9/28 Always Be Prepared
We are still in Toronto. Nourishing ourselves did not go as smoothly yesterday as it had the day before. We went 11.5 hours with only cut fruit and hot tea. It felt like a fast without any emotional preparation. I was so hungry that I thought my stomach would begin to eat itself from the inside, it can happen when you are surrounded by food that you have chosen not to eat for extended periods of time. There was never an appropriate time to run out and get a vegan bite, and the home we were visiting was out of peanut butter, our last option for protein in a meaty space in time (what are the chances). We sat there eating cut fruit as everyone around us noshed on two different meals. I think they thought we were being virtuous or calorie conscious, when the truth of the matter was that I was ready to consume my own arm because I knew it was vegan. We searched our hosts home high and low for some sign of vegan edible, but to no avail. When a well wisher arrived with three bottles of red wine I almost burst into tears of joy, but held back. Wine is vegan and perhaps I can medicate myself enough to forget the discomfort in my tummy.
Once we were back in the car we raced to a store that was recommended as a Whole Foods look alike from the US. Clearly we broke the Cardinal Rule and went shopping ravenous. I attacked the prepared foods bar with the savage enthusiasm of someone that has just been air lifted off a deserted island. Sandy took one look at me and backed away. I took those plastic to-go containers and was ladling tabbouleh, marinated artichoke hearts and chili sesame tofu in like I was feeding a family of 20. As Sandy watched from afar, I ravaged the olive bar. After the olive bar I sprinted down the chip aisle. Because we are in Canada, they have the best chip selection you can imagine. I bought a biggie bag of pepper and lime kettle chips. What??
All in all I purchased $48 worth of food from a salad and olive bar. Not a shining moment in our vegan journey, but it was incredibly tasty and I did learn something worth sharing. When attending an event that you are not clear on the expected timeline nor the vegan food options, even when you think you are prepared, pack more. Had I brought nuts or vegan protein bars in my purse, we would have never gotten to that point of hysteria. Sandy and I could not respectfully excuse ourselves without making a spectacle and if we had a snack pack in my purse it would have at least held the hunger at bay until a meal of some kind could have been consumed.
Being prepared tastes good, feels good and is much less expensive than hysterical shopping.
Have a delicious day.
Tags: compassionate eating, dairy free, going veg, trying vegan, trying vegetarian, vegan, vegan challenge, vegan travel, vegan wannabe, vegetarian travel tips
September 28th, 2010 at 4:35 pm
Wow, you are better vegans than me. During a family vacation this summer when faced with a choice between a rumbling tummy/cranky disposition and temporarily giving up vegan status, I ate the pasta salad that had (non-vegan) mayo in it. I do not fare very well when I am hungry! Did you by any chance bring your chia seeds with you? They are so nourishing and can help you feel satisfied!
September 29th, 2010 at 6:42 pm
We didn’t and that would have been a fantastic idea. We packed so much food and forgot so many things. All of a sudden Sandy’s parents were here and we were on our way to Toronto. With every new experience we learn more effective ways to nourish ourselves without compromising our feelings or the comfort level of those around us.
September 29th, 2010 at 10:32 pm
I try to always pack Luna Bars and Lara Bars, just in case but sometimes I’m caught off guard, too. At an out-of-town graduation party the only food that I was sure was vegan was the fruit platter. I ate fruit for lunch, a snack, dinner, and dessert. We had to stay with family over night and breakfast was pancakes and bacon. For me? More fruit. Lesson learned!!
September 30th, 2010 at 7:09 pm
Thank you for the tip, you are so right. I used to LOVE Luna bars. I have not yet tried Lara bars. Are they both all vegan or are there faves I should look out for? Its so funny because we trekked the weird things over the border like soy creamer, but nary a protein bar in sight. It was an expensive lesson, but one I will not soon forget.
October 1st, 2010 at 10:12 pm
OMG, you have to try Lara bars!! They are so yummy. They’re all vegan, although the new flavors with chocolate chips have a warning that there may be traces of dairy but their website claims they are all vegan. I trust them.
Anyway, they’re just dates, nuts, and spices and mostly raw. My current favorites are coconut cream pie, peanut butter cookie, and cashew cookie. Look for them on sale at Kroger from time to time (10 for $10).
October 3rd, 2010 at 8:35 pm
Peanut butter cookie and coconut cream pie!?! Yum. Thank you so much for the tip. They will be a staple in my purse like a vegan chapstick.
July 12th, 2011 at 6:13 am
[…] September I wrote a post called Always Be Prepared. It was about a situation we found ourselves in at a family funeral in Toronto when we were stuck […]