Here’s how to find vegetarian foods while travelling abroad | Food-wine News

This fear becomes more prominent for those travelling to Southeast Asian countries such as Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Aahuti, Founder of The Veggie Travels (a travel company focusing on curating itineraries for vegetarian travellers) elaborates that these fears are propelled further in countries where English is not spoken as widely. She opines that this is why, “vegetarians in India prefer carrying food from home or eating majorly at Indian restaurants abroad and that defeats the purpose of diving deep into the local culture and cuisine of any place.”

A content creator and trip curator, Aahuti describes that options have steadily increased in major cities which now offer vegan restaurants and dining options. While most major cities have vegetarian restaurants, “they do serve eggs across their menu,” she said.

Bridging the language gap

Learning a language is the easiest way to communicate your dietary preferences. ” To order vegetarian food abroad, it’s best to keep Google Translate handy or learn the basics of the local language where you can clearly explain your dietary needs,” Aahuti explains.

While a lack of awareness does exist in the type of vegetarians across the globe, it can be countered through learning basic phrases to enjoy a meal with ‘no eggs, no seafood, no meat’.

Finding destinations according to your preferences is another way to be on the go without missing the authentic culinary experience. (Source-Pexels)

Vegetarian-Friendly Destinations

Finding destinations according to your preferences is another way to be on the go without missing the authentic culinary experience. International destinations such as Bali, Indonesia offer a range of ‘ vegan and vegetarian-friendly dining options.

Alongside authentic, this cuisine is often ” protein rich with tofu and also fibrous with lots of veggies,” says Aahuti.

Several destinations such as Hong Kong and Thailand now offer local food options that are tailored to a global audience.

Apps and Platforms

Doing your research in advance could prove beneficial to your itinerary. To make the experience easier, one can use apps and platforms that focus on vegan or vegetarian diets.

Amongst a variety of apps, “HappyCow is one of the platforms I have been using for many years.” However, she recommends speaking to locals and reading blogs to get tried and tested recommendations.

And lastly, doing your research is imperative to be conscious of country-specific cultures. For instance, animal rennet is a popular enzyme used to make cheese across Europe and certain parts of South Asia.

“Cheese abroad contains animal rennet usually. It’s not all cheeses but quite a few of them contain it,” Aahuti expressed.

Dietary restrictions should never hold you back from exploring a new country and culture. The key remains in double-checking and being mindful of different cultures.

Bon Appetit!