Vegans walking the Camino Frances?

[Calgarybiker1965]

I am planning my Camino and I am Vegan. Just wanted to get any comments from other Vegans on their views and any suggestions please.

Thanks

 

[SabsP]

Take a look here... It will be hard but doable...
http://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/a-vegan-pilgrim-problem.18708/#post-137941

 

[scruffy1]

I've walked with vegans in Spain and found many curiosities, certified vegetable soup almost always contains meat; you may also find snails in your salad or your soup; no Spanish omelet for you but eggs are not usually a thickening agent in sauces; the better tarta de Santiago will contain butter; then again lard is seldom used in Northern Spain but do ask "manteca de cerdo" in the vernacular. Look around in towns for health food stores for grains, nuts and dried fruits and stock up-better quality for sure and possibly organic. You will be probably be preparing a lot of your own food, the utensils in the albergues are well provided but you have no idea what was cooked before you or how well they were washed – give whatever you use a good scrub or eat raw. It's not impossible but it is a worry that most of us don't share.

 

[Calgarybiker1965]

Take a look here... It will be hard but doable...
http://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/a-vegan-pilgrim-problem.18708/#post-137941

Thank you for the link....lots of great advice. I have no problems eating Vegan here so I am sure it will be fine. I am glad to read advice on how vegetable soup is cooked ( with a hunk of pork) etc....thank you again!

 

[Calgarybiker1965]

I've walked with vegans in Spain and found many curiosities, certified vegetable soup almost always contains meat; you may also find snails in your salad or your soup; no Spanish omelet for you but eggs are not usually a thickening agent in sauces; the better tarta de Santiago will contain butter; then again lard is seldom used in Northern Spain but do ask "manteca de cerdo" in the vernacular. Look around in towns for health food stores for grains, nuts and dried fruits and stock up-better quality for sure and possibly organic. You will be probably be preparing a lot of your own food, the utensils in the albergues are well provided but you have no idea what was cooked before you or how well they were washed – give whatever you use a good scrub or eat raw. It's not impossible but it is a worry that most of us don't share.

I eat most of my meals 80% raw anyways...so I will continue this way...plain rice..steamed veggies...nuts and dried fruits. What a wonderful adventure it will be. Perhaps making it even more of a WAY for me! Thanks!

 

[Walk This Way]

Hi CalgaryBiker,
Vegan here.... and hiking in a few weeks, I've done a lot of research, checked out Happy Cow and such. There are many sites, here's one for anyone visiting Barcelona http://suitelife.com/2014/05/08/vegan-restaurants-in-barcelona-top-5

Pamplona has vegan spots like Sarasate, and Baratza Karea (gluten free, vegan and macrobiotic choices) so those might be fun to check out.

I'm not too worried about it, there's bread, olives, fruit, salad, nuts, etc. What I am doing is making sure I have vegan specific requests for ordering, such as 'no butter, no meat, no cheese. no fish', etc. for specific foods that are likely to have them or have them. If you're a seasoned vegan, you know all the nooks and crannies that items can have hidden ingredients, what I have heard its communication that's key if you're ordering or don't have the option of reading indredients (like at a cafe). Raw fruits and veggies are always compassionate readily available standby's. I don't mind carrying some extra weight of an extra piece of fruit or two, certainly worth it!

Here's a blog of walking the Camino Vegan in 2012: http://www.caminoadventures.com/camino-de-santiago-as-a-vegan/


When are you walking?

 

[Walk This Way]

Anyone else who WALKED THE CAMINO VEGAN have any comments or input?

 

[hecate105]

I have not done the Camino as a vegan but years ago when I was vegan I travelled in Spain. The main thing is to realise that it is very unusual in Spain to be vegan so people sometimes just fail to realise what it is or how important the ingredients are. Some people just would not think about or say whether there had been some meat/bones/stock etc in a dish - it would not seem important to them. Even when you have really made sure people understand 'no meat' - you may find meat/fish whatever in it. So just be vigilant and prepared to fish out bits. Beans - already cooked, are available in most shops, so together with all the veg/fruit and bread you won't starve. But you do need to ensure you get the protein when walking long distance. I take a small seed sprouter when I walk/cycle - its great for a power hit. You can make one just by putting holes in the top of a plastic screw-top container, very light but worthwhile to have..

 

[Walk This Way]

Let me try this again
Anyone else who WALKED THE CAMINO VEGAN have any comments or input?

 

[hecate105]

Let me try this again
Anyone else who WALKED THE CAMINO VEGAN have any comments or input?

Tis a forum - tis a thread someone started - if you do not want to read it - don't!!! The info on the forum is for all.....

 

[Deleted member 3000]

I saw some vegans on the camino.

 

[Bajaracer]

I walked with a few vegans, they had no problems with finding food,
Since you have specific dietary needs, use the guidebooks to learn which places have well equipped kitchens, (Xunta Albergues have non functioning kitchens) which towns have decent supermercados, it just takes a little planning on your part.
When you get to an Albergue with a good kitchen, see what is left behind such as salt, seasonings, oil, onions, and other stuff before you even go grocery shopping.

 

[Calgarybiker1965]

Hi CalgaryBiker,
Vegan here.... and hiking in a few weeks, I've done a lot of research, checked out Happy Cow and such. There are many sites, here's one for anyone visiting Barcelona http://suitelife.com/2014/05/08/vegan-restaurants-in-barcelona-top-5

Pamplona has vegan spots like Sarasate, and Baratza Karea (gluten free, vegan and macrobiotic choices) so those might be fun to check out.

I'm not too worried about it, there's bread, olives, fruit, salad, nuts, etc. What I am doing is making sure I have vegan specific requests for ordering, such as 'no butter, no meat, no cheese. no fish', etc. for specific foods that are likely to have them or have them. If you're a seasoned vegan, you know all the nooks and crannies that items can have hidden ingredients, what I have heard its communication that's key if you're ordering or don't have the option of reading indredients (like at a cafe). Raw fruits and veggies are always compassionate readily available standby's. I don't mind carrying some extra weight of an extra piece of fruit or two, certainly worth it!

Here's a blog of walking the Camino Vegan in 2012: http://www.caminoadventures.com/camino-de-santiago-as-a-vegan/





I have not been able to set a date yet for my walk....it will happen when it's meant to happen. In the meant time I am making lists , buying things I need...very exciting! Thanks for the links!


When are you walking?

 

[Walk This Way]

End of August

 

[Bajaracer]

Last summer I had a few excellent communal vegetarian meals, in the private albergue in Hornillos del Camino, this Austrian pilgrim made a great salad, and then pasta with a vegetarian red sauce and a meat sauce made with tuna, I actually preferred the vegetarian pasta sauce.
At the CSJ UK run Albergue Guacelmo in Rabanal del Camino, yes they serve afternoon tea, but they also have an herb garden.
A Canadian couple I walked with cooked a great communal vegetarian dinner, the hospitalera handed the girlfriend a pair of scissors to clip off what herbs she needed to make dinner.
One place I wished I stayed at was Albergue Verde in Hospital de Obrigo after Leon, all my friends told me I missed out, they had a great vegetarian dinner, yoga, breakfast with muesli and almond milk.
I'm not even a vegetarian, I was wanting a break from your regular pilgrim meals.

 

[Walk This Way]

Thanks Bajaracer, good info to have! Fresh herbs can't be beat to put a smile on any meal .....

 

[nreyn12]

On my 'don't miss it list':

Restaurante Sarasate in Pamplona
La Casa Magica in Villatuerte
Albergue Verde in Hospital de Orbigo
The albergue in Las Herrerias
Albergue Ecologico El Beso in Al Balsa (after Triacastela)

All are vegetarian and have or will do vegan on request.

 

[Walk This Way]

Barcelona rocks...will be keeping a list of places, food and photos so thos who choose to eat compassionately can have a few tips if they take this route to, and along the camino.

PANET 1 block from train-Sants, try the broccoli potato baguette sandwich
CAT BAR a few blocks from the cathedral downtown, completely vegan menu, including the beers, yum!