I’m sitting here in my messy apartment outside Atlanta, January 2026, surrounded by three half-dead succulents, an empty bag of Hippeas, and the lingering shame of last weekend when I accidentally ate half a slice of cornbread that definitely had buttermilk in it at a Cracker Barrel somewhere off I-85. I whispered “forgive me” to the universe and kept eating because I was starving and the waitress was already giving me side-eye for asking seventeen follow-up questions. Stay Plant-Based When Traveling
So yeah. I’m far from perfect at staying plant-based when traveling or eating out vegan. But I’ve gotten… less terrible?
Here’s what I’ve learned the hard, awkward, sometimes hangry way. Stay Plant-Based When Traveling
My Go-To Survival Kit for Staying Plant-Based While Traveling Stay Plant-Based When Traveling
I don’t leave home without these anymore (unless I’m having a full meltdown and forget everything, which happens approximately every third trip).
- Collapsible bamboo utensil set — I look like a total dork pulling it out at Wendy’s but I’d rather look like a dork than eat fries with my fingers after touching gas station door handles
- Small shaker of nutritional yeast — instant cheesy upgrade to literally any sad airport salad or steamed veggie plate
- Epic Bars or Stasher bag of roasted chickpeas — because “they definitely have vegan options” is the biggest lie we tell ourselves
- HappyCow app pre-downloaded + screenshots — cell service dies, but my screenshots of vegan spots in rural Ohio live forever
- Reusable silicone food pouch — for when that one nice restaurant gives you a giant sad pile of plain grilled vegetables and nothing else
Last month in Asheville I literally poured half a packet of nooch onto a plate of roasted Brussels sprouts at a brewery and called it “dinner.” The bartender high-fived me. I’m claiming that as a win.
How I Ask Questions Without Wanting to Disappear (Eating Out Vegan Edition) Stay Plant-Based When Traveling
I used to be that person who just ordered fries and a side salad and quietly died inside. Stay Plant-Based When Traveling
Now I do this little script (in my head I sound confident; out loud I still mumble):
“Hey, super quick question — is there a chef who knows the vegan mods? Cool, is the [dish] made with any butter, cream, or chicken stock? If yes, can we do olive oil / veggie broth / nothing instead? And if it’s impossible, I’m honestly good with just a giant pile of whatever veg y’all have.”
Sometimes they look relieved. Sometimes they look terrified. Either way, I tip 30%+ because restaurant people are going through enough.
Pro tip I learned the hard way: never trust “vegan” labeled items on the menu without double-checking. I once got served a “vegan” pasta that had Parmesan grated on top after it left the kitchen. The server literally said “oh we always do that, it’s fine.” It was not fine. I cried in the bathroom of a Red Lobster in Savannah. True story.
Here are a couple of solid resources I actually use: Stay Plant-Based When Traveling
- HappyCow — still the king for finding spots, even tiny towns
- Vegan Options at Chain Restaurants (2025–2026 update) — surprisingly decent list that gets updated
- The Vegan Society’s Eating Out Guide — more UK-focused but the questioning language is gold
When Everything Goes to Hell Anyway Stay Plant-Based When Traveling
Sometimes staying plant-based when traveling just… doesn’t happen.
Like that time in rural Tennessee when the only place open after 8 p.m. was a gas station Subway and the employee told me the veggie patty “probably” had egg in the binder.
I ate a bag of Doritos and a banana and told myself it was “temporary flexitarianism.” Spoiler: I felt like garbage for two days and my conscience also felt like garbage.
The point is: progress, not perfection. Stay Plant-Based When Traveling
I used to beat myself up for every slip. Now I just say out loud (usually to my steering wheel): “Okay. That happened. Next meal we try harder. Sending love to the cows anyway.”
Final Rambling Thoughts Stay Plant-Based When Traveling
If you’re reading this while panic-scrolling in an airport because your flight got delayed and the only vegan thing left is a $14 avocado toast with the avocado suspiciously missing… I see you.
You’ve got this. Even when you don’t. Stay Plant-Based When Traveling
Drop your own horror stories or secret hacks in the comments — I need all the help I can get.
Safe travels, fellow messy vegans. And may your next road-trip salad actually contain more than six sad shreds of iceberg.
Love (and extra nooch), me Stay Plant-Based When Traveling
P.S. If anyone knows how to politely ask a Waffle House cook if the hash browns are cooked in separate oil without starting World War III… hit me up. Stay Plant-Based When Traveling
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