5 Tips for a Great Vegan/Gluten-free Road Trip
Take a look at these 5 tips that will help you plan the ultimate vegan and/or gluten-free road trip!
Road trips are almost an essential Summer activity. When your vegan and/or gluten-free, they can become a little tricky. Luckily, there are lot's of tools these days to help you make the most of your trip! Take a look below to find my most useful tips I use when road tripping.
Tip #1 - Research, research, and more research!
Knowing which restaurant/grocery stops you can make along the way makes a whole lot of difference! Take the time to plan out your route, and research some places that aren't too far out of your way.
Tip #2 - Utilize the Web
There are so many online resources nowadays that can help make your life so much easier! Adding these to your tool belt is definitely a must.
Happy Cow - A fantastic app that lists the different vegan places in your area
Find me Gluten Free - Another great app that lists different GF places in your area as well as reviews
Instagram - Try using different hashtags for your area, eg. #vegankelowna
Facebook - Join local vegan or gluten-free groups to the area that you'll be travelling in! It's really helpful to talk to other people and they may be able to give you suggestions you may not have found before.
Tip #3 - Compromise
The chances of being able to eat at a fully V/GF restaurant everywhere you go are slim. Settle for something else and do your best to find something you can eat on their menu. This will give you a chance to put those ordering skills and V/GF knowledge to use! Just make to sure to order safely, and beware of areas of cross contamination.
Checkout our previous post on how to order V/GF at fast food restaurants for a more in-depth guide on ordering out.
Tip #4 - Meal Prep + Snacks
I would say that 60% of what I eat on road trips are meals I have made myself, or snacks I've pre-packed. I always make it a habit to make myself breakfast AND and lunch for the first day of the road trip. That way, if I have any trouble finding anything to eat or if something doesn't go to plan, I won't be hungry. Below are a few examples of great things to bring with you.
- Breakfast Burritos
- Pasta Salad
- Sandwiches
- Oatmeal Cups
- Chia Seed Pudding
- Granola Bars
- Crackers + meat (vegan) + cheese (vegan)
- Fruit
- Healthy Breakfast Cookies
Pro tip - Keep snacks in both the car and your bag/purse and bring along a small cooler.
Tip #5 - Find a Place to Stay with a Kitchen
I can't stress enough how many times this has helped me. It generally just makes the whole trip more enjoyable when I can take out the stress of having to find somewhere to eat out for every meal. I do my best to find somewhere I can stay with a kitchen, or at the very least a microwave and a fridge every time I travel.
My favorite app to use is Airbnb. Whatever your budget, there's usually always something in every price range, and I can always find something in the area that I'm going.
Pro tip - Consider bringing your own cooking equipment (utensils and a pot or pan) if you have an issue or sensitivity to cross contamination.
Go Forth and Travel!
Now that you are equipped with a few tips to help you make the most of your trip, I hope that you'll get a chance to get out there and enjoy the open road.
Any tips that I missed? Feel free to comment your favorite tip/trick you use when you travel!