Being vegetarians, food planning for you is going to be one of the most challenging parts of your trip to China. Unlike some other destinations, vegetarian options here are not always easily accessible, especially once you move beyond major cities into national parks, remote regions, or the countryside.
To avoid any uncertainty, I planned and carried a substantial amount of food with me. This included:
- Homemade instant poha for quick and reliable breakfasts
- Roasted dry fruits for energy during long walks and hikes
- Ready-to-eat meals (from Rajshree)
- Peanut butter from The Whole Truth Foods (since bread is almost always available anywhere in the world)
- Bhujia, dark chocolate, homemade protein bars, and green tea sachets
It’s not that vegetarian food or Indian restaurants don’t exist in China, they absolutely do. But they are largely concentrated in bigger cities and can be relatively expensive. In places like national parks or remote areas, finding vegetarian food becomes significantly more challenging, which is where carrying your own meals becomes essential.
This is how I structured my meals during the trip:
- Breakfast: Instant poha, which I could easily prepare at my hostel or hotel
- Snacks throughout the day: Protein bars, bhujia, and roasted dry fruits, easy to carry and high in energy
- Lunch: Ready-to-eat meals that I carried in a steel container along with a spoon
One of the most convenient aspects of traveling in China is the easy availability of hot water. Since instant noodles are a staple, you’ll find hot water dispensers almost everywhere from hotels to public areas. I used this to my advantage by simply emptying my ready-to-eat meal into my container, adding hot water, closing the lid, and letting it sit for a few minutes. My meal would be ready without any hassle.
Even though I rarely ate outside, I never felt hungry or restricted because I always had my food planned, packed, and accessible.
