Road trip tips & vegan food to keep you moving

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Over the past few months, I’ve spent a lot of time on the road. There’s something romantic about road trips…

Crossing the country, seeing new places, watching how the terrain changes, and getting in touch with your inner Willie Nelson.

Still, nothing can make a trip breakdown quite like a lack of food. And nothing can perk it up like a stop at a cozy homegrown restaurant or a vegan picnic in a park.

When I’m heading out on a long-distance road trip, I like to be prepared.

Before leaving home, I pack meals and snacks to eat along the way, in addition to finding vegan and vegan-friendly establishments on Happy Cow.

With directions in hand and a car filled with plant-based provisions, fire the engine and let the fun begin.

Vegan food ideas for your next road trip:

Packed meals

• Cereal & several single size servings of plant-based milk (also good to have for coffee or tea shops in places that may not offer it)
• Fixings for sandwiches made with homemade hummus & fresh vegetables
• Fixings for sandwiches made with Field Roast slices, avocado, spinach, pickles, and a good slathering of mustard
• Fixings for sandwiches made with vegan cilantro basil pesto, artichokes, roasted red peppers, and slices of tomatoes
• Vegan tuna salad (I like it with chopped chickpeas, veganaise, chopped celery, carrots, walnuts, pickles, and a dash of celery seed) served with crackers, tortillas, or lavash
• Sesame kale (steamed kale tossed with garlic, brown rice vinegar, tamari, and a drizzle of sesame oil) with or without baked tofu
• Vegan taco salad with spiced black beans, chopped romaine, tomatoes, onions, and corn chips instead of a baked tortilla bowl

Snacks

• Sliced cucumbers, bell peppers, celery, broccoli, and carrot sticks for snacking and dipping
• Kalamata olive hummus or tortilla pinwheels
• Single-serving guacamole or avocados
• Strawberries, grapes, blueberries, cherries, and raspberries in packages that won’t get crushed
• Bananas, apples, oranges

Other necessities:

• Stainless steel water bottle
• Swiss army knife for slicing avocados, opening wine, and you know, other emergencies
• Storage containers, bowls, and/or plates for salads, cereal, and sandwiches
• Forks & spoons
• Chip-clips to seal bags of nuts, spinach, crackers, etc.

Even the best laid plans bring surprises. If I find myself on the third or fourth day of a trip that has gone on longer than I’d planned, it may come down to a trip to the local grocery store or even seeing what can be scrounged up at a gas station or convenience store.

If you find yourself in a similar predicament, consider these gas station possibilities to keep you satiated until your next stop:

• Cereal & nondairy milk
• Nuts and seeds
• Tortilla chips and jarred salsa
• Bananas, oranges, and apples

Here are some more on-the-go vegan food solutions:

How to eat vegan while traveling

Vegan tips for taking food on a plane

Vegan tips for getting meals at non-vegan restaurants