Any tips/recommendations for a vegan Camino Francés?

Ryan Alexander · Jul 8, 2016

I will be walking the camino in Sept, I don't eat animal products, any advice or recommendations from others who share the same beliefs or have relevant insight on the matter? Maybe you have walked the route... Thankyou

mspath · Jul 9, 2016

Ryan Alexander said:
I will be walking the camino in Sept, I don't eat animal products, any advice or recommendations from others who share the same beliefs or have relevant insight on the matter? Maybe you have walked the route... Thankyou

Ryan Alexander,

Welcome to the Forum!

Here's a recent thread re vegans on the camino which may help you plan your journey.

Happy planning and Buen camino!

Tincatinker · Jul 9, 2016

@Ryan Alexander welcome to the forum. You may find the search facility, top right corner of the page, useful. Putting vegan into the search box will lead you to a wealth of helpful threads. There is information on vegan and vegetarian restaurants and albergues and hints, tips and warnings on the traditional pilgrim diet of meat / fish and chips.

Enjoy your research and Buen camino

VNwalking · Jul 9, 2016

Welcome to the Forum, Ryan Alexander
And as one vegetarian to another...good luck, duckie! (Just kidding...please don't worry!)
You'll likely want to make a lot of your meals, since (except in the bigger towns and cities) eating out without dairy and eggs can be a challenge if you want more than ensalata. But as @Tincatincer has said, check the threads that are already here--because (at least on the Camino Frances) it's getting easier and easier to find delicious alternatives to meat and potatoes.

Mike Trebert · Jul 9, 2016

I've been a vegetarian, but not a vegan, for a very long time. I started a thread a few months ago about vegetarianism on the Camino. A few posts there from vegans. There are other threads too. I walked the full Camino Frances last April.

https://www.caminodesantiago.m,e/community/threads/vegetarianism-on-the-camino.38568/#post-382714

Spaniards love meat. It'll be challenging for you, but if you make almost all your own meals, you should do fine.

Buen Camino, - Mike

Cayou · Jul 9, 2016

it's tough, since a lot of the 'veggie stews and soups' most likely have chicken or ham brooth in them. my wife is pretty strict we ate alot of plain sandwiches with veggies (no mayo). you might plan on buying in stores and doing some cooking when possible. take some basic high calorie and protein recipes. buying the pilgrims meal will be limiting, excepting salads and potatoes. hey, the vino tinto should be vegan!

Tommybhoy · Jul 9, 2016

Hey @Ryan Alexander, here is a vlog done by a couple on the Camino who are vegans. Granted they did it in winter, but they give some good tips. Hopefully it should be of some assistance to you. Buen camino!
Thomas

Mike Trebert · Jul 10, 2016

Tommybhoy said:
Hey @Ryan Alexander, here is a vlog done by a couple on the Camino who are vegans. Granted they did it in winter, but they give some good tips. Hopefully it should be of some assistance to you. Buen camino!
Thomas

I've watched these videos. The husband seems pretty extreme to me. They have a YouTube channel on which they promote things other than the vegan diet. I'm very sceptical about them - particularly the guy. If you watch all the videos, it's clear that they argue frequently and that there's some tension off-screen. Walking in winter with a baby as they do in the videos sounds nuts to me. To each his own.

I traded a couple of posts recently with a couple who promoted the raw vegan diet. They claimed it cured her cancer. I asked them about protein, essential amino acids, etc. I've been a vegetarian for 46 years, have flirted with the idea of going vegan for ethical reasons. But I'm extremely wary of the full raw vegan diet. Seems dangerous to me for any person who is not well enough informed about nutrition.

Mike

Ryan Alexander · Jul 14, 2016

Thank you to all who have posted, I will check out the links you have offered up. To be fair I think most people who are veggie/vegan are capable of using their imagination more so solving the food challenges becomes easier..

Ryan Alexander · Jul 14, 2016

Mike Trebert said:
I've watched these videos. The husband seems pretty extreme to me. They have a YouTube channel on which they promote things other than the vegan diet. I'm very sceptical about them - particularly the guy. If you watch all the videos, it's clear that they argue frequently and that there's some tension off-screen. Walking in winter with a baby as they do in the videos sounds nuts to me. To each his own.

I traded a couple of posts recently with a couple who promoted the raw vegan diet. They claimed it cured her cancer. I asked them about protein, essential amino acids, etc. I've been a vegetarian for 46 years, have flirted with the idea of going vegan for ethical reasons. But I'm extremely wary of the full raw vegan diet. Seems dangerous to me for any person who is not well enough informed about nutrition.

Mike

Hey Mike,

I will watch these videos later, I have tried the raw vegan life before and it is quite a challenge but not unattainable, I am elitist so I prefer to buy organic/quality fruits/veggies, you nee to be resourceful or be earning decent money to afford it though.. Taking a rain check on it currently. Haha

Ryan Alexander · Jul 14, 2016

Viranani said:
Welcome to the Forum, Ryan Alexander
And as one vegetarian to another...good luck, duckie! (Just kidding...please don't worry!)
You'll likely want to make a lot of your meals, since (except in the bigger towns and cities) eating out without dairy and eggs can be a challenge if you want more than ensalata. But as @Tincatincer has said, check the threads that are already here--because (at least on the Camino Frances) it's getting easier and easier to find delicious alternatives to meat and potatoes.

Carbs central! Where there's a will there's a way!

scruffy1 · Jul 14, 2016

Others have already mentioned that you will probably be better off cooking on your own. Having said that, most albergues have plenty of kitchen ware, lots of teflon - which is porous and after much use may absorb fats etc you don't want to know about, lots of plastic plates with all which that implies, lots of kitchen and eating utensils which may have been washed by a pilgrim the night before who possibly had consumed a tad more wine than usual. Give everything a good scrub and buy your own products. Suspect skillets may be heated well, not too much you don't want to ruin the pan, any residual oil will rise and and may then be scrubbed.

scruffy1 · Jul 14, 2016

PS, if the scrub well is not a solution, then do consider buying your own! There are literally hundreds of "China Bazar" shops and many many outdoor markets along the Camino which will be more than happy to sell you a small skillet and anything else you may need, inexpensively and lightweight - most even come with a hole in the hanle for hanging on your kitchen wall but work well as a tye point hanhging from your backpack. Quality will not be comme il faut but hey it's only for a month!

bunnymac · Jul 26, 2016

Ryan Alexander said:
I will be walking the camino in Sept, I don't eat animal products, any advice or recommendations from others who share the same beliefs or have relevant insight on the matter? Maybe you have walked the route... Thankyou

I'm walking the Camino in two weeks time with my two daughters, one of whom is vegan. We spend a lot of time in Spain and have found that although eating out is difficult to navigate, even smaller supermarkets have a decent selection of vegan fare. There's always plenty of beans, caldo de verduras, rice, quinoa and lentils. Also we have found them to be well stocked with soy milk and nut milk, soy yogurts and ice cream. We'll be travelling about three weeks ahead of you so if we have any insights we'll keep you updated.

Terrri · Jul 28, 2016

If you have been eating this way for awhile you shouldn't have too much difficulty finding food that fits your eating style. This will probably mean a lot mercados but just think of the money you will save. We found a lot of the salads in restaurants in Spain had tuna in them. Not sure if this was common with just the Pilgrim's meals or not so be careful when/if you order a salad anywhere.

I discovered over 2 years ago that I am gluten intolerant so now I avoid all gluten but also grains, legumes, soy and most seeds. I can't eat out much because of this and will try to have something available at all times when we do the camino in September since I know there won't be anything to eat in places where the provided breakfast is usually bread and jam and coffee. It was tough at first, but now I find it quite easy as there is never lack of variety as long as we can eat fruit and veg.

Just remember the challenges in finding suitable food on the camino are only temporary and as someone mentioned Spain has a lot of good shops. Also note that we were in Logrono and went in the evening to buy food for the morning and we were shocked how empty all the shelves were but we managed to find something to tide us over. Before we left town in the morning we stopped at a store and it was crowded with workers stocking the shelves. Not sure if it is common practice to stock shelves only in the morning.

newfydog · Jul 28, 2016

We had breakfast in a place serving just coffee and bread. We asked if perhaps they had some tortilla. She brought us six pork chops

just sayin'

Curtis · Jul 28, 2016

Hey Ryan, do you have an official date of arrival? I am vegetarian that makes many vegan choices and am walking my first camino this September as well. I will arrive in Paris on September 13th and SJPP shortly after.

It would be great walking with a group of like minded pilgrims and we could make our own buffets along the way.

Méhes Judit · Aug 5, 2016

Ryan Alexander said:
I will be walking the camino in Sept, I don't eat animal products, any advice or recommendations from others who share the same beliefs or have relevant insight on the matter? Maybe you have walked the route... Thankyou

Hello Ryan,

I offer you the albergue verde in Hospital de Obrigo, I eat animal products, but there that was the best 3 courses vegan meal I have ever ate.

Ryan Alexander · Aug 6, 2016

bunnymac said:
I'm walking the Camino in two weeks time with my two daughters, one of whom is vegan. We spend a lot of time in Spain and have found that although eating out is difficult to navigate, even smaller supermarkets have a decent selection of vegan fare. There's always plenty of beans, caldo de verduras, rice, quinoa and lentils. Also we have found them to be well stocked with soy milk and nut milk, soy yogurts and ice cream. We'll be travelling about three weeks ahead of you so if we have any insights we'll keep you updated.

Good stuff, I look forward to your updates. I see you live in Dublin, I am planning on a little excursion there a week before my Camino! ha

Ryan Alexander · Aug 6, 2016

Curtis said:
Hey Ryan, do you have an official date of arrival? I am vegetarian that makes many vegan choices and am walking my first camino this September as well. I will arrive in Paris on September 13th and SJPP shortly after.

It would be great walking with a group of like minded pilgrims and we could make our own buffets along the way.

With that beard I would be honoured to walk with you Brother. Official date in St Jean is Sept 16th for sure, probably arrive a day before though.

Curtis · Aug 7, 2016

Ryan Alexander said:
With that beard I would be honoured to walk with you Brother. Official date in St Jean is Sept 16th for sure, probably arrive a day before though.

I arrive in Paris September 13th and will probably get to St. Jean on the 14th of 15th. Very likely we'll see eachother if not the first day, later on

Ryan Alexander · Aug 14, 2016

I fly to France a month today! So yeah, St Jean on the 15th. I'll keep a beady eye out for the beard.

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