Rebecca is the founder of Veggies Abroad, a vegan travel blog and travel agency that was born from her love of travel and plant-based eating. As a dedicated vegan traveler, Rebecca was often asked about her food choices after each trip, leading her to create a platform that showcases mouth-watering vegan cuisine from around the world.
In addition to delicious food, Veggies Abroad offers action-packed travel guides, tips, and everything else a veggie traveler would need. Whether you’re an experienced vegan traveler or simply looking to incorporate more plant-based options into your next trip, Veggies Abroad has got you covered.
Moreover, if you’re planning a trip and need some help, Veggies Abroad offers personalized travel planning services that cater to your plant-based needs. With Veggies Abroad, you can experience the best of both worlds – amazing travel experiences and delicious plant-based food, all in one place.
Meatless Movement recently had the opportunity to chat with Rebecca.
Tell us more about yourself, please
Hey, hi! My name is Rebecca, and I’m the founder of the vegan travel blog and travel agency
Veggies Abroad.
I’m from the car capital of the US, Detroit, Michigan.
Rebecca | Vegan Travel Blogger & Travel Advisor
Like many people, I took time during the pandemic to re-evaluate my career — I wanted to find a way to align it with my ethics in hopes of making this world a little kinder and greener. I decided to marry my passions for travel and veganism and launched the vegan travel blog, Veggies Abroad. The blog is a fantastic resource for travelers and is filled with mouthwatering lineups of vegan food, action-packed travel guides, travel tips, and more.
As the blog grew, I realized I could make even more of an impact as an advisor by creating vegan-friendly and sustainable itineraries. Travel can enlighten our perspective, and it can support local communities and businesses that are working to protect our environment. As an advisor, it is my goal to use travel as a tool for good.
Overall, I have been vegan for about six years and vegetarian for over 20 years.
Rebecca | Vegan Travel Blogger & Travel Advisor
I became a vegetarian long before I became a vegan. For a class project when I was 12 or 13, I had to write to a US senator about an issue that I felt needed reform. I ended up researching slaughterhouses. Well, it should really come as a surprise to anyone that after that research project, I couldn’t look at a piece of meat in the same way.
At that time, vegetarianism wasn’t popular, and I lived in a rural town — I didn’t have access to cool products, so I just learned to live without. There were quite a few veggie pizzas and grilled cheeses back in those days.
Fast forward over two decades later, I was having some health issues that I couldn’t figure out. I finally found a doctor who did a food sensitivity test that showed I was sensitive to Casein (a protein in dairy) along with a bunch of other things. At the time, I wasn’t consuming a lot of dairy but it was still a part of my diet; I justified it by saying it came from “HappyCows.” After the diagnosis, I slowly omitted everything and started doing more research into the dairy industry and realized that “Happy cows” don’t exist there.
What are some notable developments in the vegan industry, and how has it progressed over the years in terms of plant-based options and improved quality of vegan substitutes?
I think the most interesting thing is looking back and seeing how far the vegan and vegan-friendly industry has come — it’s incredible! I remember when there wasn’t a vegan section in a major supermarket, and the only veggie option at fast food places was a bun with cheese and pickles.
Today we have all of these amazing options that 13-year-old me couldn’t have fathomed! Back in those days, vegan cheese had the flavor profile of cardboard, and when you heated it up, it had a funky smell. I’m so glad those days are behind us.
What are the common challenges faced by vegans and vegetarians when dining out or eating with friends
The biggest challenges come when you’re traveling somewhere that’s smaller or more rural. In these areas, it requires a little extra work to find options (but more often than not, you’ll find them). Before I go anywhere, I always do research and find out what’s the city or town known for, are there vegan restaurants, markets, health food stores, etc.
If I am traveling to a foreign country, I always learn a little bit of the language so I can spot “vegan” on the packaging and also ask people, “is this vegan?” I am pretty lucky that if I eat out with friends, they always ask if somewhere will be ok for me. But, if I go out with someone new, I always let them know up front that I’m vegan and would love to pick somewhere that’s friendly for both of us. No one likes to
eat while someone else isn’t, so people are generally receptive to finding somewhere that works for everyone.
What advice would you give to someone who is not yet vegan or vegetarian on how to try meatless foods?
It’s pretty fantastic
Rebecca | Vegan Travel Blogger & Travel Advisor
I feel like I am part of a larger movement that is making a difference in this world. The meat and dairy industries are destructive not only to the animals but to the communities in which they are based and the environment. I want to do anything that I can help end this.
I would start with popular products that I know are really tasty, like Beyond, Violife, Impossible Foods, etc., and just tell them to start with small swaps. You always have to meet people where they are. Not everyone is ready to throw everything out and be vegan overnight. I didn’t do that, so I will never expect that of someone else. Making small steps over time can add up.
There are terrific vegan-friendly cities around the world. In the US, NYC and LA are behemoths, and even the capital of Texas, Austin, is super vegan-friendly. In Europe, one of my favorite cities for everything vegan is Brighton in the UK. You can’t walk down the street without running into a sign proclaiming “vegan options!”
What advice would you give to someone who is new to the idea of going meatless?
I think the biggest misconception is that you’re going to miss out. First, I think you really need to understand why you’re making this change and remember that when you’re in situations that might make you feel like you’re missing out. Second, 9 times out of 10 you’ll find a vegan option for whatever is popular. For instance, if you’re traveling to Portland and want to indulge in cream-filled vegan donuts, you can or go to Munich and try vegan schnitzel; they’ve got it!
Start small! Every little bit adds up — Rome wasn’t built in a day, and most vegans didn’t become vegan overnight! You’re going to make mistakes — it happens to the best of us, don’t beat yourself up; just move on and remember it for the next time. Lastly, always remember why you decided to make this change that can help you through difficult situations.
Rebecca | Vegan Travel Blogger & Travel Advisor
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all images courtesy of Rebecca | Vegan Travel Blogger & Travel Advisor