A vegan care package makes good road food

June 9, 2:15 PMSeattle Vegan ExaminerVirginia Messina, MPH, RD

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Summer is here, school is coming to an end for the year, and lots of people are hitting the road for vacation. If you travel off the beaten track—away from big cities—it can be slim pickings for vegan meals.  Most vegans know to be prepared with lots of healthy food for picnic lunches and snacks. Just pack a cooler with crackers, hummus, other bean or tofu spreads, raw vegetables, fresh fruit, and cookies. But it's also helpful to practice a vegan version of BYOB; bring your own food into restaurants.

That doesn't mean whipping up a three course meal at the table, of course. But there are some items that you can bring into a very casual eatery and use at the table without attracting much notice. They can round out a meal of whatever few vegan options might be on the menu. Think of it as a vegan care package—non-perishable items to always have on hand so that, no matter what, you won’t starve. 

• Soymilk or almond milk in single serving size aseptic cartons.
• Peanut butter. Almost all restaurants have it, but why take chances? 
• Instant soup cups. Just ask for a pot or cup of hot water and you can make your own soup at the table. Use your own judgment about whether this level of preparation is suitable for a given eating establishment. While it would more than raise a few eyebrows at swankier restaurants, it’s doubtful that anyone would even notice at Denny’s.
• Mixed nuts and dried fruit: If there is absolutely nothing animal-free on the menu, you can always build a green salad into a meal by topping it with trail mix and an oil and vinegar dressing.

Maybe it’s not fancy eating, but in a pinch, a vegan care package is a nice thing to have.