While on the road finding restaurants and grocery stores are a must and can be difficult especially if you have a specific diet, such as being a vegetarian or vegan. A few tips and a little planning make any trip much easier.

Before heading out do a little research first. One of the best sources for finding restaurants and markets while traveling is www.happycow.net. Not only do they have extensive lists of restaurants but also reviews and comments from other vegans and vegetarians about service and atmosphere. It is one of the best resources for a veggie abroad. By planning ahead, with what restaurants will be in the area, it will make the trip much more stress free and enjoyable.

One of the best tricks to being on the road is to pack along a few goodies. By snacking along the way the risk of desperately trying to find something in a gas station or vending machine is much less likely. If you don't want to pack a big cooler in the car or just don't have the space, pick raw foods that will keep for the duration of your trip. Take a backpack and pack various paper bags of fruits, veggies and nuts. It is also a great way to make your own trail mix for on the go. Separate the foods, such as apples in one and carrot sticks or raisins in another. The paper bags help keep food fresh longer by blocking out light and heat and can be recycled when you are done.

Lastly, if you deviate from your plans and end up in a part of the city or country without a clue where to find a vegetarian or vegan restaurant, look for places that make it easy to create your own meal. Any good deli, whether Mom and Pop or Subway, will have many options beside your standard meat and cheese. Tailor your own fresh veggie sandwich or salad. If there are any ingredients or dressings you might be unsure about just ask. Finding a Chinese buffet is also a good option as most have salad bars and specialty items just for veggie lovers and vegetarians. Many also have Mongolian chefs with a variety of oils and bastes to whip up a unique dish just for you.

There are more and more vegetarians out there in the world and restaurants and grocery stores are finally catching on. Not only are there finally places to eat just for vegetarians but also a wider variety. Take advantage of it and with a little planning any road trip, whether just for a day or a week, can be a fun adventure.

Learn more about this author, Sadie Moses.
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