Category:
Passing Through
On the Road
Others with whom you travel and labour will often look askance at your efforts.
The thing to do is downplay what you are up to. Just eat what you want to eat.
Restaurants are their own problem, we can't help you there. But even at a convenience store, you can find some pita bread and a tin of lentils. Dress the pulses with a bit of lemon juice, and the hot sauce from out of your gear bag (the tinned lentils will likely be salty already,) and your bleary motel room hosts a jaunty cold salad.
Another useful ploy is to sprout some lentils or alfalfa as you travel, since all you need is a plastic bag and container with a lid. These are also very entertaining as you can watch their growth when things are slow.
Health food stores aren't always around, nor are they always helpful in addressing the needs of the traveler. It may be very difficult to arrange cooking facilities, and time is often pressing. All that aside, there are things at the health food store that suit the peripatetic, even without purchase of 'packaged' goods. Bulghur, (not to be confused with cracked wheat) is pre-cooked. Pour boiling water onto it and in half an hour it's ready to eat. It will need attention before becoming truly appetizing, though. Parsley and lemon come quickly to mind.
The most problematic part of vegetarian victualling is proteins. When you have the facilities, cooking up some daal is far from difficult, but the prepared product will not keep at room temperature, and can be sloppy to transport. Tofu is more readily available than ever, and some folk eat it raw. Yukk. Avocados are often to be had without much trouble. The problem that these two comestibles share is a high fat content. Broccoli and other crucifers are tough enough for limited travel, and can be eaten raw out of pocket (wash first.)
Most commercial breads contain, besides a bewildering list of ingredients, many of which are added to enhance keeping qualities, skim milk powder. You will have to read the label. There are commercial alternatives, like the rye flatbreads of the Norse countries, and the heavy rye-only breads from the Teutonic tradition. These keep very well as emergency kit. Don't let yourself get into a position where you must hang up your associates just to get victuals, or they will rag you for it. Be, as the saying goes, prepared. A piece of avocado and a green onion in a pita can be very soothing after hours in the van. If you are a caffeinist, we probably needn't lecture you, but just in case you don't know... coffee once brewed and then kept on the fire to stay warm for longer than thirty seconds is inimical to your health. Make coffee freshly, only. Restaurant coffee is in the same class as that which you would find along a highway; if you have the option, all espresso coffees are made to order.
Clamp Connexions