Not Surprising: Vegans Have It Rough In Airports
Pictured: Airplane food, not vegan. Photograph by Robyn Lee.
From a previous eight month stint of living a vegan lifestyle, I can tell you that traveling as a vegan can be a daunting task. Though I'm a believer that being forced to eat on a plane or in an airport food court is not the most enjoyable no matter what your food preferences, vegans have it rough in the land of fried food and mystery ingredients in the terminal and in flight. Most airlines don't provide cuisine in coach—Jet Blue will give you (vegan but oily and gross) Terra Blues, Virgin America might deliver a box of cheese and crackers if there are leftovers from first class and the flight attendant is in a good mood. Wayne Pacelle, CEO of the Humane Society of the U.S., suffers much more than a casual traveler like myself—not only is he vegan, but he's a frequent flier. With all of the restrictions in airports these days, taking approved food on a plane is increasingly more difficult. Pacelle has tried.
On a recent flight I brought a jar of vegan creamy peanut butter with me. The security agent insisted that my carry-on food product was a cream, and therefore a forbidden substance.
A rather strange discussion ensued in which I tried to explain that peanut butter was a solid with a “creamy” consistency. Creamy was, in this case, an adjective.
Luckily he was able to take his peanut butter on the flight. However, I'd prefer snacks that are solid, inexpensive and less likely to confuse a TSA agent: fruit leather, whole grain crackers, homemade popped popcorn. While waiting in the airport, it's possible to find a packaged salad that could pass off as edible, but grabbing pizza, a chicken sandwich, or a burger is a convenience that most vegans don't have. Though I'm unfamiliar with airplane food courts around the country, Newark Airport has decent options (including a cereal bar) and SFO seems to have a wide range of cuisines available past the security gates. And—if you're a vegan who can be lazy on occasion—there's always french fries.
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32 Comments:
When I was vegan, I actually flew a lot. The plane food was atrocious. It's bad enough when you're an omnivore, but when you're vegan... oh, you poor, poor thing.
JigsawJones at 10:08PM on 09/09/08
I'm shocked and dismayed that the head of the Humane Society would take peanut butter aboard a plane, and purposely endanger the lives of fellow travelers who might suffer from severe peanut allergies!
srhcb at 10:38PM on 09/09/08
As someone who has celiac's and is allergic to casein, traveling sucks.
laurakitty at 10:41PM on 09/09/08
I pack nuts, trail mix, cereal and sandwiches. If I'm not crossing a border, I will grab apples and bananas - luckily available in most airports - as well.
KarynMC at 11:02PM on 09/09/08
Wait. You were living as a vegan and were willing to accept *CHEESE* and crackers? Am I the only one who caught that?
feriorrenna at 11:13PM on 09/09/08
@feriorrenna - I noticed, but assumed the author just ate the crackers. :-)
KarynMC at 11:19PM on 09/09/08
French fries? It depends on the source. Who knows if they use a meat-based flavoring or fry meat-based foods in the same oil?
kathryn at 12:16AM on 09/10/08
I'm not vegan, just vegetarian, and I started packing a bento box for traveling because finding airport food is hard, and its' way too expensive. I bought some of those uncrustables made by smuckers and had no problem taking that through (and I moved it into my box from frozen, so it thawed in the box). I also packed food a vegan wouldn't want (scrambled egg cups and cheese), but I found it was much easier than finding food at the airport.
AnnaOnTheMoon at 12:22AM on 09/10/08
I have a frightful time finding decent food with out wheat! I can so understand the predicament of vegan.
Is there no? way? that TSA could allow things like little cartons of yogurt and peanut/almond butter and such?
jdshd at 12:48AM on 09/10/08
I'm an omnivore and I find that travel food is pretty dismal. Probably the worst ever was being stuck on a plane for 9 hours for what was supposed to be a 2-hour flight. At least if you can get off the plane, you can buy expensive snacks and drinks, but we were stuck on the plane. The crew ran out of all beverages, including water. There was no food service. This was before all the flight restrictions, and I brought some packaged crackers and bottled water with me. I was stuck in a middle seat between two strangers, and when I started crunching on crackers in about the sixth hour of our journey, I was afraid my seatmates might kill me for my food.
As far as I'm concerned, my food needs for a travel day have nothing to do with nutrition. Rather, it's just to have something that will keep me from gnawing an arm off if no other food options present themselves. Cracker-like foods and bottled water are just fine for that.
dbcurrie at 1:14AM on 09/10/08
I caught the cheese, I caught the peanut allergy thing, I also caught the crackers, crackers have non vegan things in them.
It is just as bad when your on a plane, train or road trip unless you have mapped out your stops. Traveling is never food comfortable unless you plan ahead.
JerzeeTomato at 1:47AM on 09/10/08
Nobody likes a vegetarian. Or a vegan.
kurteye at 7:19AM on 09/10/08
@JerzeeTomato - some crackers are! It really depends on the crackers!
@ kurteye - I think it's just that nobody likes airport food!
KarynMC at 7:57AM on 09/10/08
Please, please, PLEASE do not bring peanut products on a flight. It sucks enough to be trapped in a tin can with recirculated air for hours without having to worry if you're going to go into anaphylactic shock from the guy eating a snickers bar 3 rows ahead.
Vegetarianka at 9:29AM on 09/10/08
On the airline that I frequent, the vegetarian meal is always a curry, even if it's an 8 am breakfast flight. I personally can't even touch it, but I do get evil glares from people around me who don't want to be smelling that so early in the morning!
nalega at 10:11AM on 09/10/08
I've found the vegetarian (and vegan) meals on long flights are often better than the standard meals, probably because they're made in smaller batches. Back when I was traveling with a vegetarian, I used to order veggie meals for both of us, and I recall getting lentil salads and pasta dishes that, while not amazing, passed for edible.
marzipanda at 10:39AM on 09/10/08
I'm not a vegan or a vegetarian but except for the very longest flights I can never figure out why people eat anything served by the airlines. I barely consider it food. I either eat before hand or bring my own.
bobbob at 10:45AM on 09/10/08
If I were someone with a special diet- I'd bring it from home. That way I could control what was in my food. It is way more effective than expecting an industry (that is known for not meeting expectations) to cater to my expectations.
bisbee at 12:04PM on 09/10/08
I liked some of my airplane food. Some of my trips to Japan on ANA flying from Honolulu fed me 2 meals and 2 snacks, one of the snacks was sushi - I really like tamago and vegetable nigiri.
I enjoy eating at most airports -- the best was in Detroit. I had chirashizushi with roe, salmon, and tuna. I try to hit the more unusual ones versus the obvious chains (Nathan's, etc.).
The past 8 years or so, I always order no-salt, low salt if no-salt is unavailable, food so I'm usually pretty happy.
I'm also a fan of intriguing packaging, so I've always loved plane and train (in Japan) food.
Cassaendra at 12:14PM on 09/10/08
Peanut allergies reminds me of something interesting...
But yeah, I pack airplane bentos now. It makes traveling that much easier to deal with - I know exactly what I'm eating and I don't feel guilty about scarfing down crap or BS food. I try to eat beforehand too so if I wind up stuck somewhere, it doesn't become a big issue...
feistyfoodie at 12:36PM on 09/10/08
i recently flew Continental from EWR to Heathrow and was surprised by the quality of the vegan meal i received--chana masla, basmati rice, palak paneer (no cheese, but tofu). it was not the best Indian food I've ever had, but it certainly exceeded my expectations. while everyone else received greasy chips and soda as a snack, I received an apple, a Clementine, crackers, and juice. Way to go, Continental.
slograffiti at 12:48PM on 09/10/08
I find most large airports actually have a wide variety of food. Sure you find the typical pizza/burgers/cinnabon, but there are also options like smoothie bars with dairy free choices and fruit juices, most coffee shops have soy milk, there's tons of snack food available like trail mix or chips...you probably won't find a balanced vegan meal or anything but there are plenty of options to tide you over til you reach your destination. But as food in airports is typically more expensive (and I'm already spending hundreds on my flight,) I usually bring a sandwich and some granola bars or some popcorn with me in my carry on. The only time I've had my food swiped by security is when I attempted a small container of yogurt.
catalu at 1:00PM on 09/10/08
@ bisbee, maybe you missed the quoted story in the middle, security agents are trying to confiscate the food that was brought in order not to "be catered to".
dmarina at 1:36PM on 09/10/08
Vegan options: Stir-fried rice vermicelli with shitake shrooms, carrots, and beansprouts keeps very well. So do sticky rice dumplings and baked empanadas. A brown rice bento with simmered burdock roots, seaweed salad, and a couple of ume is excellent. You may consider bringing individual serves of miso soup and asking the hostess for hot water.
onedaylingers at 2:04PM on 09/10/08
ok ok, I USED to be vegan. It was a period of time a few years ago when I was vegan for eight months. Not anymore. I was just mentioning some of the "more decent" snacks I've come across.. Cheese and crackers, cheese for my companion.
By the way, I've heard Air India has some great options. My friend also flew on Singapore Airlines and lucked out. These days if I'm even lucky enough to get a meal on my flight, I like to ask for it veggie. I agree-- usually better than the scary cordon bleu I got going to London a few years ago.
Allison Hemler at 2:36PM on 09/10/08
The only thing bad about eating anything substantial before you fly is that you have to poop in those Chicklet sized bathrooms on the plane. I'm 5' tall and I sit there with my knees bumping stuff. I like to think of myself as a power pooper being able to will myself to poop any time, but sometimes my timing is wrong. Then I get hungry after I poop.
Cassaendra at 7:45AM on 09/11/08
Don't vegans have it rough all the time? I mean...they choosing not to eat tasty food. :P
@Cassaendra: last time I flew, I decided I should finish off the yogurt and fruit that had been in my fridge for a while. I had to poop like once an hour for the cross country flight. I'm 6' 3". :(
wunami at 10:57PM on 09/11/08
I believe in accommodating everyone's needs insofar as it is possible; however, those who elect veganism surely must know at the outset that their row will be a hard one to hoe. I am offended by those who choose offbeat lifestyles and then pout and fuss when others care nothing about those personal choices. Deal and stop whining.
expat39520 at 9:58AM on 09/15/08
As often as I hear them, I'm still amazed by comments such as "Nobody likes a vegetarian. Or a vegan." and "I am offended by those who choose offbeat lifestyles and then pout and fuss when others care nothing about those personal choices. Deal and stop whining."
How nervy of those (pick one) - vegetarians, vegans, diabetics, celiacs, blacks, hispanics, Muslims, Jews, gays, handicapped - wanting to have their 'personal choices' respected! How stupid of them to be different from the 'normal people'!
Anyway, wasn't the topic vegetarians travelling and eating (or not) in airports or on planes? The best choice is a semi-fast - nobody will starve
even on a twelve hour flight. Eating light while flying helps your body recover faster from time and altitude changes.
The main thing is to stay hydrated, and move around as much as possible. The challenge is getting enough to drink since you can't usually bring bottled water on board anymore, and they're not always generous with the drinks.
I agree that planning ahead is good. Nobody (veggies especially) can expect the universe to always provide food when they want it, especially when travelling. And we can't do much about airport and airplane food. So yes, bring your own - lots of great ideas in these comments.
jksavvyveg at 5:53PM on 09/16/08
Right on jksavvy. I'm an omnivore who is dumbfounded at the lengths that people will go to to air their own personal grievances about....other people's grievances.
Any post or article mentioning vegetarianism/veganism is bound to draw them out of the woodworks even if they have nothing constructive to offer. As this post shows, this trend ain't dying anytime soon.
fascfoo at 7:21PM on 09/25/08
As a vegan, the worst trouble I've had with airlines has been lost luggage, late or canceled flights, and rude or unhelpful flight attendants. The food isn't so much of an issue, particularly on short flights.
Regardless, any inconveniences caused by our omnivorous society refusing to accept vegans like me are far outweighed by the health, environmental, and ethical benefits of being vegan.
Here's an inspirational video about veganism:
http://www.nonviolenceunited.org/veganvideo.html
elainevigneault at 1:13PM on 10/02/08
I have celiac disease, not something I chose mind you all, and lactose intolerance. So, on planes, I don't have the choice of buying the five dollar "snack box" with the mystery "meat stick."
I have to take my own. A lot of people want to take apple sauce cups, but they're an ounce over the limit. What a bummer.
So, last time I flew I took a ton of Larabars, Lunabars, beef jerky, and I took an empty bottle and filled it up with water past security.
amandaonmaui at 4:17AM on 10/16/08