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How to Eat a Balanced Vegetarian Diet on the Road

Imagine yourself on a road trip. You stay in motels and see the sights as you go. Your destination doesn't seem very far away because the trip in itself is a worthwhile adventure. Now imagine what you're going to eat on the way. Fast food brings a little disappointment to your fantasy. The grease makes your stomach heavy and a little sick when you get back into the car. Maybe you'll find a nicer sit down restaurant, but depending where you are, local places can be a gamble. Now, add one more piece to the vacation equation. You are a vegetarian. Does it seem impossible to eat well on the road? It's not impossible, but it can add even a little more adventure to your regularly scheduled events. Here are a few guidelines to follow when planning your next road trip. Happy trails and eat well!

Search Out the Vegetarian Restaurants

This may seem like an easy step to follow. You may even be wondering why anyone should have to tell you to do such a thing. Vegetarians will naturally look for vegetarian restaurants, right? That may be true, but finding them is not as easy as it sounds. A good place to start is online before you go. Search the yellow pages for any vegetarian restaurants along the way. This will save you some time and frustration when you get to a town that does not offer such an eatery. Order carefully when you do get to a place that hosts a vegetarian restaurant. As with most eating establishments, the menu will be full of salty greasy options heavily weighted in the direction of protein. Read the descriptions carefully for additions of sauces and cheeses as well as for the word ‘fried.' You will save yourself some discomfort on the road if you choose fresh menu items with balanced ingredients.

Pack a Cooler

Because not every place will have a vegetarian restaurant and because not every restaurant will offer vegetarian entrees, you will be wise to bring some food with you. Splurge a little on the good stuff because you can bet that it will be cheaper than any dining out meal anyway. Look for non perishable foods and sandwich fixings. It will be more refreshing than you can predict to be able to pull over and fix yourself a sandwich with fresh tomatoes, avocados and a few onions with your favorite cheese. Coming out of a restaurant where you were not totally successful at finding a well balanced meal on the menu, you'll be able to pop open your cooler to find a piece of fresh fruit and a few carrot sticks.

The key to eating a well balanced vegetarian diet on the road is to be prepared to be flexible. Know where you can expect to find your favorite restaurants. Be ready with your own ‘cooking' when those restaurants aren't available. Finally, don't be disappointed if you have to look around for a restaurant that offers some appealing vegetarian entrée. It will happen that your cooler will be empty and your restaurants will be closed. Take it all in as part of the grand adventure.