantly about the lack of choices in her diet. Day in, day out, week after week of putting up with that got old really fast, and I swore to myself that if I ever completely became vegetarian I wouldn't put other people through that. Our whole lives revolved around what she could and could not eat, it was a really big big deal for some reason.
I still know her here at school, and all that mess from this summer seems to have evaporated. She's just as cool as can be, and I like being around her. Possibly because she's eating more than yogurt and bread and oranges and shrimp-laced rice these days..

Personally, I couldn't care less what someone eats.. Adkins, kosher, vegetarian, fast food, ants, grass, snails, whatever. I know plenty of cool veggies and vegans..
I apologize if I came off a bit strong, or a bit bitchy and close-minded... Just my thoughts, sorry for sticking my foot in it. It doesn't occur to me to try to be PC or diplomatic here, I assume everyone takes things at face value.. I wasn't trying to attack anyone or a way of life.
Hmm, I don't think anyone I know would classify me as a "bigot," so I'll just let that go since you just know me from that post..

[Wyzfen]

Sorry if my response was not justified - the way i read your first post, it came across as tho you were the one with a problem, not your vege friend.
After you're second post, yeah, i can see what you meant in your first.
I tend to only got to places which cater for veggies (since Zylah is one) - but when we're overseas, i expect we'll go to places to try out the local cuisine - even if that means she gets a lump of cheese - we can always grab her some food from a supermarket. Thats cos i agree that sampling the food is a big part of experiencing other cultures.

So, knowing that they're always alternatives, i can see why you'd be annoyed if she insisted on going to western places all the time. And even more so if she insulted you for your food preferences ...

One of my biggest pet peeves is when people aren't tolerant of others beliefs - so sorry if my last post was a harsh. However, that goes both ways - i expect people to respect my right to NOT follow their beliefs if it doesn't infringe on them - thus, if i'm out with a veggie, i wont tolerate it if they complain about my eating meat (any more than i accept people door knocking to talk about religion - fine, you have your beliefs. i respect that. dont try to convert me).

I'm never PC btw - and i tend to go off half-cocked over the above kind of stuff. Problem with forums is that i couldn't judge solely from what you wrote what you were saying :P

Wyzfen

[TheJake]

No hey belle im with you. I tottally respect people who religously adhere to whatever it is they believe when it comes to food... But honestly when you are overseas and you are at peoples houses or whatever and they made dinner for you. And poured their heart and souls into pleasing the foreigner... well i know in brasil they would put me out on my ass with just their eyes if i hadnt graciously accepted and swallowed whatever was put on my plate.

*SARCASTIC PART*
Its just common courtesy... personally im a meatatarian... SAVE THE PLANTS! but you know i had to eat more than my fair share of greens in brasil. Can you believe they eat spinach!?!
*END OF SARCASTIC PART*





sorry to those i may have pissed off... i totally understand belle and thought the heated attacks were unnecessary and more biased than open minded...

[Wyzfen]

Hmm. thats an interesting dilemma jake - if you're visiting someone and they serve something thats against your beliefs ...
Probably its best to let them know ahead of time if possible. I would expect most people would be understanding if you explain politely.
It sounds like bella's friend wasn't polite tho.

Again, sorry if i was harsh in my original response, but as written, the original message sounded like vege-bashing, not being abused by a vege :P

Anyway Jake, i love spinach - i'm offended that you dont (just kidding - the offended part, not the spinach loving part. i really do like it)

I like my seafood diet - 'see food and eat it'

Wyzfen

[glorious_day]

oh, geez, the veg topic..... i try to stay away from meat (love cheese TOO much) and most animal products, but i think some people take things a bit too far when there is absolutely never ever ever an allowance to make an exception when in certain situations. i mean, ask yourself why you decided to go vegetarian/vegan in the first place. i do it for ethical and health reasons, but i also know that life requires the ability to bend sometimes. i mean, what happens if you accidently ingest something containing animal products unknowingly? there are just so many people out there who don't get the whole no meat thing, like my grandmama, who has lived in rural louisiana all her life and cooks meals that, if you're veg, you ain't gonna get nothing to eat from except a roll because EVERYTHING contains meat.

[omisan]

like my grandmama, who has lived in rural louisiana all her life and cooks meals that, if you're veg, you ain't gonna get nothing to eat from except a roll because EVERYTHING contains meat.

Jeebus Butt***ing Christ! Tell me about it! I'm still detoxing from all the meats and fried foods my week in Weezyana. Does EVERYTHING there come with sausage? I've been a vegetarian since Monday for cleansing purposes.

Anyway, the two coworkers I go out to lunch with most often are vegetarians, so I'm pretty used to dealing with their limitations... 'course, being in California, everyone's diets are catered to pretty well, and there's an abundance of options. What I don't get is how people knock vegetarianism by saying, "Oh, what would I eat?" since there's a far greater diversity of non-meat matter than there is flesh...

I dunno, I guess I just believe in total balance. Equal parts animal byproduct, organically grown fruit/veg/grains, and alcohol.