Greens on the Go: A Vegan Road Trip Adventure

Part 1

As a vegan, one of the hardest things is finding restaurants that serve vegan food. It’s even worse when you’re on a road trip. Even simple things like french fries can be tainted. An example of this is McDonald’s fries McDonald’s fries, which aren’t vegan in the United States. The fries are par-fried in the manufacturing with an oil blend that contains “natural beef flavor” which contains wheat and milk ingredients. This makes them unsuitable for vegans, celiacs and those that are lactose intolerant.

Even with things like Burger King’s “Impossible Burger” the consumer needs to pay attention because the burger comes with mayonaise. Mayonaise! That defeats the purpose of vegan meat. So, I either choose a side of sweet and sour sauce or barbecue sauce, both of which are vegan. And Burger King’s fries are vegan. (Vegan Options at Burger King)

But when you’re driving in small town USA it can be difficult. And, I must admit, you can only eat at Burger King so often. Of course you can eat some things at Taco Bell, but fast food simply gets boring. And another fast food option is Subway. You can get a veggie sub and some even have a vegan patty. (Vegan at Subway)

So what is my go-to as I’m road trippin’. Many restaurants have vegan options, they just don’t know it. About a year ago I ate at an Italian restaurant in Gulfport, MS. They actually had a red sauce with Impossible Meat but they were serving it with zoodles (zucchini noodles). I like zoodles in salads, but as pasta, I think it’s a failure. I believe vegan food should taste good. So I asked about their noodles. They said they weren’t vegan. I asked them to go and read the ingredients on the angel hair pasta. It was vegan. So, I could have had red sauce with or without Impossible Meat, a salad hold the cheese, etc. I could probably have pizza with no meat or cheese, just veggies.I am starting to see pizza restaurants with vegan cheese. An example of this is that in Hattiesburg, MS they have Pyro’s Pizza (a small chain), in Ocean Springs, MS there is Tom’s Extreme Pizzeria with vegan cheese, but at time’s it can be hard. But White Castle, Red Robin, Applebee’s etc. are beginning to recognize the need to have an option or two for vegans.

I like to look in small towns, but that can be tricky. So I keep in mind the basics. And I look for Thai, Sushi, Indian or if I’m desparate Chinese or Mexican. I can usually get vegan eggrolls at a Chinese restaurant if all else fails and to avoid starvation. That however won’t work for someone who needs to be gluten free. And sometimes there is a food desert. The inner cities have grocery store deserts, small towns have healthy restaurant food deserts.

Sushi can be hit or miss. Many have vegan rolls. Most have fried tofu, seaweed salad, edamame, miso soup, etc. Pho is also hit and miss, mostly miss actually, but there can be options there. It just takes thought.

Chinese food also has a lot of problematic ingredients like fish sauce and oyster sauce. That’s why I hesitated to include it, but there can be times for desperate measures, such as the previously mentioned eggrolls. But this is one I save for just those times. And remember, soy sauce is NOT gluten free.

Going to a Mexican restaurant is about a 50/50 proposition. There have been several Mexican restaurants that were great, but I’ve been to others that I had virtually nothing to choose from.

I know it sounds complicated, but in truth it can be an adventure. You can find a gem in a small town or the proverbial lump of coal. I have found some great places. I’m going on a roadtrip in a few weeks. It’s one I’ve done before and I know lunch will be a problem. Except there are places I haven’t tried yet. Hmm. I can feel the wheels of my mind turning.

So finally, I keep nuts and granola bars in the car. I can stop at a grocery store and buy fruit. It just takes mindfulness and remembering why you chose this path and how far you’ve come. Food is a choice. Remember, the animals don’t have one.

Namaste.S.

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