Many vegetarians and vegans ask me about places they can get vegetarian or vegan food while traveling on a caribbean vacation. It is a good question and I know I sometimes struggle with finding the right food for my diet while visiting friends and family in the Caribbean.
I have been a vegetarian for several years and decided to go vegan last year. This was not a big change for me because I already ate most of the food vegans eat. I had to cut out the margarine because it does contain whey, and I am not sure what else. Honey is a good sweetener for cereals, bakes, and other dishes, but agave is a delicious alternative. Soy milk provides all the calcium and other good vitamins and minerals you will find in cow’s milk. Vegans don’t drink milk so I am not missing anything there.
When I stay at my family on the islands, they do cook vegetarian for me. Most of them are not vegetarian and boast they cannot give up their meat. They say so despite claiming to be followers of Jesus Christ. They often cite the Bible and its account about the savior feeding fish to a gathering. It is interesting that Christians don’t eat meat on the Friday before Easter. Instead they eat fish, which they don’t consider as meat.
I am not here trying to isolate any particular group because I ate meat for many years but never did enjoy it. It took my parents about nine years before they got me to eat a dead animal’s flesh. But I had no choice as I grew older and never did give up on it until I was an adult.
But in the Caribbean you will find most of the restaurants, hotels, and other tourist places cook and serve meat. Vegetables play a huge role in the meal, but most West Indians would not eat their daily ration without having some meat on the plate. So while traveling you will either have to find places where you can get some delicious vegetarian food, or stay at a rental unit where you can cook your own food.
Many people are eating raw food, so you could give it a try if you don’t have a stove at your hotel or guestroom. Visiting the local food markets is an exciting event most tourists enjoy, so you should get some good entertainment while mingling with the locals. Plus you get raw vegetables at a lower price than you would pay at your vacation accommodation. You can also find many sellers along the major highways selling freshly picked vegetables.
Despite what I said above, it does not mean you cannot find resorts which cater to vegetarians. You just need to do some research before you fly, or ask your travel agent to book you at a resort that caters to vegetarians.
