The Vegan diet has become relatively popular in recent years. Whether you’re jumping on the fad band wagon, have switched up your diet for health reasons, or genuinely care about the protection of both animals and the environment, there are a few things you might want to consider if travelling around Europe.
We wanted to know how sustainable a vegan diet could be while on the road. So we’ve interviewed Joe Branton, Guitar Nerds Podcast crew and bassist of Poly-Math (a Brighton based Instrumental Prog Rock band) – a vegan of many years who often embarks on week to month long European tours. We’ve been asking how easy it is to stay vegan while on the move…
1. On a scale of 1 – 10 how easy is it to eat vegan while on the road?
3 to 4, country dependent.
2. Which European country have you found to give you the widest range of vegan choices while on tour?
That’s tricky because the answer really is none of them provide a wide choice. But of course it’s so much more than a country, it’s the town you’re in. Berlin is pretty damn good, but try finding a vegetable on a plate outside of Berlin in Germany. It’s all sausage! I think it’s more about major cities than countries as such. Most major cities are pretty good, and even when the place you’re in isn’t especially accommodating there is always something, and promoters in Europe are great at providing vegan meals at the venues themselves.
3. What is your usual diet while touring?
Hummus and bread, olives, chips. Basically. And when you’re in France not even hummus (it contains milk in France for some reason). But that’s not a million miles away from what I eat on tour in the UK. The thing is when you’re on tour you’re not necessarily sampling the local produce, you’re eating in service stations, and service stations don’t even cater for veggies let alone vegans. Evening meals mostly consist of curries and stews, mostly because that’s what people will make for you. Luxembourg is especially good at hardcore chickpea vegan curries!
4. What is your go to when all else fails?
All else always fails, Europe is a nightmare for vegans. Bread and olive oil if that’s all you can get. Be prepared to learn every European languages’ word for milk because it’s going to be in everything. They’d put it in the water if they could. Basically, you’ll need to rely on people being awesome, and they normally are. We tour as a vegan band so most promoters are prepared, if we didn’t have that I don’t know what I’d do.
5. Tips or advice for vegans travelling through Europe and what to look out for e.g. are there any food items that are vegan here that may not be in other countries?
Hummus isn’t vegan in France and sometimes not in Germany. Czech Republic is impossible as chicken is considered vegetarian, they put bacon in their scrambled egg without thinking to mention that on the menu, as our veggie drummer found out. My honest advice is, you’ll be fine with a little research. Happy Cow is a really useful app for pointing out veggie and vegan places around you, although when you’re in rural Germany be prepared for the closest place to be in another country. To be honest, being on tour is very different as we’re in and out of each place so quickly. If I was staying somewhere for a few days I’m sure I could hunt all the good places out. Austria I’ve always found surprisingly accommodating.
6. Do you think it would be beneficial to pack some extras if possible?
If you want to live, yes. Pack as many Trek bars as you can.
7. What’s your favourite accidental vegan item of food?
Skips or Oreos. Both banging snacks!
8. Best thing about being vegan?
Impossible to answer succinctly. I love cooking, veganism has made me a much more creative cook, I love trying to create things from scratch or trying to imitate something not usually vegan. It’s loads of fun. I also love not being an ignorant w*****, but then I’m sure there are a hundred other things about what I do in every day life equally ignorant as it would be to continue to eat meat after the advent of the internet.
9. Most challenging thing being vegan?
For me it’s as simple as trying to order food somewhere new. I’m not very confident with it, and as I spend so much time on tour I spend a lot of time in new places, sometimes with a language barrier, trying to ask for something I can eat. The whole being met with smirky judgement has always really bothered me, I find it quite tricky.
10. Best new food you’ve discovered through being vegan?
Tofurkey Italian style sausages. They’re life changing!
Good read! Vegan on the road can be pretty hard when your not use to having your “local” go to’s.