Comments on: Vegans on a Plane

By: DB

DB — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 23:43:04 +0000

I wish I could go vegan. I tried years ago, and lasted only two weeks before I was forced to return to being a carnivore. I got really weak during that fortnight; had no energy for running or lifting weights.

At least I tried.

By: jillrenee from boston

jillrenee from boston — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 02:46:00 +0000

packing food for the trip away from home is all fine and yummy, but my problem is on the way back.

(i’m almost vegan, plus can’t have a whole host of foods due to a sensitive stomach and migraine triggers)

On the way back, I don’t have access to my kitchen; am usually in a strange place so don’t know where to get food; and/or I’m already underfed due to poor eating in the area.

one trick is to get a doctor’s note saying you can bring adequate food and beverages past security due to a restrictive diet; that’s helped.

also, if you just don’t mention the food; oftentimes security won’t even notice it in your bag

By: Kerr

Kerr — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:28:52 +0000

I was at the airport this past week (SEA) and while I’m not vegan (or vegetarian) myself, I noticed that not one of the preprepared salad options came without meat, let alone without cheese. There were a few hot foods, like pizza and cheesy burritos and cheesy sandwiches, that didn’t have meat. Vegans, I presume, are consigned to a bag of nuts and a banana.

It reminded me as well of how hard it is for my friend with fatal peanut allergies to get on board a plane. Even though airlines generally don’t serve peanuts anymore, in an enclosed cabin at thirty thousand feet, Pacelle opening a peanut-butter sandwich in first class could cause my friend’s death from anaphalaxis in the last row. She must assume that all prepackaged food contains some item that has been co-processed with peanuts and may therefore kill her.

Yes, airlines and airports need to consider a variety of dietary needs, especially if they’re going to be using nonsensical TSA regulations to enforce the purchase of overpriced packaged food at airports.

By: Michael Croland

Michael Croland — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 03:22:47 +0000

P.S. I love the title of this post! =)

By: Michael Croland

Michael Croland — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 03:14:38 +0000

Leah, I agree with you that it’s great for most of us to plan in advance and take food with us. But although you alluded to this, it’s important to point out Wayne Pacelle’s unique situation. As it says to the left of the article, he’s the president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States and he travels at least two weeks out of every month. That volume of traveling can make it hard to prepare for since he’s always on the run! As such, eating on the road isn’t as tough for vegans as he makes it out to be.

I’ve found that if you’re not able to take food with you, vegan food at airports isn’t super exciting but can usually make for a decent light meal. In a worst-case scenario, it’s not hard to get a salad or fruit (I know, not exactly local, organic, or in-season produce!) and a bag of protein-packed nuts or seeds. I try to think of it as the least interesting (but adequate nevertheless) meal of the day and get by OK!

Finally, here’s a great resource compiled by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine about airports with healthy and vegetarian-friendly dining options: http://www.pcrm.org/health/rep.....ew_06.html (or http://tinyurl.com/2rm6r3)