How to Eat Plant-Based at an All-Inclusive Resort

Wondering how to eat plant-based at an all-inclusive resort? All-inclusive resorts are a great way to enjoy a relaxing vacation with less stress and hassle and enjoy more beach time. There is no need to interrupt your fun to choose restaurants for each meal or worry about transportation back and forth, the cost, tipping, and currency exchange rates. And it might cost a lot less at an all-inclusive (although some high-end ones are quite expensive).

There is usually an abundance of food options to enjoy, which can make it easier to find plant-based choices. Whether staying at a beach all-inclusive or even taking a cruise, check out these tips for having more fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains.

This is from my experience at resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico (and cruises) and research, but I can’t speak for reports in other parts of the world. I stayed in all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Martinique, Cancun, and Riviera Maya.

Research Before You Go

Learn more about the food options to eat plant-based at an all-inclusive resort when choosing where to stay.

1. Look for online menus. These may be available for ala carte restaurants. They are often not available for the buffets.

2. Check reviews on Trip Advisor, Google, and Facebook groups for your resort or area. People may have posted photos of foods they enjoyed and you can ask questions in Facebook groups. Look for YouTube videos too.

3. Call or send an email to the resort before booking to find out more about how they can meet your meal requirements.

4. Learn about meal options offered for excursions. I just declined one that sounded good except for a cold-cut sandwich with chips for lunch!

5. When you arrive, speak with guest relations, the maitre’d, or host(ess) and server. See if they have separate vegan or vegetarian menus and which items you can have. Knowing some key words and phrases in the language of the country you visit is helpful. I just asked a cook if the refried beans were sin carne (without meat) – and I was glad I did because they were not!

Breakfast

At all-inclusive resorts, breakfast and lunch are usually served from buffets with beverages brought by servers.

Pros:

There may be tons of choices
You can check out how things look before trying them.
You can select a replacement quickly if you didn’t like something.
Usually, there is no wait to enter or get your food (exception: it took me an hour to get lunch at the Mongolian Grill on the Carnival Magic!). Sometimes there is a wait to find a clean table.

Cons:

There could be cross-contamination with plant-based foods.
Foods may not be labeled well and the ingredients may not be identified.
The foods may not be prepared freshly.
It is tempting to overeat.
The food temperatures may not be safe.
The items may be picked over.

cut watermelon, oranges, honeydew, and pineapple on a buffet.

For this reason, we much prefer eating in a dining room where we are served.

Here are some plant-based ideas for breakfast:

Smoothie station
Plant-based dairy: these may be out on the buffet, or you may need to request them. I find most places have almond milk and soy milk. Oat milk and plant-based yogurt do not seem to be available as often.
Cereal: Boxed cereal will list the ingredients and you can use Google translate if you have service as needed. Check if prepared hot cereals contain milk.
Fruit: Generally there will be many options
Vegan menu or buffet area: possibly vegan eggs, cheese, breakfast sandwiches, sausage
Yogurt toppings bar with nuts, seeds, berries, dried fruit, and granola
Bagels or whole wheat toast with nut butter

Buffet Lunch and Dinners

Salads: look for edamame, chickpeas, cooked tofu, nuts, and a variety of vegetables and fruits. There may be flavored vinegar and oils, which can be a good alternative to premade salad dressings containing dairy products or sugar.

Cooked vegetables, legumes, rice, and potatoes.

Here is a video with an example of dishes such as beans, onions, cooked cabbage, peppers and onions, and lentils. A variety of options were offered at this steam table for every meal. Mushrooms, onions, lentils, and cooked soya were surprisingly good on a recent trip.

Video link ->Vegan foods on buffet

Pasta: There may be freshly made pasta with vegetable choices. Ask about the sauces available: tomato or olive oil are usually good options. Pesto sauce may contain cheese.

Burrito or grain bowl: Put together yourself from rice, quinoa, beans, or lentils and top with your favorite cooked veggies, nuts, guacamole, salsa, and/or lime juice.

I have not seen many alternative proteins such as tofu, tempeh, seitan, soy burgers, vegan eggs, vegan sausage and burgers, but this may be vary by the resort.

Baked stuffed potato or sweet potato

Fried rice: See if this is made with or without eggs. Check if butter was used. If so, can they make a separate pan for you with oil? There may be separate vegetables or tofu to have with it.

Sorbet: This may be a good dessert option (plus it is naturally low in fat), but ask if the sugar in it is vegan if that is important to you.

apples, mangoes, plums, and bananas on buffet.

Ala Carte Dinner Restaurants

Italian: Look for salads, grilled vegetables, and pasta dishes. Vegan cheese for pizza may not be available, but perhaps they can make pizzas without cheese.

Ovolactovegetarians may also find ravioli, tortellini, cream-based sauces, pizza, or vegetable lasagna.

Japanese: this kappa maki sushi roll was made with cucumber: you can request them without sriracha mayonnaise. Vegetable tempura may be fried in oil that animal foods are fried in. Stir-fried vegetable dishes with rice or noodles may be good options.

Sliced cucumber sushi roll with bowl of soy sauce.

Mexican: tacos, burritos, tostadas, and empanadas can be made with veggies and beans.

Spanish: gazpacho (cold vegetable soup with cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, and garlic), look for vegan risotto and paella dishes. Patatas bravas: potatoes in tomato sauce. Churros that are not filled with cream are a fun dessert or snack option!

Steakhouse: look for salad bar items, a baked potato, and vegetable side dishes.

Indian: this cuisine is quite varied and vegetarian-friendly. Look for chickpea, eggplant, mung bean, and other vegetable dishes and rice.

Chutneys and pickles are often served alongside dishes. I love a mix of cucumbers, tomatoes, onion, and spicy peppers. Dal is made from red or yellow lentils. Some sauces contain yogurt or cream: be sure to ask. Naan (flat bread) may be made with yogurt.

Seafood: these restaurants can be tricky: sometimes a vegetable plate is the only option.

Alcohol Options

a glass with a frozen margarita: it is mango on the left side and strawberry on the right side.

Wine: check online to see if the wines served are vegan.

Mixed drinks: some may be made with fresh fruit juices. If they use a premade mix, sugar, or simple syrup, ask if the sugar is vegan if this is important to you.

And be sure to drink enough water. There can be a tendency to overdo it with alcohol when it is “free” – paid for in the hotel price. The National Institutes of Health recommends no more than one standard alcoholic drink per day for women and two for men.

Tips for Preventing Food Borne-Illness

Food-borne illnesses affect an estimated 600 million people each year, according to the World Health Organization, and traveler’s diarrhea affects an estimated 30 – 70% of travelers.

Babies, children, immunocompromised people, and seniors are at a higher risk.
Foods at a buffet could be contaminated with salmonella, campylobacter jejuni, e. coli, norovirus, or other pathogens (disease-causing microorganisms)
Wash your hands before you eat. Look for hand sanitizer to use, although it is not as good as handwashing.
Make sure hot food is hot and cold food is cold.
Avoid uncooked or undercooked foods such as raw fish in sushi, rare meats, and unpasteurized cheeses.
If you use tongs or a spoon to load food onto your plate, don’t touch foods you are going to eat, like a roll, with that hand.
Watch out for eateries without walls: flies and birds may be present and transmit illnesses. It is also harder to keep the cold food cold.
Check before you travel for onsite or nearby physicians, pharmacies, and hospitals. Consider travel insurance. See if you can contact your or another doctor via the patient portal or a telehealth app.
You may want to talk with your physician when planning international travel to see if vaccines are required or recommended and other recommendations they have to stay well. Ask what over-the-counter medications would be helpful to bring.

Traveler’s Diarrhea

This may be from local bacteria (most common), viruses, parasites, or a foodborne illness.
Many resorts are in an area where bottled water is advised. If so, check if the ice cubes are safe, and stock up on bottled water for your room and brushing your teeth. Another good reason to have extra water is in case of a storm and any interruption in service.
See if your resort washes incoming produce with a sanitizing solution. Avoiding salads and cut fruits / raw vegetables may be recommended for some locations.
Learn more from this article about Traveler’s Diarrhea from the Cleveland Clinic.