Europe Dietary Concerns

Vegetarians will find no shortage of meat-free dining options throughout most of Northern and Western Europe, although vegans may have a trickier time outside urban centers, where eggs and dairy can dominate traditional dishes. The cuisine of Eastern Europe still tends to be heavy on meat and gravy, although major cities often boast surprisingly inventive vegetarian and ethnic fare.

The travel section of The Vegetarian Resource Group’s website, at www.vrg.org/travel, has a comprehensive list of organizations and websites that are geared toward helping vegetarians and vegans traveling abroad. The website for the European Vegetarian Union (EVU), at www.europeanvegetarian.org, includes links to dozens of veggie-friendly organizations. For more info, consult The Vegetarian Traveler: Where to Stay if You’re Vegetarian, Vegan, Environmentally Sensitive , by Jed and Susan Civic (Larson Publications; 1997), Vegetarian Europe , by Alex Bourke (Vegetarian Guides; 2000), and the indispensable, multilingual Vegan Passport (The Vegan Society; 2005), along with the websites www.vegdining.com, www.happycow.net, and www.vegetariansabroad.com.

Those looking to keep kosher will find abundant dining options across Europe; contact synagogues in larger cities for information, or consult www.kashrut.com/travel/Europe for country-specific resources. Your own synagogue or college Hillel should have access to lists of Jewish institutions across the nation. Hebrew College Online also offers a searchable database of kosher restaurants at www.shamash.org/kosher. Another good resource is the Jewish Travel Guide , edited by Michael Zaidner (Vallentine Mitchell; 2004). Travelers looking for halal groceries and restaurants will have the most success in France and Eastern European nations with substantial Muslim populations; consult www.zabihah.com for establishment reviews. Keep in mind that if you are strict in your observance, you may have to prepare your own food.