If you are a vegetarian, you are either going to be inspired or disgusted by this article, but either way, you will likely have pondered a similar quandary: What is the best way to deal with vegetarianism during travel to a very different (read: “meaty”) culture?
Colin is a vegetarian and has been for years, chiefly for health reasons: veggies are healthier than meat, especially processed meat. Then we bought our China plane tickets for this summer, and Colin made the decision: like an Olympic athlete, he would go into intensive Meat Eating Training in order to be able to eat anything and everything that came his way in China!
“I don’t want to be left out of the cultural experience!” Colin declared, rubbing his belly in anticipation.
And so the training began.
Colin began by eating bites of chicken pizza that his friends and loved ones ordered. Then he began sharing meat dishes. Then he went ALL OUT and came with me to a haggis-eating party in Boston. (Click here for hilarious photos.) For those of you unaware, haggis is “a bunch of lamb parts cooked in a sheep’s stomach.” It was on that day that one of my blog readers commented, indignant: “THAT MAN IS NOT A VEGETARIAN.”
Clearly, Colin was ready for China.
What I didn’t anticipate was that Colin was even more ready for China meat than me! Here are some of the amazing beasts this man consumed, thus proving the thoroughness of his training:
1. Duck feet (pictured in the lead photo, like evil witch hands).
2. Tail of pig. (I told Colin I would eat it with him, and even lifted a piece with my chopsticks… but just couldn’t do it! Colin, however, did. Respect!)
3. Squid tentacle (dipped in hot oil).
4. A McDonald’s Hamburger for breakfast. (This was not our choice! Read the Great Wall Hike article by clicking here to find out why.)
5. A shrimp with the full head and beady eyes still intact. (See the 16-hour train article for photos of this little guy.)
6. Lots and lots of pork and meat nuggets, in everything, whether we asked for them or not. (Even green beans are cooked in China with chunks of meat!)
Frankly (take that as a hot dog reference), we have no idea what we would have done if Colin had not undergone his Olympic Meat-Eating training. He would have been sad, hungry, and sick of rice by the end of our trip. His pre-trip regimen paid off! And now he’s going to detox for the next six months.
Vegetarians, what’s YOUR tactic during meat-ful travels?
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Deanna says
Hi Ms. Marshall!
I am a vegetarian, and I cope!!! I find that tofu is a great way to get enough protein, and my Mom makes the BEST chicken pot pie using fake meat crumbles! Most people I say that to, are like, ” Ew, tofu!” But It really is not that bad once you taste it. When I am in school ( Like the BLA cafeteria…) it does get a little tricky though!!!! Most days, lunch is all meat, and I get nothing. But then I go home, and fill up and all is good!!! Interesting article. A little grossed out right now, though, to be honest!
Lillie says
Hah! Thanks for sharing your story, Deanna! 🙂
Rashaad says
I’m vegetarian, and I don’t know if I’d say I’m disgusted by the article. But I found it surprising that he would easily stop being vegetarian when faced with a challenge. I spent two years in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan – not an easy locale for a vegetarian. There are a lot of people in Japan who really don’t understand the concept of vegetarianism. But I’m glad I tackled the challenges of being vegetarian in Japan. A great thing about being vegetarian in Japan was that I got personalized meals. When I traveled to Korea on vacation, I had a list of vegetarian-friendly restaurants.
Lillie says
Ah, the secret perks of being a vegetarian abroad!
Rashaad says
I forgot to add that in Korea, I was greatly assisted by the fact my two CouchSurfing hosts (two American cousins living together at the time) in Seoul were vegetarians. Prior to my arrival, one of them sent me a list of vegetarian-friendly restaurants in Seoul. Also, when I lived in Japan (at least, the two years in Yamagata Prefecture), I had a book (I forgot the title)… sort of like a guide for vegetarians in Japan and it had a list of vegetarian-friendly restaurants in the Land of the Rising Sun, which was really helpful when I traveled throughout the country.
Oriana Hairston says
He’s totally not a vegetarian anymore!
Abby Murphy says
Wow! You must be really proud of Colin to try and eat meat. I found it really funny when you said that he was
more ready for China than you were!
Amy Huang says
You are so lucky to travel everywhere and taste their food. All your articles of food are making me hungry!
Diane Turner says
Hope all that intensive training paid off . Judging by the look on his face, fried duck feet seemed a bit adventurous!
Amanda Castleman says
As a vegetarian travel writer, I wind up plenty of meat-centric places. I applaud Colin’s carpe diem approach to eating, but I’ve never moxied up enough to shift my diet (even potatoes sauteed in bacon fat cause stomach cramps, as after 18 years, my body doesn’t have the enzymes to smoothly digest animal).
With enough miming and sweet-talking, I can usually manage food without fish or flesh … but getting enough protein, vitamins and minerals can be a challenge, even with supplements and granola bars.
Triston Xe says
I have never heard that vegetarian could begin eating meat like that. I was very suprised. There is actually pork tails at some chinese supermarkets. They actually sell pig tails. But they don’t go that extreme with the meats like people in china. My mom actually buys pig tail and use them to cook soup.My mom said that helps your body. I just go “yeah whatever” and drink it.
chavonna xu says
That is really funny. I think that the food in China is nothing like food in the United States. But I don’t really think that eating a lot of meat in China is going to help him getting healthy. But I had never visited China so it looks gross to me espically the pig tail.
thefloatingclouds says
Hey Lillie,
I am a vegetarian and have enjoyed some of the best foods abroad. Although nothing compared to what one would get at home in India!
Nice blog and happy travelling!
MaryAnne says
Ah yes, Chinese meat. After over 2.5 years here (with a history of over 10 years as a vegetarian in my teens and twenties) I still have to just close my eyes sometimes and just take what is given to me. School banquets can be quite interesting to say the least (like, for example, last year’s Christmas party– cold offal snack plate? Okay! See here: http://www.ephemeraanddetritus.com/2010/12/25/a-fine-excuse-to-eat-the-university-christmas-party-part-1/). When I don’t think about which body part I’m gnawing on, it’s easier…
Chris says
Asia definitely proves a difficult destination for vegetarians to visit (or live). I dated a vegetarian girl earlier this year while I was in Korea and she had a hard time eating out. Cooking at home was fine, but we could rarely grab a bite to eat out and about unless it was seafood. And Korean seafood? Blech!
gemma says
Shrimps with the full head and beady eyes still intact and squid tentacle are normal in spanish cooking. Probably you have already tryied them when in Spain. If not, don’t miss them in your next meal here.
Best regards