TRAVEL & EATING OUT

Travel and eating out can challenge anyone’s best intentions. Here are a few tips to help keep things moving smoothly and minimize your waste.

PLAN AHEAD

Eating a plant based diet gets you in the mode of scoping out your food options when you travel. I am always pleasantly surprised to find some of the best food joints and really wonderful menus in the smallest of towns. These small establishments are usually using real glassware, silverware, and nice dishes. It actually seems to be more challenging finding quality food and plastic free dining accommodations in some of the larger more strip mall towns where dining establishments are catering to convenience and single use items.

When traveling I make a point of always passing on the freebie hotel bottles and give-aways. I try to make sure I leave everything perfectly untouched so it does not get thrown away. It is important to me to know what ingredients are in my products, so I always bring my travel kit from home that has everything I need.

INTENTIONALITY

When you sit down to dine it is important to let your server know of your intentions to be plastic free. Since it is a service industry, this request is usually welcomed. With a little planning and mapping out dining both plastic free and waste free can be achieved when traveling.

EATING OUT - BRING YOUR OWN SUPPLIES

I put together a unisex bag for our family of 4 to take with us if we go to eat out. It has cups, utensils, straws, and storage containers for take home so we can be plastic free when eating out. Here is what is in our bag:

Stainless Steel Cups - this seems to be a really important thing to remember even if you are getting water or a smoothie. Since plastic is so ubiquitous it is important to be strapped with reusable cups. For our family I selected some simple nesting cups.

Stainless Steel Food Containers - These are great for travel, lunch boxes, and for food storage.

Supply Bag | Canvas Tote - We pack all of our eating out supplies in this discrete bag.

Utensils - Stainless Steel Flatware - we have 4 sets and they even include a straw!

Utensils - Bamboo - my daughter loves her bamboo set and it has a neat carrying case to boot.

NO STRAWS PLEASE

Stainless steel straws - If you have kids these are fun for them and it is good to have them in your kit when dining out so they don’t feel like they are missing out on the experience. An added bonus is drinks from glass and stainless steel taste are so much better than plastic!

WATER BOTTLES - ALL DAY | EVERYDAY | EVERYWHERE

Klean Kanteen Stainless Steel Lids - A great alternative to the plastic ones!

Klean Kanteen Water Bottles - A great water bottle, comes in large and small sizes (perfect for little ones)

Hydro Flask - My husband who works construction swears by his Hydro Flask keeping his water cold all day long.

TRAVEL KITS

Plaine Products Travel Set - Shampoo | Conditioner | Body Wash | Lotion - all in aluminum, refillable, travel sized containers.

Muslin Bags - Breakable Items and Soap travel well in Muslin bags - pack soap in a muslin bag works like a charm!

ECO-FRIENDLY ESTABLISHMENTS

The Stanford Inn By the Sea - Eco-Resport - A compassionate, animal friendly, farm and eco-resort on the Mendocino coast. Amazing staff, wonderful vegan, plant-based restaurant, The Ravens. A wonderful place to stay in Northern California. Mendocino | California

RESTAURANTS WITH VEGAN | PLANT-BASED OPTIONS

Archetype - Renown designers Ann & Howard Backen serve up style and great food! Vegan options. St. Helena | Napa Valley | California

Cornerstone Cafe - Great service and wonderful food. Dunsmuir | California

Millennium Restaurant - Award winning cuisine - vegan! Oakland | California

The Ravens - Organic, healthy, plant-based, vegan meals….amazing deserts!!! Mendocino | California

The Wheelhouse - Great cafe, laidback style, nice service, vegan and plan-based options. Dunsmuir | California

If you have eco-friendly establishments or plant-based eateries please share them with us so we can help support businesses that are supporting the environment, email: info@enviornmentallysustainablesolutions.com.