We all know that eating vegan while traveling can be difficult.
You never know what will be available!
When hunger strikes, you don’t want to be left with whatever happens to be at the airport convenient store. Although, I will say I was pleasantly surprised to find fresh smoothies (with almond milk and plant based protein) at Chicago O’Hare, along with bananas and apples (although, the banana was green and I doubt the apple was organic… but it’s a step in the right direction).
Airport options have drastically improved but that wasn’t the case in Mexico… every airport is different and unpredictable!
Since I’ve been traveling more the past few months than ever before, I’ve learned the hard way. I have too much trust in what will be available so, on my most recent trip to Florida, I made sure to be more prepared so I could actually enjoy the travel part instead of worrying about my next meal.
This post focuses mainly on the travel/airport as well as quick snacks/breakfast in your hotel room.
Depending on where you are in the world, breakfast can sometimes be the most difficult meal of the day. You probably won’t be able to stick to your normal eating habits but that’s okay, just make it work. Travel days are long so when you arrive to your destination, I recommend heading to the grocery store to pick up fresh fruit (apples, bananas, oranges) carrots & celery with hummus, as well as pre-made salads to make life easier but until then, here are my favorite Vegan Travel Snacks (look out for the amazing Salad Power Giveaway too, for THREE WINNERS!)
5 Vegan Travel Snack Ideas:
1. Drinkable Greens
First up, I’m obsessed with Salad Power! My favorite flavor is pineapple and just veggies, but they taste similar to V8, without the funky added ingredients and sodium. Plus, they put sustainably grown, non GMO veggies first, so the juice is low in sugar but high in vitamins. They call it a “complete drinkable salad” with no added sugar!! What I love about Salad Power (read how they’re different here) is they aim to be trustworthy with their juice, rather than misleading, like so many other juice brands out there, who add a whole bunch of fruit first and only a couple veggies later. This is an amazing option for a convenient veggie juice on the go, while traveling!
You’ll want to pack Salad Power in your suitcase because I doubt you can bring these through security.. but they will save you! The best part? They can be stored at room temperature, which makes them perfect for traveling. It’s recommended to refrigerate Salad Power upon arrival (just ask for a mini fridge) because it tastes better cold. Since the bottles are super special and no light or oxygen touches the juice, no nutrients are lost. SaladPower is available in four flavors: Just Veggies, Veggies + Mango, Veggies + Apple, and Veggies + Pineapple. Yum!
2. Plant Based Protein Powder
Next up, single-serving plant based protein powder! I brought these along for the early morning airplane flight and for snacks throughout the trip. Carefully add to a water bottle (before the plane ride!) and shake it up. You can also bring along baggies of pre-scooped protein powder. Either way, it’s an easy way to get a filling, protein packed snack while away from home. I like the Amazing Grass Protein Superfood
I also included the Vega Greens drink mix (Mint Lemonade and Matcha Honeydew). The more greens the better, in every aspect of life! Just add to a water bottle and shake it up.
3. Snacks on Snacks on Snacks
Bringing snacks is essential. Please bring as many snacks as you can. Clif Bars
4. Breakfast Essentials
Filling up on breakfast is so important. Ideally, fresh fruit will be available at your hotel or a restaurant you’re going to but sometimes, that’s all they have for a vegan breakfast. Obviously we need more than fruit… which is why I bring oatmeal packets
5. Fruit, Nuts and Chocolate
When everyone you’re traveling with gets ice cream after dinner… and they don’t have any dairy free options at the ice cream shop… you eat chocolate, dried fruit and nuts/seeds! Or when you have a sweet tooth… which is me, always. I make sure to bring a chocolate bar and lately, have been obsessed with Theo
I hope this helps and gives you some ideas for traveling as a vegan! Be sure to enter the Salad Giveaway below!!
Salad Power Giveaway Guidelines:
– Open to US residents only.
– 3 winners will receive one case of 12 Salad Power Juices (as shown in picture below!!).
– Leave a comment below with one tip for traveling as a vegan.
– GIVEAWAY OPEN UNTIL Thursday, April 13th! (4/13/17)
Good luck!
* This post is sponsored by Salad Power. Opinions are my own, always.
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Dates on dates on dates! I always hit up a local co-op to pick up some local goodies and it’s a great way to meet some locals who know the good spots to hit! I ALWAYS bring an empty water bottle with me! 1. Airplane water is horrible 2. I’ve been stuck on too many a hot tarmac with no access to water !
I’m so excited about this post because I’m traveling to China in August for a teaching fellowship ! This came at the perfect time! 15 hr flight to LAX (from D.C.) and a 15 hour flight to Shanghi then another 2 hrs to Changsha where I’ll be teaching! I’ve been trying to figure out how I can get snacks on my international flights if anyone has any tips & if anyone knows any tips about eating vegan in China! It’s been a big burden for me!
❤️
Homemade Lara bars, baggies of nuts and seeds, bananas, apples, and oranges, and single serve peanut and/or almond butter is a must!
I love to bring my own food and make date balls, that way I know what I’m putting into my body and I can make it sweet enough to curb my sweet tooth! Plus it’s always fun to get people to try new food and realize being vegan isn’t that hard!
I have to agree with everyone…having baggies of nuts/seeds/dates saves me all the time!Packets of almond butter and green drink powder are essentials too…keeping happy with happy food makes a trip or a just regular day better all around!
I like to keep it simple: baggie with assorted nuts and dried fruits.
always, always, ALWAYS bring your own snacks! one of my favorite things to do before a trip is head to target or the grocery store and stock up on snacks that i know are healthy, vegan, and at a reasonable price point! waiting until you’re on the road or at the airport makes it so much harder to find what you really need, especially without spending a fortune.
Larabars & almonds! Aldi also has lots of great organic options for the kids like their fruit strips that are just fruit puree & juice
always ask for a mini fridge in your room and bring dry oatmeal- overnight oats are a cinch!
The squeezable oatmeal has been a savior on many camping trips, and I love the fruit squeezes as well (except I always think people are thinking I have a child when I buy them!).
always have fruit of some kind and peanut butter sandwich’s
on Ezeloel bread, YUM
I love all of you ideas! I don’t travel much but when I do I bring protien powder, water and a shaker cup with a cliff bar. If I’m just gone for the day I will also try to bring some fruit salad for the road!
I always make myself a plane bagel sammie, stocked with roasted peppers, alfalfa sprouts, vegan cream cheese or hummus, tomatoes, spinach, etc. so I don’t get tempted by the less healthy/more expensive airport options! And it lasts all day 🙂 I also always have a reusable empty water bottle so I don’t have to buy the plastic ones! My bf makes fun of how many plane snacks I pack
My husband and I just got back from China for a MONTH.
Where it’s not super safe to eat fruits, veggies and even water outside of our hotel.
Traveling we got some squeezable oatmeals and cliff bars that saved us as we were out and about traveling.
Also, when we camp or road trip its a lot of meal prep such as; veggie wraps, cold pasta salads and chia drinks!
I LOVE these Salad Powers as an option! Hadn’t seen such a thing before! – We will deff need to try them 🙂
Thanks for sharing!
Fruit, nuts, and Starbucks oatmeal are all ideas that have worked for me! <3
I don’t travel a lot but when I do I make sure I have portable fruit, oatmeal packets, nuts and seeds and hummus. It’s always fun to visit grocery stores in different cities to find new and exciting food!
I always keep almond butter in my purse! All my friends are used to it though sometimes I still get looks at the cash register when looking for my wallet.
My tip for traveling vegan would be to PLAN AHEAD! Happy Cow is my go-to for finding vegan-friendly restaurants and grocery stores in unfamiliar places 🙂
Like everyone else on here, my recommendation is snacks, snacks, snacks! I always keep fruit and Lara bars on me when I travel & usually carry around a baggie of carrot sticks. Old habits die hard for me though and I have always correlated road trips with hours of junk food treats. To combat that pre-vegan life habit, I usually bring popcorn and salty trail mixes along for really long drives. 🙂
I absolutely love ground Chia seeds and vanilla almond milk! I’m also a huge lover of gluten free Kind bars, and dried fruit. Not only is it tough traveling vegan, but I have coeliac disease to boot. Which can make finding ANY foods very difficult. I like to keep it simple, but keep it healthy!
Always travel with snacks! Dried fruit, nuts, vegan protein bars, preportioned packets of vegan protein powder, and dry roasted edamame. It’s nice that vegan products are more easily accessible now across the country, so wherever I’m going I can find a nut milk and other healthy vegan options.
i think that nuts and dates are a perfect snack while traveling, and you can’t go wrong with packets of oatmeal.
I always pack a small lunch box or cooler with plenty of drinks to stay hydrated and fresh fruit, veggies, and hummus.
Bring a bar like Kind or Lara, and plant protein packets as well as dried or fresh fruit
Always bring portable fruits and nuts, you can’t go wrong.
I have been a vegetarian for years and learned to be flexible as well as creative during that time. Now that I am vegan, I need some ideas and suggestions! All of these comments are super wonderful and helpful. I work at a fire department so I HAVE to pack and prepare ahead of time due to their different eating habits. I have found that picking 3 meals and doubling up on them has been the easiest and most efficient way to pack food for 48 hrs! Thanks for all of the help and advice! going on month 2! Good luck everyone!
When I travel I usually make a big thing of overnight oats with peanut butter and chia seeds to keep me full for hours. I also pack nuts, maybe some fruit (orange or apple that won’t smooth!), and then a water bottle that I can refill in every airport. I also don’t know why but I always crave sweets when I’m tired so I will usually bring some dark chocolate along too!
What i love to do when I’m flying is to bring a jar of oats with cinnamon, chia and flax on the flight then ask for hot water when I’m ready to eat. Also stay hydrated when traveling and prepare beforehand with snacks you love!
I always pack my own snacks so that I am prepared. I also look at the airport website in advance to see what types of restaurants will be in my terminal 🙂
Over-prepare then go with the flow! Also, keep a couple snacks in your purse in case you end up in a pinch!
My best ideas are SNACKS SNACKS SNACKS. Be prepared.
When I travel I like to bring my homemade Lara bars with me (so easy to make) or some nuts and coconut chips!
Keep it simple! And don’t fall victim to buying gas station or airport food. Having those vegan staples with you at all times will help you make healthier options!
I don’t travel often, but being in Missouri I do go on quite a bit of hikes! Most of the time it’s at least an hour drive to the location we are hiking, so for the drive and the hike itself I always pack nuts with me no matter what. Pistachios are my favorites, but I also like bringing almonds and cashews. I typically pack some sort of fresh fruit as well, and lots of water!
When you are eating a lot of veggies (like most of us do!), try to get them cooked whenever possible if you are traveling internationally! Sometimes the water used to clean fresh veggies (ie salad) can actually make you sick, so it’s safer to stick with the cooked options!
Thank you for all of the great tips that were in this article, and in the comments too! 🙂
We just traveled to Maui for 3 weeks. I picked up the individually wrapped “Handfuls of Nuts” from Trader Joes, apples, Primal Meatless Jerky, Mamma Chia squeezes, and the Bob’s Red Mill instant oatmeal bowls for breakfast on the plane! The flight attendants gave me hot water and it was ready in 3 minutes! So perfect. I also love to travel with the individual bags of pop corn for when I’m craving some salt!
My biggest tip is to always be prepared! Bring nuts, bars (larabars and That’s It bars are some of my favorites), juices, overnight oats etc. so you never get hungry and reach for something unhealthy! Happy cow is also great and staying somewhere that has a kitchen (or at least microwave) so you can do some of your own shopping and prepare your own meals!
A
Ike to bake larabars when traveling and some raw nuts, figs and dates. Easy to eat. And keep nicely
I always pack precooked small potatoes to munch on during the flight. Also, oats are always good, just ask for hot water.✈️
i always bring larabars and natural almonds!!!
If I have an early morning flight, I don’t like to rely on the airport restaurants for breakfast as i’m not guaranteed a vegan option, so I pack a mason jar of my favorite homemade oatmeal mix and once on the flight, I ask the flight attendant for a cup of boiling/hot water, pour it into my mason jar, stir it up, put on the cover and let it sit for a few minutes, and viola! a yummy warm and filling breakfast, completely catered to me! 🙂
When I travel for work I try to make sure I get a room with a mini fridge and look ahead to find a good grocery store nearby for fresh produce! For car rides I pack up easy-to-eat fruit and raw veggies. And PLENTY of water.
Hi! I’m new to the vegan world!
I just got back from my first vacation as a vegan and let’s just say I tried! It was hard and I struggled with finding snacks so this post has been extremely helpful! I did make sure to pack some Vega protein powder and my shaker cup and lots of fruit and nuts for breakfast (I got some weird looks at the free continental breakfast). I also made sure to get my workouts in every morning to keep myself in check.
Thanks for all the great ideas (:
My vegan traveling tip is to download and use the HappyCow app! It does cost $3.99 but for me, it has been a great way to find vegan options in unfamiliar cities. I also use it to find unknown or new vegan options in my own town! I’ve only used it in the U.S. so far but it has options for many countries so I can’t wait to use it the next time I travel abroad, since the last time I was out of the country I was not yet vegan!
I try to make sure I get in my workout and keep my morning routine roughly the same the day of traveling. Then, I’m less inclined to venture over to the airport restaurants or convenience kiosks. I also bring a high-calorie meal, like grains with tofu, veggies, avocado, etc! Also high-calorie snacks that will keep me going and feeling energized (nuts, seeds).
Fruit is always my go-to when traveling because it is so hydrating! I also like to make energy bites to bring along. Also, I always look up restaurants ahead of time so that I know what to expect when I get to my location!
These look delicious!
We bake and bring homemade cookies, dried fruit (pineapple is my favorite), presliced apples and put them back together by wrapping a rubber band around it (keeps it from browning), and travel size nut butters with flax to dip it in…I love reading these ideas!
I always have a lot of nuts, homemade granola and fruits with me!! When your hungry and there’s anything you can eat or the price are super elevated there’s where your frustration begin hahaha
Keep it simple with nuts and little bags of various fruits and veggies. Always stay hydrated it keeps me from getting headaches and too hungry.
I scope out the restaurant options in terminals before I actually fly through–then I know if there is a healthy option for me that I can buy at the airport… and if not, I pack my own snacks!
I definitely agree with the protein powder! They can really fill you up in a pinch and some can even be packed with extra greens! Also those snack pouches are perfect (I am a nanny and can always count on those when we are out and about)!! Also, if you’re not gluten intolerant stock up on PB&Js which are perfect for car rides!! Thanks for hosting this giveaway Shannon! Best of luck everyone 🙂
I always pack pre-portioned bags of nuts.
Bring snacks! I bring anything I can find that is tasty, good for you and non-perishable! I make my own snack mix. I bake my own power bars. Really anything I can think of.
Traveling is always a challenge. We pack tons of snacks, and I make easy to transport meal items…sandwiches fixings, etc. When going on a road trip we pack a big cooler and bring just about everything we need for the time away since we never know if we will find vegan options.
When I’m traveling I always pack a ton of snacks!! Airport food is usually unhealthy and overpriced leading to bad food choices. I always pack bagged apples with cinnamon, almond butter sandwiches, kind bars and bananas. These things don’t need utensils and can be stored in your purse without refrigeration!
Love your blog! I’m been making the journey to 100% vegan since I stared reading your blog! And I love this post!! I spend a lot of my life on the go or without access to a full kitchen to make meals. So on-the-go vegan snacks are always on my radar!!
Tip: Don’t be afraid to stick to something simple-fruit, nuts, hummus&veggies. And don’t feel like you’re missing out when there are not a lot of options. Plan ahead and always have a stock pile of vegan friendly snacks to grab and go!
When I know I’m traveling and need options to eat or snack, I always try to premake some kind of protein bites or homeaid trail mix type food!!!
Sometimes traveling for me is very hard. I am a new vegan, and still working out all the kinks, but I have found that when I know I am going somewhere that may not offer the options I would prefer, I stock my bag with vegan greens, vegan chia fruit squeezes, and a small power salad of nuts, granola (vegan), and dried fruits to help power me through the day until I can get to my good meals!!!
Bringing little baggies of nooch (nutritional yeast), sea salt, nuts and a small bottle of stevia to dress up anything you can find at an airport, convenience store, etc. Add nuts and stevia to a boring bowl of oatmeal, nooch to a salad or to make a quick salad dressing with some added oil, salt and a little mixing. Just a small example of what those tiny little ingredients can do. I could eat anything (vegan) with those few ingredients by my side. Love your blog and hope to see more of you soon!
Such a great giveaway! I am a big fan of making salads to pack in my bags when I travel. Usually they are grain-based with roasted veggies and chopped Beyond Meat. I sometimes get some strange looks when I pull out a big ole Tupperware on a plane, but I have learned not to care, because – food! 🙂
Hi your blog is the reason I went vegan <3
Happy cow app I have also downloaded for my phone for when I travel and or I am in a new city. It not only gives you vegan restaurants in the area but gives you the vegan options at any restaurant that maybe your family or friends want to go to. I also travel with snacks such as cliff bars and protein powder!
While I love being vegan and most of the time don’t mind my gluten intolerance–the times I find myself most frustrated with my lifestyle is at the airport. I always bring an apple and packet of Justin’s almond butter and usually whatever homemade granola bar or kind bar I have lying around. I try not to buy snacks in the airport since the prices are so inflated. I also look up gluten friendly restaurants at the airport I’m headed through if I know I am going to have a long layover during a mealtime. Yelp is a great resource for reviews! Most importantly, I would recommend always bringing a water bottle. Just make sure it is empty–I can’t count how many times I have been at the front of the line for security, remembered my water bottle was partially full and stood there chugging while the airport officials laughed at me!