By Lucia Rivera, VRG Intern
As someone with Latin American immigrant parents growing up in the United States, it makes perfect sense that I would visit other areas of the world. This being said, it is never simple, and became significantly less so when I adopted a practically vegan diet. Although this made family trips more complicated, they are still very important to me and decidedly worth any stress. Through my experiences I have learned that there are a magnitude of dishes to eat and tips to use in order to enjoy a trip abroad in Latin America while also sticking to one’s beliefs and dietary choices.
It is important to note that every country, and the various regions within a country, have different styles of food and different staple dishes. For example, in Nicaragua, a country in Central America where I used to visit annually, meat is not as prominent as in countries like Mexico or Argentina. I would find it extremely easy to enjoy the traditional gallo pinto (rice and red beans), platano maduro (fried ripe plantain), and yuca frita (fried yucca root). These are dishes served at every restaurant, along with typical side options of beans, rice, or a tortilla. Vegan options were not at all hard to find, as long as you don’t mind eating similar dishes in a row. Veganism is possible to follow while enjoying the excitement of trying another nation’s food, or maybe even ethnic foods prepared in your home.
On the other hand, in a country like Mexico it may be more difficult to avoid animal products in dishes since a common ingredient is lard. In my experience, the best way to ensure a vegan meal while dining in certain areas of Latin America is to inquire about ingredients used in dishes with the waiters and chefs. Every restaurant has its own way of cooking red rice or preparing refried beans. Depending on your level of comfort with asking questions at new restaurants, that can be a solid solution to the possible variation in recipes you might have thought were vegan. While some meals may be played safe and repeatedly consist of beans, vegetables, and tortillas, other areas like Tijuana in Baja California have become more and more common sites for vegan restaurants. In south San Diego County, the nearest vegan restaurants are actually in TJ. Of course, if you are a big snacker and are going on a long trip, something that can be helpful is to plan ahead and bring along vegan snacks with you to any destination.
Research and planning can be very helpful in other ways as well. A simple google search can provide information about the specific area you are planning on visiting and vegan options available there. Grocery stores are still an effective source for a vegan meal. I can’t count the number of times I had spaghetti and tomato sauce for dinner during my family trips to Central America. In fact, if it is your goal, you can keep a similar diet to yours at home through purposeful dining and shopping. A day’s meals could look like oatmeal or vegan pancakes for brunch and a favorite sandwich for dinner. Travelers still have a lot of liberty in their daily meals, whether that be choosing to indulge in native recipes or sticking to the familiar basics when abroad.
As someone who eats veganized Mexican and Nicaraguan dishes at home, I know what to look for in foreign restaurants, ranging from guacamole without sour cream to rice cooked without chicken broth. It is important to have confidence that a vegan lifestyle can be retained throughout a trip abroad in Latin America.
Despite difficulties, traveling can be a life changing experience and there are so many beautiful things to visit across Latin America. This is precisely why I advise vacationers to take advantage of their time abroad and try some really good, Latin American and vegan food.
For other tips on eating in Latin America, see:
https://www.vrg.org/links/travel.htm#travel-South-America