Around the world!
Talazws
Posts: 101 Member
Hey all, I am preparing for a lengthy trip to India in the upcoming months, and it got me thinking-- where have you traveled that has been gluten-free and vegan friendly? Where have you traveled that was really, really NOT gluten-free or vegan friendly?
I am going to South India, which is a great place to be a vegetarian because many people there do not eat meat for religious reasons. Last time I was there I was not a vegan, just vegetarian, so it was awesome! I also was not aware of my gluten intolerance yet, so it wasn't on my radar. South India has mostly rice based foods, unlike the dominance of wheat in the north...so I am hoping that I wont have too much trouble being gluten-free! There is a lot of diary (ghee, especially) in the food though, so I don't know how that will work out!
The worst place I have been for being vegan (wasn't yet gluten- free) was China. That was nearly impossible. Both times I spent about a month living on rice, cucumbers, and watermelon. No one understood the concept of vegetarianism where I was living, and nearly every supposedly meat-free dish would end up having meat, or at least eggs, in it. I had to eat every meal out, so it was very, very hard!
I am going to South India, which is a great place to be a vegetarian because many people there do not eat meat for religious reasons. Last time I was there I was not a vegan, just vegetarian, so it was awesome! I also was not aware of my gluten intolerance yet, so it wasn't on my radar. South India has mostly rice based foods, unlike the dominance of wheat in the north...so I am hoping that I wont have too much trouble being gluten-free! There is a lot of diary (ghee, especially) in the food though, so I don't know how that will work out!
The worst place I have been for being vegan (wasn't yet gluten- free) was China. That was nearly impossible. Both times I spent about a month living on rice, cucumbers, and watermelon. No one understood the concept of vegetarianism where I was living, and nearly every supposedly meat-free dish would end up having meat, or at least eggs, in it. I had to eat every meal out, so it was very, very hard!
0
Replies
-
Japan is not a good place for gluten-free but a decent place for vegetarians if you don't mind fish. Everything has a fish base. I'm not a fish eater but can eat a little bit if necessary. Lots of great tofu dishes and soba noodles (before my gluten-free efforts). The white rice, now that was pure starch for me and I had to eat something else to keep away the sugar drop later. It's getting easier to find brown rice (which is really tasty if you can find the little mom-and-pop shops that use it) but in the larger cities they still think brown rice is for peasants. (Lucky peasants!) Lots of street vendors selling wide array of vegetables, fruits, etc. Some of the fruit is amazingly good. I would recommend taking some vitamins with you to Japan.
I have learned to take vitamins with me everywhere now, if I know I can't really control what I eat.
But the US has its pockets of unfriendly vegan/vegie/gluten-free places: notably the midwest! East and west coast are with it, but those mid-westerners just look at you like you're from Mars!
Sounds like a wonderful trip.0 -
Vegan was definitely easy for me around europe, I kind of dropped the gluten free thing. Although, in my latest trip, I stayed a long time in holland and they had a tun of options (check out health food stores!). The hardest thing is language barriers. I packed Vega One packages with me, you can mix it with water so when you're stuck you've always go something!!
Have so much fun
0
