Travel, for any athlete, can be a hassle. The break from routine and unfamiliar places makes sticking to your usual eating plan difficult. The vegan athlete has these challenges, and due to food choices, also encounters several more. Any traveling athlete should be prepared with some snacks and foods that can be eaten on the go, because you never know what the travel schedule will bring. It is better to have brought food and never touch it, than to not have anything to eat and then be forced to make unhealthy eating choices, or simply suffer the deleterious effects of missed meals.  

Fortunately for vegan athletes, many vegan food items travel well, and several others are available at most stores in any part of the world. Meal replacement bars are a must-have when taking a trip. Several companies (Clif Bar, Purefit, Maya Bars, Lara Bars, and others) make vegan bars that are inexpensive and found at nearly every supermarket, and even some convenience stores, in North America. Most countries have similar manufacturers that produce comparable bars, too. Power bars are a great choice, since they travel well, are filling, and can be eaten at any time of the day. Along these same lines, vegan athletes can also enjoy the convenience of protein powders. Vegan athletes can buy prepackaged single serving size envelopes, or they can scoop their powder in plastic baggies and thus have quick access to nutritionally sound food. Many stores also carry soy based milks, cheeses, and yogurts, so the vegan should look into these options when shopping on the road.

Any kind of nut butter (peanut, almond, cashew, etc) and jelly make great sandwiches that travel fairly well. Additionally, these items can be readily purchased at stores throughout the world. A bag of mixed nuts also travels well and similarly can be purchased worldwide. These are favorites of many vegans, because they provide such a “compact” diet. Fruit is obviously available universally, passes the vegan test, and is a wise choice filled with many nutrients. Grains, breads, breakfast cereals, oatmeal are commonly consumed everywhere, and these can be accessed by traveling vegans. Hummus fills many vegan stomachs on a daily basis, and though it does not travel well, it is easy to find at stores and restaurants.  

Restaurants can usually cater to a vegan's request, even if nothing is on the menu specifically for vegans. Look for vegetarian choices and modify the foods that are not in line with veganism. You can also request beans, vegetables, rice, or salad at most restaurants. Popular choices for vegans are the following world cuisines: Mediterranean/Indian, Chinese/Asian, Italian, and Mexican. These places will have meat-free options, and often no additional substitutions are required. The aforementioned is true for "sit down" restaurants as well as "fast food" restaurants, but care should be taken when eating at a place where there is no complete control of the meal. If unsure about a product, ask for information or forgo eating it. For example, Burger King's 'veggie burger' is not vegan because the patty, buns, and mayonnaise all contain animal products. A lot of popular sandwich shops use breads that are not vegan.

Any vegan will attest that being vegan does not mean that one's taste buds are under arrest, nor that the vegan is confined at home due to inability to eat out. It may take a little bit of thought and creativity to continue the vegan lifestyle on the road, but it is certainly worth the effort. Vegans on the road get to explore new dining possibilities and get to talk to new people about their reasons for being vegan.

Manny Escalante, Jr. MA, ATC, CPT has a Master's Degree in Sports Medicine,

Certified Athletic Trainer, and Certified Personal Trainer.