Share this link via
Or copy link
In this interview, we invite Rebecca Gade-Sawicki, the inspiring founder of Veggies Abroad, we discuss the ideas of entertainment the successful Veggies Abroad platform brings to show travellers that hearty vegan food and adventures can always be associated.
From her 9-5 career path, She got to where she is today, a flourishing community. By sharing the challenges, wins, and insights of that journey, she offers valuable information for vegan lifestyle beginners or veg-trippers.
Oh my, there were (and continue to be) so many! Before doing this, I always had a stable job — regular hours and a consistent paycheck — I knew that would change but it’s one thing to know it and another to live with it. When you’re building a business nothing is regular or consistent and you just have to learn to get used to it, otherwise you won’t survive. You also learn quickly who’s going to be your support system and who’s not — that was a frustrating and disappointing realization. It’s also not something that I had heard other entrepreneurs talk about, so for a while, I just thought it was me.
To be honest, these things coupled with imposter syndrome and exhaustion, continue to be challenges. I don’t know that you ever completely overcome them, I think you develop better coping mechanisms and it gets easier to manage them.
In addition to that, there was a ton (and continues to be) that I didn’t know. In the beginning, I had never built a website, I couldn’t tell you what SEO was, or how to file a business license but I learned pretty quickly that you have to find people who do. I made the mistake of wasting time trying to figure out things that would be best left to other experts. Although, it was painful to spend the money, the investment was worth it. Now I evaluate tasks and projects based on what I already know about it and the available time that I have, if both are minimal, I’ll pay someone else to do it.
I think it's grown immensely — a decade ago, I would’ve laughed at the thought of vegan hotels! During that same time, I was also packing a ton of food with me on trips and surviving off of cheese-less pizza and sad salad. Fast forward to today, from small towns to major cities, the options for everything have grown. Even major hotel chains and restaurants are adding vegan options — it’s odd not to find a place with something vegan, even if it's just a burger.
An interesting trend that I see is that destinations/tourism boards are starting to actively promote plant-based options because countries are investing in plant-based technology to help cut emissions and make climate goals. Last year, both Denmark and South Korea announced new plans to boost the production of plant-based products; Demark has even said that vegan food must be a “central element in the green transition.” Both countries plan to make more of an investment in technology, chef training, more options in schools, and more. I think we can plan to see other European countries and maybe even our Canadian neighbors make their climate agendas more plant-focused. With that, I think we will continue to see options increase.
In my daily life, I try and be very mindful of everything that I purchase. I know that my dollar is a vote and if I spend it with a crappy company, that tells them to keep doing what they’re doing. I also know how much it means to a small business to have support, whether its financial or other, so when I do purchase things I am conscious of supporting places that I want to see flourish for years to come.
Because I work so much, I don’t do a lot of cooking. I am lucky that my husband handles much of it — if it weren’t for him, I’d probably survive on peanut butter and jelly.
That’s a tough question — I have eaten a lot of great food around the globe! One place that comes to mind is Thailand, specifically Bangkok and Chiang Mai. In Bangkok, there is a tiny spot called Bai Plu House and they’ve mastered the art of flavor and texture. In Chaing Mai, there’s a place called Vegano Bistro and they have the most insane vegan egg. The flavor, texture, and appearance of the egg was amazing, I haven’t seen anywhere else do it that well.
I think the biggest one is that it’s incredibly difficult and you’re going to be stuck with lettuce the entire time. I won’t lie, some places are way easier than others but with a little research, you can always find something, no matter where you are. I think it's always important to remember why you’re doing this, then it doesn’t really matter if you do get stuck just eating salad because that’s not what’s most important.
A decade ago, I would've laughed at the thought of vegan hotels! Today, from small towns to major cities, the options for everything have grown.
The most surprising vegan-friendly place for me is the Finger Lakes. It’s a lovely, more rural area in upstate NY but there are multiple vegan B&Bs, Farm Sanctuary, and many restaurants have vegan options.
My favorite vegan-friendly place is Brighton in the UK. I describe Brighton as a mini London — you’ll find just about every vegan thing under the sun there but you can navigate most of the city by foot and it's much more laid back.
I encourage travelers to really investigate company policies around wildlife and sustainability before booking. If you can’t find information, send an email and ask. Also, look at what other travelers are posting — are people posting pictures holding and petting animals? If a company ever guarantees an animal sighting that’s also a red flag.
When all else fails, a good way to help determine if an activity is ethical is to ask yourself, is the animal just there for me? Can the animal come and go as it pleases without human interference?
My biggest tip is to understand why you’re doing this and what you hope to accomplish before you start — those will be your guiding lights. Just because you’re doing something that you care about, doesn’t mean that it will be easy and you’ll also need to remind yourself why you’re doing it and why it matters.
Also, seek out people who are doing what you’re doing. Ask them if they would chat with you and glean as much from them as you possibly can.
There's nothing regular or consistent, and you just have to learn to get used to it, otherwise you won't survive.
In the short term, I hope to grow our vegan tour lineup. Last year, I ran one to Thailand and this year I have three — an African safari, Bali, & Costa Rica. Hopefully, there will be continued interest and demand to have more for 2025.
In addition to that, I also offer travel advisory services, a blog, and a podcast, as all those continue to grow I hope to be able to add help! Since the inception of Veggies Abroad, it’s just been me putting in all of the work, and I would love to hire help at some point. Increased support will also mean more resources and possibly trips for our veggie community!
Start small. Don’t try and change everything all at once, it will be too overwhelming. Start with swapping one meal a couple of times a week and then slowly increase it. Also, surround yourself with people who’ve been in your shoes. If you don’t know any vegans, then join FB groups. Your local community probably already has them and these groups can be a treasure trove of information and support. When you have people around you, who want you to succeed, it makes all the difference.
Follow us in our interview session as we talk to vegan influencers and individuals who not only enjoy eating plants, but also love them! We ask them questions about their personality, work, and the best advice for all those who want to follow vegan lifestyle. Are you a vegan business, brand, organization, or individual generating positive change? We would love to chat with you!